Trigger Happy

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Hump Day. It's time once again to take a trip to the dark side, where your most violent fantasies become sins of the flesh, right here, where the hardboiled action is non-stop, at the coolest crime joint in cyberspace ... at That Killing Feeling.

In Chapter 31 of AFTERHOURS, rogue cop Danny Peel and his celebrity hostages prepare for the entrance of their latest guest ... a cop who's hot on Danny's trail ...


INT. AFTER HOURS CLUB - DAWN
Danny shoves the radio in his pocket.

DANNY
Okay, everybody.
We got company.

CASEY
This is fucking crazy.

SKY
No, it’s not.
It’s five against one.

BETTIE
(to Sky)
Yeah, but only you and Danny have guns.

CASEY
(realizes)
The cop’s guns --

She races across the room.
Finds his guns on the floor.

Picks them up.
Walks over to Bettie.
Hands her one.

BETTIE
Fucking COOL.

DANNY
Ever shot a gun before?

BETTIE
Hell, yeah.
Grew up in Texas.
DANNY
(to Casey)
How about you?

CASEY
Only in my dreams.

DANNY
It’s easy.
Just take aim,
take a deep breath
and squeeze the trigger.
Use two hands.
Sucker’s got quite a kick.

CASEY
(nods)
Squeeze the trigger.

DANNY
Okay, then. It’s settled.
We’re all in this together.

The buzzer RINGS.

DANNY
Places, please.
Aim at the door.

MIA
Don’t I get a gun?

DANNY
Get behind the bar, Mia.

She frowns.
Starts walking toward the bar.

Danny goes to the door.
Leans into it.

DANNY
Come in nice and slow.

The door slowly opens.
In walks Sergeant LUTHER JAMES (20’s),
African-American, tall, good-looking,
holding his weapon in a two-handed grip.

Danny points his sawed-off at him.

LUTHER
Looks like a standoff, cop killer.

DANNY
Not quite.

Casey, Sky and Bettie
come into view, weapons aimed.

DANNY
I get by with a little
help from my friends --