He turned on her. “Yeah. Now you know, you stupid little bitch. You got me outta town, do you understand? Now, by God, you’ll get me out of here too!”
Shoving his gun into his side pocket, he grabbed her by her arm and pulled her to her feet. He wrenched off the ripped clothes that hung on her.
She was too terrified to feel her shame. “What are you going to do with me?” she said.
“You’re goin’ out there,” Raven told her, pulling his gun out again. “You’re goin’ to walk in front of me. If they shoot at me it’s goin’ to be too bad for you.”
“You can’t do that. It’s not my fight. You wouldn’t force me into this… please… not like this!”
Twisting her arms behind her, he gripped her two wrists in one of his hands, then, crouching close behind her, he shoved her to the door.
“I’m comin’ out!” he yelled. “Don’t shoot. I’m comin’ out.”
In a low, savage voice, he said to her, “If you faint, or try any tricks I’ll spread your goddamn’ guts all over the town.” He rammed the cold gun into her backbone, making her cry out with the pain, then he unlocked the door and pushed her out.
The two Federal Agents were so startled when Marie suddenly appeared that for a moment they hesitated.
It was that moment that Raven had gambled on. He fired twice almost as one shot. The flash of the gun burnt Marie’s arm and she screamed wildly.