Chapter 11

Because of Jimmy's phone call, Gus slept very lightly. He could reach his gun with little effort and his cell phone lay on the nightstand next to it. At first he thought it was the phone that woke him and he came instantly alert. But when he reached over Anya to pick it up, the screen was dark and the phone was neither vibrating nor ringing at the low volume he'd set it to.

Being careful not to disturb Anya, he slid out of bed and yanked on his jeans and t-shirt. He tiptoed over to the bedroom door and turned the knob silently, easing the door open just a crack. He stood in the darkness listening carefully, wondering what exactly had awakened him. Why the hell were all the lights out? And where the hell was John?

He moved silently into the hallway, closing the door carefully so the snick of the lock wouldn't carry. Hugging the wall he made his way to the living room, his gun firm in his grip. The light from the television screen flickered in the darkness as images danced across it. A