JUNIPER’S DAUGHTER – FRONTIER TOWN A novel by Nick Armbrister

Andrew was skinny by comparison to his friend, he had the quick devious criminal mind to think up schemes and plans to carry out and Gant was the brawn to back him up in a tight situation. Mousy brown hair, grey eyes that showed no emotion and a funny walk made Andrew someone to be noticed.

   Gerald was from Wales unlike the other two, he had been taken prisoner after ambushing an English army truck convoy several years ago and while in the clink he met Gant. Realising they could trust one another when inside both became good friends; Gerald had good weapons training and was key to many of the group’s plans. His brown eyes and red hair were noticeable and he had many contracts on him especially by the army. Gant backed him up and Joyce gave intelligence on known plots like who wanted any of them dead, who had taken contracts on them and more before these could be carried out. How he did this he kept secret but he was good at it and right time and again. If he was cornered he relied on a wicked 12inch blade with a serrated edge. He was almost as big as Gant but not as quick with his hands and less skilled in fighting, his mind was his best asset for he was the oldest of the group at 25 with grey hair and green eyes making him stand out. Like the other three had had done bird, been inside at the army jail and in two other less secure jails ran by traitorous war vets who had turned and cast their lot in with the army.

   Andrew had been in a jail ran by the West Indian Brigade when he had gone down to Norwich to assassinate one of them who sold him bad drugs, he drove a hot stolen English army vehicle down from Renford on his own, blagged it through road blocks and hell knew what. He confronted the Brig member saying the Purple Green amphetamine was cut with glucose, the Brig denied this but a bullet in the left knee brought him round. Andrew would have left it at that but the Brig started a fight! After being tapped in the head so he was silenced in true gangster style, Andrew robbed the corpse and was driving back when 20 Brigs captured him. He killed fifteen of them, two with his bare hands before they overwhelmed him, taking him to the Brigade jail where people who were a threat to the Brig cause were locked up indefinitely. Andrew was inside for two months where he played the humble white honkey, he observed the Brig methods of operations, listened to their plans and a dozen other interesting things that could be used against them when his mates got him out.

   Gant sprung him after getting captured after a dodgy operation went wrong; he killed nine Brig members with his bare hands and fifty-two with their own guns. He freed his friend and every single other inmate, many of those came back north to settle in Renford and to participate in criminal activities. In the time since then, fifty percent had been killed but it was better than being eight to a cell under the guard of black men high on drugs armed with big knives and guns. That group now ceased to exist.

   Gerald had been in the main English army jail for stealing jewels used in laser weapons from an English army lab, he wanted to sell the high value gems for high-class weapons, drugs, vehicles and clothing that would be used in future criminal activities. His plan went ahead successfully infiltrating the English army to get his hands on the jewels, only after someone recognised him though he had black dyed hair and green contact lenses. Caught again, he spendt his 2^nd time inside.

   Andrew stole an old Conqueror tank and busted Gerald out of jail much like the recent operation freeing Gant; Joyce enjoyed these types of ops due to the payback on the military. Joyce had enjoyed 6 months of their hospitality when he was a teenager for various low level crimes but not on the murderous level that Gant was know for. His last spell inside was for killing a soldier with just one hand, he was due for execution on the day of his escape.

   Beers were now empty, four more miraculously appeared from out of nowhere, in unison the group lifted them and drained half of the contents in one go of the 15% strong brew. More were ready for when these were gone.

   “You did well springing me outa jail today lads. I was due for termination tomorrow. Thanks guys!” Gant said with conviction in his voice.

   “It was the least we could do. You did the same for me when the Brigs got me. Anytime man,” Gerald commented.