Dickinson lifts his gun. He’s going to open fire
Radford says, “Nobody shoots that good. What if you miss?”
Dickinson lowers the gun. Cops hold their fire; they watch helpless frustration as the car begins to back away.
Radford speaks very calmly — icy. “But he’ll kill her anyway! Only chance to save her is now.” And he plucks the 308 rifle from Dickinson’s grasp and in the same smooth synchronous motion drops to one knee and takes careful aim at the retreating car while it swirls backward, turning nose-out, ready for getaway. Dickinson thinks about making a move, decides against it, doesn’t know what the hell to do, and Radford, silhouetted against the flames of the burning house, steadies his aim. Like a rock.
The car slithers for purchase. It’s a very tricky moving target.
In the car Vickers removes the revolver from Clay’s neck long enough to whip the shift lever from reverse to drive, and that is when Radford squeezes off his shot — quick but steady and careful.
It hits square on the skull. Vickers’ head snaps to one side; he is instantly unconscious.
Clay grabs the revolver out of Vickers’ limp hand, and switches off the car’s ignition.
The car stops. Clay closes her eyes and breathes in, very deep, and out, all the way.
Dickinson follows Radford to the car, as Clay gets out and comes around — and looks Radford in the eye. Radford looks right back. In back of them the house burns.
Vickers is flopped back limp against the headrest, his head lolling, bleeding from the head wound. Clay opens the door and picks up Vickers’ wrist, feeling for a pulse.
Dickinson gently takes the 308 and the nutcracker from Radford. Radford doesn’t resist.
A couple of cops bring Wojack along, handcuffed.
Clay says, in surprise, about Vickers, “He’s alive.”
Radford says, “Yeah. I want to hear him explain all this.”
Wojack murmurs, “And a fascinating tale it’ll be.”
Dickinson yaps at a cop: “Call paramedics.”
Wojack looks up at Clay. “Tell you what. I’ll swap you the whole story for immunity from prosecution. What do you say?”
Radford and Clay meet each other’s gaze — now slowly they both begin to smile. She takes his hand in both of hers. A warm bond.
Vickers’ house colors the sky red with its leaping flames…
Dr. Trong parks his Jeep in that same spot across the street from the big lawn leading up to the Senator’s house — gardens, tranquility, solid establishment, wealth.
In the passenger seat Radford looks neat and refreshed in a new suit. The two men exchange glances. Dr. Trong nods, indicating the house.
Radford hesitates, then gets out of the Jeep and, with visible misgivings, walks toward the house, then looks back.
Dr. Trong just watches him.
Radford turns to face the door, and rings the bell.
It opens. Dr. Trong sees Dorothy there. At first she’s shocked. Then with a wonderful smile of disbelieving happiness she invites him in. He goes inside, and the door closes.
Dr. Trong smiles, and drives away.