Chapter Three: Chase and Murder

When Moon Knight, though a tad crippled, arrived at the bar, it was swamped by police officials. It was all right, the police would most certainly let Marc go through, but they would keep their eye on him. It was pretty much known that Moon Knight had something to do with it. However, the police needed his help too much to arrest him for breaking and entering or assault and battery.

Marc slipped into the bar as an ambulance sped away carrying an injured guard. Another ambulance took its departure slowly as the victim was dead. Moon Knight combed over the entire bar, looking for Junas. Perhaps the police had already arrested him. He stepped outside and peered into every window of every police car. Not one of them was Junas.

He was aware that he had not gotten a great glance at him, but Marc knew he would be able to recognize the fiend. Moon Knight went back into the bar as two more men were dragged out in handcuffs. Neither were Junas. He went and stood at the bottom of the stairs. Although he heard a rustling, he swore it to be police officers.

One by one his feet hit the steps, ascending him to the top. The two doors beckoned him. Odd, because the one to the left had been open. He jiggled the handle before swinging it open, revealing nothing. The light was still on, the window still broken. There was nothing new here, but the essence of it was still perplexing.

He turned and opened the other door. Flipping on the light, he revealed an empty office. Moon Knight, though compelled to do so, felt too tired and beaten to search the closets that he knew were empty. Marc flipped off the lights and closed the door. He paused for a moment before lifting his foot to place on the step beneath him.

Suddenly, he heard a strange noise. It was from within the office. He jerked around, took hold of the knob and swung the door opened. There was Junas, crawling out of the window to the alleyway behind the bar. Before Moon Knight could grab the thug, Junas plunged into the darkness below.

Moon Knight watched as the clumsy criminal move over the dumpster and run through the alleyways. Marc dove from the window and pursued the weak-minded fool.

Junas flattened beer boxes and smashed various cans and glass bottles through the back ways of gutters. He could hear the knight of the moon bouncing off the walls behind him, gaining speed as well as ground. His pistol was gone; he had felt it fall out of his pocket when he hit the ground, but he had no time to pick it up for Moon Knight was there.

The Bushman operative then ran into a warehouse. It was abandoned, but it would have to suffice for now. He leaned over as he staggered towards a group of haz-mat barrels. He plopped his behind on the ground and leaned back, taking a deep breath. Junas looked out a giant window near the top corner of the warehouse and caught the moon shining brightly. The he felt the presence of a man behind him. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard.

"Get up," the voice commanded. It was unrecognizable. The tone was much deeper than of anyone he knew. The person was still behind him, breathing on his neck. Sweat tore its way down the cradles of his face as he waited for the next command. Suddenly, two hands grasped him and spun him around. Before him stood not Moon Knight, but one of Bushman's officers, Gaersburg.

Junas let out a sigh of relief that also incorporated anger. Gaersburg only planted a smirk and then patted Junas on the shoulder.

"Gaersburg, you asshole. You had me scared to death."

"Yeah, well, there's no time for you to be scared. Bushman needs you. He says you have the list." Junas acknowledged the presence of the list in his jacket and nodded. "Good. Then we won't have to go searching your trail. Come on, I've got Lance in a car out front waiting for us."

Gaersburg started to walk past Junas when he noticed he wasn't moving. He looked at Junas a moment and realized he was staring at something. Gaersburg placed his eyeballs in the same direction of his comrade's and saw nothing. Junas began to back up, still frightened. Gaersburg looked at Junas in confusion as Moon Knight dropped down from the ceiling and stood right behind him. The truncheon was hoisted in the air for a brief moment before clashing with Gaersburg's neck. He fell to the ground, unconscious.

Junas continued to back up before toppling over a barrel that lay on the ground. Moon Knight stepped forward slowly, trying to place as much fear in Junas as he could. Junas reached for his back pocket to get his knife.

"Looking for this?" asked Moon Knight, holding the silver razor. "I got it from your pocket while you were scrambling down the isle." Junas froze. "Tell me, Junas; what was Bushman doing in that bar tonight?"

There was a moment of silence before Moon Knight became a bit frustrated.

"Look, bud. I could kill you right now if I wanted to and still stop Bushman's scheme. However, I'd rather let you tell me what he's up to." There was a pause. "Unless, of course, you'd rather end up worse than your pal here." Junas concurred and prepared to release the plan.

"Bushman has been doing a lot of business. Ever since he took that company, drugs are readily available for him to sell. We've got a small network set up right here in the projects. A lot of cash has been pulled in, and up until tonight everything's been running smoothly. Bushman went to the office to get the keys to the supply room. We've got drugs all over this place, in every little crud hole you can imagine. He was looking for the Skeleton Key; it opens every drug supply room door in the projects." Junas looked around. Moon Knight expected more. "What? What else do you want?"

"The names, the places, the records. I want everything."

"Hey, man, I can't do that for you." Junas almost laughed as he said it. Moon Knight pulled out a few crescent darts. "I'm serious, man, I don't have that access. I'm a top man of the streets, not the estate."

"Do you know how he took the company?" Junas shook his head. "How about the articles on Egypt? Did he ever say anything about that?" Junas thought for a minute.

"Oh, yeah. Egypt." He scratched his chin. "I think he said something about going there to get gold, maybe something else. I'm not sure, he never really said much." Marc nodded and started to exit, then stopped and went back to Junas. He held out his hand.

"The list." Slowly, Junas took the list from his jacket and placed it in Moon Knight's palm. "Thanks." He then proceeded to knee Junas in the face.

THREE HOURS LATER

Bushman was in another small office. On one end, two of his bodyguards stood with their arms folded. On the other side, Karl, Laury, and the escapee from the fight, Nickton, were all standing next to each other, nervous as hell. Bushman paced in front of them, back and forth with a revolver in his hand. He shook his head and grunted a laugh every now and then before stopping to look at them.

"In this revolver, six bullets can be held. Now, I'm not a big fan of Russian roulette, but I think this occasion calls for it." He looked at Nickton. "Of course, I'm not going to be playing, just pulling the trigger." He laughed. "There's only one bullet in this gun, so only one of you will get shot. I'm gonna ask a bunch of questions, and if you don't have the answer, I put the barrel to your head."

He started to pace again, not looking at any of them, only the ground. He stopped in front of Nickton.

"What happened at the deal?"

"Uh," he stammered. "This guy showed up. I think it's that Moon Knight character. He-he jumped in and just… just…"

"Wrong." Bushman put the gun to his head and fired. Nothing, just a click. Nickton swallowed hard. Bushman took his finger and flicked Nickton's nose.

He paced onwards, this time looking at each man as he passed. He then stopped in front of Laury. He stared at him for a moment, and then took a step and stopped in front of Karl. He asked him what had happened, and he responded with an "I don't know." Bushman laughed and put the barrel to his head. A shot and a click. Karl nearly passed out.

Laury started to pant. Bushman looked at him, no smile crossing his face. In fact, antagonism infested his countenance. He stepped in front of him, and Laury closed his eyes, breathing even harder.

"Where were you?" asked Bushman. Laury opened his mouth to respond, and Bushman put the gun in it. "Where were you, Laury?" There was still no answer as a tear streaked down his face. He scowled.

He pulled the revolver from Laury's mouth and aimed at Karl. A shot. A hit. And with that, Karl was on the floor. The bodyguards walked over and picked up the body and carried it out. They would be going to the garden, Bushman's favorite garden.

He dropped the revolver on the ground and went to the other side of the office. He disappeared for a moment, and then returned with a club. A night stick, to be precise. Both Laury and Nickton backed up against the wall, staring at the bludgeon. Bushman patted it in his hands.

Nickton looked out in the hall. He could see Karl's feet being dragged away.

"You said you'd only kill one of us!" Nickton pleaded. Bushman waved his finger as if to say, "no-no." He then wound up the club.

"No, I said only one of you would be shot." He swung the bat and smashed Nickton's jaw. He screamed as blood started to pour out of it. Bushman threw the club to the other side of the office and shut Nickton's mouth. He screamed even more, but it was muffled.

Before he died, however, Nickton caught a glimpse of the jaws glimmering in the dim light. The rumors were true; the teeth really did shine in dull luminosity. But the next thing heard was not a scream or even a whimper, but a rip. The whole of the Adam's apple rolled in Bushman's mouth. He spewed the chunk onto the wall. It bounced back and he batted it away with his boot.

Laury watched in horror. Bushman then turned to him and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Laury. I won't kill you now. You can still prove useful to me." Bushman then put his arm around him as they walked out of the office and towards the garden as two more guards dragged the new throat less corpse.

While Bushman and Laury proceeded to the garden, Junas and Gaersburg reported in at the front gate. Luckily for them, Captain Der Connent was at the entrance with a few other guards. Connent noticed and recognized the two right away. He shook his head and stalled his conversation with the sentinels.

Junas fell to the ground, breathless, as did Gaersburg. Connent stared at the two and then pulled Junas to his feet. He stared at him before letting him go. Connent told Junas that he knew he wasn't supposed to be there. In fact, no street operatives were supposed to be at the estate without Bushman's consent.

Junas became frustrated and tried to explain what had happened. Connent dismissed the other men to their posts. Junas then went on to say how he followed Moon Knight and saw where he resided. Connent looked at the estate, thought for a moment, and then back to Junas.

This information is much more useful to mehe thought. I'll be promoted in no time. "Tell me where it is, Junas, I'll make sure the boss gets the message." Junas was hesitant at first before Connent revealed his hunting knife. The Grant Estate? Odd, he thought, I never would have suspected there.

He pointed back to the abyss and Junas and Gaersburg disappeared. Connent turned and went back towards the mansion, knowing that his employer would be extremely proud.