her arm out in front of her

"Let's try again," she said. "This time, you take the gun out. Slowly." He reached into his pocket. Toni stretched her arm out in front of her. "And please—give me an excuse to blow your head off." He took the gun out. "Drop it on the floor." He smiled. "Have you ever actually shot a man?" "Drop it—now." "I don't think you have." He had guessed right. She had been trained to use firearms, and she had carried a gun on operations, but she had never shot at anything other than a target. The idea of actually making a hole in another human being revolted her. "You're not going to shoot me," he said. "You're a second away from finding out." Her mother walked in, carrying the puppy. She said, "This poor dog hasn't had any breakfast." Nigel raised his gun. Toni shot him in the right shoulder. She was only six feet away, and she was a good shot, so it was not difficult to wound him in exactly the right place. She pulled the trigger twice, as she had been taught. The double bang was deafening in the kitchen. Two round holes appeared in the pink sweater, side by side where the arm met the shoulder. The gun fell from Nigel's hand. He cried out in pain and staggered back against the refrigerator. Toni felt shocked. She had not really believed she could do it. The act was repellent. She was a monster. She felt sick. Nigel screamed: "You fucking bitch!" Like magic, his words restored her nerve. "Be glad I didn't shoot you in the belly," she said. "Now lie down." He slumped to the floor and rolled over on his face, still clutching his wound. Mother said, "I'll put the kettle on."