#13: Butler’s Bravado.

[And now Gentle Readers, there will be a slight diversion in the narrative as we shift our focus to a more ancillary character.]

Meanwhile, Drake Mandible’s faithful dogsbody, Nickelby, sat in the Bentley, monitoring the remote feed of the hidden security cameras that his employer had installed the last time they had visited The Bottled Oyster. 

As the butler watched the fight, he heard a noise coming from the rear of the car. Checking his side-view mirror, he saw a figure crouched by the back wheel, working it furiously with a tyre-iron. As this car was their way back to the airport, Nickelby decided to take matters into his own hands.

“Good evening to you sir,” he said, stepping out of the driver’s seat. The man-presumably a member of the Marauders delegated lookout duty- started, clearly expecting the expensive car to be unoccupied. He quickly recovered and brandished his weapon.

“I’d strongly advise against pursuing that course of action, sir,” said Nickelby.
“Oh really?” said the Marauder, mimicking the butler. “What are you going to do? Challenge me to fisticuffs, Queensbury rules?”

The Marauder stepped forward, swinging the tyre-iron, menacingly. Nickelby simply gave his wrist a quick flick and levelled a derringer, concealed within his sleeve, at the aggressor.

“Not quite,” replied the butler and pulled the trigger, shooting the Marauder in the knee.

#14: RESTRAINING RENEGADES.

Within a few minutes, the Marauders had been restrained with zip-ties. Nickelby administered anaesthetics to the injured gang-members, placing them all into the recovery position. 

Having more or less shrugged off TWO flexible-baton rounds at close range, the largest Marauder was given a double dosage of sedative to keep him under. 

Although Drake was less than thrilled with Nickelby using live ammunition on the would-be car theif, at least the butler had opted for a wound rather than a kill shot.

“My goodness, there’s nothing like a little skirmish to aid your digestion, eh?” he asked Nickelby.

“Quite right, sir,” said Nickelby.

“Nickelby, call the police and send for an ambulance would you? Some of these men will require medical attention.”
“At once, sir.”
“Oh, and if anyone gives you any trouble, give ‘em a pop with this,” Drake added, handing the reloaded Winchester back to his butler.

“Gladly, sir,” said Nickelby, readying a round, just in case.

Whistling cheerfully, Drake headed back inside The Bottled Oyster...

#15: Satisfactory Service.

After apologizing once more for missing the proposal and taking a few photos of the happy couple and future in-laws, Drake started on the dishes as Jake said his goodbyes to the ecstatic Lola and her family.

“There were nearly a dozen of them,” Drake explained as Jake came into the kitchen. “They needed a little active discouragement, but they eventually left without causing too much trouble.”
“Oh man, thanks so much!” a relieved Jake sighed. “Those guys were a total bummer, but I just couldn’t get involved, for Lola’s sake.”

Drake nodded, understandingly.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t over just yet,” he said. “The leader got away and he won’t be happy about taking out his men like that. I’m going to stick around for a few days until this is sorted.”
“Where’re you gonna stay?”
“Probably in a hotel or we’ll just sleep in the Bentley.”
“Uh-uh, no way, Jose, all the hotels around here suck and a car is no accommodation for a Mandible, even if it IS a Bentley. You’ll be staying with me little bro, no questions asked.”

Drake didn’t argue. Besides, if he didn’t accept, Nickelby would never let him hear the end of it…