Chain Gang War #1 (1993)

That night, at the Brunetti lodge, three masked vigilantes prowl the grounds.  Through use of stealth and steel chains, they easily take down the security detail.  These are the members of the Chain Gang… and they’re ready for War.

Inside, Brunetti is fuming over the way the news is covering his story.  He orders his aide to sic a fella who goes by the moniker “Animal” on the female newscaster to send her a message (ie. cut her up into little pieces, and bury those pieces across five states… that’ll show her!).  Before they can act, the Chain Gang bursts into his study.

The Gangsters state that they are only there for Brunetti… and the rest of the crew can leave unscathed and unharmed.  Carlo thinks they’d been sent by his “business” rival Scipio, and has his goon squad attack.

This doesn’t really impress the Gang, who rat-tat-tat, budda-budda-budda and whut-whut-whut’s the goons til they’re full of holes.  They kayo Brunetti and abduct him.

Later, Brunetti wakes up.  His ankles and wrists are shackled, and he appears to be in a small jail cell.  The only light peers in from a tiny barred window.  By the window’s location, we get the impression that the cell is for the most part, underground.

The police and media are shortly on the scene of the Brunetti lodge massacre.  Shockingly, there were only three fatalities.  I could have sworn the Chain Gang downed a small army in the prior pages.  The information is shortly broadcast, including bits about Carlo Brunetti being currently listed as missing (and presumed dead).

We now meet Brunetti’s rival, Scipio.  He is making a goodwill call to Carlo’s son Sammy Brunetti to offer his condolences, and offer his support… he even invites him to his daughter’s birthday party.  Sammy thinks Scipio’s not only full of crap, but also responsible for the night’s events.  After hanging up the phone, he orders an aide to sic the Animal on him (like father like son, I see).

The next day, we find ourselves in the apartment of a shaky man named Ernie.  His wife is asking him how his job search is going, and he admits to blowing it off.  When she protests, he hands her a wad of bills.  When asked how and where he got the cash, he tells her he’d done a job for “Yale” the night prior.  This does not appear to help matters in the slightest.  She fears that Yale is too dangerous a man to be in cahoots with.

Back at the cell, Brunetti is having a pizza delivered by the Chain Gang’s very own personal warden.  We get the impression that the makeshift prison is in the basement of Yale Strang’s mansion.  We also meet Yale, who’s yakking in the toilet… sickened by how he had to commit several murders the night before.

After flushing (and hopefully brushing) Yale calls a fella called Curtis.  They discuss the events of the night before as well as the night to come.  We also learn that Yale’s wife/girlfriend was murdered a couple of years earlier.

That night, at Scipio’s daughter’s birthday party, the Chain Gang plans to strike.  Just like before, they make short work of the security detail.  This time, however, they drip a trail of gasoline across the yard, and light a match.

Why yes, this book was written in the 90’s… why do you ask?

Meanwhile, at a meat packing plant we finally (sorta) meet the Animal.  He’s interrogating a poor sap named Charlie Smith… trying to get information about Scipio… which is odd, because his employer Sammy Brunetti knows full-well that Scipio is currently having a birthday bash… wouldn’t it have made more sense to send Animal thataway?  Anyhoo… when Smith won’t gab, the Animal uses a chainsaw to cut off his ear.

Back at the party, Scipio’s aides are running around like buffoons yelling about the fire.  This draws the main man himself outside to see what the hub-bub’s about.  The Chain Gang goes all Barney Fife and claims “citizen’s arrest” before slapping on the shackles.

Gabby Scipio enters the scene to check on her daddy, and finds herself back-handed for her troubles.  These Chain Gangsters don’t mess around!

They load Mr. Scipio into one of his cars, and drive through the gates to escape his property.  They bring him down to the makeshift prison, and unmask him in front of Brunetti.  Now they both get a better understanding of the situation they are currently in.  It’s no longer a street war… it’s something far worse (for them).