Buster Chander had always been a man of few words, but when it came to killing someone who had been blackmailing him, he was as clear as day.

“I want a handgun,” he said to Bisbee, owner of Silver State Sidearm Solutions. “Light enough so I can carry it all day without getting tired and still be able to aim true.”

Buster only cared a little about the brand or make as long as it could take down a man. Bisbee knew Buster well enough to understand his intentions. He nodded and began to showcase various guns on display.

“How about an AMT?” he asked, holding up a small pistol with a silencer attached. “Or maybe a Colt? Or a Beretta? We have SIGs, H&Ks, Smith & Wessons, Rugers — and even Tauruses if you’re looking for something more budget-friendly.”

Buster shook his head in disdain. “Something simple. Something I can use to put a bullet through an asshole’s skull without any fuss.”

Bisbee understood where Buster was coming from. He’d had seen plenty of cowboys like him come into his shop over the years, looking to settle old scores.

“Well, I happen to have one such gun in my underground inventory,” he said. He reached into a deep drawer under the display case and handed Buster a sleek black pistol whose plastic components made it look like a toy.

“Here’s what some of us like to call the ‘Timmy Special,’” Bisbee said. “The Glock 21’s proved itself in combat and crimefighting and is still favored by many lawmen. This baby’s reliable, accurate and indestructible. And Tim McVeigh carried it on that day of infamy. You can bet your ass it’ll dust your sleazeball blackmailer.”

Buster cleared the gun, sighted it, and pulled the trigger.

Click.

“This is the gun for you, Buster,” Bisbee said. “It’s lightweight enough to carry all day and packs quite a punch. You can solve most problems with just one shot from this bad boy.”

After some haggling, Buster paid top dollar in cash for the gun, no serial number, no records, no registration, no waiting period, fuck the feds.

With that, Buster left the gun shop, ready to blast that motherfucker to Kingdom Come.

Text and photo copyright © 2024 L.T. Hanlon. All content in this post is fiction.