Page 10 of Garr

“I told Garr and the others I feel as though there were multiple weapons. I know the sounds of a pistol versus a rifle, and it was all of them. One was firing rapidly, like the weapons you guys use on missions. It sounded like an M16A. That, tat, tat, tat, tat, tat, tat,” she said repeatedly. With her own degrees in weapons engineering, Macie wasn’t unfamiliar with weapons, she just hadn’t had the opportunity to hear them up close and personal.

“That means they had silencers, automatic, semi-automatic, and maybe others. The victims were random. They’d shoot one person that was in a group of three or four and move on. There doesn’t seem to be any logic to what they did,” said Eric.

“How can there be?” asked Macie. They stared at her. “How can there be logic to men killing people who were out holiday shopping? Innocent people who were supposed to be home with their families last night having dinner. Today, their families are planning their funerals.”

“We know, sweetie,” said Luke. “None of it makes sense. Random shootings don’t make sense. This will bring out everyone against weapons in the U.S. and everyone for weapons in the U.S. There will be no middle ground. Arguments will occur on both sides, for and against. People will be yelling for stricter laws, background checks, all of it, and in the end, nothing will be resolved.”

“Again, can we blame them?” asked Macie. “I understand the need for weapons in the hands of men like you guys, my father, all of us here. I get that. You’re providing the service of protecting the rest of us. Police, military, security. Understandable. I’m struggling with this, Luke. Why does the average man need a semi-automatic military-grade rifle?”

All of the men were quiet for a moment. They’d been asked that very question on more than one occasion. In fact, they’d pondered it themselves, wondering if there were some happy medium for people to retain the right to protect themselves and their property and the right to bear arms of any type.

“I don’t have an answer for that, Macie,” said Luke. “I know that this is happening way too often, but when we look at the facts for each case, the shooter got their hands on the weapon illegally through their parents or another family member, or they were pushed to their limits by bullies at school, victims themselves.”

“I know, I know,” she said, nodding. “I don’t want to fight you guys about this, but I do feel like we’re going to get caught in the middle of this if we don’t figure out who these men are and how they had so many weapons.”

“Well, it is Louisiana,” said Garr. “Almost every man in the state owns a weapon of some sort. But I know what you’re saying. These weapons weren’t for protection. They were for killing.”

“Maybe their name, the Boy Scouts, isn’t about the scouting organization at all,” said Macie. “Maybe it’s about something else. A mission of some sort.”

“Well,” nodded Hex, “their mission is about to get a helluva lot more complicated.”

CHAPTER SIX

“It wasn’t enough,” said the man, staring at the men in front of him. “You needed to hit more than you did. I gave you dozens of weapons, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a location that had thousands of people and you kill less than twenty. What kind of shit is that?”

“Wasn’t enough? We killed plenty,” said the younger man. “Besides, when those assholes in that fancy chopper showed up, we had to get out of there. We’re lucky they didn’t chase us down.”

“They were preoccupied with someone,” said the man. “I don’t know who, but it was obvious that they were on a mission to get Daddy’s rich girl out of the mall.”

“Maybe it was Daddy’s rich boy,” smirked one of the men.

“Be a smart ass again, and I’ll kill you myself,” he said. “We need to make the next shooting bigger, more impactful. I’ll see what I can come up with. You guys lay low, don’t do anything stupid, don’t brag about your weapons, don’t brag about shit. Act normal. Clear?”

“Clear,” they said in unison, walking out of the room.

“Robo?” The tall, lanky young man turned to stare at him.

“Sir?”

“How were they?”

“They did what they were told. Everyone kept their cool, kept their masks on, didn’t do anything too stupid. We’ll get better at it, I’m sure.”

“Good. That’s good. We’re going to make this holiday season one for the books, one that everyone in New Orleans will remember for a long, long time.”

“Sir, can I ask why? I mean, do you have something against New Orleans? Why not Detroit or Chicago, maybe Miami, or let’s hit the illegals at the border? Why here?”

“Let’s just say I have an issue with this city, and they’re going to give me what they owe me. Go on. Stay out of sight, and I’ll let you know where the next hit will be.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Did you move all of my things over here?” smirked Macie.

“I did. I asked your mom and dad if they were okay with that, and they said yes. I want you here with me, Macie. I want us to create a life together. It’s been so hard being apart. At least if you’re here with me, I’ll see you every morning and every night. I don’t care if we don’t sleep in the same bed. I just want you under my roof.”

“I care.”

“What?” he frowned.

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