The Death Doll by Brian P. White Page A

the light brown powder for the small plastic scoop.  Its sweet scent teased his nostrils and made his mouth water.
    “Come to check on the riff-raff?” Jake said as he approached the counter with his broom.  And his friends.
    “He probably thinks he’s hot stuff ‘cuz he works for Cody,” Dandy said while rounding the other side of the counter with Lee.  Brad joined Jake while Jeremy headed for the door. 
    Pepe picked up on the familiar vibe of teenaged predators circling their prey, and something told him Jeremy wasn’t going for help.  “What’s the problem?”
    “He’s slugging down Joe while we work and he wonders what the problem is,” Jake said, then laughed with his hyenas as he picked up his broom.  “You must have a lot of time on your hands.  Maybe he should help us out here.” 
    Jake shoved the broom into Pepe’s chest, flooring him.  The others snickered as Lee and Dandy hauled him up to his feet and restrained him.  Brad held Pepe’s head straight.
    “Leave him alone, Jake,” Dawn yelled.  “This isn’t funny.”
    Jake grabbed Pepe’s collar and yanked upward.  “You’re right.  I don’t find Mister Pre-Med getting in my way funny at all.”
    Pepe tried to reason with Jake, but he was cut off midsentence by a slap in the face.
    “I wanted to be a doctor, too,” Jake said, then punched Pepe in the stomach. Pepe struggled to breathe.  “The meatheads kind of botched my chances for a scholarship.”  Another punch.  “Cody said he would take me under his wing when I was ready, but then you showed up,” another punch, “and stole it from me.”  Another.
    Pepe’s gut was on fire.  He coughed and gasped for air, but he couldn’t nurse the ache.
    Dawn ran up and grabbed Jake’s arm, which he yanked away with a force that floored her.  He scowled incredulously at Dawn.  “You like this guy?  What, you like your meat dark and spicy?  Fine.  Let me tenderize it for you.”  He punched Pepe’s cheek and tossed him onto her. 
    Pepe rolled off and tried to catch his breath, but the boys closed in again. 
    Suddenly, Jeremy fell onto Brad.  The others turned to find a huge, pissed-off black man bearing down on them like a bull.
    Isaac grabbed Jake and Lee with each hand and drew them closer.  “I’m new here, but I’m told the rules are pretty clear about treatin’ each other with respect.”  He slammed two boys together as if cleaning erasers, then hoisted Brad and Jeremy off the ground.  “So, it seems like anyone who doesn’t show respect can get their asses handed to them.” He head-butted Brad, kneed Jeremy in the gut, and shoved them onto the other two.  “And since kids need to learn more than grown-ups,” he grabbed Dandy, punched him in the stomach, and slung the oafish boy onto the other four, “I don’t think we have to hold back with you.”  He seized Jake by the throat and grinned wickedly at him.  “What you think, kid?”
    But Jake wasn’t looking at Isaac anymore.  All eyes but Isaac’s faced the tunnel entrance, where Craig stared at Isaac.  Jake gasped some kind of plea for help, even going as far as to reach out to his guardian. 
    Craig closed in and stood next to Isaac, then said to his ward, “Do you get it now?”
    Jake’s eyes widened with betrayal as Craig walked away. 
    Isaac, grinning from ear to ear, tossed the crater-faced jerk onto the other boys.  Then he waved over Pepe.  “Come on, man.  You don’t need to be hangin’ with these kids.”
    Pepe helped Dawn to her feet and gently ushered her out.  She thanked the big man for the save, but her smile was trained solely on Pepe.  He took it for all it was worth.
     
    *****
     
    Rachelle trembled as she stared at the two denim-clad strangers aiming their guns at her.  The skinnier one looked like a typical redneck type complete with a ten-gallon hat, black Hulk Hogan mustache, and a menacing sneer over his Winchester whatever.  His tubbier friend with