i ask of you the truth - 9. down this road

by nick nelson

part nine of ?

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the doorbell rang. the professor got up to answer it. i have been down this road before, johnny thought. he reached under his arm and pulled out his .357 and followed the professor who was headed to the door. but he was too late. no sooner had the professor opened the door than two shots blasted out, sending the professor’s body hurtling backwards right into johnny. johnny managed to keep his feet and shove the professor’s body aside. he made it to the door expecting to see the shooter disappearing down the hall into the entranceway to the stairwell. instead the shooter - a guy in a black raincoat - was standing at the end of the corridor and got a shot off at johnny that ricocheted off the wall and knocked johnny’s hat off! his brand new hat that he had just paid a sawbuck for! johnny ran down the corridor without putting his hat back on, but when he got to the door to the stairs he heard three more shots echoing up from the stairwell. now what? johnny edged into the stairwell, but there were no more shots. instead, floating up the stairs, he heard the unmistakable voice of detective gus grogan! grogan must have everything under control, johnny thought. he heard the elevator rising up behind him and kept his hand on his .357 just in case the elevator door should open and reveal some other unpleassant surprise. but the elevator opened and it was only morelli, grogan’s sidekick. he didn’t seem any more surprised to see johnny than johnny was to see him. morelli looked around, took in the right foot of the professor sticking out of the door of his apartment. “is that guy sleeping?” morelli asked johnny. “probably for a long time,” johnny answered. he slipped his gun back under his arm and went and picked his hat up. it looked like a moose had taken a bite out of the brim. his brand new hat, that he just paid a sawbuck for. the door to the stairwell opened and grogan walked out of it. he looked at johnny and didn’t crack wise, just nodded as if seeing him there was the most natural thing in the world. i have been down this road before, johnny thought. 10. just happen