Day Nine - Tuesday
I woke up about six with the TV playing an exercise program featuring a skimpily dressed babe and a slick looking guy with an eight pack, far past just the standard six pack abs. The only thing those programs were good for was to drool over the workout chick and remind yourself that you probably ought to workout yourself.
Thinking about it, I should probably get some tennis shoes and run or something. I could walk down to the pool and swim some laps. That would be good exercise.
I put on my swimsuit and walked down to the swimming pool. There was two older ladies swimming slowly back and forth getting their mornings exercise too. I stepped into the pool on the opposite side they were on and pushed off swimming at a leisurely pace then on the return trip picking up speed. On each turn I sped up a little until I was swimming as hard as I could. Becoming winded, I started slowing down till I was swimming back to about the same speed I started at.
As I stood up then sat on the edge, a short gray hared older lady turned to her companion, "be still my heart. Helen, I think our wish just swam into our lives."
I glanced over at the ladies grinning, "you two ladies be good. Your husbands will be out here holding me under if they think I'm making a play for either of you two fine looking ladies."
One of the ladies glided over to me in the water to stand right in front of me, "we are both single and ready for a treat like you. Think you can handle a couple of horny old ladies?"
I was blushing bright red when the other lady swam over and joined in, "Grethen don't be teasin' this guy or making promises your dried up ole' crotch can't fulfill."
"He looks like he could fill me right to the brim Helen," the first lady bantered.
"Ask nice and offer him a C-note and maybe he'll haul your ashes for you, you nasty ole' lady."
"Ladies, ladies I'm just a new guy around here trying to work off a few calories and some extra beer from this past week. You two look like you're in pretty good shape, so maybe we can be workout buddies," I smiled with open arms.
"You the guy been sparkin' Kathy? You the one that took out the slime ball Jeff?" Helen asked.
"Kathy and I have gone out and Sunday we went to Busch Gardens with her kids."
"We know that," Gretchen commented. "You went with Charlie and his wild red headed wife."
"No secrets around here, huh?" I asked.
"Not when it has to do with a new young stud moving in," Helen smiled.
Gretchen asked, "you here permanent or what?"
"I'm on vacation, a long vacation," I said remembering about buying twenty grand worth of work tools yesterday.
"So what do you do that makes you want to have a long vacation?" Helen asked.
"Until last week, I was working on oil pumping and drilling platforms off the coast of Belize. I've been working hard for the oil companies, seventy to eighty hours a week for almost four years. I needed a break and I ended up here to enjoy myself."
"I have a cousin that works on the Alaska pipeline and he complains that you don't make much money up there. At least not enough to have some decent meals and go to the tavern after he sends six or seven hundred a week home," Gretchen was saying.
"I didn't go to town up there very often while I was up there. I was there to make and save money. I really can't tell you much about it."
"You were probably smarter than Gene is, I know him well," Gretchen darkened. "He drinks to much and chases wild women all the time. He just uses the excuse of being up there to get away with his mischief."
I got out of the pool drying off with the towel I brought.
"Want to use the hot tub, stud?" Helen asked "it was probably you and Kathy in there the other night making all those groaning noises."
"You might have heard another couple that was getting into the tub when we left. Can you believe it, they just stripped down right in front of us and got into the tub."
"Helen, we gotta start coming to the hot tub late at night. We might get some while some lady ain't lookin'."
"See you girls later. I'm going to try to exercise every morning, so if you want to play with me, be here," I smiled and waved as I left.
The coffee was barely done and the bacon was just about done when Glenda and Alice banged on the screen door.
They came in and sat the table. They were both grinning at me so I got them each a cup of coffee, "either of you need cream or sugar?"
Alice spoke for both of them, "no Steve, we're fine."
"So what do I owe the pleasure of this morning's visit?" I asked.
"We just wanted to say hi to you this morning, that's all," Glenda sighed.
"What else?" I asked knowing there was more.
"Abe wants to take you into town to buy a gun," Alice was saying and looking a little embarrassed. "He says that Jeff guy won't be in jail that long and Jeff has a passel of kin that is as warped as he is. I don't know what you think about guns, but it might be a good idea to get one and learn how to use it."
"I was in Desert Storm Alice, I know what a gun is and was trained how to use many of them," I said thinking that I really didn't have a lot of combat experience.
"Well Abe is coming over here soon and wants to take you into town. Do you have enough money to buy a pistol or do we need to loan you some money?" Alice asked getting up to leave.
"Martin and I could help you too, Steve," Glenda said as she went out the door.
"I'm fine ladies," I said. "Tell Abe I'm ready now as I have some jobs I need to do today."
Ten minutes later Abe came to the door while I was washing my dishes. He sipped some coffee while I finished telling me exactly what the two ladies had been talking about.
Abe and I left in his truck going to a little gun shop out on Busch Boulevard. Abe had the storeowner show me several guns. I like a couple of them so I made a deal on a Smith and Wesson 9mm and a used 380 PPK. I had always wanted a PPK but couldn't afford it. This time I could. I made the deal with three extra high capacity clips and four boxes of ammo each after using most of a box with each pistol on the short range the shop had in the rear. I impressed myself, I could still shoot what I aimed at.
Abe made me fill out the application for a carry permit. He said that for ex-military approval was automatic unless I had been in trouble. The guy said I should have the receipt to get my picture taken in less than two weeks.
Eight hundred dollars later, Abe and I were home where I stashed my new hardware. Able looked over the gas cart in the shed while I brought the bike out saying I was going to go to the storage building to sort some stuff out.
I rode to the storage building then pulled the cover off the big truck. I checked over all the equipment and supplies on the truck then cranked it up and drove it to DMV office. Before going in, I went to the insurance office next door and obtained six months of insurance on the truck.
After getting the truck registered and the new plates on it, I drove over to the biker's house. The gate guard was bug eyed when I showed up wearing a 'support' T-shirt asking to speak to Hap.
Hap came out and re-directed me to another gate on the other side of the house where there were two empty lots fenced in making the place like a little compound. They had a metal building that may have housed a shop plus another building they called a bunk house and recreation area. There was a large outdoor cooking area that had a huge pot on it cooking something that smelled like chili.
I told Hap that I had just made the deal on the truck so he was going to be my first customer. He had a couple of prospects help me set up my big shade tent next to the rear of the truck. I pulled out the table with the vices and clamps that was the entire width of the truck and almost eight feet out standing up straight with the help of some fold down legs.
Hap had the prospects bring out one bike at a time. With the help of some other guys, we lifted each bike up on the big table then I washed off the area I was going to weld shielding the rest of the bike with large pieces of heavy aluminum foil.
Three hours later I was done and accepted a beer from a smiling Hap while I was cleaning up and putting everything away. While we ate a lunch of sandwiches and chili, he complimented me on my work then handed me five hundred dollars. I smiled at him and pocketed the money knowing that if Hap offered it, I should take it, no questions asked.
"Steve, you would be good for our chapter, our club," Hap began. "I'm not going to pressure you but I want you to know, you're welcome here, anytime. That means anytime night or day. We've taken your picture and put it on our pride board so the gate guy will always know who you are. One thing though, you better treat Kathy and the kids right or we will have to have a discussion."
"I don't think you have to worry about that," I said with a gentle smile on my face. "I'm kinda partial to her and those kids myself. We may not ever be anything more than really good friends, but I'll definitely watch out for them."
"You already did," Hap smiled. "We heard what you did with that asshole that had been nosing around Kathy. You did good. We owe you. You did our job. It's our responsibility to protect a brother's family. That's why I said you would make a good person to be with us. Listen here, you need a phone or someway to get hold of you. Get one."
Hap said something to one of the prospects then turned back to me, "we checked you out a little and found out you are ex-military and were hurt in Desert Storm."
I nodded.
Hap continued, "I want you to go to the place on this card and get your carry permit for a piece. You might need it considering that guy and his crazy family."
The prospect came up to Hap with something in a towel.
Hap flipped the towel up and held out a giant pistol to me. "This is a .44 magnum that should be about right for a guy like you. You need to go learn to shoot it and keep it ready in case those guys show. Take this thing, it's clean and legal. Go learn to use it and get that permit."
"Hap," I began "I already applied earlier this morning and I bought a piece too. According to the gun store gun I should hear next week."
"You're all right Steve. You have it together. Take this thing anyway. It's way to big for any of us to carry around. Besides, I don't think any of us want to learn how to shoot that monster, and get a phone," Hap grinned.
I thanked Hap for the new gun then pulled out of the yard with my monster diesel welding truck. I drove to the address Hap gave me for the application to see if it had a range.
The gun dealer was nice and did have a range. When I asked if I could shoot a .44 mag he said sure but I would have to police my own brass. He sold me two boxes of shells. I shot up a box learning how to hit a silhouette consistently at fifty feet. With a .44 magnum, all you have to do is hit a piece of a guy and he'll die of shock anyway.
I drove the big truck back to the storage lot and put it away then spent A couple of hours sorting through what I wanted to keep and what I wanted to get rid of. It took a couple of hours to separate everything between the two garages so that I had what I wanted to keep in one and the stuff I was going to get rid of in the other. I made a list of the expendable equipment and materials then rode over to the welding supply house to see if I could post a flier.
The counter guy said it would be fine. Just print it up and bring it in. He wanted to see what I had so I showed him list. Thank goodness I had hand re-written the whole thing so it was in some kind of order with the supplies for a type of welding equipment grouped with the main gear.
The guy whistled then asked, "you going out of business?"
"Naw, I made a deal on a large group of equipment and I'm selling off the extras. The stuff I don't need."
"We buy used stuff all the time. A lot of the little guys come in to buy it. The supplies are easy. We'll pay you whatever we normally pay wholesale and save freight if that's good for you?"
The guy picked up his phone and talked a minute and then said his boss would be right out.
A short stocky guy came and nodded to me then took my list and looked at it a minute, "this stuff in decent condition?"
"Yeah, it's all clean and looks like it has been taken care of. Some of it is pretty old. Still good, just older model stuff," I said hoping that getting rid of a storage building of stuff would be easy.
"Where's it at?" he asked.
"I have it a storage building off north Florida."
"Let me get a warehouse guy and we'll follow you out there and take a look. We'll make a deal on what you have," the boss guy said and went to the back.
He came out with another guy in a shirt with his name and the company name on it. The boss guy called out, "let's go."
I rode out to the storage building and parked in front of my second door. The guy must have felt like we were going to make a deal as he backed his truck right up to the door I was opening.
He still had the list in his hand and immediately started looking at each item. My list was in the order that I had the equipment stacked in. After about fifteen minutes, he took a pad and started writing down numbers.
"The equipment is old but is in real good condition. Some of this old stuff is better quality than the new ones you can buy today. Your supplies all look like I can put them into stock. He looked at his pad then at me, "How about sixty-five hundred for all of it?"
I was glad I wasn't looking directly at him when he said that. I about shit a brick thinking about the number. I looked up at him and said, "you know, I don't even know your name. What is it?"
"Fred, Fred Conners, the counter guy said you were Steve Sharp and was in Monday buying some stuff. So will you take the sixty-five?"
"I guess I could take that," I said trying to keep the excitement out of my voice.
The warehouse guy immediately started loading stuff into big stake bed truck they had brought.
While we were loading the stuff up Fred commented, "This stuff looks like some equipment that Simpson tool and Die used to have. They have a welding division that's about the best in the state. Since the old man died, the business hasn't done to well. His kid just doesn't know how to run a business."
"Simpson went bankrupt. This is where this stuff came from," I said being informative.
"No shit. When did they start selling the equipment?" Fred asked.
"They had an auction Monday and sold everything to the walls. The bankruptcy guy and auctioneer even paid me to sweep out the joint before I left."
"Damn, I missed that. I need to pay attention to what's going on," Fred said as he helped his guy lift an old wirefeed cart onto the truck.
When the shed was almost empty, I opened the other door to show Fred the two big generators. Asking if he would be interested in them.
"Sure, if they run good. Have a mechanic look them over then let me know. We would have to bring a fork lift out here to load them up if the wheels and bearings aren't in good shape."
"I'll have a good mechanic check out both of them and let you know as soon as I can. I would like to empty this shed out a little more too. I only want to keep what I really need," I said thinking of Abe.
We finished cleaning out the shed. I took the broom that came from the auction and quickly swept it out hoping to turn it in so I would only have to pay for this first month.
"Follow us back to the store and I'll cut you a check. I think we both made a good deal," Fred said climbing into the truck.
Back at the supply house, Fred handed me a check then asked, "you know Simpson's just bought a custom truck and fitted it with some of the best equipment around. That was brand new when the old man died. It was his pride and joy. Wonder who got that?"
When I smiled, Fred exclaimed, "no shit, you bought that too?"
"I couldn't pass it up. The deal was too good," I said.
"Wow, anything under seventy-five would have been a good deal. I'll bet you could get eighty or ninety for it if you found the right buyer," Fred was gushing.
"Well right now I'm going to use it to make a buck. When I decide to go back to the oil companies, I'll make a deal with you."
Fred wanted my phone number but I said I didn't have one but would be getting one soon.
I wanted to get the check and the cash into the bank so I rode to the bank and made a deposit. Next door to the bank was a Verizon store. Verizon is the local telephone company. They used to be GTE but had changed their name. I think they changed it because of their cell phone division.
Trying to order a home phone became a project since I had just moved here. I had to put up a pretty big deposit for the line. Then I asked about a cell phone. You would have thought I was food to a hungry animal. Two sales people were all over me. I bought a small phone with a case, belt holder and charger. They said I couldn't have the same number on the cell phone and my home phone so they modified my home phone order to have call forwarding on it. That would work. I made them promise that my home phone would be installed Thursday between eight and noon.
My credit card was taking a beating, I would have to figure out everything and call them to give them my new address so I could pay the bill on time and not pay all that interest. The seven grand I had taken in today should help.
It was after five so I stopped at the store for another piece of meat on the way home. I parked the bike in the shed undecided whether I would go out again then took a quick shower to get the day's crud off.
I was getting the grille out of the shed when Shawna came over and asked if I could cook supper again. She said she had a bunch of ribs if I would cook them. Sounded like a good deal to me so I lit the grille to get it started.
Charlie drove up in his black pickup then backed up next to my truck, right to the patio. He got out and said, "got a present for you. Now we can eat in style out here on your patio."
He open his tail gate and pulled out some wrought iron patio chairs with pads then pulled a table out of the bed that had been upside down. It was a hell of a nice set. Thinking of how much that it must have cost I offered, "what do I owe you for this. I was going to get a set but had not gotten around to do it yet."
"Shit, we're not even close to even yet. You've done me a couple of huge favors and what you did with those heads is worth a ton. You made my life easier as an independent with Hap doing his needs already. This stuff came from down the street. A family is moving and I picked it up for a song. Your patio seems to be the new gathering place so we need some more chairs. I'll be right back, gotta get one more piece," Charlie said excitedly.
Charlie took off in his truck and returned in a couple of minutes, again backing up to the patio. He got out of truck saying, "give me hand." In the bed was a huge glider couch. It was at least six foot wide and of really heavy construction.
We set it up against the side of the trailer looking out. Charlie looked at it and said, "I bet Martin and Glenda are in that thing right off. Let's move it out a little so it will glide back and forth farther."
There were two little plastic tables that Charlie took out of the truck and put on each end of the glider. They made perfect end tables.
I got us both beers then had to go back inside for another one for Shawna who was carrying a big box across the yard. Inside the box were the ribs plus a big bowl of cole slaw and another bowl of baked beans.
I put the ribs on the grille but did not put the lid on, as ribs need to cook slow. This was going to take at least a half-hour to forty-five minutes.
While we were sitting at the new table, Martin and Glenda came over to admire the new furniture. I got them each a beer then Charlie's prediction came true. The two of them were instantly on the glider sitting close to each other gliding back and forth. Charlie looked over at me and grinned.
All of a sudden, four kids were on the patio with Kathy following shortly after. The kids all grabbed a lawn chair while Kathy sat in the forth chair at the table. I got up to get Kathy another beer and another round for everyone else. When I apologized to the kids for not having anything for them to drink they said that was fine and that I might want to get them something from the ice cream truck that was coming. You could hear the music from the approaching truck.
I got up and the kids and I went to the road to flag down the colorful looking truck. Kathy was with me and told me they had already had supper so this would be desert. They all got some kind of ice cream and a bag of juice to drink. Kathy told me to get two fudge sickles for Martin and Glenda, she said she didn't want anything.
Glenda whooped when she saw the fudge sickle Kathy had, "perfect, a new glider to sit with my ole' man, a beer, and my favorite, a fudge sickle."
Martin scoffed, "she's pretty easy to please."
Charlie asked, "When you gonna get a phone, Dell's about to have a fit since he hasn't seen you in a couple of days."
"Ordered it today. Should have it Thursday. I bought a cell phone too so I can be reached if I'm out working. Remind me and I'll get you the number," I said.
"Understand Abe took you out and got you some back up," Charlie said.
"Yep, we got that taken care of," I answered.
"Make sure you keep it ready and where you can get at it," Charlie warned, "you never know when you're gonna need it. Especially with Jeff's wacko kin on the loose."
Kathy was nodding her head with a worried look on her face.
"Something I should know Kathy?" I asked.
Kathy squirmed around in her seat and I noticed Martin and Glenda looking at each other.
"Earlier, one of his brothers was out here banging on your door, hollering for you to come out. When he started poking around trying to open your shed and checking your windows, Martin came out and told him he was going to call the cops," Kathy said with a frown.
I got up to turn the ribs and put some barbecue sauce on them. I looked at Martin to see if he was going to add anything.
"I don't know which one it was, but Kathy says it was a brother," Martin explained. "He was hollerin' pretty loud and making threats. Seems Jeff's bail is more than they can come up with, it's over two hundred thousand with the attempted murder charges. They charged him with attempted murder on you, the kids and Kathy. With the felony gun charge and his parole violation, he's lucky to even have a bail. Sure hope they don't get the money together."
Thinking about what they were saying I told Charlie to turn the meat in ten minutes and put more sauce on them. I said I would be right back.
I took the pickup down to the storage place and got into the truck for the .44 Hap had given me along with the box of shells I had for it. Now I wished I had picked up a rifle, an SKS or commercial M16 or even an AK. Civilian life can be dangerous. I promised myself that I would go to the gun shop and stock up with ammo and a rifle tomorrow.
When I got back to the house I took the big gun wrapped in a towel inside loaded it and set it on top of the fridge next to the door. I went back to the bedroom and dug out my two new toys and loaded up the clips then put the 380 on top of the nightstand and brought the 9 mil and put it with the .44 mag. That ought to be enough firepower if something comes up. The cops seem to be able to get here pretty fast so we all should be okay.
Outside the ribs were just about done. Kathy and the kids went back home and Martin and Glenda said they were going over to Abe's to play cards. I went inside and got my cell phone number and gave it to Martin, "tell Abe to give me a call tomorrow, I need his help on something."
Charlie, Shawna and I dug into the food. The ribs were done perfect. Enjoying an evening with friends is just about as good as it gets.
Charlie asked as we were working on an after dinner beer, "Hap give you a cannon?"
When I nodded he said, "don't know where he gets them but he gives one of those things away to almost all of his main supporters. He gave me one a couple of years ago. I tried to fire it but couldn't hit anything with it. Do you think you can?"
"I took it to the gun shop and fired a box of shells through it. I hit the silhouette at fifty feet with the last fifteen rounds. I should be okay. If you want, we'll get a bunch of rounds and go practice. I'm sure there are some gun ranges around here."
"That would be cool," Charlie said, "no one ever taught me how to shoot. I wasn't in the service like you were so the only shooting I've ever done was with shotguns and some target practice with a pistol. So far I'm not very good with a handgun. Shawna's my protector. She's deadly with my revolver and my 9-millimeter. Her dad was military and taught her at an early age. She can't hold up the big .44, it's just too heavy. If it had a shorter barrel she could probably shoot it."
"Let's take it down to the gun shop and see if he can put a shorter barrel on it. That .44 has some great knock down power. All you have to do is nick someone and they are out of commission," I said.
Shawna was listening, being quiet for a little bit but added, "when I was a little girl, a couple of guys tried to rob us. They had guns and had my mom and dad, my sister and two brothers at gunpoint demanding money. They thought dad had drugs. I was out of sight so I got dad's 45 automatic from their bedroom and waited till one guy was out of the room looking for money and the other guy was looking at where the guy had gone. I shot him in the chest. Dad grabbed the gun that the guy dropped but I shot the other guy as he ran into the room. Dad shot him too but I think my round went into the guy's chest. Amazingly mom and the kids were not that scared. I guess they felt like dad would take care of them. I was shaking like a leaf."
She continued after taking a big drink of her beer, "they made me go to counseling for almost six months until they finally realized I wasn't upset for killing those two guys. They threatened my family so they were enemies."
Shawna stretched and finished, "Dad wanted me to be a soldier but I'd rather be a sexy biker bitch riding behind Charlie."
"Damn, you are one tough biker babe," I commented.
"Not babe, bitch," laughed Shawna.
I went inside to pee and get another round of beer. As I was coming out the door, a pickup went by the house real slow with a couple of guys in the back. The cab looked full too. I asked Charlie if he knew who they were. He didn't.
I could see the truck coming back down the lane slowly. Something didn't seem right so I opened the trailer door, turned off the lights and reached up for the two guns. I brought them both out and handed the automatic to Shawna and told her and Charlie to get over behind their truck. I sat in the chair on the patio. It was dark and I was shaded from the street. I picked up my cell phone and dialed 911. I told the operator who I was and where I was then explained that there may be trouble. She said to call her back if something happened. "Damn," that wasn't what I wanted to hear.
The pickup was now past my drive and almost to Martin's giving them a view past the pickups in my drive to my patio.
I saw the muzzle flash and dove for the ground. I didn't hear the round hit but I rolled over to have a clear line of site to the truck. With the .44 pointed at the pickup, there were three muzzle flashes at once. This time I heard glass breaking behind me. I squeezed the trigger of the big gun and heard the impact of the round. I didn't hit anyone, just the truck. I squeezed off a second round hearing a scream.
Someone got out of the truck with a small machine pistol looking gun. He sprayed the patio but I had already rolled behind the shed. I heard Shawna's automatic crack three times quickly and looked around to see the guy with automatic piece on the ground. I shot at two guys that were in the back. I hit another then the second guy fell about the time I heard Shawna shoot again. The driver and the middle passenger got out of the truck with shotguns and started shooting blindly toward the trailer. They must have had bird shot as all I heard was small beebees hitting the trailer.
Shawna and I must have aimed at the driver as he was lifted off his feet and thrown back by the impact of the rounds hitting him. The other guy with the shotgun threw it down and began climbing into the truck. Shawna and I shot at the same time again, this time hitting the guy in the back and head while he was only half in the truck.
We could hear sirens coming fast. Martin hollered out, "I think you got em all."
I knew I was down to one round so I cautiously came out from around the shed and motioned Shawna to stay down. I could hear groaning from someone in the truck. I stayed on the patio while the cop cars slid to a stop at the pickup in the street. The cops got out with guns drawn, looking in every direction. I put the .44 on the table and told Shawna to lay hers on the ground and to stand with her hands up so the cops would know we were not a threat.
One cop came over and had Charlie, Shawna and I lay on the ground with our hands over our heads while the other sheriff's deputy was checking the bodies around the pickup. The cop watching us, nudged with his foot and asked, "aren't you the guy that helped out the lady from across the street?"
"That's me," I said.
"Who're these two?"
"This is Charlie and Shawna, my neighbors who were eating dinner with me when those guys came. They were acting strange so I went in and got out some protection. A good thing too as they all had guns. I think there were six of them," I said still a little hyper from the adrenaline rush.
Another two sheriff's cars came along with a couple of paramedic trucks. A guy with an air of authority walked up to the deputy watching us three on the ground, "you can let these three up. Martin Smith, his neighbor told me what happened. It looks like almost all the family has been eliminated. Where are the guns you guys used."
Shawna pointed to the automatic still lying on the ground and I pointed to the big .44 on the table.
"You three are lucky. Those are some of meanest guys around. They have rap sheets so long, it would take one of your trucks to haul them. Sure glad you were decent shots. The guy in the pickup isn't going to make it so you did six for six. Hope they don't have anymore relatives local."
The deputies took statements from us then gave me a receipt for the two guns, telling me that they would be returned after the coroner's inquest. Glenda and Martin had come over. Glenda gave Shawna a hug, then started straightening up around the patio, cleaning up the table from our supper. Martin swept up some glass then pulled out the rest of the glass from the window that had been shot out. He went inside and said it didn't look like anything else got hit inside.
Charlie said he had to pee. He said he almost pissed his pants when all the shooting was going on. Shawna said she needed to unload some beer too. A coroner's van came and they loaded up the five on the ground. The sixth guy was already on his way to the hospital in one of the paramedic wagons.
A paramedic came over to ask if any of us were hurt. We weren't but he offered us a sleeping pill if we wanted it so we could relax. Shawna and I didn't want one but Charlie said, "gimme one, please."
Kathy came over quickly giving me a hug saying she was glad she we were all okay and she was sorry she had caused so much trouble. I assured her it wasn't her fault and told her to get home with her kids.
Martin had put a board up on the window securing it with some screws. The cops were finishing up with their investigation and were ready to haul the bad guy's pickup off.
The deputy that recognized me came over, "you did the state a favor. Every one of those guns was stolen. Even the truck was stolen. Three of those guys have felony warrants out on them and the other three are on probation. You're not going to have any problems with this incident. The guy that's in jail is going up for at least twenty, he might even get life. When the time comes, I'll bring your guns back."
I thanked him and told him to come by off duty so I could stand him a beer.
Shawna gave me a hug then Charlie shook my hand and said they were going to bed. Martin and Glenda sat on the patio with me and had another beer before going home. I locked up everything and went inside. I sat on the couch and used the remote to turn on the TV.
"BZZT." Sparks flew out from behind the set.
I ran over and pulled the electric plug, then turned on the lamp next to the TV. I looked at the back of the TV to see a small hole where a bullet had gone into the chassis. I checked the wall and found the exit hole. Outside there was just a tiny hole next to a cross member that you had to look for to see. I wondered if my new tenant homeowners insurance policy the property manager lady made me buy would cover this.
Oh well, bed sounded good so I got under the covers and was sound asleep instantly.