The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 163 Suspects Jack After instructing emergency services to bag the deputy lying on the side of the road leading. to Highland Oaks, | entered the residential area with all the deputies | had at my disposal. We needed to check its residents, evacuate if necessary, and take down the suspects.

There was only one way in or out and that was through the gates. But according to the victims, the suspects appeared from inside Highland Oaks. It was a possibility they got in by climbing the wall. And if indeed they were already gone, they must have exited the s way.

If this were me, I'd leave at the first sight of flashing lights.

pe was their Judging from the carnage, the suspects knew they would be killed on sight. Escape only way of surviving. They must be gone.

| pulled out my phone and called the station. “I need checkpoints at all the entrances and exits in town. Suspects are wearing skater punk outfits and may be on drugs. Be advised. They are armed and dangerous.” The witness | interrogated when | arrived at the scene said the shooters were wearing animal Halloween masks.

He said there were maybe six to ten of them, he wasn’t sure. They all appeared from inside Highland Oaks with guns in their hands. Judging by their outfits, he said they looked like skater punks, wearing muscle shirts, baggy paints and sneakers.

“They said they wanted to play ‘Hide and Seek. They told us they would give us twenty seconds to hide and if they found us, they would kill us. We all thought it was a joke at first, but when they started shooting at the guards and the deputies, we all made a run for it. inside Highland Oaks,” he said. “We tried banging on the doors of the residents inside, but they wouldn't let us in.” “Do you remember the masks they were wearing?” | asked.

“Letsee... One had a gorilla mask on. Another had a werewolf mask on. Then, there was one with a nasty pig head mask, one with a crazy rat mask, a creepy goat mask, a horse mask, and a dog mask. | think there was one with a bird mask on, but | can’t remember. All | remember is they had really animal masks on.” “You're shivering and look all wet,” | said, noticing the water dripping from his clothes.

1/6 11:17 H, Apr CHAPTER 163 Suspects “I hid in one of the pools. It was the only way | could hide without anyone giving my location away. The women just kept screaming. There was a group hidden in a toy house about several feet away from where | was. This one woman, who was with them, couldn't stop crying. The one wearing the werewolf mask found them and killed all of them. There was nothing | could do,” he said regretfully, his eyes downcast. “If | had only brought my gun with me, | would have probably saved a life or two in there. But it was no use. They knew where to find us. Good thing the power went off It bought the others stto find a good hiding spot.” “The power went out?” | asked. When | arrived the power was on. | did notice the streetlights were out on my way here, but those things happen.

“Yeah, about a good fifteen minutes maybe twenty. I'm not sure. Anyway, the ba stards had trouble finding their way in the dark,” he said. “I don’t know if this is helpful, but they seemed utterly happy when they shot a person dead. It was like they were high or something.” “And how did you know it was safe to cout?” | asked.

“I saw the lights from a car. Then, | saw the people hiding in the nearby tree climb down and make a run for it. | decided it was better if | ran out with them. For cover,” he stated, then his eyes widened in embarrassment. “I'm sorry, Jack. | didn’t mean it that way. It’s just, you know, my survival instincts kicking in. | hope you won't take it the wrong way.” “I understand. No need to be embarrassed. You've been really helpful, Greg,” | said, ending the interrogation. “1 think you should change out of those wet clothes and get something warm to drink before you catch a cold.” When | saw Liam cout through the gates that was the only tI noticed his black BMW parked off on the side of the road. | had a sinking feeling he was the mastermind of this mess.

And | was right. He hired a bunch of doped out gan gba ngers to cause mayhem. What | didn’t understand was why they had to kill all these people? But Liam wasn’t sure there would be a mob here... only until late in the evening. If that were the case, what were his original plans? To kill the residents? | doubted it. Kill Norma, Ford and Thomas? It was highly possible.

“Guns out,” | instructed the deputies as we passed through the gates. “We are looking for 2/6 porns wearing animal Halloween masks.” 11:17 Fri, Apr 5 CHAPTER 163 Suspects “Jack, here's one,” a deputy named Frank said, pointing to a dead body in the middle of the entrance. “And there's another.” He pointed to a dead body in front of me. This one was my wearing a crazy rat mask. | holstered my gun and took out a pair of latex gloves from pocket.

“I want you guys to knock on the doors of the houses and see to it the people inside our safe,” | instructed the others.

| crouched down to check for a pulse. He was dead. There was a gaping wound in his back.

“This one was shot in the back,” I said. “What about that one, Frank?” He bent down to take a look.

“Same. Hole in the back,” he answered.

“What mask is he wearing?” | asked. Frank turned his head and shifted his position to get a look without moving the dead body.

“Scary horse mask, Undersheriff,” he replied.

“Jack, here's another,” a deputy named William said. He was standing beneath a huge oak tree beside the road. This used to be a place where old oak trees thrived. The contractor cut them down leaving a few for aesthetic reasons.

| walked over and saw a big a ss hole where his heart was. Looked long range and big caliber. S niper? “He’s the one with the gorilla mask,” | said. “We got three dead. Greg said he saw maybe six to ten of them. That means there are more we need to find.” | decided to go left and check near Norma Martin's house. They were Liam's intended target, so there must be a couple of perps lurking there Unlike the area near the gates, this place was clean of carnage. My guess... because it was further away from the gates. | saw Norma Martin's house and several vehicles parked in front of it. All the lights in her house were turned on, so | decided to take a look.

“You guys make sure there aren’t any bodies at the end,” | instructed the deputies. “I'm going to check here. The mob was here because of the Martins. They could probably be the reason. why there were shooters here in the first place.

| rang the doorbell. No answer. | knocked.

3/6 11:17 Fri, Apr.

CHAPTER 163 Suspects To my surprise, the door swung open.

“Norma! Ford! This is Undersheriff Jack Emery,” | yelled out. Nothing. | decided to walk in and check.

The place looked like it was searched. Everything was in disarray. | also noticed the pillows on the couch had bullet holes and the paintings on the walls were slashed with knives.

The kitchen was the same... all a mess. Cabinets and drawers were open, broken plates, glasses and mugs on the floor. These as sholes were instructed to find something.

It must have something to do with the pharmacy. | remembered Liam talking about a deed of sale with Link earlier. That must be it.

| went upstairs and found the bedrooms all cluttered. The master bedroom was the worst. Norma's walk-in closet was all one big mess.

| noticed Norma's jewelry box was empty and her safe was open. | moved the door to take a look and saw the safe was empty. Not only were these guys murderers, they were thieves as well.

| heard someone callingfrom outside. From the window of Norma's bedroom, | saw William waving atto cdown. They found something.

| quickly went outside, hoping they caught one.

“Undersheriff, there are two bodies at the end. One with a dog mask and the other in a bird. mask. Bullet in the back of their heads. We found this near one of the bodies.” In his gloved hand was a smartphone.

| took a plastic bag from my pocket to secure the phone. It was evidence.

“That's five. If we're lucky we only need to look for one more, but | highly doubt there were only six of them,” | said. “Let's go to the other end, near the old McDowell residence.” Now this end had a lot of dead bodies sc at tered on the pavement. The houses here had bushes and trees and their backyards had sheds or guesthouses. Plus, this area was closer to the gate.

As we walked, | saw a door open at one of the houses and a lady cout. It was Dr.

Hughes.

4/6 11:18 Fri, Apr 5 CHAPTER 163 Suspects | gestured to the deputies to continue their search while | spoke to the good doctor.

“Dr. Hughes, it’s best if you go back inside where it’s safe unless you feel it’s better if you evacuate. We're still looking for several shooters, “How could this have happened, Jack? This is a peaceful neighborhood.” She looked terrified. “I saw them shooting at people. Men with masks. | called the station, but it took forever for you guys to come.” “I understand, but we're here now.” “I know | have to process the dead bodies, but I'm so traumatized. Have my assistant bag everyone and I'll cin first thing in the morning. Thank you, Undersheriff.” She turned and walked back to her house. | saw Sarah at the doorway, smiling smugly. | suspected she believed Liam was going to take the fall for this.

| sighed. This was a nightmare. And it wasn’t over yet.

| found the deputies sc attered near the McDowell residence. They were crouching down at three dead bodies.

| walked towards Frank who was examining the bullet hole on the dead man’s chest.

“Jack, this one is wearing a pig mask. Just like the one with the gorilla mask on, he has a large gunshot wound to the chest,” Frank said, handinga smartphone. Nice, another on “I got that phone from the one over there wearing a wolf mask. He has one gunshot wound to the chest. Small caliber. Judging by the trajectory, | say it cfrom over there.” He pointed to Link's car.

“And that one near the tree?” | asked.

“Multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. Assault rifle from the looks of it. Goat mask. That makes it eight.

However, from a message on that smartphone, these guys had a leader.

Someone named Demon. He told them to check the old McDowell residence for a deed of sale. | have no idea what deed of sale he was referring to. Seems like the new defense attorney was their target.” | glanced at the house and noticed the door was open.

“Anyone inside?” | asked.

“No. | spoke to sof the survivors and they said | ink hid them in his questhouse onca 15/6 11:18 Fri, Apr 5 & M CHAPTER 163 Suspects shooting started. That's where the good mayor found them.” Since Frank, William and Lewis were on our payroll, they knew to keep their mouth shut.

“If there's anyone else who's a part of this gang, | think they're gone by now, Jack. My guess, they're going to flee from this state,” Frank said. “My hunch is the mayor killed them off. Sni per is proof of that.” “Well, we could say it was us, that’s why the power was cut and the Sheriff is missing. He’s our sn iper,” | said, taking my phone out and dialing Liam.

“I need confirmation. How many were they?” “Nine,” Liam answered. | remembered seeing someone on a motorcycle as | drove by, but it was too dark to get a good look. He must be the one named Demon.

more a “There's one he’s alive,” | said. | heard him mutter a curse.

“Just tell the Sheriff what you know and to con out. The press is waiting.” Chapter Comments Morgan the people inside are* safe POST COMMENT VIEW 1 COMMENT 1