Killer's Town Read Free Page B

in his chair so that he fell against the wall. Before the other men could move, Dave Hill had grabbed Koy by his collar and produced handcuffs from a back pocket.
"On your feet, you miserable hood," barked Sergeant Hill. "Are you coming with me, or do I have to put on these bracelets?" The other men had started forward. The sight of the gleaming handcuffs made them pause. All had served time in jail and the handcuffs meant the law, authority. Then Eagle held up a restraining hand.
"Of course we'll go along with you, Sergeant," he said. "We want no trouble here, do we, Mr. Koy?"
Koy breathed deeply.
"Right. We'll go along with you, Boy Scout."
"Good thinking," said Sergeant Dave Hill.
Koy stood before Colonel Weeks, lighting a cigar. He threw the burning match on Weeks's polished desk. Weeks put it out, and tossed it into an ashtray. Eagle, at the side of the room, watched Koy nervously.
"We already saw the police chief. He runs this town. Why do I have to see you?" said Koy.
"This is not the police department. This is the Jungle Patrol. We cover the jungle borders. You and your men were seen entering the jungle on the Phantom trail. That makes you our business."
Koy glanced at Eagle.
"We took a ride. Do we need your permission?" said Eagle.
"Not ordinarily," said Colonel Weeks. "In the case of known criminals, we ask questions."
"You can't talk to me like that. I did my time. I'm a free man," shouted Koy.
Colonel Weeks looked at him quietly.
"No need to shout, Mr. Koy. My hearing is quite adequate for normal conversation."
Koy held back his anger. The quiet manner and aristocratic British accent of this smooth, gray-haired soldier infuriated him.
"What is your business in the jungle? Why did you drive directly there upon your arrival at the airport?"
Koy looked at Eagle, his mouthpiece.
"We'd been in the air a long time. We wanted a ride. We wanted to see the jungle. That's all," said Eagle.
"Yeah, that's it," said Koy.
The Colonel studied the two men for a moment.
"That's it, for now," he said softly. "Remember, this is our country. There's no room for your mob here."
"Who needs a jungle?" snorted Koy. "I'm a city boy.*"
'Your visa expires in three months. There will be no extension. Not an hour. Good day," said Colonel Weeks. Koy left the office muttering. Back in the hotel suite, he exploded.
"That idiot! If I ever get my hands on him!" he roared.
"Easy, Killer," said Eagle. "He's the law."
Koy turned on him.
"The law?" he shouted. "I said I wanted a place with no law. Jungle patrol, police chief—here they've got two laws."
He swung his heavy fist, hitting Eagle in the face. The slim lawyer fell back onto the couch, then onto the floor. Koy was boiling with anger. He pulled a switch-blade knife from his pocket and snapped open the long blade. His eyes were wild as he glared at the fallen Eagle.
"Two laws—that policeman—that idiot Colonel!" he shouted.
Eagle stared at him, paralyzed with fear. He'd seen this murderous rage in this boss before.
"Jeez, Killer, take it easy," he managed to choke out. 'You're getting your own town. You'll be the law, the only law."
"Yeah," rumbled big Sport, coming forward to protect Eagle, "your own town, Killer. Call it Killer's Town." "Yes, Killer's Town," said Eagle quickly, and the other Watching men picked it up, making laughing sounds, but their eyes remained hard, watching Killer's big knife.
"Yeah, Killer's Town," said Koy. "That's good. Killer's
Town."
He breathed deeply, and walked to the window, closing the knife as he tried to recover from his maniacal rage.
Eagle got slowly to his feet with Sport's help, and felt his throat. That had been a close one.
In Jungle Patrol Headquarters, Colonel Weeks and .Sergeant Hill discussed their visitors.
"Murderous hoods, all armed. How do you figure them, sir?" asked Sergeant Dave Hill.
"Don't know yet, Dave," Weeks replied. It was rarely that he called a patrolman by his first name. "I was wrong to send you alone into that snake pit."
"I