Night Seven Summary
CountArach was lost in thought about his French estates destroyed during the war and the circumstances that brought him to Fatlington -- vineyards torn and burned, the chateau a shell housing pigeons.
“Comte de Rien” he muttered to himself with a hint of bitterness.
The taxi came to an unexpected halt, interrupting his reverie.
“Sorry Mac, there's a crowd jammin’ things up,” said the hack. “Some group of Christer’s I think. I could try Baltic through Chinatown, but I don’t trust them Japs much, not after Pearl.”
Arach began to reply, but thought better of it. He suspected that an explanation of the difference between China and Japan would be wasted on the driver. He also knew Chinatown would take him out of his way. Arach threw enough to cover the fare in the front seat and stepped out of the cab. They were only 6 or 7 blocks from the Library, he’d just walk over, pay his fines and head home.
The reason was clear. There was a small but loud man preaching from the back of a truck. Arach couldn't help but listen as he worked his way through the crowd.
”Do not think the Lord will simply let filth into His House,” shouted the holy roller! “'The Lord is just and His vengeance is terrible! Repent or face His wrath!”
<> Arach thought. < >
“Those with dirty hands, who will not have them cleaned, are worthy of death!”
Arach’s thoughts were interrupted when a man crashed into him knocking him back several steps. He fell, along with a couple of other men in a tangle of arms and legs. As the men stood the man who’d started the tumble spoke.
“You! You’re bleeding!”
“Huh?” He looked down. The man who’d informed him he was bleeding made the statement correct with a quick thrust from a long knife. Before the shock of the stomach wound had really registered, a second knife – wielded from behind – had ripped across his throat from left to right creating a bright fountain of blood under the glare of the streetlights above. Then the first killer got a good look at their target.
“Oh, Crap…”
He was looking into the shocked and uncomprehending eyes of Drisos. In seconds the light in those eyes faded and went dark. The two killers quickly bundled the body into an alley as the crowd dispersed screaming; dropping a white glove on Drisos as they went. Their stained coats would end up in a basement incinerator.
Somehow, in that small tangle of men falling on the sidewalk, Drisos had been outfitted with Arach’s distinctive hat and shoved forward to meet the fate of another. Arach would not sleep well, but he would live to muse again of France and better times.
Destroyer of Hope had kept very quiet throughout this horrible process. Rather than skulking around, however, he’d tried to hide in plain sight. Tonight, he was at a coffeeshop having a late supper. It was one of those pay-as-you-go places, so when it was time to leave he could just leave. Besides, there was a new coffee-slinger behind the counter every time; with that kind of turnover, he could save himself the cost of a tip. He was seated in the last booth, his back to a brick wall, and nobody at all was sitting at the counter. Safe enough.
Without warning, two men burst through the front door with pistols drawn. They fired shots into the roof and shouted for the other patrons to hit the floor. Destro just quietly drew his gun under the table while miming shock and horror on his face. As the other patrons and the counterman dropped out of sight, the two gunmen turned toward Destro – who was now facing them with his own pistol out and leveled.
“We’re two to your one,” said the younger of the two gunmen – being very careful not to move.
“Yeah, but your guns are pointed the wrong way,” said Destroyer. “You might get me, but not before I drop at least one of you. Any volunteers?”
“Besides, you’re outgunned,” said the counterman standing up, a leveled double-barreled 8-gauge shotgun in his hands. “Everybody always overlooks the coffee-slinger. Drop ‘em.”
Both gunmen dropped their weapons.
"Well, now," said Destro, placing his gun in easy reach and grabbing a note pad and pencil. "How about we start with your names and the names of your family members? Unless you want John Q. Public here to wax your asses – this witness will swear you were going for your guns..."
“Don’t worry about it.” Said the older gunman.
The other added, “Don’t trouble yourself about anything.”
The counterman adjusted his aim and blew Destro's hid – quite literall – off.
"Did you have to use both barrels? I mean that was a LITTLE excessive, you know," said the younger gunman?
"Cheap jerk didn't even leave me a tip," replied the faux counterman.
"Let that be a lesson to you folks," the older gunmen said to the hiding patrons. "Always take care of your servers."
The gunmen looked at the counterman expectantly.
"What's up," the counterman asked?
"The Glove" they said in unison. The older one continued, "you do have it?"
The counter jockey looked sheepish.
"Fortunately," said the older gunman, "I was a boyscout."
He removed a white glove from his pocket, dropped it, and they all made their way out into the night.
“Well,” said Seamus the next morning to the few who remained, “the results of our posthumous investigations have given us a ray of hope.”
“It would appear that both Crazed Rabbit and HughTower were Made Gangsters, so we can all hope that this mafia scum will continue to weed out one another. Both had criminal pasts, both were deserving of the chair by all accounts. Good riddance!”
“Another criminal who met his end is Warluster. I should note however, that though he was one of these “Wise Guys” we hear tell about, we don’t have any solid leads on his involvement in a crime land gang, though some accuse him of participating as a vigilante. We’re not even certain about what some of the witnesses were saying about his death – some of the things eye witnesses come up with are a little far-fetched to say the least.”
“I can also, sadly, confirm some of losses we suffered to be good honest town-folk. Pannonian was a townie of solid repute as was Kommodus. In fact, we have some indications that Kommodus was what we have nicknamed a “doctor” and had been actively involved in saving the lives of some of those who have been targeted for assassination. They will be missed.”
“Lastly, while we were able to confirm The Stranger’s status.”
The committee paused, while Fermanagh’s officers whispered among themselves. There had been some contention over this. Some people claimed he was one of the Dons’ protectors, acting weird to create a diversion. If that was so, he had done a splendid job. Others, however, said that he was nothing more than an obsessed townie who had a score to settle with the Mafia who he believed had killed his wife.
“Apparently, The Stranger had gone a bit round the bend after the death of his wife last year. He blamed the gangs for her death, so when this all blew up, he turned vigilante. We know he was guilty in connection with at least one murder – AndrestheCunning – but it would appear that he was, after all, just another townie.”
Seamus put away his notes.
“Gentlemen, and Lady, I wish you continued success.”
OOC
The Butcher’s Bill so far:
Attacked: Proletariat (N1), Sasaki Kojiro (N1), Redleg (N2), Moros (N3), theRTWGuru (N3), JimBob (N6), CountArach (N7)
Lynched: Kralizec (D2) [mafia don], Beirut (D3) [mafia made], pevergreen (D4) [mafia don], Lord Motep of Kendermore (D5) [townie], The Stranger (D6) [townie], Sasaki Kojiro (D7)
Murdered: GeneralHankerchief (N1) [mafia luca], Stig (N2) [wise guy], AggonyDuck (N3) [wise guy], Major Robert Dump (N3) [mafia made], Caius Flaminius (N4) [townie], Sir Boo (N4) [wise guy], Sir Moody (N4) [townie] AndrestheCunning (N4) [wise guy], Dutch_Guy (N5) [townie], Sigurd Fafnesbane (N5) [townie], Ultrawar (N5), Crazed Rabbit (N6) [mafia made], HughTower (N6) [mafia made], Kommodus (N6) [doctor], Warluster (N6) [wise guy], Destroyer of Hope (N7)
Suicided: Ichigo, (D2) [townie], Tribesman (D2) [townie], Copperhaired Berzerker (N4) [townie], Peasant Phill (N5) [townie], theRTWGuru (N5) [townie], Pannonian (N6) [townie], Masy, (D7), Xdeathfire (D7)
WoGged: MarcusBrutus (D5) [townie], Hepcat (N5) [townie], Ignoramus (N5) [townie], Zalmoxis (N5) [townie], Drisos (N7)
Day 8 Voting begins, lynch only, Redleg directing. Deadline: 1400 HRS EST
2/1/7
I have a 3:30 apt. I'll pM investigation results and night action responses as soon as possible hereafter. Thanks.
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