For Nothing

By

Nicholas Denmon

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, incidents are a product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, events or organizations is coincidental.

For Nothing

Copyright © 2011 by Nicholas Denmon

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced without permission.

To my family, friends, and Jen. A special thanks to the city of Buffalo and those on both sides of the law who helped contribute to this novel.

Chapter 1

He could see it happening. It was too fast. He told himself to step aside and reach for his pistol, but he heard his doom, and then he saw it.

The firing mechanism clicked, creating a chemical reaction that bottled up behind the bullet. The fiery reaction, trapped behind the bullet, groaned in protest at the delay the projectile was causing. Then, all at once, the force became too much for the bullet to hold back. With a roar, the bullet emerged from the chamber and exited out the muzzle of the cold .45 caliber pistol. The flames of the gunpowder explosion followed soon after, enveloping the bullet for a millisecond before it reemerged from its heated escort. The ball hurtled forward, burst through the leather material, through the cotton of the shirt below, and penetrated into soft flesh.