Baccano! - Volume 3 - Chapter 9

EPILOGUE

HOMICIDAL MANIACS

Edward the federal agent was receiving a report from a local police officer.

“I hear there were survivors.”

“Yes, a man and a woman… We think they’re probably members of the gang of robbers.”

Information on the survivors was beginning to trickle in.

“And? How are they?”

“The woman’s neck is hurt, but her life isn’t in danger. The man is seriously injured; Bill is interviewing him at the hospital.”

Next to the place where the survivors had been discovered, several police officers were standing around a certain object.

“So why is this pole broken?”

“I’d guess the survivors slammed into it.”

“…Look, don’t you think he punched it? I bet he did.”

“I’m telling you, that’s not even possible!”

“Yeah, but… You saw the man’s arm, didn’t you?”

“I saw it, so I can’t completely rule it out. Is that guy a monster?”

“Either way, you know the only thing they’ll be able to do for that arm is amputate it.”

Remembering the horrible sight of the man’s left arm, a few of the men felt sick again.

From the elbow down, all that remained of the surviving white suit’s left arm was bone. The bones alone had stayed neatly behind, while the flesh had been blown clean off. His condition had been incredible to begin with, but there was something even more incredible than that:

The man was currently responding to an interview as though nothing had happened.

In a hospital a short distance away, Bill Sullivan was interviewing Ladd.

“Nn… Then you admit your crime?”

“Yeah, sure. Oh, just so’s you know, all the guys I killed were in self-defense. I’ll cop to everything about the attempted kidnapping, but make sure you get that bit down.”

“Uh… Well, talk that over with the prosecutor and your lawyer.”

As Bill was about to leave, Ladd tossed a question at his back:

“Do you know Huey Laforet?”

“Eh…… Mm. He is famous, after all.”

“What pen are they putting him in?”

“Nn… That hasn’t been settled yet, but I’d imagine it’s going to be the Alcatraz military prison.”

“Is that so? Thanks, pal.”

“Ah… Take care of yourself. I’ll introduce you to a prosthetic arm craftsman before the trial.”

With that, Bill left the room.

Alcatraz, huh? That’s a pretty decent opponent. I wonder how I can get ’em to put me in there, too. Keh-heh.

Imagining the pleasure he’d feel when he killed an immortal, Ladd fell asleep, an expression of ecstasy on his face.