With three of the seven rapists of Hightstown terminated, Frank Castle was well on his way to sending them all to Hell. But this wasn't going to go unnoticed.
"Three of them! Three! Whacked in the last three weeks!" yelled Chief Detective Evan Wallace. "Motherfucking Frank Castle!"
"To be honest, I think Castle's doing us a favor," replied Lieutenant Christian Skye. "I say we let him knock off those no-pussy-gettin' fucks. They ain't gonna see a courtroom no way."
Wallace: "Keep your personal feelings to yourself, Skye. As much as I'd love to see Wade Keys with a closed-casket funeral, you have a job to do. That's why I'm making you Lead Detective."
Skye: "So I'm...?"
Wallace: "Yeah, Christian-you're in charge of bringing him in."
Skye: "Fuck me. I'd rather sit back and let him work."
"That kind of attitude," Chief Detective Wallace said. "is why your ass is in charge of this case. Let him go, and I swear I'll not only demote you but I will have you charged with obstruction of justice. Go pick your crew while I place a call to a certain Martin Soap of the NYPD."
"Kiss my ass, Evan."
"Bend over."
Back in Hightstown- Homecoming Night:
Rene Lucas was in the middle of his senior year. The time for Homecoming had come, and Rene was one of many boys who was running for Homecoming King. He had managed to use the "controversy" to gain a little sympathy and get people on his side.
But right now, he was in the comfort of his family mansion preparing for the big dance, surrounded by five bodyguards everywhere he went after the news of his three cohorts' deaths. This whole incident with Lacee West had ruined his life, but due to the fact that most of the town thought that all seven boys were innocent- Rene had become a celebrity, of sorts. He wanted to strangle that little handicapped bitch, but at the same time- he wanted to thank her for his newfound "fame."
The same fame that the others had, which had been ended by the hands of the Punisher. He heard about Frank Castle and the things when he survived his family's slaughter and resurfaced in Tampa.
He read about how Frank's whole family was slaughtered by a group of contracted killers which were later revealed to be hired by Howard Saint, a dirty businessman whose son, Bobby, was inadvertently killed in an Interpol sting.
Renee read about how the former FBI agent systematically drove Howard Saint to kill his best friend Quentin Glass and his own wife Livia, shortly before Castle seemingly ended the life his other son John (who is currently seeking the head of the Punisher as the mob boss, Jigsaw) and finally, putting Howard himself out of his misery.
In that order.
So now, Rene was wondering how he would survive the Punisher's onslaught. His bodyguards were trained to deal with common threats such as stalkers and stick-up boys, but how would they be able to fare against the world's best killing machine? And if they could find a way, would they stand a chance against Frank Castle?
Rene pushed the thoughts out of his mind as he stood in front of the mirror, straightening the tie for his all-black suit.
"Tonight," Rene said to no one. "A new King will rule over Hightstown. All hail... King Lucas."
The boy turned to his bodyguards and nodded.
"I'm ready."
"Yes, sir," replied Devin Lewis, head bodyguard. "Alright, boys! Let's move out."
Two bodyguards walked in front of Rene and Devin, while the other two covered their rear.
Outside the Lucas home was Frank Castle walking in the neighborhood. He saw the driver of a black Cadillac limousine standing with his back turned to him on his cell phone. He had been watching Ren all week. He knew the five bodyguards would be a problem, as he wasn't sure whether to kill them or use non-lethal means to put them down as he dealt with his target. The driver would've been a definite no-kill, until Castle heard his conversation:
Limo Driver: "Yeah, when I drop the "prince" off at his dance, I'll be on my way there. Your boss wants to buy at least four keys, right? I mean, it's not like the shit those urban fucks sell in Harlem. My shit is pure. Fuckin' tecatos would kill to get some of this."
A pause.
"Alright. Four keys, and he wants to pay what? Twenty grand? Man, heroin like this isn't worth twenty grand."
Another pause.
"Sixty grand each? Now we're talking. All right then, Alfonzo, I'll see you late-UGH!"
The driver's head bounced off of the top of the car before he was spun around.
"Where's the dope?" Castle demanded.
"I'm just a limo driver!"
A punch to the kidney loosened his tongue a bit, though not what Frank wanted.
"Fuck you, Punisher! The kid's bodyguards are gonna eat you up!"
Castle kneed the wise guy in the stomach before kicking the door onto his hand, forcing an agonizing scream from the drug dealer's lips.
"I'm on a schedule tonight," Castle said through gritted teeth. "Cut the shit."
"In the trunk! The dope's in the trunk!"
"Thank you," Frank replied, kicking the man in the stomach. "Now where's the deal going down?"
"At Valerie's Pub! In the alleyway! The guy you're looking for is named Alfonzo! He'll be looking for me at nine, an hour before the dance ends!"
"You've been a big help," said Castle, a stiletto shoe sticking the drug-dealing limo driver in the throat.
Luckily, Frank had came prepared and disguised. He was in a white suit with a matching fedora. It wasn't what the driver was wearing, but nonetheless Castle was in motion.
About fifteen minutes later, after Frank had dumped the body in the trunk, Rene and his bodyguards stepped outside. Castle kept his hat down over his eyes until Devin approached him.
"Where's Luis?" he asked.
"He called in, asked me to take his place," Castle replied.
"What's your name?"
"Francis."
"Well, you're gonna have to do, Francis," Devin said. "You know where the school is?"
"Absolutely."
No more words were exchanged as Castle opened the back door for the six. Rene got in last. For some reason, the boy just kept eyeballing Castle as he got inside the vehicle. Something about the replacement driver didn't sit well with the boy. Finally, Frank closed the door before moving to the driver's side and getting behind the wheel.
About thirty minutes later, after listening to the nonstop conversation between Devin and Rene, Castle made his choice concerning the bodyguards.
Castle finally managed to find a parking space that was isolated from the school. Out of his suit jacket, he pulled out an anti-personnel mine as he let up the window separating him from the back of the limo before sticking it onto the window. Before he got out of the vehicle, he activated the childproof locks and locked the windows.
Rene saw Frank walking away from the limo.
"What the hell is he doing?" muttered Rene. "Hey, get back here!"
When the "driver" turned around, Rene's eyes widened in horror at the shirt under the suit jacket.
The ultimate symbol of Death. The Skull.
The Punisher. And he had a detonator in one hand and was pointing downward.
Rene and Devin looked down in horror.
Sticky bombs everywhere.
"Fuck you, Castle!" Rene screamed. "Fuck you! I hope you burn in-"