Killer Be Killed (The Frontier Book 1)

by Travis E. Hughes

  Krave’s chest slowed its rapid rise and fall. This made Roslyn nervous. He was about to do something and more than one of them would be dead before the rest could end it. If anyone hesitated it would be over. She tried to remember what his M.O. was, in regards to how he attacked. It was vicious and lethal, that she could recall.

  “Why, Krave Allison,” said another voice that seemed to echo off the buildings from a dark alley behind him. “Whatever did that man do to you to deserve such profane and vile handling?”

  Dogg stepped into the dim electric lights out of the alley with his two nickel-plated pistols pointed at Krave. Krave turned and softened when he saw Dogg Holly had joined the standoff.

  “He tried to hide a diamond up his ass,” Krave said, almost calmly now. His eyes were still wild but his chest seemed slightly deflated. “They say there’s diamonds all over this camp.”

  Talbert’s gun went off beside Roslyn, causing her to jump. Krave dropped to the ground, flopped a couple of times and fell asleep. The crowd cheered.

  Working quickly, Hattie and Roslyn rushed in to wrap his wrists and ankles in Da’akvine. Roslyn examined Krave’s gun. It wasn’t fancy. There was no special plating on the handle. But it was responsible for the deaths of over a hundred men. He killed for sport. Dogg, she reasoned, killed in defense. Even though he would purposely provoke a fight, in order to defend himself. He didn’t pick them with people he knew he could beat either. Krave, on the other hand, killed anyone who crossed him. She confiscated his gun and slipped it into the back of her pants. The barrel found a slippery entrance thanks to her butt sweat.

  “You and that conscience of yours,” Dogg said, approaching the sleeping monster. “I was about to do this world and the next a favor and put that animal down.”

  “Everybody needs to move it along, now. It’s over,” yelled Wyatt to the crowd, waving them away.

  “It’s not our place to kill him,” Hattie said, looking up at Dogg.

  “So what of the innocent people who have and will die because of this man? Far as I’m concerned, this man is no longer a human being,” Dogg aimed his gun, but Hattie moved in the way.

  “There’s no honor in killing an unconscious man,” Roslyn said, stepping beside Hattie.

  “What’s wrong with you people? I swear,” Dogg asked, shaking his head. “Do you know who this is? What he’s done?”

  “But is that how you want people to explain how he died?” Roslyn asked, trying another route. “That you killed him while he was sleeping?”

  Grace came running around the corner and froze when she saw the scene.

  “Dogg? Are you okay?” she asked.

  He nodded and kissed her.

  “Do the right thing,” Roslyn said.

  Dogg snorted, coughed and looked away. “Fine. When he wakes, I’ll fight him fair and be done with it.”

  “That’s right,” Grace said, nibbling his ear. “My Dogg’s not afraid of anyone.”

  Roslyn’s heart plummeted. Fear swam up beneath her. Krave Allison wasn’t like anyone. Maybe only Wes Hardy would be considered on par, if not more lethal. If Krave Allison was Ronaldo, Wes Hardy was Messi. Dogg was a celebrity, he was that dangerous, but he wasn’t demonic. Those last two were true serial killers.

  Was Dogg committing suicide the way he’d planned since he’d gotten sick? To him, she reasoned, it was a win either way it fell.

  Star Belly stepped out of the thinning crowd and approached them. Drago stood beside her, shotgun in hand.

  “So tell me, Drago,” Star said, pointing to Roslyn and Talbert. “Are these the people that robbed you?”

  Drago took a moment. He caught Roslyn’s eye. She squinted briefly.

  “Excuse me,” Dogg said, turning Star’s gaze to fall upon him.

  Upon realizing to whom the voice belonged, Star’s entire demeanor shifted. She lost the scowl that usually folded across her forehead.

  “The way I see it, ma’am, you were not robbed at all,” Dogg said. “But seeing as how there are no laws out here, I suppose we’ll let that ride. However, while there are no laws, there is a code. Now, that code is what we people of honor abide by, darn near religiously.”

  “I know you think you’re all tough as shit and, hell, I know you are all they say, but even then, you’re one man. Do you have any idea how deep my bench is?”

  “Oh, but wouldn’t I like to find out?” Dogg winked and chuckled.

  “Dogg,” said Grace, slapping his arm.

  “I’m only joking, my dear,” Dogg said.

  “Hey, Tub of Shit,” Talbert called to Drago.

  Drago glanced up. Talbert brushed back his jacket. The two squared off. Talbert stunned him before Drago could draw. Suddenly Star’s entire posture changed. She looked at Earl Wyatt and Bat Matters. Talbert turned on them, gun holstered but hands ready to cross draw.

  Dogg strode toward them with fingers on nickel plating. He stopped when he formed a triangle with Matters and Wyatt.

  Both sides stood motionless. A buzz that was felt but not heard, rented the air.

  “This won’t end well for anybody,” Roslyn said in her loudest and most authoritative voice. “There’s a better way.”

  “She’s right.” Star said in a calm, somber tone. “We’re going home.”

  Talbert had scared her. That was either a good thing or a very bad thing. Was she walking away to fight again later? Of course she was.

  “What the hell does that mean?” Wyatt asked.

  “It means stand down,” Star said on the edge of shouting. There seemed to be a bit of confusion and disbelief. Wyatt and Bat shook their heads. Wyatt’s back was raised.

  But, reluctantly they followed her to the corner.

  “I wanted to see who wins in the fight between Dogg Holly and Krave Allison,” Bat Matters said. His cowl was down and his goggles rested around his neck. He wore a long white scarf that was wrapped around the outside of his black riding cloak.

  Star hesitated and a funny expression slipped over her otherwise pissed off face. It was the look of a girl deciding to do something mischievous. She too was curious to see the spectacle.

  “Too bad there’s not more time, we could set up a venue and charge tickets,” Star said, tilting her head. “Go collect the odds, take bets out here in the street.”

  “What?” Wyatt said. “We’re security, not bookies.”

  “Really? And that’s why you’ll always be security. Not much more,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re going to leave all this money just sitting out here? Come on, dude.”

  “What gives us the right to do that?” asked Wyatt.

  “Seriously?” she rolled her eyes. “We have the guns.”

  “They have the guns,” Wyatt nodded back down the street at Talbert, Dogg, Grace, Hattie and Roslyn, all packing. Roslyn tried to look the other way. “That guy working security for those two ladies, shit if he’s not just as fast as Dogg. He shot Krave Allison before anyone could flinch.”

  “With a stun gun? That’s what I don’t get,” Star said. Then the transmission fuzzed out. The minibud in her ear, which she’d taken from the armory back on Shiva, crapped out. Of course it did. Dad let it all go to shit.

  But she’d heard enough to let the mole tunnel inside. Star suspected something. Roslyn pulled Hattie aside. A quick discussion sent her toward Dogg, who was seated on the porch of the nightclub, feet up on the railing, hands behind his neck.

  Was it all just an act? Roslyn couldn’t decide. How could he not be afraid? Had he accepted his death? Hattie leaned against the railing, next to his boots. Dogg slid his boots down the rail a bit, away from her personal space. He glanced at Grace who sat in the rocking chair next to him. She took a swig from her flask.

  “I’ll have some, darling,” Dogg said, holding out his hand for the flask.

  But she shook her head. “You need to be sharp today, Dogg. Maybe just one more drink and that’s it.” She gave him the flask. He unscrewed the top and took a long s
wig. While his head was lifted and his eyes were closed, Roslyn walked across the porch. Resorting back to her days in New York, picking pockets, she examined his nickel-plated gun. She contemplated confiscating it, but decided against it.

  “Okay, okay, is enough,” Grace said, taking the bottle out of his mouth.

  Dogg held the last gulp in his mouth for a long time, feeling the burn, enjoying the burn. Roslyn eased down behind Dogg.

  “I’m right as rain, now, darling,” Dogg said, swallowing. His grin lifted the edges of his mustache.

  “I know you are, my moon,” Grace said, kissing him.

  “Well, now, darling, I don’t mean to be fussy but aren’t you my moon? I mean, if one of us were the satellite of the other, I mean, wouldn’t it be the other way around? Just for the sake of argument, darling. If not, perhaps we are each other’s moons?”

  “That’s not the right saying?” Grace asked.

  “It’s fine, dear,” Dogg said, putting his hand on her forearm.

  *

  “Go on,” Dogg said loudly. “Give him back his gun.”

  Krave took a few moments to blink and wobble as he stood there in a clearing of a large crowd. Star offered the front of her hotel as a venue. It seemed logical enough that they all agreed.

  Talbert and Wyatt stood him up. They’d carried him on a hover sled to the venue. Then Talbert unstrapped him, while Wyatt held him at gunpoint. Dogg stood twenty paces up the street. A thin, hand rolled cigarette dangled from his placid lips.

  Balconies and roofs were crowded. Star’s androids served beer and wine and whiskey to as many people as they could. Talbert, also now drawn and aiming, backed away from Krave. Wyatt did the same in the opposite direction.

  Star basked on her hotel balcony, seated beneath a colorful umbrella and sipping wine. Drago had just awoken and was still fairly drowsy. He took the seat next to Star. The perfect number two. Like a perfect, chubby little lap dog.

  Were they sleeping together? Roslyn wondered. The way he operated, only further affirmed her suspicion. The slick bastard probably slept with all kinds of women. Sleeping with Star was a political move on his part, she reasoned.

  Roslyn and Hattie stood in the bed of their hover truck, guns ready.

  Krave shook his head and growled. It came from deep within his chest.

  “I apologize, Mr. Allison,” Dogg said cordially. “It turns out I’m a man of honor after all. While logic would have me kill you while you slept. I, on the contrary, decided to fight you fair and square, sir. In a gentleman’s duel, of course. I mean, is there really any other?”

  “What the fuck’s happening here?” Krave said, looking around at the gathering crowd. “We putting on a show? They sell tickets to this shit? The fuck’s this?”

  “This is the day you die, Krave Allison. Any last musings you’d like to try and piece together right quick?”

  “Yeah. Where the fuck’s my cut? I’m coming for my cut when the work’s done.” Krave finally seemed awake. The booze and stun bolt didn’t combine well for most people. There had been plenty of time for Star to organize and find ways to make a profit, while Krave slept off both the booze and the stun bolt.

  Roslyn glanced up at Star on her balcony. She was grinning, but it looked painfully phony. Roslyn almost felt sorry for her again. But there was something to be said for her standing out there against the kind of animals she did. It was admirable. Roslyn had to admit that much.

  “Now, Mr. Allison, are you human enough or civilized enough to conduct yourself as a gentleman and abide by the rules of this here duel?” Dogg asked, sweat beading on his pale, grey brow. “Or shall I kill you dead the moment your hand touches steel? Go on, give him his sidearm.”

  Talbert sighed and tossed the pistol into the mud in front of Krave. Krave looked up at Dogg and then once again back down at the gun in the mud. He stepped forward, bent down and plucked it from the muck. He seemed half surprised that Dogg let him stand up with it. Nodding, as if to say he’d play along if that’s how Dogg wanted it, Krave began to step sideways. Dogg stepped in the opposite direction.

  The two men circled each other.

  “Say when,” Dogg said, circling closer and closer to the barrel-chested, bearded monster. The entire crowd fell silent. The wind soloed.

  Dogg’s cigarette had burned down to a roach. Smoke curled out one nostril to enter the other.

  “Go on, now. Say when,” Dogg said and drew just as Krave did. They shot at nearly the same moment and both men fell to the ground.

  PART THREE

  CHAPTER ONE

  Talbert drove the hover truck that carried Krave Allison’s body. Drago rode shotgun and Earl Wyatt road in the back with Krave.

  “You’re awful gods damn fast, Mr. Brown,” Drago said, looking out the window of the cab. He rubbed his chest. A row of trees shuffled along a ridge, searching for moister ground. “How come I’ve never heard of you?”

  “I don’t go around killing people, that’s why,” he lied and kept his eyes forward, watching the path zip by below them.

  “I guess I’m grateful of that,” Drago said, looking at his chest by unbuttoning his vest and shirt. There was a large blue circle outlined in yellow. He was having trouble taking a full breath. His ribs were either cracked or bruised.

  At the edge of the camp, Talbert pulled into the shuttle stop’s roped off parking lot. The rope distinguished the lot from a mud patch; that and the occasional shuttle making a stop.

  “She give you enough money to get Mr. Krave Allison far away from here, far enough so he won’t ever come back?” asked Talbert, turning off the truck.

  Drago shrugged. Talbert could feel it brewing. He just didn’t like this guy. He wanted to slam his fat head into the glass.

  They both jumped out, landing at the same time on opposite sides of the cab. Talbert caught Drago’s eye. He looked leery, watching him. Talbert shook his head and looked away.

  “Good thing about stunnin’ these idiots, you get to do it again,” Talbert said and headed back toward the bed. Pushing a button lowered the bed and Wyatt climbed off. All three men drew their pistols and aimed at Krave Allison, stirring awake.

  Krave moaned keeping his eyes closed, but slowly turning his head back and forth.

  When he did finally open his eyes, he frowned and tensed.

  “Mr. Allison,” Wyatt explained. “You’re going to go to New Oldtowne on the next transport shuttle that comes by. You are not welcome to New Vegas again. If you do, we’ll kill you for real next time. Okay? Do you understand me?”

  Krave’s eyes took turns meeting each of theirs. They formed a triangle around him.

  “What the fuck happened?” asked Krave, trying to assess his situation.

  “You were in a duel with a man named Dogg--” Wyatt explained but was cut off.

  “Holly,” Krave said remembering but then not. “So what happened? He only stunned me? Everybody’s turning into gods damn pussies!”

  Wyatt snorted a quick laugh through his bushy stache. All three men nodded and seemed to agree with that last part.

  “Someone, somehow, altered both of your weapons to stun,” Talbert said with a shrug.

  “I would have lost?” Krave asked, tilting his head to the side and squinting, like that didn’t compute.

  “Well,” Drago piped in, annoying Talbert to no end. “Technically you would have won. You were hit in the hip, but you hit him between the eyes.”

  Talbert wanted to tell Tubby Shit Bag that Krave didn’t need to know that. It would have been better to believe he’d lost. Krave sat up, nodding, letting it register.

  At first Talbert assumed it was a tactic. But when Krave didn’t move after a solid ten minutes, Talbert realized there was more to it. He sat there, silently stewing, mulling over some grand idea that left him paralyzed. He’d been in the war, just like Talbert had, and had twirled in his share of slow dances with lady death. So it couldn’t have been the idea that he had almost been killed, holding
him in suspended animation. Talbert wondered if he was an android. A pair of smart goggles would assure him he was wrong. Bat Matters had those atop his head, but he stayed behind with the faction dealing with Dogg Holly waking up.

  Finally after twenty more minutes a transport ship circled and landed smoothly in the muddy lot. Drago paid the conductor and they allowed Krave to climb aboard.

  Krave found a small space to call his own and quietly contemplated the nature of life all the way to New Oldtowne. Though news would come later that he stabbed a security officer when he arrived in the new town; so much for his sojourn into the depths of his soul.

  *

  Roslyn waited nervously for Dogg to wake. Grace held his head in her lap, brushing his hair softly with her fingers. They sat on the porch of the newly constructed hardware store. Bat Matters stood nearby, gun at the ready, should Dogg wake up feisty. People said Bat was fast with a gun, but could he best Dogg Holly, who most recently went toe-to-toe with Krave Allison? She doubted it very much.

  Dogg’s eyes were already black before he opened them. That was the reminder of the slight difference between the two of them. Dogg had only clipped Krave’s hip. Had it been for real, Krave would have lived to brag about his very high profile kill.

  If her theory about hell held any water, the demons were starting to manifest themselves in men like Krave Allison. She thought about Hitler being born some time in the next fifty years. Jack the Ripper was probably already out there, walking the wet streets of some town that felt eerily similar to the London of old. Chindown had a London vibe, she thought. It was often a foggy night in Chindown.