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!”

get the message. Another runs

Too stupid to live…

I cup my paired hands,

finally, they get it. Eyes widen. Screaming, they

running the

Fuck…

them, and there,

Finchby…

Gotcha!

too slow, yelping as I slap the hand to

red-faced, spluttering, panicking… I plant my fist in his

Got the bastard!

Dangling in my grip, half his weight pressed against the collar at the

up with me.

here

understatement. Finchby’s squealing like a piglet

Which it is…

fuck up, Finchby. I’ve not done anything to you yet. If you annoy me now, we might move on to

his face. “If you want him able

Ever the pragmatist…

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

want to carry him away? Knowing I'd have thought you would have...” James points two fingers at the little runt,

to know where he is. I’m sure our friend here will be

gripping him by arms and legs, bodily, James and I drag him towards

on his way out, but as he sees me, he pauses,

straighten up. Finchby takes the opportunity to kick out and

from his torso. “Hey, I'm not looking for trouble. Like I said…” He looks down to Finchby again, his mouth pinching… “I don't want nothing to do with cutting

“You bastard, Hickman. You

to help you with…” He meets my eye, shrugs.

that. Hickman, it seems to me that you're out

nods glumly. “I'd

do you feel about a new

spark,

“Yes, me.”

Klempner.” He straightens up, almost to attention. “What would you like me to

me rope, tape, string, anything you can lay your hands on

“I'll try his office. Be

you're there pick up his laptop

pauses, microscopically,

for me, you take orders from

“Yes, sir.”

around.” I check my watch. “We only have

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