EDENVILLE

Gun Running

By @silenttomorrows
Tom Fiddler stood, waiting near the warehouse for Stefan, Blake and maybe their boss to appear.  He had no idea how this was going to go; the mayor sat in the warm, in the back of his Daimler. 

It was cold and noises were few and far away.  Then Tom heard the sound of a vehicle approaching.  He stood alone, captured in the headlights like a scared rabbit.     The vehicle pulled to a stop. In tandem Drake and Stefan got out of a transit van, slamming the doors behind them.

They looked around, eying the surroundings suspiciously.  'Who's in the car', Stefan said bringing a hand gun from his jacket as he spoke.

If there had been enough light Tom would have looked a pale shade of grey, 'it's the mayor, the mayor's in there' Tom blurted out'.

'Drake said, 'Tell him to come here, and no funny business.' Then he produced a phone and quickly rang someone.    By the time the mayor was out of his Daimler a car had pulled up behind the van.  

The driver got out and opened the back door of the vehicle; a man smoking a cigar slowly got out, straightened his coat and walked into the light.  He didn't introduce himself. 

'Yes Mr. Mayor, you want to do business.'

'Oh I do, would love to. What have you got that we could buy? Guns I hear, could be a big market for guns in town, could be very lucrative, we could make lots of money if you're up for it?'

'Supply and demand Mr. Mayor, We can supply and all you got to do is pay, what do you need and how many?  I...'

The man was distracted by the sound of a cat jumping onto a dustbin.  He started speaking again, 'What you need to know...' Two women were walking talking and giggling along the pavement on the other side of the street.  Bianca, amazing in her long skirt looked up and said, 'Oh don't mind us boys'. She and Japonica laughed and carried on down the street.  Meanwhile Jethro Woodnick and Wilfred Bodger, aptly known as the rat catcher, came stealthily out of the shadows and put what felt like guns, but were actually screwdrivers in the backs of the boss and his driver.  'Put your hands up chum!' Wilfred said. 

'What's going on here? The boss said angrily.  'Call your men off.'

Blake and Stefan turned round guns in hand.  Blake turned back and pointed his gun at the mayor.   'Don't be stupid, do you want to see your gaffer dead?' Asked Wilfred. 

Stefan ran for it. As he ducked into and alley, Eli glided down a ladder from a roof top and tripped him.  Stefan went sprawling into some dustbins.  Ancient Boo screeched in disapproval and scratched his leg before meandering off.  Eli"s single punch left Stefan dazed. 

Meanwhile Jeremiah Sloane rounded the corner. 'Oh, hello', he said 'Which one are you, anyways never mind.  Put your gun in here please, there's a good chap. You see there's a sniper on the roof over there'

Blake looked incredulous and peered up at the roof, spotting the rifle sticking out from the shadows.  It was actually a broom handle that Eli had fastened up there earlier.  There was a clatter as Drake dropped the gun into the saucepan that the tinker Sloane was holding out. 

'You see, as Mayor of this town, if anyone has a problem I like to know about it.  This is a close community.  We like to sort out things the olde way.   Between ourselves so to speak.  Constable Breem appeared and started handcuffing the crooks.

'I have contacts, the boss snarled.  They will hunt you all down like vermin.'

'Not around here they won't', said Wilfred, 'that's my job'. 

Mayor Maynot said, 'Yes, well we have to be ready for any eventuality.  Did you ring police Sergeant Wendell, Breem?'

'He should arrive any minute sir'  Bream beamed .

The mayor continued.  'Well then, let's get this lot handcuffed together around the lamppost and we will all disappear.  Good coo for you Bream.'

'Yes Sir.  Thank you Sir.'

'You're going to so regret this' the Boss guy growled at them.

'Not as much as you will.  Eli , Jethro, help Pop Cloggs and Faye with this idiot.

'Where are you taking me' the boss shouted, now sounding alarmed.'

'You wouldn't like prison' Mayor Maynot answered. 'Amateurs. Pop, has Edith Churn completed all the preparations.'

'What preparations.' the boss shouted out as he was dragged away.

'Yes Sir, everything's ready', Pop shouted over the boss's remonstrations.  

'The Mayor said to Bianca, 'Get rid of the top mans car out side of the village somewhere please.'

Villagers started making their ways home.   Within a few minutes there was just the handcuffed crooks and Breem as the police sirens filled the night air. 

In the morning, as the good people of Edenville turned their radios on, they heard the voice of Corky Flute.

'This is Corky on REVfm.  Breaking news is that four gun traffickers were caught up to no good last night.  All are safely under arrest and jailed, thanks to the quick actions of Constable Breem.

It's come to my attention that Tommy Brooks took an M&M with him to school today.  When the teacher asked him why,  he said it's because it wanted to be a smartee.

And now a request from Edith Churn, an old Heavy Metal  song called,  "Ace of Spades"