James

The ‘music’ is still playing, and I don’t hear the sound, but beside me, a half-empty cocktail glass shatters and Klempner, snatching at my arm, tugs me to one side. Crouching behind the bar, “That’s Finchby.”

“How d’you know it’s Finchby?”

“Because he’s a fucking lousy shot.”

“So, where’s Baxter?”

Above us, in a line on the shelves above us, the top rank of bottles shatter, exploding their contents in a multi-hued shower of liquid and shattered glass. “That’s Baxter.” Abruptly, the music cuts out…

“Thank fuck for that,” mutters Klempner beside me, inching up to look over the bar.

Another line of fire, lower this time…

Finchby’s voice. “That’s my stock you’re shooting up, Baxter…”

Klempner grins. “C’mon… They’re in the office.” His head swings. “Where’s Jenny?”

“Down the stairs. Hopefully, Michael already has her out.”

“Good. That gives us a free hand.” He checks his watch. “Right, with me… One, two, three…”

His rifle over the bar, Klempner fires blind towards the office door. It chatters then falls silent. He curses…

Out of ammo?

Jammed?

… then tugs a handgun from his pocket and fires. “Run…”

*****

Klempner

A group of half a dozen of the women mill around, seeming not to know what to do without someone telling them...

Natural slaves...

The Glock raised in my hand, “Get out!”

One blathers at me, runs up pleading, then her eyes fix on my pistol.

“Out!” I yell, pointing to the door. “Saia! Ir!”

don't get the message. Another runs

Too stupid to live…

cup my paired hands, then... “Boom...” I open

it. Eyes widen. Screaming,

two running the wrong

Fuck…

make after them, and there, running ahead of

Finchby…

Gotcha!

his pistol. He’s way too slow, yelping as I slap the hand to one side, banging

He’s red-faced, spluttering, panicking… I plant my fist

Got the bastard!

onto his feet. “Now move.” Dangling in my grip, half his weight pressed against the collar

me.

here is

like a piglet that knows it’s bacon

Which it is…

anything to you yet. If you annoy me now, we might move on to that part of proceedings

want him able to speak, you’d better not strangle him. You’re crushing his

Ever the pragmatist…

shame.” I release him, top and bottom, and Finchby drops to the ground, landing heavily

him away? Knowing I'd have thought you would have...” James points two fingers at

not here and I need to know where he is. I’m sure our friend here will be able to tell us where

and I drag him towards

blocking our way to the stairs, Hickman, apparently on his way out, but as

straighten up. Finchby takes the opportunity

I said…” He looks down to Finchby

Hickman. You were being

was to help you with…” He meets my eye, shrugs. “Sorry, Mr

I get that. Hickman, it seems to me that you're out of a

nods glumly. “I'd

you feel about a

eyes spark, head inclining.

“Yes, me.”

He straightens up, almost to

anything you can lay your hands on to get this

then, “I'll try his

you're there pick up his laptop

microscopically,

you're working for me, you take orders

“Yes, sir.”

my watch. “We only have

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