Chapter 25 - Fearsome Scarred Jack

Drake and Higler reacted at almost the same time, shooting the man on the ground before he could do anything else. While Drake aimed for the shoulder, the ranger wasn't so merciful, and shot him in the head. It wasn't a pretty sight.

It was obvious why the murderers had started killing themselves. The one Higler was interrogating was about to reveal something, and the other was forced to shut his mouth.

Kneeling besides the one who was shot on the back, Drake checked his pulse, and shook his head. He was long gone.

"Who is Scarred Jack? Tell me!"

Higler grabbed one of the two remaining criminals by the collar, and shook him, but he refused to open his mouth. Giving him one last punch to quell his anger, the ranger let him go. It was about that same time that the couple stood up, the woman looking at Higler with a mocking gaze.

"They are too afraid to say something, Ben. But I'm glad to see you are always in shape."

"I'm happy to see you too, Anna. Did you know about the two me and Drake here buried?"

"No. If I did, I wouldn't be calmly sitting here and listening to those idiots."

"Uhmm... I doubt this is a coincidence. What can you tell me about Scarred Jack?"

"Later. Dallas Hotel, room 201."

The ranger nodded, leaving Drake and the other man somewhat baffled. Clearly, the two of them knew each other pretty well, but there seemed to be something between them. A barrier, per se.

"Drake, help me get this trash to the police station. We will see what kind of law enforcer this sewer of a city has, that they didn't come to investigate a gunfight. You, call the gravedigger."

Not in the mood to make jokes, Higler quickly ordered everyone around, including the poor barman, who could only nod fearfully. Drake was pretty sure the reason was unhappy wasn't because the criminals died - he probably couldn't care less - but because he felt like he had been tricked. Higler liked to be in control, but no one could control the life and death of others.

Still frowning, the ranger pushed one of the criminals out through the door, and gestured for Drake to get the other one.

"Until later, Anna."

"See ya."

Several people were waiting outside the saloon, a safe distance away. When they saw two people walking out, followed by another two aiming guns at them, they all hid in panic.

"Don't worry, people of Park! I'm a ranger, we won't hurt you. Those two are murderers, and we are taking them to the police station. Can anyone tell me where it is?"

For a while no one said anything, but then a woman stepped forward, and pointed to their left.

"Just walk in that direction, and you will find it. Although I doubt Tom will be awake after last night."

"What happened last night?"

"The same that happens every night. He drank until he fell asleep."

Drake frowned. Even if that Tom guy was too drunk to hear the shots, other cops should have heard it. Unless they were partying with him, or Park only had one law enforcer.

"Thank you, ma'am. Also, I'm going to ask you all not to enter the bar, especially the faint of heart. There are two dead inside."

Shocked exclamations sounded throughout the crowd. Higler wasn't exactly subtle, and, for most people - like Drake until a few days ago - gunfights and dead people weren't a common occurrence.

Ignoring them, the two men pushed the criminals to where the woman had indicated, and found the... Police station. The building was falling apart, the bricks and foundation showing, some of the windows broken. There were also many bullet holes on the walls, which intrigued them. If the captain or whoever was in command of the station was as disinterested for his job as he was described to be, why would someone attack the building?

When they pushed the door open, they saw a mess of beer cans and half-smoked cigarettes. A man was laying in a chair, snoring, a half-empty vodka bottle next to him. The man looked about fifty years old, with more than a few grey and white hairs. He had a badly groomed beard, and was using a dirty uniform. As they looked at him, he scratched his neck, mumbled something, and tried to find a more comfortable position to sleep.

Higler looked at Drake and raised an eyebrow. All his travel companion could do was shrug. The ranger walked towards a table nearby, picked up the jail cell keys that were just laying there, and threw them to Drake.

"Lock them while I try to wake him up. By the smell, it will take some time."

"Copy that."

When he came back, he found Higler still struggling to do his part. Clearly, Tom had had one hell of a night yesterday.

"Let Frainer try."

The Ifere excitedly floated towards the cop, and latched onto his head. After a minute, he suddenly woke up, his eyes wide. Frainer had messed with his dreams, while also having a good meal.

"You must be Tom, I presume. We got two new guests for you."

The ranger went straight to the point, while the cop looked at him with eyes still half-closed. His head was probably aching because of the hangover he was bound to have.

"Sorry, guests?"

"Yeah. They tortured and murdered two men just outside Park. We caught them celebrating in a bar, with two other companions. They are on their way to the graveyard now."

That got his attention, even through the hangover. His eyes widened again, almost bulging out of it's sockets.

"You killed them? Who are you?"

"I killed one. The other died by the hands of his friend. And I'm Ben Higler, ranger of the Confederation. This is Drake Stronter. You still have to introduce yourself."

Tom nodded rapidly, and got up before stretching his hand to Higler, who reluctantly shook it. Then, he did the same to Drake, who smiled. The man didn't seem like a bad person, only a bad cop.

"I'm sergeant Tom Manes, responsible for Park."

"Just you?"

"I know, it doesn't seem like much. Unfortunately, my two assistants were killed two months ago, during an attack of Scarred Jack's gang. It was also what left the station like that."

He had a defeated grin on his face as he spoke. It was the smile of someone who didn't like what was happening, but was powerless to stop it. Even Higler's expression eased a little, although not by much. He was stricter than Drake.

"What a coincidence. The two outlaws I just brought to you are subordinates to this Scarred Jack."

"They are what?!"

...

A few minutes later, they were all sitting in metal chairs, staring at each other. Well, Tom was staring at them. Angrily. He had tried to grab his bottle of vodka, but Higler had thrown it in the trash, saying he needed to be sober.

"Do you have any idea of who Scarred Jack is?!"

"No, and although everyone seems to know, they refuse to talk. One of these goons shot his friend in the back because he was about to spill the beans. So, how about you tell us who he is?"

"He is a monster. A cruel, vile monster. When he was four, his house was attacked by some Barbarians, who killed everyone. They thought he was dead too, but he wasn't. However, his entire face got deformed from that, hence his name. He became a murderer and a criminal, who likes to do to others what was done to him."

He watched their faces closely as he finished telling the story, expecting to see fear or shock, but there was none. In his mind, he thought they must be absolutely crazy, or they were idiots.

"He is a scum, I get it. But why are you so afraid of him? You are a cop, for f*ck sake!"

"You don't live here. If you saw what he did to those who go against him..."

"And yet, you are still here. Doing nothing, that's true, but still wearing that uniform."

Drake's words were like pouring salt in the wound. Tom stared at him blankly, while Higler gave him a thumbs up.

"I-I... It's a job, and somewhere to live. As long as I don't bother him, he let's me be."

"Is that so?"

"Look, man! Rangers or not, you are going to die if you go against him! Don't drag others into your mess. It's better to be a coward alive than a brave dead, isn't it?"

Drake sighed, and got up. He was disappointed. For a moment, he thought their arrival would reawaken Tom's fighting spirit, but it wasn't enough.

"If you think so, then that's on you. Let's go, Ben."

"Roger that, partner. As for those two, Tom, you can do whatever you want. Keep them here, free them, we don't care. The decision is up to you."

Having said that, they both left, going to meet Anna and the other man at the hotel. Drake was still curious as to who they were. Meanwhile, Tom stared at them for a long time, his fists clenched.