"So long, Bat," I said, put the gun to his ear. Before I could squeeze the trigger, his eyes rolled back, fixed. I stood up.
My arm ached. Blood dripped down from my fingers, from my face on to my collar. My side hurt. I didn't care. It was over—finished. I could go back to Clair now and start afresh.
I walked to the front door, slid back the bolts, stepped into the night. I was still holding the Luger. I looked at it, wondering if I should get rid of it. Maybe I wouldn't need it again. Maybe I would. It was hard to believe that I was going to settle down. I had tried it for a few months and it hadn't worked. Well, I was going to try it again, but I was going to be prepared. Some wise guy might try to crowd me again, and I would be ready for him. I didn't know. I didn't care. Right now, I wanted to get back to Clair. The future, I decided, as I set off in the darkness, could take care of itself.
THE END