Day 136 - Short Story about Death by Gun

 Short Story about Death by Gun

 Matthew Ryan Fischer

 

“He just walked in and started shooting…”

“And where were you?”

“I was in the back.”

“But you heard the gunshots.”

“Of course. And we checked the monitors. He never stopped walking. Just headed for the backroom door like he knew we were in there. Cashier was dead by that point as well as some local customers. But the gunman was a man on a mission. He was coming for us and what we got.”

Queenie had already heard the story thrice before. Once from her men who first investigated the shooting, then again when they brought the pit boss to her, then again when the Dragon’s Claw arrived. Three was questioning him for the benefit of the other bosses, but it was unlikely there would be any new details.

“Everything was chaos. You have to understand. Everybody heard the shots. Everybody knew the stories. The past ten days, you know? Word gets around. It was hard enough to get people to work, but they all had the jitters and were right on edge all day. That first shot went off, and there was no controlling them. Everybody started running in all directions, looking for a way out.”

“But you had guards.”

“Of course. There’s really only the one way in and out, as far as the workers know. That’s to stop them from being tempted to steal. But now it was their death sentence. To get out they had to head for the shooter. It’s not like there’s anywhere to really hide anyway. You’ve got the money counters and runners in one room, but what are they gonna do? Hide behind a cart? Use a briefcase to fight back? Then there’s the lab, but that’s a clean room and built so there’s nowhere to hide anything – again to discourage theft. So, everybody is freaking out and they’re the ones blocking the guards from getting anywhere close to the door where they might actually do some good. All the while we’re all hearing the shots as this guy makes his way down the hallway. Bang. Bang. Bang. Maybe he was wearing body armor or maybe he’s the luckiest son of a bitch, but for all the shots going back and forth, all they did was keep getting closer. Man on a mission.”

“And what did you do?”

“I got the fuck out of there. Down the secret door in my office. I grabbed one briefcase of product and one of cash and I brought it back here. You should be thanking me that I got anything out. You can count it, both were full. Two hands, two briefcases. I didn’t skim nothing.”

“But you had a gun.”

“Of course, I had a gun. But I told you, the guards were fucked and the lab rats were fucked. That gunman was coming and everybody was just getting in each other’s way. If there had been any time to organize anything, maybe, but all that chaos? Everybody was getting shot down.”

Queenie turned the volume down on her monitor and looked around the room at the other bosses. Their faces were mixed, some better at hiding their fear or concern. Eight men and one woman and she was the calmest of the bunch and it was her outfit that had been hit.

“So, gentlemen, satisfied?”

Some nodded. Others withheld judgement.

“And you want to arm soldiers outside the Dragon’s Claw to handle this?” asked Gideon. “A dangerous precedent, isn’t it? A crack in the agreement that has led to years of peace and prosperity?”

“Where is the peace and prosperity when we are being attacked continuously?”

“The Dragon’s Claw has always been able to handle such threats before.”

“Before? Who cares about before? What about now? They’ve done nothing about the man with the shotgun for nearly two weeks. And now this? He’s inspiring other descent. We look weak. Every attack encourages another.”

“You think this is an additional enemy? Not the same man?”

“Did you hear a shotgun mentioned in his story? Of course, it’s a different man. Gentlemen, we must do something. My family requires it. If the Dragon’s Claw can’t keep the peace, and the families can’t keep the peace, then what good are any of our agreements? My family demands peace and I will give it to them.”

The men looked back and forth, the fear creeping in. They all knew her family wasn’t the strongest, and yet they were scared. Determination and grit, that was something her mother had taught her. Talk big, act bigger. Men with might who were afraid to use it were easily toppled.

The men whispered, but she knew she had them when she saw Gideon nodding. If their fear convinced him, he wouldn’t waste an opportunity. He was just like she was. But what his goal would be, she still wasn’t sure. Still, with him in agreement, her strength could grow. She just had to make sure his didn’t surpass hers.