"We'll all take shots at him," he chuckled, "and say it was a huntin' accident. That way, they won't be able to pin it on no one in particular."
"Now, listen!" Marc rasped desperately. "I can't permit you to do this!"
"Oh, it's really nothin'," Hotstuff said modestly. He motioned to his followers. "Come on, friends, to the woods!"
"You mustn't do this!" Marc cried.
"What a guy!" Moose growled admiringly. "You gotta practically fight him to even do him a little favor."
The band swarmed past Marc and up the steps. "We'll spread out and force him into the open!" Hotstuff yelled.
"Stop!" Marc hollered. "Don't do it! I don't want you to!"
But the last of the assassins reached the top of the steps and disappeared out the door. Marc turned hopelessly to Toffee.
"I should have stayed in jail!" he said. "I can just see the newspapers when all this is over. Julie will divorce me for certain!"