Page 4 of Split Screen Scream
Chapter 2
Christie didn’t understand what was happening as the handsome man next to her shouted and the sharp reports of gunfire—not coming from the screen, but somewhere in the theater—erupted. At the same time, the man’s strong, warm hand closed over her bare shoulder hard, pulling her away from her seat, pushing her forward and down onto her knees on the sticky theater floor.
“Stay down,” he said, his tone brisk and harsh. His right hand reached for the gun he carried in a belt holster behind his back. “Stay here.”
She followed his directions, crouching low, with her hands over her head, so scared she was shaking, but she couldn’t resist looking at the shooter through the small space between the seats.
Dressed in a black hoodie, she saw only his tall, lean figure and a long gun pointing toward them.
Oh my God. We’re all going to die.Her thoughts raced as the shots continued.I’m not ready, Lord. Please don’t let me die now.
Handsome man leapt over the seats in front of them, firing, up and over the crowd, his aim deadly, his body moving in a straight line, charging the shooter.
The man went down.
The confrontation wasover in seconds, which dragged like minutes. Less time than any of them would have guessed, other than Reed, who’d been well trained by the Navy to eliminate this kind of threat. He knew what could happen in just a few seconds and exactly how fast he needed to be.
Reed hoped like hell that nobody had been killed. The shooter had gotten off a few shots before he went down.
Women’s screams still filled the air along with crying.
A man called out, “I’ve been shot.”
The silence following the gunshots gave Reed a chance to take a deep breath and added to Reed’s sense of calm. A few people raised their heads to look at the shooter. He reached into his left pocket as his right thumb pressed a button on his gun. The empty magazine fell to the ground as he slapped in a new one and kept moving forward, down to where the gunman lay on the floor. He’d make sure the man didn’t get up and start shooting again. He had to make sure he’d delivered the kill shot he thought he had. Still, he’d take no chances.
First thing he did was kick away and remove all weapons out of the man’s reach. Then he bent to check the man’s pulse.
Nothing. The man was dead.
Reed pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911, thankful he’d ignored instructions to hand his phone in along with all the others. Likely, he was the only one in the theater able to call. Something the shooter had probably counted on. Like counting on all the patrons to be unarmed.
“Riverton dispatch,” a female voice answered.
“I need to report the live shooter at Riverton Cinema One, is now down.”
“A live shooter at Riverton Cinema One,” the voice repeated. “Did you say down?”
“Yes, one live shooter down. No others in sight.”
“Who am I speaking to?”
“Reed Tindal.I’m a Chief Petty Officer with the US Navy.”
“Are you armed, Mr. Tindal?”
“Yes. One patron has been shot. I’ll assess and report back. We’re going to need at least two ambulances.”
“Please stay on the line, Mr. Tindal. Police and ambulances are on their way.”
He moved back to where the pretty blonde was still crouching on the ground. “You can get up now. It’s safe.”
She rose slowly and shakily. “Safe,” she repeated as if to reassure herself.
“Yes,” he answered. “You’re safe. What’s your name?”
“Christie Anderson.”
“Okay Christie.” He handed her his phone. “Take this. Stay on the line with dispatch. I’m going to check on the wounded.”
