ANDERSON'S JUDGEMENT

ANDERSON'S JUDGEMENT
Damien pov

“Boss, we just got attacked, the men at the gate were killed,” Anderson said.

I shut my eyes and sighed, forcing my fury down.

“How many were killed?” I asked, exhaling and clenching my fist.

“All four of them,” Anderson answered.

“Shit,” I breathed.

This was the offering the bastard had been talking about, more killings?.

I glanced at my phone; the message was still there, staring back at me. I sipped my drink, my fist tight around the glass.

“He already sent a threat,” I said between sips. “He said we should expect them in two days.”

“Gid said that?” Anderson asked, shocked.

“Yes. He dropped a message and said he had given me offerings and would return in two days,” I explained.

Anderson’s expression hardened. He was angry, as he should be. Everyone should be. He's truly after killing us one after the other.

“Get the men prepared!” I ordered.

“My instincts tell me he won’t come in two days like he said, maybe tomorrow, or the day after,” Anderson said.

“You're right, boss. How could he say that when he knows we’ll be prepared?” Anderson replied.

“We need a plan to apprehend him and stop this. Little by little he’s killing our men,” I said, taking another sip.

“Yes, boss,” Anderson answered.

We still hadn’t found the snitch who fed him our plans.

“Have you found the betrayal?” I asked.

“I’m still working on that,” Anderson said.

Those words made my blood boil. I slammed my fist down on the table to silence him.

“Find whoever did it! You have one hour,” I warned.

“Yes, boss.” He left.

A little while later he returned. “Boss,” he said finally. “I found two men I think are your leak.”

“Names,” I demanded.

“Harold and Simms. Both were at the gate yesterday,” Anderson said.

“We weren't attacked yesterday,” I answered.

“Yes, but both were seen leaving minutes before the attack earlier today,” he explained.

Is this true? I’d promised to kill whoever it was, but I needed proof for my judgment, they had to admit it. If they were innocent, I didn’t want to kill them. If guilty, I wanted them to feel it.

“Bring them to me. I’ll ask them myself. If they’re lying, we deal with it,” I said.

Anderson’s mouth thinned. “I can do it now, boss. I can bring them.”

“Bring them. Alive.” I ordered.

He left and returned with two men in handcuffs. Harold was older; Simms looked younger, his eyes jumpy and unable to stay still.

“These are the betrayers? Both of you had the temerity to give our plans to Gid, which cost my men their lives?” I asked, pointing at them.

They dropped to their knees and began pleading.

“Boss, please, we did no such thing,” Simms begged.

“How do you explain leaving minutes before our attack today?” Anderson asked.

“And yesterday both of you were on duty and surprisingly we weren’t attacked.” I added.

“Boss, I haven’t, I swear, we didn’t do that. I was at the west wall, yes, but I fell asleep on my watch. I didn’t go with anyone. I love this place. I…” Harold started, but Simms cut in.

“Please, boss, I swear. I don’t know where this came from. I heard footsteps, checked rounds, but found no one. I didn't give information,” Simms said, his voice trembling.

Tears fell from both their faces as they continued to plead.

I looked at Anderson. He stood with his hands in his pockets.

“Tell me where you were exactly at eleven-thirty last night,” I asked slowly.

Harold answered first. “South wall. Near the orchard. I was doing the loop. I… I fell asleep a bit. When I woke up, I joined the others.”

Simms swallowed. “I was by the stables. I walked the inside route. I didn’t leave to meet anyone. I…”

They sounded innocent, but I couldn’t trust pleading alone. If I acted now, it would be on Anderson’s word and Anderson won't have brought them if he wasn't sure.

“Take them to the lower hall. We’ll hold them until I decide,” I said.

Anderson nodded and started toward the door. The two men walked in front of him, still shaking as the handcuffs clinked.

I walked to the weapon room and took two whips. I’d use them if I had to. I left my office and headed into the hall.

As I entered, Anderson grabbed Simms by the shoulder and shoved him against the wall. Harold turned, confused, as Anderson drew a small blade.

“Boss,” Harold cried when he noticed me.

I froze, torn. Should I save the betrayers? No. They had done the unforgivable which claimed six lives, they should feel what they felt.

Anderson stepped forward and drove the blade into Harold’s throat. Harold’s eyes widened; he stumbled, placed his hand at the wound, and collapsed.

“No!!” Simms screamed and tried to run.

Anderson grabbed him by the hair and dragged him to the floor. He struck Simms once, then again.

Simms raised his hand toward me, as if he wanted to say something. “Boss,” he whispered.

Anderson sent the blade straight into his chest from behind. Simms fell, blood pooling on the floor.

“Boss,” he whispered again before he stopped moving.

Anderson raised the blade high to strike again.

“Stop!” I shouted. Anderson obeyed.

I had given him a simple order: keep them alive, yet he’d gone against me. Why did he kill them before I could judge?

“This is getting worse,” I sighed.

“How could you do that?” I asked.

“You gave them to me. You said find the snitch and how you'll deal with them. It’s surprising you suddenly changed your mind and asked that I keep them here,” Anderson said.

“I said bring them alive. I was thinking, looking for the right judgment, but you… you took judgment into your own hands!” I yelled, slapping Anderson hard across the cheek.

“They were traitors and deserve to die,” Anderson said.

“You killed them without allowing me to…” My voice failed. I took a step forward, feeling the floor tilt.

“Anderson. Why?”

He looked at the bodies as if they were nothing.

“We don’t negotiate with the enemy. We don’t keep snakes in our empire.”

I looked down at Harold, then at Simms. They had pleaded for mercy.

“Was there proof?” I asked.

Anderson met my eyes. “Yes, papers. A whistle. A red thread from a scarf. They were giving Gid our schedules. I saw them meet.”

“Saw them meet? How?” I pressed. I had always trusted Anderson’s instincts, he’d been right more times than I’d credit but there’s a line between judgment and killing on a whim. He had crossed it.

“Why not bring the proof first? And why are you suddenly saying you know Gid in person?” I demanded.

“I had someone trail them and they met with someone I believe to be Gid. And about the Proof, it means nothing when men are dying. I made sure,” he shrugged.

Anger flared through me; I could picture slitting his throat with the same blade. How could he kill without valid proof? If these men were innocent, I’d make him pay.

Anderson dropped the blade into his pocket and wiped his hands on his trousers.

“What did you expect me to do? Stand around while more men fall? You told me to find the leak. You told me to be sure,” Anderson said.

“Watch it. I’m still your boss. What you did is a slap in my face. You made the decision that belonged to me,” I yelled.

He looked at me. “You won’t always be able to judge, boss. Sometimes a man has to act.”

I exhaled deeply.

Anderson stepped aside and gestured to the two bodies. “They won’t betray you again in their next life,” he said.

I stood there, staring at the dead men as Anderson watched me.