03 - Eye for an Eye

Series - The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone

TUMB 03 All

This entire Book concerns the problems and solutions incurred when a bounty is put on Browstone's head by the Harriken. The entire book is therefore laid out by Chapters, affording a sequential timeline.

Chapter One

Reminiscing with Father McCartney about earliest years when extreme thunderstorm alert warning was broadcast . Curtail travel until Monday. Driving home, when Shay calls, warns him that there’s a bounty on his hear for $500,000, maybe more, so be careful, and whatever will be happening will be happening soon. His reaction was, “Bring it, fuckers. I’m feeling pissy, and I’m bored.” Checked out his armament - of multiple pistols, magazines, knives for stabbing, knives for throwing, potions, his amulet necklace, and even a few jammers in case drones showed up. New gray coat good for concealment. A go-case sat in the back seat of his truck, containing even more weapons and fun treats for dishing out death and destruction. Had one errand to do then BBQshow time – new series of Barbecue Wars: The Next Generation. A few minutes later, a mercenary pulled in front of the house and launched two rockets at the house, front door, and burning house. House exploded (gas line), and the merc drove away, satisfied he had killed Brownstone.

Chapter Two

They’d blown up his house, his BBQ grill and his signed recipe books ! And his truck! Wood and metal debris were embedded in the hood and the passenger window, including a charred two-by-four. It looked like some giant shotgun had blasted his truck. When he started it, Check Engine light went on. James warns firefighters of explosives in basement, everyone drew back, and a few seconds later it all went up. Called the Professor for help, a place to stay. Shay called, checking in. Just back from out-of-country archaeological stint, and heard the news. Brownstone vowed vengeance, and Shay wants him to wait for her, so she can help. James asks that if anything happens to him, she would take care of Alison, and hung up.

Chapter Three

Harriken leader Jiro Ikeda plans on how to eliminate Brownstone. Had put bounty on his head, and now Sergeant Cartwright (Graystone Mercenaries) was here to collect it, acting arrogantly disrespectful. Called the Harriken full of “jumped-up Yakuza bull—”. Jiro pulled a sword out from beneath the desk and had the tip at Cartwright’s throat in a flash. ( “One cannot demand respect. One earns respect through actions and demonstrations of one’s willingness to pursue such actions.” Jiro dirtied himself by relying to such scum, but with the local forces depleted the Harriken needed any help they could find. He would remember this Cartwright’s arrogance for the future.) Cartwright demanded the bounty, the Harriken would not pay up without the body, or at least the head. Graystone leader, Colonel Graystone, had never dealt with a total wipe-out. We took the original job on without enough intel, and we lost forty men because of it. We need to be more careful this time.” “No, we’ll let Brownstone thin everyone out. Once he’s tired and off-balance, we’ll finish him.” Brownstone goes to Police station, talks to Mack, who doesn’t want LA turned into a war zone. Tell that to the Harriken. Brownstone warns the police –“ The last thing anyone, AET or otherwise, should be doing is getting between me and the fuckers who come after me unless they want to get hurt.”

Chapter Four

Shay was worried about Brownstone. He might be tough and have a lot of experience hunting criminals, but he’d probably gotten too used to them not working together. Shay had witnessed the vicious beauty of a criminal collective focused on a single goal too many times to underestimate the danger. From what she saw on the darknet , it was ten-to-one against Brownstone surviving more than a couple of weeks. Location of last sighting given. Brownstone took his truck in to be repaired. Probably over $10K to do it. Do it. Needed to go somewhere safe, at least for a couple of minutes so he could get his bearings and take care of a few important personal matters. Saw Oriceran Consulate. James had heard that despite locating the consulate in a rougher part of town, crime near the place was all but non-existent. The Oricerans weren’t offering much of a presence outside of the consulate, but the fact that they were there had scared off most normal criminals. It used to be that death was the worst thing that could happen to a criminal. These days, a man could end up a zombie or have his soul sucked out. In the end fear kept everyone in line, no matter what planet you were on. Maybe will go there. Calls Alison, checking in. Looking forward to visit next week-end (if he was still breathing). Walked away. Not considering Oriceran yet.