Read Online A Song In The Dark by P. N. Elrod - Free Book Online

sufficiently powerful to send anyone else reeling. I took the impact like a heavy workout bag, swaying a little, but not really moved. Before he could go for a second punch I lifted him right off his feet and thumped him bodily against the truck. Several times. I’m tall, but on the lean side. I don’t look to have the kind of muscle to deal so easily with a 200-pound man. It stole the fight out of him and, once he shook his head clear, had obviously surprised him. Apparently Hoyle wasn’t used to being thrown around.
    He smothered his shock with glowering resentment but didn’t attempt any more punches.
    â€œYou,” I said, holding him upright, “are annoying me. Which means you are annoying Gordy.”
    â€œGo ahead and tell ’em, I ain’t afraid of Gordy.”
    â€œThen you damn well better be afraid of me.” I emphasized my words by smacking the side of his head with the flat of my hand. It must have made his ears ring, for his eyes went dull for a few seconds. I waited until he was able to payattention again. “Gordy put me in charge for a reason. He knew I’d be able to squash bugs like you with no problem if there’s a good enough excuse. You’ve given me a hell of an excuse with this stunt.”
    â€œYou are screwing up business! That singer shit owes me money!”
    â€œSo beating him to death will get it for you?”
    â€œIt’s to learn others!”
    I cracked him again. “School’s out. Gordy put me in charge to hold things, and I am holding things until he’s back full-time. Everyone else is clear on that except you and these gutter bums. Your second mistake was going after me. You got one chance to stay alive. Get clear of town by morning.”
    â€œOr what?”
    â€œOr I take you and all your apes apart like a Sunday chicken, only slower, and they’ll be finding your bones over these fields from now until next year’s harvest.”
    He held to a snarling expression, but his eyes flickered. He must have picked up from my voice that I was being literal.
    â€œYou got lucky, Hoyle. You didn’t kill anyone, so I don’t have to kill you. But I am annoyed. If I get even a hint that you’re only just thinking about being stupid again, you will be walking on stumps. Now pick these saps off the mat and stay outta my way.”
    â€œOr what, you tell Gordy?” He’d reduced serious business down to schoolyard-level snitching.
    Logic would never work on him, only pain. I knew a lot about pain. I hit him again, plowing tough into the hard shell of his middle. A strike from a bare fist is different from the boxing gloves he’d been used to; the force is more concentrated. Some men hold back to spare their hands. Thatwasn’t anything I needed to worry about. I stopped short of rupturing his insides, but only just.
    â€œOr,” I said, talking quietly right into his ear, “ I will kill you, Hoyle.”
    He was doubled down, and when he managed to suck in air, it came out again as profanity. Weak-sounding, though. No breath for it.
    Couldn’t let him get away with even that much. I dragged him up again and pulled his gun from my belt. He favored a revolver. I clapped it against the side of his skull to get his attention, then shoved the muzzle into his nose.
    â€œI will kill you, Hoyle. Same as you just tried on me—only I won’t miss.”
    To drive the point home, I threw him on the ground and quick-fired close to his head, using up the remaining three bullets. The gun didn’t seem to make any sound at all, but for Hoyle it must have been a hell of a roar. Arms up, he convulsed away from where the lead struck snow inches from his face, then held still, staring at the gun, not me. He must have known it was empty, but a jolt like that is not easily shrugged off.
    â€œWhat will I do, Hoyle?”
    Trembling, he looked up blankly.
    â€œWhat will I