He kicked in the damaged knee, threw him onto his back and punched him with the handle of his shovel. Disoriented he had his gun taken. Bill checked Mr blackjack's gun for rounds, reloaded it giving it a few more bullets into the bullet barrel and shot him in the bad knee. Mr black jack's gun was a well made revolver with two black jack cards printed on the grip. As much as Bill hated impractical purchases he liked this one. He ordered the lads to drag him out to the back and remove his rediculuos fancy shoes.
They got to the back and just around the corner arrived slum kids with blunt weapons.
"Give us the fancy man you flat cap bastards" the top kid was persistent.
The top kid was formally known as John Banks, a slim built man with an untamed beard. He'd gotten hooked onto Tokyo blues after his time in the foreign legion, it made him dangerous and moody. Today he was in a good mood, he had his fix.
"you want him, go get him" Bill signalled Mr blackjack get thrown into the puddle.
As he landed three slum kids ran to get him only to see a weighted copper wire hit the water. Both Mr blackjack and the slum kids got the full power of a lithium gel battery built. They all seizured and fell into the water. After falling, the lads gunmen fired upon the remaining slum kids hitting three and killing one with a lucky. This forced John and the kids to retreat. There was foul language on both sides as they departed from both sides. Bill shut down any from the lads as it wouldn't serve them well if he had his way for up and coming plans. And he was very determined to make them happen.
His next step was to see what side chop was on. He took one gun from a lad and gave him a trench knife. He ordered one of them to find chop. All of them went inside to await what happens next. In short time chop was found throwing one man into another almost laughing. This took a few back, but it didn't turn Bill off his plan. The other guy being used as a blunt weapon was Ricky Four Fingers, a gambler that ran out of a good hand.
"blackjack is dead mate, what's say you" Bill had that fancy revolver held firmly in his pocket.
"ah righto, so who's giving orders?" Chop asked with the look of hostility.
He'd been looking Bill over since he showed up after the conflict.
"into the office then" Chop said pointing to the stairs leading to the office.
Both went up and the door was closed. In the office it felt like a stand off, neither wanted each other to be in charge.
"let's cut the cake in the middle here, you don't want me as boss and I'm feeling the same about you. Let's both run it. If a plan works, my plan or yours let's go with it" Bill placed the blackjack revolver on the table as a sign of good faith as he said so.
He didn't tell him about the other snubb shooter.
"sounds fine, except for the other gun your holding" Chop pointed out his back up plan, "I'll go with it but you will never pull this shite on me again, am I clear corporal?"
"Yes sir loud and clear" Bill said surprised he knew.
They were both ready to leave the table, chop got up first and went for the door.
As Bill got up he took out the pistol and grabbed the blackjack revolver and aimed for his knees. Chop had no time react and fell to the ground louder than the usual body. He'd been wearing iron plates on his chest and back. This made no difference, Bill wasn't aiming for his back. To cover this act he had to make it an act of lads army justice.
"YOU AND BLACKJACK DESERVED IT YOU FUCKING TURNCOATS!!" Bill now wanted to believe his act was no lie, and so made the thought that he'd run the lads into the ground if he didn't act.
He finished him off with two more shots to the head.
He walked out of the office to see all the remaining lads standing outside waiting for the result, even though it was obvious. He looked over them all with now a confirmation of what happened by his recollection.
"Four Fingers, Mr Blackjack and Chop were traitors to the lads army. They sold out to the slum kids and the river gypsies, now we strike back" Bill said showing the balls needed to take charge.
It was now his turn to do them all right. He'd decided to call in the workers to clear the mess up with a reward for a timely finish.
He retired for the night at the barracks with a drink, a nice light meal. He couldn't handle a heavy meal after that much blood spilt tonight. There were mixed emotions all around the barracks, he didn't blame them. There were extra guards around the pub, slum kids were pushed back and the river gypsies no doubt would have heard of the reshuffle. No reshuffle was ever public news except when multiple gangs and families are involved.
He knew he'd either have to make peace or start crunching skulls. He had a few places to start. He could begin with the slum kids, they'd been at war with them since they returned. And that junkie was not the peaceful type. So naturally he'd have to sort out unfinished business. The other alternative would be the river gypsies. They were more inclined to beat you bare knuckle in a straw ring.
Then they'd drink with you and call it a night by taking your shoes and shite in your hat. He liked them and hated them all the same. Hopefully he'd get a chance to make peace with one convenient side of this city.