Blood Brothers Options

[redsrock]

BLOOD BROTHERS

Chapter One: Gun Control

The carcinogenic smoke rose through the air, a bundle of death resting inside of its cloudy depths. The smoke came from a nasty cigarette, and the cigarette itself came from an old abandoned grocery just a few miles to the southeast. David knew this because he and Jericho had just looted it for anything that was worth selling for caps. The two were mercenaries of the Wasteland, two extremely close friends with totally different backgrounds and morals.

“Jesus, Jericho, do you have to smoke that now? Why not wait until I go to sleep in a few hours? You have guard duty tonight anyway.”

David couldn’t stand it when Jericho smoked because it almost always led to a headache. Smoke from cigarette had always had a negative effect on him ever since Jericho let him try one after their first official contract together.

“Hell no, kid. I gotta have it now. You don’t understand…sometimes I can’t just wait to take a smoke. And definitely not three [censored] hours, that’s for sure.”

Jericho continued to smoke his Monty’s Best cigarette, so David rolled his eyes and took out an orange he had stolen from the grocery. Normally he would have to suffer through the smoke, but this time he had something to help. He took out an orange that he had stolen from the grocery, and then cut in half with a hand-me-down switchblade his older brother had given to him long ago.

“Sonofa[censored], kid, what the hell are you doing with that?” Jericho asked. “Those get us about five caps, maybe more depending on who we’re sellin’ to!”

“Yeah, well…I don’t like the smoke. It gives me a headache, and I don’t want a headache tonight. I want to actually be able to sleep this time. The smell from this orange is the only thing I got that’ll block out that smelly [censored] of yours.”

Jericho shook his head and continued to smoke the cigarette for a few more minutes until there was nothing left to smoke. Then he tossed it to the floor and smashed it with his right foot. He looked at David, who was looking at into the distance from the broken-down bus they were resting in, and saw the orange still close to his nose. He chuckled at this, shaking his head once more. “Kid…you’re an idiot sometimes. If you ask me, you might as well go ahead and get used to smoking. Cause we ain’t gonna retire anytime soon. Besides, it’s been what…seven months now? I figure you’d be used to the smell. It ain’t that bad anyway.”

“To you it’s not, but to me it is.”

David tossed his friend a half of the orange, and the two ate it up within seconds, not having eaten anything the entire day. Jericho threw what he didn’t eat, which was mainly the outside skin, out of the bus. “Say, Kid…we can’t keep eating our food like this. Megaton ain’t but about ten miles away. We can wait till then.”

“Ten miles?” David asked curiously after throwing his own orange away. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yeah, cause we passed that old vault not too longer ago. Why, what are you thinking?”

“Hell, if it’s that close is there really a need to sleep? We should be able to get there before the sun rises if we leave now. It’s only eleven o’clock.”

“[censored]…you’re right. Let’s move.”

The two stood up from their torn bus seats, strapped their backpacks and gathered the rest of their gear—including the loot bag that held all of the items they’d be selling, most of it weapons and ammo from dead Raiders and anyone else willing to step in their way—and started on their way towards Megaton in to the east.

About halfway along the trip it began to rain. At first it was only a few droplets here and there, but within minutes it started to pick up. It only worsened from there, to the point that neither could see more than a few feet in front of them. Jericho was cussing up a storm, blaming David because he wanted to travel through the night. David blamed nobody, because he had enough sense to realize it was by chance that the rain had found them. They marched in the rain for no more than ten or so minutes until they eyed a tiny, one-story house to their right, next to a few other houses that were almost completely destroyed. It looked old and uninhabited, but none of that mattered to them. At this point they were willing to pay caps to stay if anyone was living inside.

“Come on, kid, let’s knock on the door,” Jericho said as he shielded his eyes from the monsoon of sharp rain hitting his skin. They both ran to the door and Jericho knocked. At first there was no reply, but after he knocked once more, a shrill voice came from within inside.

“Gimme a minute, will ya’?” The door swung open, and there stood a little old man no more than four feet tall. He was grabbing at his long gray beard as he looked Jericho and Dave up and down for several seconds. Then he smiled a wide grin. “Whatcha’ doin in the rain, fellas? Come on in!”

Without hesitation, the two entered the house, happy to get out of the storm. Thunder boomed through the sky violently, shaking the house and making David jumped. Jericho chuckled, and then turned his attention to the little man. “Thanks for letting us get outta the rain. Can we stay for the night?”

“Why of course!” the old man exclaimed cheerfully, his large stomach bouncing up and down. “The name’s Rex. Rex Bavadine. It’s good to see some of you fellas out here. I don’t see many mercs around these parts anymore.”

Jericho and David exchanged confused looks. “What makes you think we’re mercs?” David asked.

“Come on, boy! I may be short, but ain’t stupid! You’re carrying guns, first off all, and-“

“Everybody in the Wasteland carries guns,” Jericho interrupted, hoping to one-up the old man. “If not, then they’re [censored]in’ stupid.”

“Yes, that is true, young fella. But…you’re carrying an awful large pack, and you’re wearing armor. You are mercenaries, and don’t try and tell me no different than that! I used to be one m’self,” Rex answered proudly.

“Oh really?” Jericho asked, smiling at the man’s size and trying to imagine him as a mercenary.

“Oh, you betcha’! What I lack in size I make with me sheer will to succeed. My old crew used to call me Mighty Midget.”

Both David and Jericho cracked up laughing; David because he couldn’t help himself, and Jericho because he thought it was hilarious.

“You laugh now, fellas,” Rex said, laughing along like a good sport would. “But I tell ya’…one of you fight with me and see what happens.”

Jericho and David just kept laughing, not entirely sure as to whether Rex was serious or playing around.

“I mean it! Challenge me…any one of ya’! We’ll make a friendly bet out it. I tell you what….both you fight with me…no weapons, just fists only. If I give up first, you get my house and everything in it, and I’ll just be on my merry way. But if I win…if I win, I get all of your loot.”

Rex stepped back a few paces and crossed his arms, the widest smile spread on his hair face that David had ever seen.

“You can’t be serious, old man,” Jericho commented, the laughing having already ceased.

“Oh, I am. I most dearly am.”

“How old are you?”

“Fifty-two and not a day older. Come on…ya’ scared?”

“[censored] no!” By this time Jericho was getting louder, feeling that the man was paying him major disrespect. “I just don’t wanna hurt you. I mean come on, you don’t even rise above my thermos!”

Rex never faltered, he just kept on smiling. “Words can only get you so far, boy. I know your kind. All talk and no walk. Come on…try me.”

David didn’t like where things were going. It seemed so easy, beating up a little old man. But he knew something was wrong. Something didn’t feel right.

“Jericho, let’s just leave. Megaton isn’t that far away.”

“[censored], kid…you may be scared of this little [censored], but I ain’t.” He dropped his backpack to the floor and scooted his supplies off to the side. “Come on, Davie, he’s a midget! What’s to be worried about?”

David didn’t know how to answer, because he didn’t even have one. There was simply something about Rex he didn’t like. “This doesn’t feel right. He’s hustling us. I just know he is…”

Jericho shook his head from side to side, his angered eyes glaring right into Rex’s calm eyes. “No, this little [censored] is gonna get what he deserves! After we’re through with him he’s gonna [censored] regret it!”

Jericho suddenly charged Rex, who was still as calm as could be. When Jericho raised his fist to punch, Rex kicked him in the stomach. Jericho bent over and then Rex kicked him in the mouth. Jericho fell to the floor, spitting out blood from his mouth. He tried tackling the man, but Rex sidestepped the attack, and then jumped on Rex’s back. He grabbed his arm and pulled it, and Jericho screamed out in pain. That’s when David ran over and kneed the man in the back of the head, knocking him off of Jericho. The two mercenaries and were on one side of the small, cramped room, and Rex stood on the other.

“I’ll let ya’ quit now if ya’ want, but this is your last chance.”

Without answering, Jericho pulled out his .44 magnum and pointed it at Rex’s head. “You mother[censored]in’ cheater…you kicked me! You said fists only, midget honoured user!”

Rex titled his head sideways, and then sighed heavily. “Hmm…it seems you’re right, boy. I did cheat. But I swear I didn’t mean to. I must’ve been the competiveness in me. I do hope you’ll forgive me. How about we just call the whole thing off and forget about it? I shouldn’t have even done this. Lucy used to tell I was too rowdy...before the dogs took her that is.”

“No!” Jericho yelled, still pointing the gun to Rex’s head. “Give me all your [censored] caps or I’ll blow you mother[censored]in’ head off!”

“Jericho!” David yelled, taken back by his partner’s rage. It was normal for him to cop an attitude, but to threaten an innocent man’s life? That was not normal. “Let’s just go!”

The three stood there, no one smiling or laughing this time. Rex was seconds away from dying, and he knew this. “Listen…I didn’t mean any harm, fella…I swear to ya’. I only have about thirty caps to my name. But if that’s really what ya’ want I’ll give ‘em to ya’. Just don’t kill me. Please…”

Jericho moved closer to the man and touched his temple with the pistol. Then he whispered just loud enough for the whole room to hear, “Not so tough now, are you, midget? Not so tough with a [censored]in’ gun against your head, are you? I should shoot your sorry boat and take whatever you got here. I’d be doing everyone a favor. No one likes a [censored]y midget.”

Rex was starting to tear up, the tears running down his rosy red cheeks. His entire body was trembling. He didn’t want to die.

“Jericho, leave him alone!” David pleaded. But Jericho wouldn’t listen. He wasn’t finished yet.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t blow your mother[censored]in’ head off, will ya’? I really want to know…cause it’s gonna take a lot for me not to. I don’t take [censored] from no one. I sure the hell wish you would have found this out sooner.”

“Please...please just leave,” Rex pleaded, bawling now.

Finally David had had enough. He took the gun from Jericho’s hand before he even knew what was going on. “Dammit, Jericho, let’s go! Now!”

At first it appeared Jericho was going to hit David. But he thought about it, and then turned back to Rex, who was still trembling just as much as before. Jericho spit at his shoes, picked up his gear from across the room, and then headed towards the exit of the house muttering something under his breath. But before he actually left, he turned around and looked at Rex. “You’re [censored]in’ lucky Davie was here to bail you out. The next merc that comes through here won’t be quite as nice. [censored]in’ [censored]…” Then he walked out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

“Thank you, thank you!” Rex said as he tried to hug David. David simple stepped back and said, “He was right, you know. You did cheat, and you have been a [censored] to us, especially Jericho. I don’t know if you meant it, but just watch yourself from now on. Jericho was right…the next merc won’t be as nice.”

Without letting Rex respond, David gathered his gear and headed outside to meet up with Jericho. Ironically enough, the rain had for the most stopped, and was now more of a slight drizzle than anything.

“You ready?” he asked.

“Yeah, let’s get the [censored] outta here.”




They walked in silence for most of the way. Then, as they reached the top of a hill, they could see the nightlights of Megaton just a few miles away. The light illuminated the sky so brightly, so bright that David almost felt drawn to them in a way. It was so amazing to him how well people could live with each other in one large community. He himself had grown up in the southwest of the Wastelands, where there were mostly small settlements here and there; but for the most part it had been every family for themselves. David admired the people of Megaton. So much that he hoped to be one of them someday.

“I couldn’t help it, kid, and you know it,” Jericho suddenly said, snapping David back into reality.

“Huh?”

“Back there at that midget’s house…I couldn’t help myself. I just…I was so angry, you know? The [censored] would have deserved it though.”

“Oh…that. Well, you do get angry sometimes. Just…just try and gain control of yourself. He wasn’t a truly bad man, Jericho. Just lonely, that’s all.”

“I know. But I used to be a Raider, remember? And we did [censored] that I never want to think about again.” He shook his head several times, as if shrugging off a bad nightmare that wouldn’t go away. “It felt so good holding that gun to his head, having all the power. You know what I mean, kid? A gun is a powerful weapon. More powerful than words. More power than control. A gun is control. Remember that, alright? Who knows what’ll happen to me. With my quick mouth I’ll probably get my boat shot sooner or later. But hell…I’m still alive now, right?”

“To be totally honest, Jericho…you really are one intimidating sonofa[censored]. There’s a reason most people at Megaton don’t like to be around you. It’s mostly because you piss them off,” David said laughing. “But I do think part of it is that they know you used to be a Raider. Unfortunately enough.”

“Yeah. Bastards think I’ll just suddenly snap someday out of nowhere. You think that’ll happen? I think about it sometimes…I dream about it to, you know.”

“I wouldn’t look too much into it. It’s been what, ten years since you Raider days? If you haven’t done anything by now, I’m pretty sure you’ll be alright.”

David patted Jericho on the shoulder, who in turn just nodded. “Yeah…that’s what I keep telling myself.”

[redsrock]

Chapter Four: The Plan


Lucy West’s house was located extremely close to Moriarty’s Saloon, underneath it actually. One level below the saloon there were a few houses, Lucy’s being one of them. David didn’t know much about her, but he had heard Jericho talk about her a while back, when they first met. He said she had come from the city of Arefu, a small makeshift settlement on top of a broken down highway that looms high above the ground. Apparently the two had met in a bar, hit it off magnificently one long night, and that was it. Jericho had used some choice words to describe her, but then again he did that with almost everyone. Besides, David figured that both of them were too drunk to know what was even going on, especially Jericho.

When he neared her house, David noticed two of Sheriff Simms’ deputies guarding the doorway leading inside. The door was closed, and it was also padlocked tightly with a fairly long chain. David was to the deputies left, and there appeared to be in their own little world at the time, for they did not seem to even notice he was standing a mere few feet away from them. But then one of them wised up and saw him. He nudged his partner’s shoulder, who then also snapped back into reality.

“This house is off limits. I advise you to stay away,” one of them said; the one who had first noticed David.

“Where is Lucy West?”

“That is none of your business. Like I just said, I advise you to stay away. We’d sure hate to waste bullets on your sorry boat.”

David stood there for a few moments, trying to figure out if there was a possible method of buying his way into the house. But then he figured that was too risky, and that the faithful deputies would immediately turn him into to Sheriff Simms. So he walked away, heading for Moriarty’s place. If anyone could dig up information it was him.

He found Colin cleaning some of his wine glasses, humming the tune of one of the songs that played in the saloon’s jukebox. The jukebox was not on, but the sound coming from Colin’s mouth was almost just as loud. When he saw David walk into the saloon, he dipped his head down straight away and then turned around, as if he were trying to hide from David. David could have sworn he whispered something to his ghoul bartender, Gob, because Gob looked at David, and then nodded back to his boss. That’s when Colin left the area, retreating to his private quarters and shutting the door behind him.

Gob paid David no attention, not even when he approached the counter. There was no one else in the saloon, for it was actually past closing time, and Gob was cleaning the last bit of dishes before he’d head upstairs to his permanently-rented room. “Excuse me, Gob, can we talk for a few seconds?”

Still he did not look up from his dishes, but Gob was trying to do his best at keeping a normal face. “Sorry, Davie, the saloon is closed.”

“I know, but I’m not here for a drink. I’d like to talk to Colin for a few minutes.”

Gob laughed, a forced laugh, and said quickly, “Come on, Davie, you know Moriarty doesn’t like to be bothered after closing hours. Couldn’t it wait until later?”

“No, actually it can’t. It’s rather important you see. So, could I please talk to him?”

David started to walk around the corner, but then Gob got upset. “Davie, he can’t be bothered, alright? Just leave…”

“What’s wrong, Gob. Is there something bothering you?”

Gob opened his mouth to say something, but then stopped. He looked over his shoulder, as if to make sure Colin’s door wasn’t opened then looked back at David. “Davie, you gotta leave,” he whispered softly. “Moriarty doesn’t want you here. I don’t know why, but he’s awfully upset. Please, just go. He told me not to let you in at all costs. Like I said, I don’t know why, but please leave.”

David could sense the fear and panic in his voice. What the hell is going on here in Megaton? “Fine, I’ll leave. I suppose I can wait until morning,” he said, trying to sound as normal as possible, even though he knew it was no use. Besides, he had another plan.

David left the saloon and headed outside of the city. He found an abandoned house about a quarter mile away and simply rested on the living room couch. There was no roof, giving him a gently breeze that somewhat helped to soothe his nerves. He would wait a few hours until everyone was asleep, and then he would sneak back into Moriarty’s. He would then wake Colin up and force him to tell him what was going on. David had already decided Colin knew something that he didn’t want David to know. That was obvious after seeing him leave as soon as David had entered the saloon, as well as David’s strange conversation with Gob.

But why? Why does the Sheriff want Jericho out so badly? Why has it taken it to this much of an extreme? David did not know the answers to any of those questions. The Sheriff had for the most part seemed like a down-to-earth kind of guy. He hated Jericho, yes, but so did the majority of the city’s population. It just didn’t make sense to him. Why do all of this all of a sudden? And know that Lucy West and Colin Moriarty were involved, things were even more confusing than before. One thing he did know for sure was that Jericho was innocent. He had to be. That of course begged the question as to why the Sheriff would concoct such a ridiculous claim that couldn’t possibly be true. What if the accusations had stemmed from months back? What if that drunken night with Jericho hadn’t been so innocent after all? Alcohol is man’s ultimate poisoning. Whether or not he’d admit it, there was always the chance that Jericho had attempted to rape Lucy West that night, and that she had been too afraid back then to tell. But there was no way to tell…not until David had cornered Moriarty and forced him to give up the information he had.

At one o’clock in the morning, David headed back towards Moriarty’s.




Rain had begun to shower down upon Megaton, as if to dampen David’s spirits even more. Though it was a nuisance to travel in the rain, especially without a hooded coat, at least it provided him a bit of extra cover. After all, David was positive that the Sheriff would be having his deputies keeping a close eye out on him. It was the true that the Sheriff had no qualms with David, but it was only a matter of time until that changed. The Sheriff was a man of principles, and nobody could get in the way of that, not even his friends. David knew he had to be careful not to slip up, or else find himself it the same position as Jericho.

He slipped into the city through a side entrance that he and Jericho had discovered a while back. The deputies were obviously unaware that David held this knowledge, for he faced no resistance upon entering the city. From there he snuck past the usual sentries, finally making his way to Moriarty’s Saloon. The door was of course locked, but that didn’t worry David a bit. He simply pulled out a lockpick and carefully fit it into the lock’s groove, moving it ever which way, attempting to find that sweet spot that would unlock the door. It was a difficult concept for most, but David was somewhat of an expert. He unlocked the door within several seconds, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and then crept inside as silent as a falling feather.

There were no lights on in the pub part of the building, save for a two tiny lamps in opposite sides of the room. The door leading to the upstairs part of the building, where Gob stayed, was closed and locked. David walked behind the bar table and tapped the knob of Colin Moriarty’s private room. The stiffness told him it was locked, but getting past this lock was going to be exceptionally lucky. By looking at crack underneath the door he saw a faint light, likely from a lamp or candle of some kind. But despite that, there was no way of knowing whether Colin was actually asleep, and therefore he would be taking a chance on attempting to pick the lock. But he had to do it. There was no other way. So he cautiously picked the lock, but it took him a good few minutes, as well a good few picks. Finally the locked clicked, and David waited patiently for Colin to come running out of the room wielding a shotgun. However, that did not happen, and David slowly opened the door.

Colin was sleeping in his bed at the end of the small, cramped room, snoring slightly with his left arm hanging off of the bed. David wasn’t sure how to safely awake him, so he looked around for something to aid him. He spotted a dirty rag on the table next to Colin’s bed, and he had an idea. David did not care that the towel was covered with so much filth, because he was now willing to do anything to gather any information that might be helpful to his cause. He then took the towel and wrapped it tightly and forcefully around Colin’s head, and around his mouth where he could not speak, let alone yell.

Colin immediately woke up, not having a clue what was going on. But once he realized it was David that had blocked his ability to speak, he stopped squirming around. “I’ll let this rag go if you promise not to yell or fight. I swear I won’t hesitate to blow your head off if you make even the slightest move,” David whispered. “Do we have an agreement?” Colin nodded his head, and David let go of the rag and then stepped back a few feet.

For a moment Colin simply started at him. Though, it should be noted that there wasn’t any emotion spread about his face. He was a lot calmer than David had expected he’d be, and he assumed this was likely because he had been expecting this time to come. “You’ve finally arrived, eh?” Colin said, his face still as neutral as could be. “I was surprised Gob actually got ya’ leave.”

“So you know what I am looking for, right? I won’t have to force it from you?”

“Well…that depends. What do you want, and I’ll tell you if that’s what I was thinking.”

“Why is Lucy West’s home guarded by Simms’ deputies?”

Finally Colin cracked a smile. I tiny one, but a smile nonetheless. “Yes, I was right. The Sheriff told me you’d be coming eventually, which is why he took the liberty of giving me this here button.” Colin pointed towards a metal sheet with a red button attached to it. “I press this and I alert him, not to mention every deputy in Megaton. They are all carrying small radios in their pockets, you know.”

David almost stopped breathing when he saw the button. Then he looked at Colin, who was by now smiling wide ear to ear. “It sure would be a shame if I happened to push it, wouldn’t it, Davie?”

“You do it and I hit will shoot you. I swear…”

“Will you? I don’t really think so. You’re nothing like Jericho, aside from being a mercenary of course. Other than that, you two have nothing in common. He would shoot me, and think nothing of it. You? I don’t think so…not by a long shot. It’s not in you, boy, and for that you should be proud of yourself.”

David pulled out his magnum and pointed it at Colin’s face. “You think so?” He wasn’t sure what to think. Was Colin right? Was David really too kind to be able to shoot him? He had never before killed an innocent during his short life as a mercenary this far, but Jericho had. Most of the time David would reprimand him for it, but that was it. Besides, Jericho didn’t care. And David realized that was who he never wanted to be.

“Yes, boy, I do think so. It’s not a bad thing. Not by a long shot.”

David continued to point the gun at him for several more seconds, but eventually lowered the gun and put it back into its holster. He had been defeated.

“I thought so,” Colin said, chuckling afterwards. “But that’s okay. Because I’m a business man, and sometimes business have to break the rules they were asked to follow.”

David looked up at Colin pleadingly. “You mean…you’d be willing to help me?”

“I believe so, but only for the right price. I don’t do anything for free though.”

“Yes, what is it? I’ll give you whatever amount of caps you want!”

Colin put a finger up to his mouth to quiet him down. “Hush, boy! It’s not captions I’m after anyway.”

“No? Well what do you want then?”

“Before I tell you that, let me tell you why I was formerly ‘working’ for the Sheriff in the first place. You see, word doesn’t easily get around here in Megaton…unless it is I who seeks it. I’ve done a good job with this saloon, and I’ve made a lot of friends in the process. One of those friends happens to be a deputy of the Sheriff’s. I will not tell you his name, but he and I are as close as two friends can be. He tells me things when I ask them. So, when I asked him about Lucy West’s home earlier today, he told me truth. After I learned what happened, I was shocked that he told me to begin with. And not to long after I came back to my saloon, I received a visit from Sheriff Simms. I have no idea how, but somehow he knew that I knew what he had done to Lucy. I think it was probably more of a hunch than anything, since it is publicly known that I like to gossip. What can I say? It’s a bad habit of mine.

“Anyway, the Sheriff took me behind the saloon and offered me ten thousand caps to keep quiet about what he did to poor old Lucy. He gave me half of it on the spot, but I think that’s only because he never really had intentions on giving me the other half. So, I agreed to it, but the funny thing is that we never went into details about anything. It was as if…he just knew. It’s very creepy, and deep inside fear for my friend’s safety. Because, whether you know it or not, the Sheriff is getting crazier and crazier by the day.”

“I’ve noticed, but not until this morning when he arrested Jericho. Colin, there’s no way he [censored] Lucy!”

“Of course there’s not. It was all a lie, boy. A lie to get Jericho in jail. And there’s no way Lucy could have told him…because Lucy is dead.”

“Dead? How?”

“Unfortunately I don’t know that. My friend told me she was killed to make way for Simms’ plan, and that’s all he would tell me. My logic tells me it was Simms who did the killin’, but alas I don’t have any way of knowing that for sure.”

David sat down on a stool and stared at Colin in disbelief. “I…I can’t believe it. How could he do such a thing? Over one person? This is...this is crazy!”

“Yes, but the Sheriff is crazy himself. He’s been getting a bit loony in the head for some time now. He’s extremely paranoid, and my friend told me he’s always talking about people who want to wreck Megaton. Of course, it’s all nonsense…and the Sheriff is going insane. And that is where I come in. Once you rescue Jericho and leave the city, I want you to take me with you. My time here is up, for I fear for my own safety now.”

“That is all you want?”

“Yes, an escape from my own hell is all that I want.”

“This is just so crazy, Colin. It’s just so unbelievable.”

“Like I told you, boy, the Sheriff is becoming insane. There is no other explanation for it I’m afraid. So…do we have a deal?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Good. And I have an idea how you’ll get Jericho out of his cell. Leave here out the back and then sneak behind the jail building. I will leave the city and travel to the old abandoned Springvale School just to the northeast of here. Once I’m out of the city far enough I’ll push the button, alerting the Sheriff and his deputies. If they are as dumb as I think they are they’ll all flock to my saloon here, giving you time to free Jericho. I would think there would be a few guards that you’d have to take care of, but that shouldn’t be a problem for someone like you. How does this sound?”

“It…it sounds full proof.”

The two shook hands, and then David left the saloon, heading straight for the city jail.