BooksBarbecue
Back Butcher
Chapters (17)
  1. Cover
  2. 2
  3. 4
  4. 1
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. Prologue
  10. Scene 1
  11. Scene 2
  12. Scene 3
  13. Scene 4
  14. 1
  15. 2
  16. 3
  17. 4

Scene 3

Lights up.

Hamilton is on the ground, writhing in pain. Elena has him in a wristlock.

Josef, now standing, watches. Lamb points his gun at Elena.

JOSEF: Šukaj je![1]

LAMB: Miss, I’m gonna ask you one last time –

Elena releases Hamilton. He scrambles to his feet and joins Josef and Lamb.

Elena stands by the door, unfazed by the gun pointed at her.

LAMB: Now I want you to turn around and –

ELENA: Gentlemen. There seems to be some confusion about who has the upper hand here.

LAMB: I’ll say. Now, for the last time –

ELENA: June 13th, 2001.

Lamb frowns.

ELENA: May 3rd, 2007.

LAMB: Those dates … How … ?

HAMILTON: What’s wrong with you?

LAMB: Those are my kids’ birthdays …

Hamilton whips his head back to Elena.

ELENA: Erin Lamb, Grade Eight at Courcelette Public School. Her best subject is math and she’s partial to red shoes.

Iris is in the first grade and her best friend is a shy Korean girl named Sunny. She was over last weekend and made chocolate chip cookies, isn’t that right?

Lamb is dazed.

ELENA: So you see, this isn’t amateur hour.

Lower your gun, Inspector.

Lamb doesn’t move.

ELENA: Danijel.

From Elena’s phone comes a thickly accented voice.

DANIJEL (O.S.): Da?

ELENA: Tell Inspector Lamb where you and your men are parked right now.

DANIJEL (O.S.): We are in front of one-oh-nine Grandview Street. Pine tree in yard is decorate with blue lights.

Lamb lowers his gun.

ELENA: You are not the target, Inspector. (indicates her phone) My colleague is listening, and as long as you do as I say and Danijel continues to hear my voice, neither your daughters nor your wife will be harmed. You have my word. (holds out her hand) Your gun, please.

Lamb takes a step toward Elena.

HAMILTON: Don’t do this.

LAMB: I’m sorry … But …

HAMILTON: Please.

LAMB: This is my family.

Lamb goes to Elena and hands her his gun.

ELENA: Lock the door.

Lamb takes out his key ring and locks the door.

ELENA: (puts her hand out) Keys.

Lamb gives them to her. Elena checks the door; it’s locked. No one can get out.

ELENA: Take my backpack.

Lamb obeys.

ELENA: Put your phones in there, both of you.

Lamb does as he’s told. Hamilton doesn’t move.

ELENA: Take it from him, Inspector.

Lamb goes to Hamilton and pats his pockets. Lamb finds Hamilton’s phone and puts it in the backpack.

Elena extends her hand; Lamb gives the backpack back to her.

ELENA: (points to desk phone) Unplug that phone.

Lamb does as he’s told.

ELENA: Now. One of you may be tempted to yell for help or call attention to our little get-together. Let me be clear: the only result of such action will be that everyone in this room – and at 109 Grandview – will die. Understood? (beat) Understood?

Lamb nods.

Hamilton nods.