Tuesday Tales: From the Word VIOLENT

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales blog and the last post from And Justice for All. I’m a few words over, but since this week’s word is VIOLENT, it’s the perfect way to leave you wanting more.

Harry entered the trailer and closed and locked the door behind him before following the sound of voices down the hall. He’d asked them to come over here after they’d finished eating, expecting to be only five or ten minutes behind them but he’d been on the phone close to twenty minutes, and none of what he’d heard was good.

Adding that news to what Maggie had discovered, he knew they were closer than ever to discovering the truth, and the possibility that it could all be drug and smuggling related made more sense than ever. Performance enhancing drugs could not only bulk up a man, but also when taken in high doses often caused irritability, anxiety, anger, aggression, sudden and violent mood swings, as well as manic symptoms and paranoia. If Lacey was right, and he had no reason to doubt her, the MMA fight club Maggie had discovered could easily be a recruitment office for the FFA. Super soldiers without empathy or control, robots ready to do everything and anything for their leader, no matter how twisted and crazed he might be.

As expected, the team had crowded into the room that Lacey used, the walls and desk covered in screens and computer equipment. He spotted Maggie standing alone off to the side of the room and leaning against the wall. He could see that she was tired. If he could spare her this, he would, but it was out of his hands now.

“Come on, Lacey,” Peter Rasmussen spoke over the murmurs of the others. “Can’t you give us a hint? I don’t know what’s keeping the boss, but I’ve been up since five and would love to get some sleep.”

“And you will,” Harry said, stepping up beside Lacey. “Or maybe you won’t after you hear what we have to tell you. I’m sorry that took so long, and yeah, it’s late, but I just got off the phone with Sam Eastman. He’s the coroner from Kingston who took the bodies to the military base for autopsy. He felt they were better equipped for a job like this, and he was right. They’ve identified the bullets used this morning.”

“Were they stainless-steel?” Eban had moved closer to him.

“Yes and no.”

“What the hell does that mean?” the ex-soldier snarled. “Are we dealing with the same killers or not?”

“I believe we are, but they’ve upped their game,” Harry admitted. “The bullets are primarily stainless-steel, but the ones used this morning had a tungsten core with a cupronickel outer shell.”

“Maudite merde.” The curse exploded from Gabe. “You’re telling us that they now have armor-piercing bullets? How are we supposed to protect ourselves from those? Our vests are practically useless.” He shook his head. “Do you have any other good news?”

Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.