by Neil Hunter
Keye’s knee delivered a second blow to Bodie’s ribs as the manhunter used both hands to put pressure on Keye’s hatchet wrist, twisting it hard. Bodie felt the bone move, kept turning it until something snapped. Keye gave a yelp. Bodie maintained his grip, bending the wrist. Keye’s fingers loosened their grip and the hatchet slipped free. Bodie made a grab for it, closed his fingers over the short handle. He struck out with the blade, the steel catching Keye across the side of his head, severing a bloody wedge of scalp. Keye, pinned to the crate, was unable to move aside. As blood streamed over his face Keye was barely able to see the hatchet rise and fall before the blade bit into his skull, cleaving flesh and bone, then cut into his brain. As Keye’s body went into a spasm, Bodie reached and jerked his knife free, letting the bloodied body slide to the floor…
~*~
…Tung and Traeger were standing beside a large wooden crate that had a large lit oil lamp throwing illumination over the paperwork they had been discussing. Alerted by the shooting they were on the defensive.
A figure moved into view, confronting them.
‘Nowhere left to run, Traeger. Your partnership with Tung ends here,’ Brand said, drawing their attention.
Brand had his Colt steady in his hand. He had holstered the adapted pistol, deciding the longer reach of his regular weapon would be more suited at the moment.
‘You realize the amount of money involved here, Brand?’ Traeger said. ‘When this deal is concluded we’ll be rich. You could have some of it. More than you could ever hope to see in your lifetime. I’m sure that must interest you.’
‘Only to be able to return it to the people you stole it from. And then hand you over to stand trial for murder. So no deal, Traeger.’
Milo Traeger stood beside Kwai Fu Teng. The Tong Master was dressed in a gray suit, his shirt gleaming white against his skin. Where Traeger exhibited a nervous manner, Teng appeared calm, almost serene. His hands were lightly crossed at his waist.
‘You have proved to be a competent man, Mr. Brand. As has your companion, Bodie. Rescuing the young woman from my people was enterprising. Two singularly expert people. A pity you work on the opposite side of the law. You have spurned Mr. Traeger’s offer of money. Is there no way I could persuade you to step across the line and join my organization? Look around at what I have stored here. My organization is expanding even as we speak.’
‘Even if I was tempted, Tung, there wouldn’t be much incentive. No point in joining an outfit about to be closed down…in the next few minutes.’
‘I can guarantee that.’ Bodie stepped into view, his own pistol leveled at Tung. ‘Game over, Tung. Your man, Keye, is back there. Kind of let that hatchet he used go to his head. So no last minute you get to walk away this time.’
The Tong Master nodded slowly, the expression on his face never changing. ‘Then we have no more to say.’
And disregarding the pistol trained on him the Chinese dipped his hand inside his coat, snatching at the slim-bladed knife sheathed on his belt. His move was a blur, hand going back, then forward as he launched the weapon in Bodie’s direction. Bodie had to give him credit for the speed of his action, leaning to one side as the knife flashed in his direction. It missed by a fraction, burying itself in one of the wooden crates nearby.
Tung had turned, preparing to conceal himself behind stacked goods.
The Colt in Bodie’s hand followed the man’s move. He put three fast shots into the corner of the bales that briefly covered Tung. They emerged in a dusty cloud of opium and fragments of the cloth wrapped around the narcotic. They struck Tung in the body. He was toppled sideways, stumbling to his knees as the slugs hammered home. Bodie stepped up and raised his pistol again. He fired a final shot that slammed into Tung’s skull and sent him face down.
‘For Henry Lee and Li Hung, feller,’ Bodie said quietly.
Traeger stared, open mouthed at the body, watching the blood soaking through Tung’s clothes. He drew his gaze away, easing his hands away from his body in apparent surrender.
‘I quit,’ he said as Brand appeared, stepping from the shadows a few yards away.
‘Damn right you do,’ Brand said. ‘Unless you want to end up like your partner.’
‘Never would have lasted,’ Traeger said. ‘I don’t think he liked me all that much.’
‘Can’t fault him there.’ Brand gestured with his Colt. ‘Time we got out of here.’
‘No argument from me,’ Bodie said.
Traeger stepped forward, showing little resistance.
As he moved by the packing case where he had been standing with Tung, going over the loading manifests, he let his left hand reach out. He caught hold of the oil lamp being used for illumination, swept it clear of the case and slammed it to the floor. The lamp glass shattered and spilled oil ignited with a soft whoosh of sound. Traeger kicked out at the lamp, the split base shedding more oil that created a burning pool. The glare of flame created a temporary barrier between Traeger and his captors, as it licked at the dry wood of the warehouse floor and the stacked packing crates. Smoke started to rise.
Traeger turned and headed towards the rear of the warehouse.
‘Sonofabitch,’ Bodie said.
‘Well he’s my sonofabitch,’ Brand said. ‘Take the outside in case he makes a break that way.’
Brand cleared the rising spread of burning oil as it ate at the dry, cracked floor and headed in the direction Traeger had taken.
No chance you’re getting away now, he promised.
Chapter Twenty-Two
It was definitely not the way he had expected things to end.
Milo Traeger realized the whole scheme had fallen apart at the seams and right now all that mattered was him getting away. He didn’t let the setback bring him down any further that accepting the facts. It was not the first time he had faced disaster and as with those other times he had reached the point where his survival instinct took over. It was one of his abilities to step away when disaster loomed. No looking back. No regrets. Simply forgetting everything except staying alive.
This was one of those times. Milo Traeger would melt into the woodwork, salvage what he could if possible, and move on. There would be other opportunities and he would choose one and start again.
He sped through the cluttered warehouse. His destination was the door at the rear of the building. He had located this the first time Tung had shown him around. Spotting it he had kept it in mind, then returned to the business at hand. He had not mentioned it to Tung. He hadn’t wanted to plant any suspicion in the man’s mind that he might be ready to walk away. Keeping Tung sweet had been the order of the day then. But with Tung dead and the business deal unraveling, Traeger knew it was time for him to retreat.
He reached beneath his coat for the pistol he carried in a holster fastened to his belt, held close to his spine. He jerked the weapon free and held it in his hand as he kept moving. Traeger had no illusions in his mind. He was no skilled gunman. On the other hand he would have no compunction to pulling trigger if it came to saving his life. Money aside, Traeger held that notion dear. If he died nothing else would matter, and Milo Traeger wanted to live for a lot more years.
As he slithered around the end of a line of bales his feet went from under him and he dropped to his knees. He fell hard, yet managed to keep a grip on the pistol. His left hand, thrown out to steady himself, scraped across the rough wood. He felt a sudden pain and almost immediately blood welled up from the torn skin.
‘Damn.’
Traeger scrambled to his feet, aware that his pants had been torn at the knees. He wiped his bleeding palm across his rumpled coat, breathing hard. Now he could feel burning pain where his knees had scraped on the floor.
Easy, Milo, you can always replace the clothing.
He made out the narrow door at the far end of the warehouse, part open so he could see daylight.
His way out.
His escape.
A smile edged his lips.
; He could make it.
Throwing a quick glance back over his shoulder Traeger saw the way the flames had risen and spread. If they kept up the whole warehouse could burn to the ground, taking everything with it.
He thought briefly about the consignment of opium Tung had stored in the place, as well as the other contraband.
All that hoard. What a waste.
The regret was fleeting. The loss didn’t really matter. Not now. Other things had become more important to him.
He stumbled again in his rush, falling against stacked bales. The uppermost bundles slipped and thumped to the floor. Traeger righted himself, pausing for a few seconds.
Something made him glance behind him.
And there was Brand, a pistol in his hand, moving in Traeger’s direction with a determined step.
Damn the man.
Traeger triggered his own weapon in haste, wasting a slug. Saw it blow splinters from a crate.
Yet Brand kept coming.
No hesitation.
The expression on his face was set. Giving him a mask like appearance.
Traeger lifted his pistol again, this time taking a moment to aim. His finger felt stiff against the trigger, hand trembling slightly.
His shot this time was closer to the mark. Traeger saw it clip Brand’s left arm, jerking it aside. He was sure he saw fragments of cloth torn free. He felt a surge of excitement. Set himself to fire again.
The shot came hard on his ears.
Not from his gun.
The lance of flame came from Brand’s Colt. A puff of smoke.
Traeger felt the hard impact as the .45 caliber slug hit him in the chest. He took a step back. His gun arm dropped to his side, the shot he was about to take exploding into the floor at his feet. The strike to his chest had placed the lead slug deep, shattering bone and tearing at his insides. He didn’t hear the next two shots, but felt them as they ripped into him. Now the pain made itself known. It flowered, grew, and Traeger was suddenly down on his knees. The brassy taste of blood was in his mouth and there was no time to think about anything…the warehouse began to grow dim in his eyes as he slumped against the close stack of crates.
He only felt a tremendous stunning blow when Brand put his fourth slug into his skull. Then Milo Traeger’s world shut down and he went into absolute darkness and utter silence.
Chapter Twenty-Three
By the time Inspector Hallows showed up at the warehouse it had been reduced to a charred ruin. Smoke hung over the area, drifting as the breeze from the bay moved it. A crowd had gathered, curiosity attracting them as such events always did. A horse-drawn fire engine finally arrived but by then there was nothing to save. With the Tung warehouse having been isolated from any other structures there had been no danger to other buildings.
Bodie and Brand had maintained a watch in case any of Tung’s Tong soldiers put in appearance. No one did. Smoke-streaked and bloodied they stood at the edge of the dock, too weary to do anything except be there.
In the buggy that delivered Inspector Hallows was Sergeant Kilpatrick, accompanied by Dr. Boyd and Richard Hunt.
‘You pair leave nothing standing in your wake,’ the Irishman said.
Boyd said nothing. He simply looked at the physical harm Bodie and Brand had suffered, making soft mutterings as he did what he could on the spot, making it clear he wanted both of them to return to his office as soon as possible.
‘I take it there are bodies in there?’ Hallows observed.
‘Tung. Traeger. A number of the ones working for them.’
‘Tung’s enforcer is one of them,’ Bodie said. ‘He told me he’d killed Harry Lee and the old Chinese feller Li Hung.’
‘They do say confession is good for the soul,’ Hunt said.
‘Yeah? Well his only got him a hatchet in the head.’
‘I’ll need written statements covering everything that happened,’ Hallows said. ‘I hope they cover my letting you pair take this as far as you have.’
‘You’ll get them,’ Brand said. ‘You’ll be covered for all this, Inspector. My department will see to that. I can’t speak for Bodie, but all I need right now is a chance to clean up and change into fresh clothes.’
‘How’s Jasmine?’ Bodie asked.
‘That young lady is doing fine, and looking forward to meeting her father as soon as he arrives in town,’ Boyd informed him.
‘That should be an interesting reunion,’ Hunt said.
He was right as it was.
~*~
Mid-morning two days later Brand and Bodie were at the station when the train arrived.
Along with Chin Yi Soong was the Lawyer Bainbridge and a surprise for Bodie, in the form of Ruby Keoh. The moment she stepped down to the platform she made for Bodie, hugging him with open affection.
‘Are you badly hurt?’
‘No more than usual.’
‘You always make light of your condition,’ she admonished. Then added, ‘And yes, I know, it comes with the job.’
‘It’s becoming unsettling,’ Bodie said. ‘The way you know me so well.’
Ruby’s smile only exacerbated his concern.
‘And this is Mr. Brand?’
‘Miss Keoh. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.’
‘And I you.’
Chin Yi Soong had greeted his daughter and held her close as he met Bodie. ‘Ruby’s faith in you has been proved, Mr. Bodie. Words cannot express my gratitude for what you have done. I am in your debt.’
‘No need. Seeing Jasmine back with you makes it worthwhile.’
‘Sir, you have saved my daughter, and my company. That man Traeger and his partner, Tung, would have ruined me and spread their vile opium across the city. But my greatest concern was for my Jasmine, so thank you again.’
Lawyer Bainbridge, a solemn-faced, lean figure, with a professional demeanor, shook Bodie’s hand. ‘If ever you need anything, Mr. Bodie, I am at your disposal. Never hesitate to contact me.’
Bodie had not failed to notice the way the lawyer gazed at Jasmine with more than just a professional eye, and the way the young woman returned his attention made him realize her own feelings.
No need to ask what’s going on there.
‘Mr. Brand, it would be remiss of me not to add my thanks for your hand in this matter,’ Soong said. ‘This was a sorry affair all round, but you are to be congratulated for your part. You can be sure Mr. McCord has been appraised.’
‘Just doing my job, sir.’
‘More than that,’ Jasmine said. ‘A great deal more.’
‘My sentiments as well,’ Soong said. He reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a buff envelope, handing it Brand. ‘This came for you.’
Brand knew what the telegram contained almost before he opened it. A smile edged his lips as he read McCord’s to-the-point message.
As they all made their way from the platform Bodie edged alongside Brand.
‘He a happy man?’
‘That’ll be the day. Looks like I’ll be moving on. He has something for me to look into.’
‘That feller gets his money’s worth.’
‘Doesn’t he. At least I get a few days to settle things here before I need to pick up on this. And more damn paperwork.’
They shook hands as they crossed the platform. Ruby was heading towards them, her gaze fixed on Bodie.
‘Seems you’re going to have you own hands full,’ Brand observed.
Bodie smiled. ‘You are not wrong there, amigo,’ he said. ‘You are not wrong…’
Brand picked up the satisfied tone in Bodie’s words. No regret there at all. It reminded him of Virginia and Adam. Maybe there would be a chance to see them before he took up his next assignment. He was determined to make it happen, McCord be damned, yet he couldn’t help but try to imagine what his new assignment held for him…
Brand and Bodie will team up again in
TWO GUNS EAST
From
Neil Hunter
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