The Punisher

"The Punisher" by Stern, D. A., published by Del Rey. MAKE THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME. FBI agent Frank Castles final case ends with a literal bang, when a wannabe weapons smuggler is gunned down during a sting operation. But the dead man isnt just any punk. Hes the son of Howard Saint, the powerful Florida tycoon whose hot-spot nightclub has made him famous, and whose multimillion-dollar money-laundering business has made him as richand as ruthlessas any of his gangster clients. Saint wants paybackwith interestfor his boys death. And he gets it, by orchestrating a massacre that claims the lives of Frank Castles beloved wife and sonand almost kills Castle. But almost doesnt count. Now Frank CastleexFBI agent, exSpecial Forces commando, ex-husband and fatheris canceling his retirement and starting a new career. One that begins with teaching Howard Saint the ultimate lesson: No evil deed goes unpunished. *From the Paperback edition.* ### About the Author **D.A. STERN** is the author of several previous works of fiction and nonfiction, including** Dark Angel: The Eyes Only Dossier, Black Dawn, Your Secrets Are My Business **(with Kevin McKeown), and **Enterprise: What Price Honor**. He lives in western Massachusetts with his family and two very pointy dogs ### Excerpt. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. I will not scream, Micky Duka told himself. I will not beg, nor will I cry. I will reason with Castle, I will talk to him mano a mano, I will tell him what I know, which is not much, and I will subtly work in references to our previous association, the hash in Amsterdam, the young ladies in St. Pete (though he frowned at that, not being able to remember just that second if Ottono Castlehad stuck around to enjoy those young ladies or not), the Fourth of July picnic on that yacht Loopy rentedand he will acknowledge my honest efforts to help him, and he will cut me down, and we will say good-bye. Except the second Castle spoke, the second Micky heard that I-dont-give-a-fuck tone in the mans voice, he got a bad feeling in his stomach. An I-think-Im-gonna-be-sick, oh-God-I-dont-want-to-die kind of feeling. Stay away from me, OttoCastlewhoever you are! Ive got friends, you know! Oh, I know. Castles chair rolled even closer, then stopped. Metal hinges creaked, and Micky saw Castle was reaching inside somethinga cabinet of some kind. For a brief second, light from within illuminated his face. Duka caught a glimpse of a long, nasty scar along one side of the mans face before the cabinet shut and the darkness swallowed Castle again. Thats why youre here. Lets talk about your friends, Micky. Make your own friends, buddy! Youre nuts, okay? Kidnapping me like thisI mean, thats against the law, you know. Arent you the law? Castle ignored his question. Sorry you feel that way about me, Mick, Castle said in that same creepy monotone. But lets talk about it, why dont we? Castles chair rolled into the circle of light surrounding Micky then, and Duka saw the scar again. It was really more of a burn, running all down one side of his face. The skin looked red, raw, and painfulhe couldnt imagine how it had looked, or felt, back when hed first gotten it. Then there was the hairFrank Castle black, not the Otto Krieg brown. It was thinner, too, just like the man himself. Castle had lost a lot of weighttoo much, Micky thought. He didnt look healthy. Just skin and bones. And the look in his eyes . . . Come on, man. Just leave me alone, okay? His voice, Duka was ashamed to realize, was shaking. Castle rose slowly from his chair, ignoring Micky again, and moved closer. He was holding something in his hands; Duka tried to twist his body so he could see what it was, but failed. Question. Castle leaned into his face. Who gave me up? I dont know, I swear. Castle grabbed him by the hair and yanked. Ow! You dont help me, Castle said. And Ill kill you now. The man yanked even hardertears came to Mickys eyes as Castle pulled his head up higher, till the two of them were literally face-to-face. Who gave me up? I swear, Micky said. On the Bible, on my fathers grave, I dont know. The Saints tell me nothing. Nothing. Castle shook his head. They pay your rent, your legal bills . . . you should know something. He let Micky go then. Duka swung like a pendulum for a second, then came to rest. Then he saw what Castle had been holding in his hand. An acetylene torch. Frank, he said. Otto. Remember when we were out on the boat? Didnt we have a good time then? Buddy? So why the torch? Whats the torch for, hey? Whats the torch for? Castle turned a valvewith a little pop, the flame lit. I said I was going to kill you remember? Though that doesnt mean youre going to die right away. Duka let out a little squeak. Youre not serious. Castle held the torch out in front of him and adjusted the flame. Two thousand degrees. Hot enough to turn steel into butter. It wont hurt at first, Mick. Its too hot. Mickys eyes darted this way and that. He had to get the fuck out of here, get away from this lunatic before See, the flame sears the nerve endings shut. It kills them. You go into shock, and all you feel is . . . cold. Not what you would expect, right? Isnt science fun, Micky? He shook his head and shrugged, as if he had a hard time believing it himself, the hot/cold thing. Isnt science fun? Yeah. Okay. Science is fun. You know what else is fun, Otto? Good friends, you know, good timesremember when I gave you the last hit off Reggies spliff, in Amsterdam? And I bought you Youll smell burning meat, Micky and then . . . then, itll hurt. I swear, Duka said. Im telling the truth. I dont know anything. Please, for Gods sake Ah. Castle held up a hand and shook his head. God. He didnt want to hear about God. Candelaria had talked about God, too, when Castle was leaving for the mainland. What was it hed said then? Right. Vaya con Dios. Go with God. Castle told Duka now what hed told Candelaria then. Sorry, Mick, he said. God is gonna sit this one out. He brought the thing in his hand forward then, and touched itever so lightlyto Dukas back. Micky screamed like a woman giving birth. Book details: published 2004. Order now on BookShops.in with fast, reliable delivery across India.