Razor Burn

by O. J. Anderson

Table of Contents
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
appear in this issue.

Chapter 22

The CEO sits behind his desk, facing the window which overlooks the night time version of Garden City. Streams of blue cigar smoke drift upward.

A light knocking at the door. The CEO croaks something and the door gently swings open.

A young man pokes his head inside the office. All he can see over the high-backed leather chair is the gray, spotted head with a few wisps of white hair. “Sir?”

“What is it?”

“Word just came in. Bikharmer Pharmaceuticals has been destroyed. There were no survivors.”

Silence.

“Sir?”

Silence. Smoke.

“Notify the board,” the CEO finally says. “Clean it up.”

“Yes, sir.”

The door closes silently.

* * *

A short while later begins a massive campaign against paper and ink. A platoon-sized unit of low-wage workers shreds their way through a mountain of documents as fast as humanly possible. In another room, computer techs send gigabytes of data into never-never land. No one asks any questions; they just do as they’re told by the two goons in suits.

“This never happened,” Steak announces to the computer techs as though some kind of cheap hypnotist. They don’t look up at them, or say anything. They only work faster.

Biscuit adds, “We were never here.”

Message received.

Chapter 23: conclusion

Blue sky. Warm. Pleasant. Good day for a press conference. Good lighting for the Mayor. Makes him look respectable. Only three aides behind him this morning. He says, “This was all part of an ongoing covert operation to root out corruption in Garden City. Cut it out like cancer.”

“Mr. Mayor, how do you respond to allegations that you’ve received substantial cash contributions, a yacht, and the use of a private jet, all from a drug company intent on poisoning everyone in the city?”

An aide whispers into the Mayor’s ear.

“Um, well, I was just informed that I cannot discuss the particulars of the covert operation, it being covert and all, but let me say this: I am very pleased to announce that there is no voodoo witchdoctor killer on the loose in Garden City.”

“Mr. Mayor...”

“I repeat, there is no voodoo witchdoctor killer loose in the city. Rest assured. But, if there had been...” The Mayor smiles. “We would have caught him.”

* * *

Kate shakes her head in mild disgust. “Do you believe this guy?” She listens for another minute, then asks Razor, “Anyway, what’s next for you?”

He shrugs and says, “Buy a new truck.”

Kate waits to see if that’s all he is going to say. “Well, I’m headed back to Walldalla. Lot going on. Thore investigation and all. There’ll be a HAZMAT team down sometime today, out at the site.” Kate bites her lip. Wrings her hands together. “You know what? I’m still wondering how you didn’t contract the virus, especially with that gunshot wound.”

Razor frowns like it’s no big deal. “I have about ten times the white blood cells as the normal man. I’m pretty much immune to everything.”

“Ah, right. Okay, so...” Kate grinds her heel into the sidewalk. “I guess I just wanted to say thanks before I go. Thanks for saving my life. Thanks for saving everyone’s life. You really are a hero.”

Razor, still watching the Mayor, says, “I know.”

Kate rolls her eyes and turns away. And that’s when something clicks in Razor’s mind. He puts his big hand on her shoulder and spins her around. Pulls her close. Kisses her. But she pushes him off.

“What the...? Get off me!” Kate backs away and looks at him, but only for a nanosecond. She then flings herself at Razor. Jumps on him. Wraps her legs around his bulletproof abdomen, her arms around his neck.

They kiss savagely. Like they just invented lips.