“Looting! You’re going to hang me for looting!?”

“Yup.” Gordon nodded toward the middle of town. “Right there from the old oak tree in the middle of the town square.”

“But… but…” Charlie spluttered. “…but you and your mob there are the ones who were looting. I wasn’t even near any of the stores. Or any of the houses. Or anywhere. I just walked back into town and saw the chaos.”

“Yeah. Shame ain’t it.” Gordon smiled. “I guess it’s one of those inescapable conclusions.”

“Psst. Boss,” Gordon’s toady whispered.

Gordon leaned down and listened. He looked thoughtful. “Right.” He nodded and then stood upright again. “Sorry. One of those inevitable conclusions.”

The toady smiled. Gordon winked at him.

Gordon continued. “Yessir. It’s just one of those inescapable things. Er. Inevitable things. You’re not from around here. Bad things happen. And the new people inevitably get blamed…” The toady smiled broadly. “…and brought to justice.”

“Vigilante justice is not justice. In fact, this is no justice at all.”

Gordon’s smile broadened. “Maybe. But it is both inevitable and inescapable.” He winked again at his toady, who was smiling.

The mob roared in appreciation and assent.