The Directives by Joe Nobody Page A

face in close to Bishop’s, in hopes of driving his message through. What he saw in the Texan’s eyes made the soldier recoil.
    The major would never forget those coal-black pools, the dark stare of an emotionless predator about to terminate his prey. There wasn’t rage… or anger… or any sentiment at all. It was as if Bishop was a machine, a cold, mechanical killing device without humanity or conscience. In all the wars and campaigns of his military career, he’d never seen anything like it.
    “Bishop. Stop. Please,” Baxter tried again, his voice now a hushed plea.
    Something changed in Bishop’s posture. Like someone snapping out of a trance, his head briefly tilted, and then he exhaled audibly.
    Bishop lessened the pressure on the lawman’s limb, sending a signal that he was about to free his captive. Baxter recognized movement, realizing too late that the sheriff was reaching for his sidearm.
    Before Baxter could say anything, the Texan’s boot whizzed through the air, a vicious kick landing square against the sobbing lawman’s head. The blow sent the crippled man reeling down the courthouse steps where he landed with a thud. His pistol bounced a bit further, clambering another few feet on the concrete.
    Baxter stood with his mouth open, temporarily flabbergasted. Before he could recover, Bishop made eye contact with two soldiers who had been observing the encounter. “Get him over to the medic,” the Texan ordered. “And then I want him arrested and detained. If anyone from Brighton comes around looking for him, we have no idea of his whereabouts. Do you understand?”
    “Yes, sir,” both of them snapped as they hustled to help the disabled lawman.
    Bishop watched as the two privates reached for the sheriff, and then turned to address Baxter. “Major, I need to have a word with you, in private. Right. Fucking. Now.”
    Baxter started to protest, but then thought better of it. Had the Texan gone insane? Somehow, the major sensed that wasn’t the case. Curiosity replaced the fear he’d experienced while looking into the predator’s eyes. “This had better be good,” he mumbled as he followed Bishop inside.

    On a rooftop two blocks away from the courthouse, a stunned deputy jerked his face away from the binoculars. “Holy shit! Did you just see that?” whispered the observer. “He just kicked the sheriff’s ass.”
    “Yes, I saw it,” responded the other, pulling his eyes away from his own optic. “You’d better hightail it downstairs and let the mayor know. Something’s going on.”
    “You’re right. Do you think he’s still at City Hall?”
    “Now how the fuck would I know where he is? Go find him.”
    Standing quickly, the recently deputized young man made for the service hatch on the roof. Five minutes later, he was dashing toward City Hall.
    Bursting into the reception area, he discovered Amy Sue tidying her desk, preparing to head home. “Where’s Lew?” the excited man barked. “One of the newcomers just kicked the sheriff’s ass right on the courthouse steps. I think they’re holding him prisoner.”
    Lew was also ending his day. Recognizing the frantic deputy at his office threshold, the mayor was immediately concerned. “Slow down, damn it. Just slow down, and tell me exactly what you saw.”
    Within minutes, the deputy blurted out what he had witnessed from the rooftop. The mayor was clearly disturbed about the development. With a sigh of apprehension, he instructed, “Bring Mr. Winfrey to join me here immediately. On the way back, share with him what you observed.”
    As soon as the deputy had rushed out, Lew approached Amy Sue’s desk. “Send out the word. Gather the men,” he ordered. “Gather them all. I’m afraid we’re going to have a long night.”

    It took Bishop 45 minutes to recount his journey and what he’d learned. When he had finished, Major Baxter shook his head in disbelief. “I knew something was wrong here. It just felt off. Are you 100%