Free The Axeman of Storyville by Heath Lowrance Page A

It's not too—"
    Jimmy's mouth twisted and he hoisted up the axe and lunged toward Miles faster than the former lawman would have thought possible. With the axe arcing toward his skull, Miles squeezed the Peacemaker's trigger again before pitching his head and shoulders to the right. The bullet grazed Jimmy's left shoulder and Miles felt the cold breath of steel sing past his cheek as the axe burrowed into the door.
    Jimmy wailed in pain and frustration. Miles brought the Colt around for another shot but the killer was too close, looming huge in front of him.
    "I'll kill you!" Jimmy screeched. He slammed his body into Miles, pinning the older man to the door. Miles felt his lungs expel air and tiny spots began to dance in his field of vision. While the killer tugged and pulled on the axe, trying to dislodge it from the door, Miles passed the Colt into his left hand and then flicked his right wrist, discharging the thin-bladed knife that had been sheathed along his forearm.
    Jimmy freed the axe, stumbling back from the sudden release.
    Miles slashed with the knife almost blindly. A deep, red furrow appeared just above Jimmy's eyes, and the killer screeched again, and his free hand clutched his face.
    From behind, Cat swooped in and smashed a table lamp on Jimmy's head. Jimmy dropped to one knee but he immediately started to push himself back up using the axe for support, blood streaming down his face.
    "Jimmy! Stop, Goddamn it!" Miles said.
    "I'll kill you all," Jimmy slurred. "I'll kill ... I'll kill every human on earth ..."
    Cursing again, Miles aimed the Colt center of mass and fired just as Jimmy surged to his feet.
    Time ground to a standstill: Cat holding the lamp at the ready, Miles with the still-smoking Colt leveled, and Jimmy motionless and struck dumb. In the wake of the gunshots that had echoed through the small room, Miles couldn't hear anything except his own pounding heart.
    Jimmy looked down at the blood spreading across his torso. The axe slipped out of his grasp and thudded on the floor. He looked back up at Miles with a question in his bloody eyes.
    "I can't ... I can't die," he said.
    Miles said nothing, but kept the Colt pointed at him.
    Jimmy fell to his knees, then his hands. His breathing was rasping and harsh. He coughed up a gob of bright blood.
    "I'm the Axeman," he moaned.
    Miles holstered the gun, and Jimmy Manta fell on his face and didn't move.
    * * *
    Matranga showed up ten minutes later, with Antonio and two fresh goons in tow. Miles had checked Jimmy, found the killer was still alive—his breathing was shallow and his pulse weak, but the diseased boy clung to life.
    Antonio strode up and kicked Jimmy in the head. "
Bastardo!
" he spat. "Filth!"
    Miles said, "Knock it off."
    Antonio started to argue, but Matranga put a restraining hand on his arm. Antonio backed off.
    Cat had relaxed, assuming his usual smooth poise. He leaned against the wall, twirling Miles's cane, said, "There's your Axeman, Mr. Matranga. I bashed him in the head for you. Oh, and Mr. Miles put a couple bullets in him, just to make sure an' all."
    Matranga wasn't amused. He glared at Cat, said to Miles, "Nice job. I'll deal with it from here."
    The two new heavies moved to grab Jimmy's still body and lug him away.
    Miles said, "Hold up. There's a few things you need to know."
    "Mr. Miles," Matranga said. "I don't need to know anything about this punk. He's about to take up residence in the Gulf."
    "You need to know his name."
    "What the hell do I care what his name is?"
    "He was born in New York City. Some, oh, twenty years ago. Around the time you were starting out there, Matranga."
    "Miles, I don't—"
    "His name is Jimmy Manta."
    Matranga seemed to seize up. His body stiffened and his face went red. "What?"
    Miles sat down in the armchair. He pulled his pipe out, tapped some tobacco into it. He was pleased to see that his hands were steady. He put a match to the pipe and sucked in the smoke.
    "I talked to some of my