Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Nine: A potent ace

 “Well that’s something that happened.” Giggles watched as the foreman left, looking quite chipper despite his injury.

“He should NOT be able to walk with that bullet in his knee!” Chuckles looked astounded.

“He knows what he’s doing, unlike you lot.” Daniel commented, picking up the Mystic Eight Gun.

“Wow, mate. Wow.” Lady Courage gaped at him while Chuckles and Giggles looked offended.

“Well, I’m off. See you losers later.” Daniel grinned, preparing to leave.

“Dan, please!” Lady Courage ran after him. 

He turned to glare at her.

“For the record, it’s Laker Dan to you.”

He broke out into a run and smashed through yet another window, causing Chuckles and Giggles to cry in fury.

–

“This HAS to be illegal!” Melissa cried, looking at the letter in front of her.

“It IS illegal, I should know, I’ve been in HR long enough.” Bailey groaned next to her.

“HR?! You did NOTHING in HR except be a front!” Terry accused. “At least in Public Relations -,”

“You shot people who disagreed with us, that’s all you did in PR!” Melissa snapped.

The three former Mobsters were sitting at one of the many pubs in Pleasantville, each of them comparing the termination letters they had just received from City Hall.

“I suppose we should think ourselves lucky that they didn’t just kill us.” Terry pointed out.

“Yet.” Melissa replied dryly, chugging down her drink. “OI, bartender! Another whiskey, NOW!”

“Geez…” The bartender rolled his eyes. “Guys, I know you all got fired, but you’re taking it way too hard.”

“Easy for YOU to say, you still have a job!” Bailey snapped.

“For now. Until the Troupe decide to take me out.” The bartender told him.

“You’re a BARTENDER, you’ll be fine.” Bailey dismissed him.

“Until YOU decide to do something stupid, then I’ll get taken out as an example!” The bartender cried.

“Oh come on, you can’t be the only Mob bar in this city.” Melissa knocked back Terry’s drink. “What about Wello’s down by the lake?”

“They defected two weeks ago. They saw the writing on the wall.” The bartender frowned, before getting both Terry and Melissa new drinks. “Wish I had, but I thought after Sidewinder had popped her kid out things would look up.”

“That blasted brat Daryl is to blame. Why on earth would he kill Judith anyway?!” Bailey sipped his gin and tonic.

“Word has it he wanted Marion to wipe out the Crusaders because Roger wouldn’t coddle him.” The bartender told him. 

“Entitled brat.” Melissa sipped her new drink. “Ugh. Jones really needed to pull that kid in line earlier.”

“Yeah, well, he’s stuffed himself by not acting. He’s Mayor in name only now, Daryl owns the joint pretty much now.” Terry knocked back his drink in one hit. “Should put a stop to those Chuckles and Giggles characters now.”

“Oh please, nothing will stop them. They’re like warts, once you got ‘em you can’t get rid of them.” Bailey snorted.

It was at that moment that Laker Dan walked in, the Dragon Scale Scythe hooked to his back, and the Mystic Eight Gun resting on his hip.

“Bug off, we’re closed.” The bartender told him as he sat down at the bar.

“To me, the father of Judtih’s heir?” Dan raised an eyebrow.

“Well there’s nothing to BE an heir to any more, so bug off.” Bailey snapped.

“Oh, but there is. How would you like your jobs back?” Dan asked. “I’ll have a beer thanks.” 

The bartender grumbled as he got Dan his beer. Bailey, Melissa and Terry eyed the newcomer warily.

“I’m going to take out every single Counsellor in this city. I’m also going to take out the Mayor and his useless son.” Dan told the group, who didn’t look impressed.

“Great, and then the Troupe will just put in their own people. Get real Dan.” Melissa continued to sip her drink.

“Not if we get rid of enough of them.” Dan pointed out. “I bet there are plenty of ex-Mob still in this city who would LOVE a bit of revenge.”

“The Mob is dead.” Terry insisted.

“But the Silent Lake Gang is just waking back up.” Dan told them. “I’ve already been in contact with a few of my parents' old contacts. We can take over this city and make it a better place.”

“Pfft.” The three at the bar rolled their eyes.

“I kinda figured you’d be like that. So how about some incentive?” Dan pulled out the Mystic Eight Gun. “I’ve already killed Counsellor Barry, and I have no problems killing you three.”

“Oh please.” Bailey snorted. With a bang, he suddenly lay dead on the ground. Melissa and Terry jumped up in horror.

“Mate there’s no call for that!” The bartender looked horrified at what Dan had done. “You’ve gone too far!”

“Have I?” Dan sneered. “You lot are just as responsible for ruining this city as your bosses are. I’m giving you a chance for redemption, and he threw it back in my face.”

Melissa cried silent tears as Terry looked terrified. “Fine, we’ll do it, just don’t shoot.” Terry raised his hands.

“I figured you might.” Dan smirked. “I’ll see you in Oaksville tomorrow morning.”

With that, Laker Dan left.

–

“Dan’s gone full murderer now. There’s no redemption for him.” Sunny told the others as they sat in Bill’s restaurant. 

“I can’t deal with this right now. I really can’t.” TJ buried his head in his hands. “Especially if he’s getting the Silent Lake Gang back together.”

“Do you think he’ll dob us in?” Belle asked, feeling worried.

“If he does, we’re doomed.” Petunia said. “We’d be dead within the hour.”

“I don’t think he would, because that would mean giving Jones an advantage.” Tammy said. “And he wouldn’t want to do anything that would give Jones any sort of hint or tip.”

“But if he tells his fellow Lakers…” Charlie trailed off. Belle shook her head.

“A lot of the Silent Lakers that survived were absorbed by the Mob. If Dan is smart he’ll know not to trust any of them.” Belle told him.

“That’s not very reassuring considering how stupid Dan has been recently.” TJ groaned. “We’re sitting ducks.”

“No, we’re not. We have one very, VERY potent ace up our sleeve, although I hate to call him that.” Sunny said. “Dan never picked Marcus up from when he left him with me.”

“Ohhhh no, that’s not good.” TJ’s head hit the table. “If he’s leaving Marcus behind then he’s gone.”

“I don’t think so. I think he knows that no matter what, we’ll protect his son. We won’t let anything happen to Marcus.” Tammy said. “But it does mean he can’t dob us in, otherwise Marcus is at the mercy of the Haunted Maze Troupe.”

“Can you fix up the paperwork to make the adoption at least look legal?” Sunny asked Belle. “The boy is my son now, and I want to make sure I can give him the best care I can.”

“I’m sure I can fix something up. Do you want him to be Marcus Jones instead of Marcus Misneach or Marcus Lightheart?” Belle asked, getting out her pocket notebook.

Sunny hesitated. “We’ll go with Marcus Jones, and make Lightheart his middle name.” She finally decided. “That way he’ll be more protected, being a Jones.”

“I’ll get that sorted ASAP.” Belle promised, making her notes before tucking the book away.

“I don’t like the idea of taking Dan’s only son away from him.” Sammy quietly piped up. “It doesn’t feel right.”

“I know, but he’s given us no choice. You want what’s best for Marcus, don’t you?” Tammy asked him. He shrugged in return.

“I’ll look after Marcus as if he were my own. Don’t worry.” Sunny promised. “And I won’t let him forget Sir Lionheart.”

Sammy made a small noise in the back of his throat and turned away. Petunia and Tammy shared a look. What Daniel had done had left horrible scars on them all.

“What if Dan comes back for Marcus?” Charlie asked.

“That’s the other reason I want this to be as legal as possible.” Sunny said. “My son will NOT be raised by a murderer.”

“He’ll be after blood once he finds out.” Petunia warned them.

“If he comes for Mumma Bear, he can get the claws, and the bat of Lady Courage to boot.” Sunny said firmly. “Do NOT mess with my children!”