Killers of a Certain Age

Naomi arrives, tired and pregnant, asking Helen to put down her gun. Naomi has been suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a form of nausea and vomiting that often accompany pregnancy, and is carrying ginger ale, not weapons. Naomi reminds them that she is not a trained field assassin and that she would only fight to protect her baby. That settled, they let Naomi call in crime scene technicians who will remove the bodies, and she is surprised at the extent of their thoroughness in taking out all the bodyguards as well as Vance. Billie thinks to herself, “we could have taken her if we chose, but we didn’t choose” (339). They sit in the garden shed since the house is half demolished and discuss the situation.

Naomi is surprised to learn that Paar did not die of natural causes, pronouncing the nicotine effort “real old-school shit” (339). Billie refuses to disclose Taverner’s role, knowing he has made his escape as instructed. She tells the others she will restore their pensions and safety because they helped her remove Martin, whom she had previously been trying to prove was a traitor. She knew about the assassination attempts but had no ironclad proof of Martin’s malfeasance.