Justice and Corruption Part 2 by Trevor N., 801

If you didn’t read Part 1 of this Fan-Fiction click on this: https://theswerve187.com/2016/03/01/justice-and-corruption-part-2/

“Thanks for dealing with her, Sally” the man whispered to the woman as the town gathered around the town meeting place.

Sally smiled at him. “No problem Adam,” she replied. “And turns out you were right after all,” she noted as she saw the spy’s expansive attitude being revealed to the sheriff. “I guess she was trying to keep John quiet.”

“Well, thank goodness you stopped her before she can uncover more of his secrets,” Adam sighed.

“What? I didn’t stop the blackmailer, I met her while she was going back to her house!” Sally said a confused look on her face.

“Wait, you didn’t?” Adam exclaimed. “Then who did?”

“That would be me,” someone said.

Both of them whirled around and saw a man with a smirk on his face walk toward them. “Hello, ther-”

“You smell,” Adam abruptly stated, holding his arm in front of his nose.

“Um, what?” the man asked.

“Adam, that’s impolite,” scolded Sally.

“No, he actually smells. He reeks of gasoline,” Adam sniffed.

The man chuckled. “Sorry about that. I work around machines all day long.”

“Eh, I don’t mind the smell,” Sally replied. She stuck out her hand. “I don’t think we had a chance to introduce ourselves. My name is Sally and, well, you already know Adam’s name.”

“Carl, please to meet you,” he said, shaking her hand.

“If you don’t mind asking,” Sally began. “How did you stop the blackmailer?”

Carl grinned. “Ah, just a technological wonder I’ve been working on. Finally got it working, though it needs to recharge for about a day after it’s used once.

“Impressive,” Adam admitted as he lowered down his arm, though a look of distaste was still visible on his face.

“So you’re the one who placed me in another person’s house!” John’s voice practically boomed across the town’s center.

John and the sheriff marched over; both with a dour expression on their faces.

“Explain to me why I shouldn’t lock you for intruding upon other people’s homes,” the sheriff said bluntly, glaring at Carl.

Carl started fidgeting as he bore the brunt of her stare.

“Because he saved self-conscious John over there,” Adam deadpanned.

“So?” the sheriff retorted. “It’s against the law. Didn’t you know there were laws? After all, if there weren’t any, everyone would be unruly!

“No, I didn’t!” was the sarcastic reply. “Who would have thought of the existence of laws?”

The sheriff was practically fuming at the provocation coming from Adam. Just before she attempted to tackle him to the ground, Sally intervened.

“It’s not a good time for lighthearted chatter,” she scolded, though her smirk clearly display that she didn’t believe that statement to be true. “Calm down sheriff. I know you’re stressed and all, but Katy, you got to relax.”

“She’s right,” John said as a slight grin appeared on his face. “We should be caring people and talk about this horrible town. After all, it’s what normal, sensible people will talk about.”

“Okay then,” Carl replied. “Let’s start with the mayor’s brilliant decision of designing and building a fancy crypt for himself.”

Katy chuckled, her stern expression dissipating. “Yes, what a great and inspiring leader he is. I mean, using the money earned from taxes on decorations for one person’s tomb instead of reinstating the police department or hiring new doctors is totally rational. He totally deserves that privilege.”

The group burst out with laughter at this statement. “Man, the foolishness of that is indescribable.”

“The foolishness of what?” a resonant voice sounded behind them.

Slowly, each of them turned around and came face to face with the mayor.

“Eh…” the sheriff mumbled.

“Oh, it was nothing of any importance,” Sally stated, though her eyes darted toward Adam and Carl, searching for aid.

Carl just started whistling, paying no heed to them. Adam turned his head and avoided eye contact.

“Well, as long as it is nothing serious, it’s fine” the mayor stated, though his gaze made them squirm.

He turned around and walked back toward his mansion.

“Let’s settle to an agreement,” John blurted out. “Never, ever, talk about the mayor again.”

“Okay!” all of them said simultaneously.

An awkward silence filled the air.

“Well then, now what?” Katy asked.

Suddenly, the clock in the town square rang 8 times, signaling the end of the day.

“Well, now we go to sleep and hope for the best,” Adam replied, his normally amiable attitude gone.

All of them started to trudge back to their homes; Adam suddenly turned around and walked toward John.

“Hey, can you do me a favor?” he asked John.

“Sure, what is it?” was John’s reply.

“I heard, um, rumors that the man on 3^rd avenue was a former friend of my grandfather,” he asked nervously.

“Yeah, what about that,” John inquired.

“Well, that old man seems to constantly stare at me, and I can almost feel like someone is wishing for my death,” Adam replied.

John nodded his head. “Okay then, I will try to find out that man’s relation with your grandfather.”

“Thanks,” Adam said meekly. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight and good luck to you, Adam,” John said as he walked down toward his house.

“I hope he can figure out what’s wrong with that man,” muttered Adam as he walked down the path to his home.

 

“Why should I side with you?” the woman sitting at the table asked as she tapped on the table impatiently.

“I know you don’t care who you side with, as long as you live,” was the cloaked figure’s reply.

“Your point?” the woman said. “The way you people would govern this town would be a tyranny. This town has very few peaceful moments. Your family taking control will destroy all possible chances of peace. Even then, your family’s brutality will expose you before you have an advantage.”

“My family’s identities can easily be covered up,” the other person claimed. “We will never be caught and will succeed in dominating this town.”

“There still won’t be peace…” was the reply.

“But the struggle for power will be no more!” the figure exclaimed. “Peace will come when all opponents are wiped out!”

“And that will not come in my lifetime, nor will it come in your time young man,” she responded. “It may never come. You know your family has been struggling for more than a century. If you take control, the remnants of the town will retaliate.”

“They can be stopped,” the man huffed.

“You still don’t realize. Even if they are stopped, you have competitors. Who do you think committed those… homicides?”

“Those are just minor criminals,” he scoffed.

“They are not just minor,” she replied. “The man named Adam knows firsthand of what they are.”

The man gave a surprised glance. “How does he know?” He inquired.

“His relationship with them is similar to, well, a prisoner to his torturer. He encountered some of those people before I believe,” she stated. “I think he said some of them aren’t even articulate and even enjoy the feeling of blood, which shows how inhumane they are. If you think those violent brutes can be defeated, you’re wrong. Their evasion of almost any threat is impressive. That’s why Adam hates them and wants to extract vengeance for their crimes…”

The man slammed his hand down on the table, interrupting her speech. His eyes filled with impatience and anger, he whispered: “If you don’t side with my family, I will personally kill you right now. And it won’t be a quick death, I can promise you that.”

A nauseating feeling came over the woman as she thought of what torture she might endure. She slowly nodded her head in agreement.

“Good, now I hope you will abide to our terms,” the man said, satisfied. He marched out of her house and soon all was quiet.