Installment #7 from the 'People Shooter'

And the story continues as death and carnage roll across the lands.

McShuster’s head felt like it was under water, like it was floating away from him. He suddenly got dizzy and wanted to puke. “Offizzer Lazy, you seed that lady? Seed not good. I got no grillfriend to laugh whiff? Alone all-time ‘cause you don’t wears Patagonzia? To waltz in thirsty below wind chill? The rich have car and stop for ya. They hitz it, when your frozen fingauzes reach for the dough?” Blood trickled from his nose.

“You on something back there?” She studied his face. He looked like he was falling asleep. Fentanyl? She didn’t know.

Now what? Hospital? Going to be busy there tonight. How in the hell could she take him to the hospital? That would just get him killed. His victims must have already started arriving and their families would be showing up.

“I’m good.” He pulled himself up. “Thanks for loosenin’ up the cuffs. They were killin’ me. I never knew them things hurt so much.”

“I can turn this recorder off if your done talking,” Officer Tracy said.

“You know, they always let on they know my ma drinks too much or sleeps around. That gets old. I don’t like thinking about it all the time. In school I think about it because they give me the business.” McShuster was relieved to be away from the school. “I mean, I can’t even walk down the hall without a girl rolling her eyes or hoofing it around me. Ain’t official bullying, I suppose, but it still ain’t right in my book.” His voice cracked. “How I stop my ma from doing stuff?”

“I’m still recording. I read you your rights and you are free to remain silent. Is your mother the reason for tonight?”

“Well, I don’t for sure know why I did it tonight. I mean, I get it. School hurts everyone sometimes. Guess just maybe sometimes even if you’re hurting you got to do something. That’s why I did it. I mean, I wasn’t sure so I went to Mister Jerry Timm’s. He the one where the gun was. They in a safe but everyone knows the com.”

“Okay, for the record now. You were teased and it hurt so you went to a Timm’s house. You knew the combination to the safe. Is that right?”

“Yes. I think you know most of it, right? Can I get a phone call now?”

 “Are you calling a lawyer? I can stop this tape any time you want.”

“I need to call work because Dosh is a good boss. He owns Shorty’s by the old train depot. I gotta call so someone can cover tonight. I don’t think I’m going in tonight. My side’s killing me.”

“I am sorry but the last thing you need to worry about is going to work.”

“Look I am trying to do it right. I get hammered by a bunch of cops and feel like they broke my back. I get tossed in a squad car and so why do I have to also get fired now? Answer me that, Officer Dickless Tracey?” He immediately wished he hadn’t said it; the anger had overtaken him; but he knew he should have never said it.

“Look, I’ve been plenty good to you. My Megan—my daughter—was at that damn basketball game tonight. If she had gotten hurt, I’d made damn sure your back was broken. You wouldn’t be walking, let alone flipping burgers!” She too immediately regretted saying it.