"I was in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, hunting elk. Long range, heavy game. Way up in the black timber, against the treeline. Didn't know for four days. A ranger came and found us. He, poor bastard. He had to tell us. There were four of us see. Gas millionaires. Fracking wasn't as bad as not having their blow dryers and fancy cars, Hollywood shut right up about coal and gas after Leviathan. When gas hit twelve dollars a gallon. Then people started making gasoline out of gas and using coal in interesting ways. Course that got the government looking and, well, you know what happened to the oil company executives. After the mobs killed forty or fifty of them, those prices magically came right back down, and as it turns out America is a net exporter of oil. Between shale gas, Alaska, the Bakken and oil shale." The man paused.
"Sorry, got sidetracked. I do that. Well, over the years you have made me a bounty killer billionaire. Yall killed Jim, James Edmunds. Me and the boys though. Well, you killed our wives and the boys kids. So we have spent our gas millions making you and all you touch an affliction.
"Thanks, by the way. Your original bounties on you 'Nine' were hundreds of millions. Now every time you recruit a new one they are automatically worth a million. Still have to pay the taxes but we started a family bank.
"You recruit the absolute worst of the worst. Amazing really. Lots of them already have bounties. Is that how you do it? Do you look at the bounty list?
"Now I know you are going to slip away again, thought we should send you another tally video though. Turn your head or this off if you are squeamish at all Jack. Some people have written the bounties so we get more money for some really heinous shit we do to your 'Nine'. Oh we added a part at the end though, tells what we get paid for each act we do to you before you die. Don't know about that make you squeal like a pig part. Fifty million is a lot of money, me and the boys aren't into sexual violence though, diametrically opposed to it really. Might have to hire in some help, one of them boys that has been in prison maybe. Oh well, figure it out when we catch your slippery a- uh self.
"One last thing Jack, would you be willing to recruit some people specifically? We put together a list of names with some big bounties. Lot of cartel capes, big money Jack. Plus they might even survive us." The man on the video grinned. It was an engaging expression. His whole face, including his steel gray eyes lit up.
Jack Slash watched the video. It was running nearly on a loop on all the networks, the torture blurred out and the screaming muted, still it didn't take a genius. He rubbed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose before chuckling "The Jones boys have a higher body count than the Nine."
The waitress snorted "More money too. They collect the bounties on everyone in range when they get started hunting. Handsome, at least the patriarch, Keith. Happy kinda fella. Jovial they call it. The boys are a bit intense. Still, good looking boys though. I heard from a girlfriend that Keith will stop and talk to people. More than talk she said too. She was driving a brand new truck and is a waitress too. Kinda hoping they stop in here. Well since you are here, and I called their toll-free number Jack. That blue plate special is on the house."
Jack felt the knife in his pocket and sighed. He turned and saw the floor waitress with the gun pointed at his head. He turned back to the counter waitress "A piece of pie Sherrel?"
Sherrel nodded "You just put them knives on the counter. You probably got a few hours. The Jones boys are still tied up with the PRT. If history is a guide. You know how they like to whine and threaten, then the heroes have to get in their chest beating and whining."
Mary added from behind him "Nice and easy. Turn your pockets out. You stay calm and do like you are told and we won't collect your bounty. It is going to take a while for the Jones to get here. You should look over the list like Keith said. You can slip right down to the Nogales crossing before dawn. We'll stay open to talk to the Jones boys. We got a motel we can clean a couple rooms up in. Hasn't had any trade in a while but they need their rest. They spent what, eight days killing your latest crew? I know they don't sleep indoors while they are hunting. They won't turn down a shower, good food, and a bed."
Jack finished pulling an amazing array of knives from his person and placing them on the counter "That is some amazing chicken fried steak. Or some company?"
Mary chuckled "There are a few of us girls around."
Sherrel gave him a look as she finished putting the knives into a M2A1 ammo can with a hasp and lock "Just you never mind Jack Slash. Mind your business and eat your pie. I'll give you the key to this when you leave. I'm adding ten dollars to your check for the can and lock. That series two hundred should hold until you get out of town, by then you should be running fast. No capes here about. Some ranchers on the ragged edge of foreclosure though. They might make a try. Your country roads trick won't help you when they get hunting. Best bet? Eat up and head south."
Jack smiled "Yes ma'am."
Mary shuddered looking at the TV "When did you pick up Windigo? How even, he was crazy as a bed bug. I can believe somebody wanted his skin. Hard to believe the boys got it off in one piece with a golf ball and a winch. I knew it worked on deer, but humans skin isn't that tough is it?"
Jack sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Hunters, that's where they learned that trick."