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The shot didn't go unnoticed I later found out. Major Ruiz yanked down Micah and kicked the gun out of his hand. Micah was swarmed by a half dozen M-16's until he was double-cuffed, and dragged outside.
I merely noticed a couple of combat medics arriving as my eyes started to come back together.
"Easy fellah, where're you're hit?"
"Backside, rump." I hissed out.
At that point VR, rolled on his back and started howling, gurgling and twitching.
The medic asked, "What's wrong with the pooch?"
"Nevermind him, he's having the time of his life. I'm the one leaking blood."
They turned me over and took a look. After wiping off blood, I heard one of them say "Well, look at that."
The other said, "Black Talon?"
"Sure looks like it. Lucky for him it was a deep graze."
"Let's compress it and evac. Mister, you want a pain shot?"
"No. I gotta stay awake, 'til this is all wrapped up." Meanwhile VR is still twitching and howling, every time he looked at my backside, he went into another set of convulsions.
They padded me up to stop the bleedin' and fetch a stretcher over. Major Ruiz accompanied it.
"That was a damnfool stunt Red." He looked at VR. "What's wrong with the dog?"
"He's having the time of his life." I turned my head. "Shut up VR. You've had your laugh."
VR, of course, paid no attention, and kept on howling.
"VR, if you don't shut up, I gonna have the Marines throw you into the Pearl."
That got his attention. "You wouldn't dare, Red."
"Try me. Let's get out of here VR, and go home."
He chuckled a little more, "Alright, Red, lets go home."
A couple of Marines picked up the stretcher and headed out of the saved Pearl Brewery.
Back at the FBI headquarters, I had them park me, stretcher and all, where I could take to the head Hoover doll. Nate the Great was raising sand about being falsely held, him being a journalist.
"Yall might as well let the newsie go. He's not part of the conspiracy."
"Are you sure, Red?"
"Unfortunately, yes. But make certain you book Micah for Attempted Murder."
"Why?'
"Because he shot me with a proscribed bullet, a Black Talon." I ignored all the FBI grins. "That moves it up to attempted murder from aggravated assault. Check with the combat medics. Also check the other loads in his hold out. I figger there wasn't just one in the gun."
"Sounds reasonable. Anything else?"
"How are the hostages doing?"
"We gave a few bottles of Johnny Walker and the seemed to perk right up. The Monseigneur is waiting over there to chat with you."
"Send him over, please. I'm not in shape to go to him."
Monseigneur Camillo walked over. "You shouldn'ta madea fun of Micah that way."
"<sigh> I know Padre, but sometimes..." I shrugged.
"You shoulda doa a penace."
"Would 1/3 of the take home off this deal to your old parish, be penance enough?"
He smiled. "Morea thana enough."
"Then leave me a card or something so I can reach you to tell me where to send the money."
I waived over to the head Hoover doll. "Y'all hauled Micah away yet."
"Not yet, I figured you might want to talk to him."
They dragged a manacled Micah over.
"I got nothing to say until my attorney gets here."
"Well, I got one more piece of advice. Y'all better become a Methodist, 'cause you're not gonna see anything but showers for the next 30 years."
All that got me was a glare.
"Anybody need anything else from me? No? Good. Can somebody transport me to a hospital to finish the fix-up job? I've done enough for this day...."
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