People Shooter (Fifth Installment)

We made it this far so here goes for the weekend. To be truthful the world situation kinda changes things. Let me know if we should take a break to focus on Hamas. I can't quiet shake the image if the little lady in the back of the truck being paraded around so folks could cheer and spit on her.

Everyone knew Noah could lose it in no time flat. Messing with him was mostly just supposed to be fun. But no, sometimes a guy reaches his boiling point. Who wants to look stupid? He made like being stupid was worse than no girlfriend. Everyone knew it. He picked up a nick name he didn’t know about. Or, at least Noah never let on about knowing. No-Ah girl for loser Noah.

The reporter waved and approached the squad. “Our team called the tip in. Shooting was going to … start during the game. Can I get a few words on record—” The reporter went mum after making eye contact with McShuster. “Reporters get shot. Is that the only shooter around here?” He spun and trotted to the van hollering to the camera lady. She grabbed a mic and raced Robert to the van before they spun off.

“I was on my way to work and it dawned on me. It’s like ‘I’d shoot up the school in a second,’ but you think saying that stuff is a big joke. Sometimes a storm blows in and you drenched because you didn’t see it in time.” McShuster looked at the growing crowd across the street. “Can we leave—”

“Ten four, three-fourteen. I have the perp in custody. Is the school cleared?” Officer Tracy asked.

“Can you check see how Noah’s doing?” McShuster asked. He couldn’t believe it. Noah was his shooting buddy. Why’d I shoot him? he wondered.

Officer Tracy put the mic up near her mouth but then lowered it. “You act alone here?”

“I what?” McShuster looked up.  

The Beast of The Gaza Strip

Cindy Flash advocated for Palestine until the beast she could not comprehend kidnapped her. How long would an idealistic person last in the Gaza Strip? Nobody is safe from ignorance born of extreme hatred. All claims of humanity vanish when senseless blood letting is committed. Would these entitled Harvard Students advocating for Hamas be willing to walk the streets of Gaza with their message of love? Least they forget, the Festival of Love, being attended by those of a similar age group, met an awful end. So defend the beast but know, even though you suspect you're an awesome human being, that the beast does not share your viewpoint.

People Shooter (Fourth Installment)

Everything in this story is factual. School Shooters have been found to abuse animals. It's almost as if they have to work themselves up to killing people. I have to say . . . Sometimes I wonder, with what is going on, just what kind of world we live in. We all have to do our part to bringing goodness into a troubled world.

“Good to hear. Hang in there, Jill. We got to clear the school.” The group spun from the squad and trotted into the north entrance.

After reading McShuster his rights and double checking her device, she exhaled. She didn’t want to hear it; when it got personal things got harder. Megan had been at the basketball game. She was okay but was crying after spotting her mom getting out of her squad, Megan had run up assuring Tracy she was okay but her friend was hurt. Not shot. Just hurt. She had fallen off a bleacher and a bone was sticking out of her arm. Megan was going to drive her but promised to drive carefully since ambulances were waiting to only transport gunshot victims. Courtney was not going to die. She needed a doctor though because it looked like it hurt. Bad.

“Where do I start here? This is Officer Tracy. I’m with James McShuster,” she continued with what sounded like legal gibberish to McShuster: times and dates and locations.

He quit listening and watched them slide Noah into the ambulance. It hurt to have everything end up like this. Noah shot? Shit happens, but really … Noah? Unreal. Was it all because Noah hated dogs? Maybe he got bit once or something. He had beaten on Courtney’s dog with a stick. Not like he had to. It was one of those obnoxious poodles. A little one. What they called a miniature. Truth was Noah was always thumpin’ on dogs. Maybe he hated ‘em for a reason. But no way this gave Courtney the right to toss shade on Noah, telling him he reeked and then smearing dog shit on his locker. Tonight she had something to worry about besides a mutt.

News Center 3 showed up and parked on the street in front of the school. McShuster watched his favorite news reporter, Robert Macaday, step out and adjust his tie. A girl was setting up a camera. McShuster would have loved all the excitement in a prior life, but not tonight; people getting shot changes things.

People Shooter (Third Installment)

See we have two points of view, struggling to make sense, out of what has and could yet happen. Agreed? 

 “Please shut it!’ Officer Tracy glared at him in the rearview mirror shaking her head. “I’m going to read you your rights and tape what you have to say. Okay, McShuster?”

Someone pounded on the window. They both jumped. “Godammit. You just as well kill someone than scare them half to death,” Tracy growled while sliding open the window. An officer stood by the squad while glancing around the area.

“Sorry. Sorry,” the officer said while still surveying the scene.  Did he say anything about anyone helping him here? He a lone gunman or what?” Several other officers crowded in around the squad dressed up like soldiers, assault weapons held across their chests, the word “Police” printed on their black outfits.

“If I say something, can you loosen these?” McShuster leaned forward, exposing his cuffed hands.

“You good with that, Jill?” The officer asked.

She got out of the squad and started working a little key in the hole on the cuff. The handcuffs had worked a deep imprint into his wrist, she noticed, suppressing a grin. Yes sir … the little bastard got what he had coming.

“Yes, I’m here doing what I had to do. I’m what you’d call a lone gunman. Wait a minute, I don’t have a gun. I’m just here, I mean alone. How bad hurt is he?” McShuster nodded toward Noah. Everyone ignored him.

The SWAT officer lowered his voice. “Jill, is your daughter alright? Is she at the game?” Tracy told him Megan was okay; that she had ran her friend to the hospital with a broken arm.

People Shooter (Second Installment)

As a former cop I am aware that crime scenes can become very chaotic. On a side note, kids are back in school and this country is armed to the teeth. Are you getting nervous? Police Officers are trained to not be judgmental, but we can see that is not always the case. Officer Tracy is taking this personal. Message me or hit the comment area if you have questions. I'll answer. Tomorrow I have another book signing so will not post the third installment until Monday. Onward to Dallas!

The squad was parked on the concourse in front of the school next to a flag pole. Its lights were trained on a body lying on the ground. A man, not in uniform, was waving at the approaching ambulance which jumped the curb and pulled up next to the body. Two emergency technicians sprang from the ambulance. McShuster had to get to work at Shorty’s Bar and Grill. He already had seventeen thousand in the bank and he wanted to add to it. He glanced at his school. He already had half his senior year over with.

“Ma’am, my hands really hurt. Officer Tracy … isn’t that your name?” McShuster asked.

“Handcuffs are necessary when someone brings a gun to school.” Officer Tracy held her hand, palm up, over the steering wheel. Then she leaned toward the passenger seat and picked up the wallet she had taken off him. “James McShuster. Is that you?”

“Yes.” He nodded his head, then lowered his voice. “Is that there Noah hurt? Did he get planted harder than me?” He started to lean forward before pain jolted him in a straight-up position.

“I don’t get,” Officer Tracy said shaking her head. “Why … more shootings? Can’t even send kids to a basketball game no more. Used to be unarmed people—men, women and children—were off limits,” Officer Tracy mumbled.

McShuster spoke up. “Violence and guns is what it’s about. Shooters on a mission to go viral or something. Be badass and blast their way onto the news. The whole deal. Pictures with names … in the news, ruined parents. You know that? This stuff here tonight was planned for a bad ending. You know. It was like a secret mission. The same as they do in the army. I mean we had code words. We put together target practice. It got serious in short order. I mean homemade targets with names on them of dicks from school. It was funny until it wasn’t. We make the gun deal with our hand and pulled an imaginary trigger with our pointer finger. That meant target practice after school. I mean no harm no crime. Don’t get me wrong here. I ain’t sayin’ guns is right or wrong. I’m just saying—” 

People Shooter

After research, including sitting down with a survivor of Columbine, this story happened. Confusion reigns as people are fleeing a school. A young man is in the backseat of a squad car trying to figure it out. You're invited to read this first installment. This story isn't published and only available here. So much for the 'nothing is free in life' saying. Leave a comment if you feel so inclined. Tomorrow another piece of this story will be posted so help me God.

People Shooter

“Damn. Never seen you guys coming,” McShuster said.

He tried to twist his torso but couldn’t. The pain knocked the wind out of him. He’d been what one of the cops called “planted” on the sidewalk, and his ears were ringing from the gun blast. He wiggled his fingers handcuffed behind him. They hurt. He imagined they were probably turning purple. His side was numb. “Not sure here. I mean, who’s counting, but I feel like the entire cop nation landed on me out there. Way I got it figured everything worked out good. Could’ve been a whole lot worse, right?”

Officer Tracy was in the driver’s seat. “Did you hear me read you your Miranda Warning? If so, I suggest you remain silent.” She slid her hand down to check the strap on her Glock. “What is this world coming to?” She checked the strap again. A lot of officers develop nervous habits; checking her firearm was hers.

He looked out the window at all kinds of people running to and from the school. It was mayhem. Some were screaming. “Can you do something about my hands? They hurt. I won’t escape on ya. I’ll answer whatever you ask. Just loosen up my cuffs, please. I mean … Why I gotta have these things on in the first place?”

So What Story is The Best?

I wrote my stories and stand behind everyone one of 'em. In the mood to read a story that has three perfect murders in it? Read 'Brand of Justice'. How about real world police behavior? I was a cop in a former life and wrote JusThis. How does it feel to grow-up in a War Zone? Pick-up Fatima's 'Never a Child'. Soon I'll cover the short stories. You live many days but die only once so get out there and enjoy today!

Summer Vacation is Over

My writing reflects years of police work. Perfect murders take place in Brand of Justice. I was a Captain of Detectives and stand by what I wrote. I spent time with a Columbine survivor and then wrote People Shooter. Lets hope we do not experience another school shooting. Is that realistic? Where is this blog headed? Only time will tell.

And Now Tailei Qi

If we understand shooters do we stand a chance? It seems like an every day deal. Sickening. The Second Amendment doesn't kill: aunts, grandmas, fathers, sisters, brothers or professors. A person does . . .