Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36987 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36987 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
“Okay, this was Carter’s gun,” I explained, pointing at the Heckler & Koch P30L, “and this was Feeney’s.”
“What is that?” Tunney asked Davis.
“It’s a Smith & Wesson Model 29 revolver.”
I smiled at her. “You know your guns.”
“Comes with the gig,” she assured me.
“The Glock 34 belonged to Billings, the Glock 26 was Moore’s, and the last one, the Browning HP35, that was Gill’s.”
“Great,” Davis said, then put her gloved hand on the last gun. “And this Glock 19 is yours, yes?”
“Yeah.”
“How many shots did you fire, Captain?”
I had found over the years, especially with the police, that once they knew who you were, ran your record and found out you were still serving in the military, using your rank was second nature to them.
“Two into Carter, one into the Honda to break the window, one to break the glass door, two into Billings, two into Moore, and that is…it.”
“So eight total?”
“Yeah.”
“And you’ve got fifteen rounds in that, plus one in the chamber?”
“Correct.”
She nodded. “Okay. As soon as we clear the ballistics, we’ll get this back to you.”
“I have my conceal and carry license if you’d like to get a picture of it.”
“No. The detectives recorded the number. We’ll reach out to your boss at Sutter if we need any additional information.”
She and her assistant put the guns into evidence bags as the detectives and I watched.
“I used my Glock here because that’s what I normally carry in my civilian life as a bodyguard,” I explained to Davis. “But I have my SIG Sauer M17 that I carry into combat with me as well. It’s not government issue, it’s mine just like the Glock. I have a license for each.”
“Understood.” Davis affirmed.
“I didn’t fire the Sig, so you shouldn’t need to take it.”
“No, we don’t,” she agreed, putting my Glock into an evidence bag. “And we’ll tag this and get it back to you, as I said, as soon as it clears ballistics.”
“Perfect,” I said and got up, turning to the detectives, including Davis. “So, shall we take a stroll and I’ll take you through it?”
“That would be so great.”
“Wait,” Kurt called over to me. “Where are you going?”
“I just need to do the walk-through with everyone.”
Kurt looked at Tunney. “You’re not arresting him, are you?”
Tunney squinted at him. “Arresting him for what, Dr. Butler?”
“I don’t— I’ve never been through anything like this.”
He nodded. “No, sir. We’re just gathering information.”
Dennis stood up then, his eyes locked on me. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
“Oh no, I’ll be right back. I promise.”
He nodded quickly but didn’t sit back down.
I smiled at him and then walked the detectives down the hall and out the front door. They were surprised that Geri was trotting along beside us, but Kurt and I had noticed the dogs doing that lately. When we were both home, they would split up, one staying with each of us. Clearly, they felt both of us needed protecting. It was really very sweet.
Crossing the street with the three detectives, I pointed as I explained what I did, holding Deng’s phone that he had passed me, recording every word as Tunney and Deng took notes in their memo books and Davis, who had already walked the scene and taken photos, documented events on her tablet. I went through the order I did things, where I tossed the keys, why I didn’t go in through the front but the back instead, and then my entry into the house.
Once the recording of events was done, Davis thanked me and excused herself. Tunney and Deng had more general questions and so remained. It made sense. Davis just had to make sure that what I said happened could be corroborated by the forensic evidence. That was the end of her involvement. The detectives had to figure out the reason for the crime.
“That was some serious shooting you did,” Tunney concluded.
“Unfortunately, I get a lot of practice.”
Deng cleared his throat. “Special Ops, it said, when we pulled you up.”
“Yeah.”
“Can I ask your specialty?”
“Long range.”
He nodded.
I noticed there were so many police cars on the road, no one was getting through either way. Hopefully there was more than one way up and down the hill.
Tunney took hold of my bicep then, stopping me and meeting my gaze. “I know your Christmas plans didn’t include having to defend yourself and others, but we appreciate your keeping everyone safe.”
“I know that generally, out here in the world, you want to wound, not kill, and normally I do that first, but I just came off an op, so my mind is still there, not here. Also, you know, when you’re outnumbered, the smart thing is not to let people get back up.”
They both nodded. I had no idea whether they’d served or not, but they’d been in situations where there was no time to think, just act, so they understood my head space.