by Steve McHugh
"One last question, you heard of a young boy who the sheriff was after? Few days ago now?"
"The murderer? Way I hear it; he tried to rob the big mansion up on the hill just outside town. Killed his own partner. The sheriff has two hundred bucks on him. Hope someone catches the little bastard soon. This is a safe town. We have fights, but no murders. It's unheard of."
"What about the ranch east of here?
"I know the place. The owner don't care for us, although she'll bring in money to buy good just like anyone else. Always left quick though. The sheriff doesn't like her, an argument between them or some-such. Way I hear it-"
"Maybe you should mind your own business," a voice said from behind me.
The entire place went silent. The girls stopped dancing; those playing cards froze almost in place, their bets still in their hands ready to be thrown onto the pot in-between them. I turned to inspect the newcomer.
"You must be the sheriff," I said, his shiny badge evident for anyone to see. Hell, I could have probably seen it from Texas.
"And you are the man who interfered in my deputies’ duties to bring in a dangerous fugitive. A murderer, I might add."
"The young boy," I said with a smile. "Do you try to kill a lot of people who are running away in the night?"
"That's none of your concern; he's a danger and you will hand him over to me. Now." The sheriff moved his jacket slightly, giving him better access to the silver revolver on his hip — the twin of Sam's. The urge to take it from him was overwhelming, but I restrained myself. His time would come.
"I handed him over to the US army at a fort nearby. He's going to remain there until they decide how to proceed."
Anger flashed on the sheriff's face like an oil fire. "What right-"
"My right," I interrupted. "You tried to kill a fleeing boy in the dead of night. Your deputies were lucky they still have the ability to walk."
One of the four men with the sheriff stepped toward me and placed a gun barrel against my head. I recognised him as one of the deputies from the forest. "You think you can make me leave now, you son-of-a-bitch?"
I turned and stared at the average-sized, average-looking man. If it wasn't for the fact that I'd pointed a gun at him, I'd have never remembered him in a million years. "Would you like to remove the gun yourself, or have me remove it for you? The second option is not a pleasant one."
"Enough, Douglas," the sheriff said and the deputy grudgingly removed the gun. "You will answer two questions, or my companion here will repeat his actions, with far greater consequences for you."
I motioned for him to continue.
"Why are you here?"
"Just passing through. Was only staying the night and I'll be gone first thing in the morning."
"Never to return?"
"I hope not."
"Sort of out of the way, up here I mean? It's not the type of place you just come across by accident."
"I was passing by the ranch near here, but there didn't seem to be anyone home. Figured the fort was my next stop, but once more, there was no one there. Pure chance that I ended up here, if either of those places had been inhabited I'd be long gone by now."
There was an expression of concern on the sheriff's face that melted into one of ambivalence and then finally innocence. "I'll send someone out in the morning to take a look, but you better be gone by then."
"Oh, I'll be long gone."
The sheriff turned to leave and I stopped him. "Nice gun," I said making the sheriff turn back toward me. His deputies were nervous, apparently it was the topic that no one wanted to talk about, even more so than what had happened at the ranch or fort.
The sheriff removed the silver army colt from its holster and turned it left and right allowing me to get a good look. "It should be a pair, but that little bastard you helped stole the other one. He didn't mention it at all, did he?" he asked in a very nonchalant manor.
I shook my head. "He never said anything; he was unconscious when I left him at the fort. If I'd known he'd stolen from you, I'd have taken it back. Maybe you should contact the fort, ask them if they can take a look for you."
The sheriff went back to being concerned. I guessed that the fort and the sheriff didn't have the best relationship, but I didn't want to press further. I wanted to take a bath and leave his presence as quickly as possible. Hell, I wanted to leave the whole damn town, but I needed to do something before I left.
"Well, maybe I will. I want that gun back." He glanced back at his deputies. "I'd best leave you to it, but don't let me hear you've caused trouble. I won't be having that in my town."
"Of course, I promise to behave." I gave him my best smile of pure innocence and watched the sheriff and his cronies walk back out into the night. The music and rowdy behaviour started slowly, like a tiny flake of snow turning into an avalanche by the time it hits the bottom of the mountain. Within moments the room was back to its previous noise level with only the occasional glances my way.
"I thought you were going to push him too far," the bartender said.
I grabbed the bottle of scotch. "Are my bath and room ready?"
The bartender nodded and pointed toward the women at the bottom of the stairs. "Fell free to pick any of the girls there. They're all more than capable of giving you the evening of your life."
I doubted he'd have said the same thing if he'd been aware of how old I was, but instead I thanked him and told him maybe later. As I reached to the stairs, the blonde girl who had been talking to the bartender approached me with a smile on his lips and a wiggle on her hips.
"I'll show you the way," she said with a sly grin. "Follow me, darlin'."
I did as I was told and she led me up the stairs and down a long winding corridor with over half a dozen doors. Occasionally, I caught the sound of a moan or grunt, but we'd moved past before it felt like I was being too much of a voyeur.
The young woman led me up another set of stairs and onto a second landing with even more doors. She opened the one furthest from the staircase and allowed me to walk inside. "If you need anything, just shout." She winked and closed the door, leaving me alone in the spacious room.
The first thing I noticed was that the decor was actually tasteful. Someone had spent a lot of money on a large bed and there were lots of paintings on the walls, some of which were of a risque nature. They'd certainly decorated for the clientele.
I walked over to the large steel tub in the corner of the room which was full of water. Rivets had been carved into the floor to allow any water to run out onto some guttering outside. The tub was certainly big enough for two, and steam lifted off the water's surface. I didn't bother resisting the temptation to place my hand inside to feel the heat.
I shook the water off my hand and grabbed two towels off a chest of drawers, placing them beside the bathtub. After another drink of the excellent scotch, I placed the bottle on the table next to me.
I removed my coat, laying it over a clothes-horse and unclipped the knife belt which I wore around my waist, placing it over the coat. The six, small silver throwing blades that it held were a last resort weapon. Something I only really kept wearing for the comfort of knowing that they were an option available to me.
When I'd finished removing my clothes, placing them on the bed, I lowered myself into the steaming hot water with an audible sigh. "It's been far too long," I said as the water ate at the knots on my shoulders.
I let the water go to work and revelled in the relaxation that washed over me, even if I knew it wouldn't last. I'd give it an hour from the second I stepped into the room. Maybe less, depending on how nervous they were at my unannounced appearance.
I reached into the nearest coat pocket, removed a small pocket watch and opened the front to check the time. I'd been in the bath for nearly twenty minutes. I had a little longer. I replaced the watch and orange glyphs lit up along my arms, my fire magic heating the water to near scolding temperature.
It was only a few minutes later wh
en the door knocked. Apparently they were very nervous.
The girl on the other side didn't wait to be invited and just opened the door, stepping into the room with purpose. Long dark-red hair flowed freely over her bare, pale shoulders. She was petit, but curvy and she removed her purple corset, exposing large, firm breasts before allowing the clothing to fall to the floor with a flourish. "Would you like some company?" Her voice was warm and inviting.
I smiled, mostly because it's always nice to have a stunning, and naked, woman asking if you want company, but also because she was almost my perfect woman. Red hair, short and curvy.
"Feel free," I said with a wave of my hand.
She removed her tiny knickers and dropped them at her feet before stepping into the tub and making herself comfortable.
"So, can I ask for your name?" I requested.
"Stephanie," she said and rubbed her foot up against my groin, which sprang to life in an instant.
I forced myself to move her foot. Shooting myself would have been easier. "Do you mind if we just relax first?"
"Not at all," she said with a smile. "Turn around and I'll rub your shoulders."
I did as I was told and moved until my back was facing her. She grabbed me and moved me until her breasts were pressed up against my back. The feeling of her erect nipples against my back stirred me back to action and I had to remind myself that fun probably wasn't going to be on the menu.
Stephanie began working the knots out of my shoulder as she spoke. "I saw you talking to the sheriff."
"He was just checking out the newcomer," I said. "Probably understandable."
The movements stopped slightly. "So you're staying?"
"Wasn't planning on it. I plan on having a sleep and then leaving in the morning."
"It can be dangerous walking around these parts at night. I didn't even see you wearing a pistol."
And it begins. "Don't like pistols. They're inaccurate at any meaningful distance and up close, I can do just as much damage with a dagger."
Stephanie pushed me forward. "Let me get out of the bath so I can get your neck properly. I'll get back in after."
I moved forward and, true to her word, Stephanie stepped out of the bath without bothering to dry herself with a towel. I had to force myself not to watch her dripping wet body as she walked behind me and started rubbing my neck. "Are you enjoying the Scotch?"
"It's excellent." The bottle was nearly half empty, and had absolutely no effect on me.
The neck rub lasted for a few seconds until I felt something cold and sharp against my neck.
"Well, this took longer than expected."
"What?"
I looked up at her and smiled. She pressed the blade of the knife against my throat further. "What are you so happy about?"
"You're naked, holding a knife against me. It's sort of silly. You could have just come in shooting, or, indeed, waited until I was asleep and then did it. I assume whoever sent you here is really fucking nervous."
"You don't know anything. It's people like you who have to be removed to protect us all."
I tried to nod, but the blade made it uncomfortable. "The sheriff tell you that?"
"You will answer my question, and then you'll either go to the house outside of town, or die here."
"The house… ah the one where the monster lives."
"The what?" Stephanie appeared to be genuinely confused.
"No matter. How about this? You remove the blade and answer my questions, or… well, you won't like the alternative."
"I'm in charge here," she protested.
"That you are." I moved faster than she could comprehend, pushing her arm away, grabbing hold of her and pulling her head first into the bath with enough force that a large portion of the bathtub's contents shot over the side, drenching the entire surrounding area.
As Stephanie thrashed around, I stepped out of the bath and used my fire magic to instantly dry myself. I watched with humour as Stephanie continued to make sitting up the most complicated action of her life, although it probably didn't help that each of her legs was draped over opposite sides of the tub. I pulled on my clothes and took a seat on the bed to wait for Stephanie to compose herself.
I'd removed the knife from her hand as I'd thrown her into the bath. It was a nice piece — ivory handle with a four inch steel blade. It was about as useful against a sorcerer as bad language, but if she had stabbed me, it would have hurt. And besides, then I would have killed her and wouldn't have been able to ask what I needed to.
Eventually, a seething Stephanie managed to right herself. "If you're going to kill me, get on with it."
I threw the knife behind me. "I want answers."
"Go to hell."
"Now, I know you don't care if I kill you, but if I walk out the front door they're going to know you didn't complete your job. And then I'm guessing you'll end up talking to the sheriff and his friends. Do you really want that?"
Stephanie glared at me, but shook her head. "No," she almost whispered. "What do you want?"
"What are you all doing here? I'm certain everyone is in on it. I just can't figure out what it is."
"The hills have diamonds in them. We don't want anyone from outside to find them."
"And that's why you're killing people? To get rich?"
"We're going to make our town separate from the rest of this godforsaken country. The sheriff told us that once we have the diamonds and our protector has his soldiers, we can start to take back what's ours."
"Protector? It wants to take over America?"
She shook her head. "Only Montana. To make sure it never becomes part of the Union. And anyone in our way dies."
"The ranch-holder was in your way?"
"She found out what we were doing, what we'd planned. She had to die."
A thought occurred to me and I took a hunch. "You were there, weren't you?"
Stephanie glanced down briefly, but when she spoke she maintained eye contact. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
I knew a liar when I saw one. "You watched her murdered. Did you stab her yourself? Did you enjoy it?"
"I only watched," she snapped before she could stop herself. She immediately realised her mistake. "The sheriff and his men got half a dozen of the town occupants to help kill her. They opened the barn doors so that everyone else could watch."
I stalked toward her and placed my hands on the edge of the tub. "You watched her scream for mercy, watched as people started to cut on her. What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"She went against the town. She had to be silenced."
"Are there any children in town?"
She shook her head. "It's a town rule. Kids can come later when we have things straightened out. The sheriff doesn't want any of them to see what needs to be done."
"What needs to be done," I said absentmindedly. "Goddamn it. Get out of the tub."
"What?" she asked, but I was in no mood to ask again. I grabbed her arm and dragged her from the tub with one pull, dropping her onto the floor with a splat as her wet flesh hit the wooden floorboards.
"Get your ass in that chair," I snapped.
She dragged herself into the wooden rocking chair. Her arm was red where I'd grabbed it, but as far as I was concerned she was lucky to still have both her arms.
I removed the tiebacks from the window, and tied Stephanie's arms behind the chair, making sure that she couldn't get up. I took the second tieback and attached it to the first, using the other end to tie it to the handles on the chest of drawers. If she started yanking at the rope, she'd get out, but it would take a while.
"You want me still so you can kill me," she said, and spat at me, missing by a few feet.
I stood in front of her and rolled up the sleeves on my shirt, letting her watch the orange glyphs light up on my arms. "If I wanted to kill you…" A small sphere of flame appeared in the palm of my hand, and Stephanie's eyes opened as wide as possible. "…you'd already be cinders."
&nb
sp; The flame vanished, and I put on my coat. "You're going to give your friends in this town a message. They have forty-eight hours to leave. To run as far away as they can. Because in two days I'm going to come back, burn this entire fucking town to the ground, and piss on the ashes."
Chapter 22
New Forrest, England. Now.
After the fight with the ghouls, I waited around long enough for the LOA emergency paramedics to turn up and check that everyone would be okay, before leaving and heading home.
Agent Greaves was almost back on his feet by the time I left, and Olivia was nursing a sore, but healing, wound on her shoulder. Everyone got away with minimal injuries, a lucky break when it came to dealing with ghouls.
I took the time to head home, get a shower, and wash off the grime from the incredibly long day. Dealing with ghouls, finding another murdered girl, searching Vicki's house, and interviewing Neil had left me feeling emotionally, if not physically, exhausted.
Even so, after making an important call, I managed a few hours' sleep, only to be woken by someone banging continuously on my front door until I made my way from the bed to open it.
"Hey, Tommy," I said, with all the joy that I could muster after just being woken. "Could you possibly be a little louder? I think there are some rivets in the house that you haven't worked loose."
"Nice to see you, too," he said stepping inside, and closing the door behind him.
"I don't think my kitchen can take another fridge raid," I told him as we made our way to the kitchen, where I made both of us a cup of white tea.
"I'm not hungry," he said.
"Okay, what's wrong? You're always hungry. Are Olivia and Kasey okay?"
He nodded firmly. "Yes, thanks for that. You saved Olivia's life. And Kasey is… concerned for her mum. She'll be okay, though."
I waved his thanks away. "Glad to hear it. We were all in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"They've taken Olivia to the medical clinic at my office building. We've got some of the best trained people in the world. They want to keep her in for a few days to make sure that the neurotoxin has worked its way out of her system. Olivia's pissed off and wants to hurt something, but she'll live."
