I leaned forward and pulled the thick leather belt from around his waist, rolled him over and strapped his hands behind him. I took off my belt and lashed it around his ankles. He was too heavy to carry and I wanted to get to my phone and my gun. I thought he would be all right until I got back, and I turned and pelted towards the cabin.
It took me a couple of minutes to wake up Mifflin again. This time he sounded as mad as a hornet you’ve slapped with a fly-whisk.
“All right, all right,” I said. “I’ve got Dwan here.”
“Dwan?” Anger went out of his voice. “With you?”
“Yeah. Come on. Get the boys and the wagon. I want some sleep tonight.”
“Dwan! But Brandon said…”
“To hell with what Brandon said!” I bawled. “Come on out and get him.”
“Keep your shirt on,” Mifflin said dismally. “I’m coming.”
As I slammed down the receiver, a gun went off with a choked bang somewhere out on the dunes. I made two quick jumps to my wardrobe, flung open the door and grabbed the .38. I was back at the front door almost before the echo of the shot had died away. I didn’t rush out into the moonlight. I stood looking around, just in the shadow of the verandah, seeing nothing, hearing nothing and feeling spooked.
Then somewhere behind the palmetto trees a car started up and drove away with a rapid change of gears.