Mike paced the room, looking unsure.

“Hey.” Said tanner. “You’re the one who sent him the message. He’s here, he’s waiting in the waiting room of an abandoned dentist's office. You might wanna say something before he assumes we're just gonna kill him.”

“I want him to wait and look around. I want him to know this is a kill site and that he’s on our turf.”

“Why did you call him and tell him you were recruiting if you didn’t trust him?” She asked.

“Because you’d be amazed how few people at the meeting didn’t glow in the scope. It’s gotten worse. Options are limited and something is brewing. I’ve had visions/dreams, nothing that makes sense, but enough to make me start planning options. We need allies.” He said, taking a breath and entering the room with confidence. Carl grinned.

“Oh man am I psyched, I get to work with the dude who did the Lakeshot kill? Fucking A man. This is gonna be a great interview. I don’t know how many guys you plan to talk to, but I’m the guy, I feel it. I got what it takes.”

“So…who do you kill and why? What got you started?” Tanner asked.

“Well the WHY is pretty easy, I think we all get the same rush here. Uh, it’s fun. It's addictive, hence the Addicts Anonymous. I have always collected guns and been an avid shooter, got into hunting, and did basic training for the army, failed the uh, mental health part and got removed before active duty, real bummer. I was pumped. I dunno, you just shoot targets, you pop some condiment bottles and some small game, the deer hunting isn’t enough, and I really just wanted to hunt the ultimate game, humans. Had a guy break into my trailer and MAN, the jolt you get taking a fucker out is incredible. But then there’s the moral problem with ending someone’s life too soon and there’s not exactly a lot of assholes breaking into my trailer that I can just light up with hollowpoints, and feel no guilt about, so the army thing was a crushing fail, needed another plan. Needed that rush. And then it hit me…old people. They lived their life, they’re sick and dying, so it’s not like I’m shortening things that much and nothing great, fucking adult diapers and ensure shakes. I wish someone would take me out when I get there, that’s a favor, a mercy kill.”

“So you assist the elderly with suicide?” Mike asked.

“So they don’t... volunteer. How would you advertise that? I just got a job at an old folk's home as an assistant, and you can tell which ones are just over it. It’s kinda win win. Technically it’s still illegal, so I’ve…” he said rolling his eyes and doing dramatic air quotes “Murdered 13 people. Whatever. Give me a break. The first 2 families go on a rampage like oh, someone shot my grandma, what a monster, and it’s like fuck you Bethany, or whatever your name is. You’ve visited one time in 2 years to milk them for inheritance, don’t act like you give a shit, they’re miserable, you’re bangin your boyfriend and watching sitcoms, never think twice about the old gummer. I see em every day, and they just sit and act sad all day, I’m there bringing food they won’t eat, watching them stare coldly at the news with the volume up full blast so they can barely hear it. I’m doing more than the families in most cases. Yea, some of them seem happy and they got families. I don’t kill them. And you can’t exactly sit them down and be like “Hey Edith, I know you can’t hear me and barely remember my name, It’s Carl. So I was wondering if you’d sign a consent form so I can kill you. But I fucking love doing it, you’ll be done with this shit, everyone wins, here’s a legal form. You just know, ya know? It’s in their eyes. I’ve done injections, I’ve done fake robbery…I did steal some shit but you have to, or it looks like a murder, so you gotta steal shit for that scenario. Feels gross, I know, but you just roll with it. Donate the stuff to a charity to feel better. I ended up settling on the lethal injections because it seems too risky to use a gun, given my collection and my job proximity. First 2 kills had cops EVERYWHERE. Lethal injections raise zero red flags, these people have nobody, nobody cares. It's just sad. Never the same rush as the first kill though. That headshot with a silencer, true art. Needle just isn’t the same. It's just cleaner and safer. I’d be absolutely Jacked to get to do some real heavy wetwork with a gun again.”

“Give me one second.” Mike sighed.

“Yea, awesome talk, Mike. I’ll be here.” Carl said as they moved to the other room, matching him through the glass.

“Mike, this guy is unhinged as shit.” Tanner sighed.

“I know. I’ve actually considered killing him before.” Mike yawned.

“He’s not really doing it for the old folks, he’s doing it for the fun of it, some of them probably don’t wanna die.” She whispered.

“And I’ve seen crime scene reports of his kills, didn’t know they were him until now. A few were botched, anything but quick and painless. BUT we have very few friends. He has guns, he likes us, he trusts us, and we can pin the evidence on him and use that to clear ourselves if things go wrong and he tries shit. I don’t like it either, but things happen. God works in mysterious ways.” Mike rationalized. “If he glows in the thermals, we kill him. Simple.”

“Okay good because he gives me the creeps. You ever just talk to someone and KNOW they probably do sex stuff with the dead people’s feet? That kinda vibe?” she whispered as Carl leaned back and waved from the other room.

“Yea, I can sort of see that. He’s not right in the head, but he’s right for the job. We can’t trust anyone else. He’s nuts, war fanatic, weird beliefs, probably a fetish killer, but he knows his guns, and he has the kills and tools.” Mike said, going back into the room and sitting down, offering a coffee, as Carl denied. “Carl we may have better offers wanting the apprentice job. We give everyone the chance to answer the same questions…why are YOU better than the others in the group. Why are THEY less suited for the job.” He asked, trying to trick information out of him. This way we can cross-check dirt on people and see who’s lying and who's bragging legitimately." Mike bluffed.

“Look, I know I’m young and not as experienced as some, but 13 kills in 3 years without getting caught, while stockpiling guns and ammo is bold. I make due with what I got, I’m dedicated, I’m flexible. I'm one hell of a long ranged shooter AND close range. Farmer John hasn’t killed in years, he’s long-guns only. That’s no good, we got you on the team already. Pizza boy? He’s a wannabe. 4 hikers with a point blank 9mm? Anyone could do that. Ashley is a pro, but that’s a problem. Russian military or KGB or some shit. He makes his own rules, doesn’t even follow the group rules. He’s carried during a meeting before. Catherine would have his head for that. Unpredictable, solo killer, psychopath. I know everyone, but I know basically dick about this guy. That’s a problem. You don’t want a wild card you can’t trust.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“What about the Walter White looking guy?” Asked Tanner.

“Harry Layton. Mob enforcer, carries a damn revolver. He’s good, but he’s cocky and a 1-trick pony. He’s more reputation and intimidation than threat. He’s a finisher for the Mayor or something." he said as Mike and Tanner locked eyes and raised eyebrows "Whatever that means, right. What mayor and what is he finishing? Sounds like he has 2 bosses already. Overheard that between him and Catherine. Old Portland is pushing 90, he’s just hoping to die in a cool way. I actually thought about killing him but the rules…you don’t kill group members." Carl eye-rolled.

“What bout fat Fred Durst?” Tanner asked. “You two seem to have history. Why do you hate FatDurst so much?"

“Tyler Hurte, he’s a joke. He killed one guy in a spray and pray drive-by, and now he thinks he’s Al Capone or some rapper. You want subwoofers and Homie Hi-point rolling around in gold rims doing work for you? Fuck that. You could hire some street rando with more serious potential.”

“Captain Ken Doll looked pretty serious.” Tanner muttered to Mike.

“Yea he is, but you already got a cutter…you. Honestly, you could do his job. Blondie is more torture specialist than hitman, if you want information out of someone or to make them suffer, recruit Blondie. He’ll do anything for money, but that means no loyalty. He's good with a torture room, but as far as guns, gear, and versatility. I’m still in the lead. I could shoot circles around that guy.”

“Can you shoot circles around Deacon?” she asked.

“You want the truth? No. Nobody can. If you want the best killer in the group, it’s Deacon. Ex special ops. Versatile, better shot than me, don’t even suggest I take him on hand to hand, just shoot me. He’s a machine. The problem is that he’s also Catherine’s personal bitch, and I’m here because I’m tired of her acting like queen bee and telling us we can’t operate our own shit. It’s pretty clear you guys don’t answer to her, but Deacon does. So you want the best guy for the position, he’s taken already and loyal to her. You want the second-best guy who won't go wild card and get you killed being stupid and rogue? I’m here. I’m fed up with Catherine, the group is bullshit, let’s go do some damage.” He shrugged. “Or I’m just leaving the group anyway, moving somewhere and starting over. There’s gotta be some merchant group out there where I can get some action. If you’re about to start a war, I’m in, and I wanna be on this side of the line. Otherwise, I’m alone and good as dead in the middle. I sure as hell am not siding with Cathy, and I’m not gonna last long as a one-man army.”

They stepped outside the room to deliberate again. Mike looking conflicted.

“What’s on your mind, mister Holyman?” whispered Tanner.

“He knows more of them than I do. He probably knows more about us than we think. But he’s a thrill seeker.”

“So Am I. Mike, it took me a while to believe in your divine plan theory, and I was just cute potential until you gave me a chance. Do we have better options? Be honest with me, who else DIDN’T glow in the thermals scope?” she asked as he sighed sadly.

“90 year old Portland and Tyler Durst. That’s it. Everyone else except Carl lit up like a road flair. The group has always been corrupt, but it’s always been more human than nightlights. I think Catherine has been corrupting or killing the ones with a moral code. She’s either forming an army or eliminating the possibility of a rival faction. And we have Detective Gina Garrett on her payroll. So at least some of the cops work for her. No telling how many.”

“Shit. Did Detective Baker glow in your scope?” She asked, fingers crossed.

“If he did, I would have taken him out by now. I have a rule I follow by faith. If Detective Baker wants to get himself killed, that’s not my problem but I wont kill him if he isn’t evil unless he forces my hand. It may not be too late for him to get out, let go. He’s not evil, he’s a cop doing his job, which is rare these days. Unfortunately, he’s decided to clean his act up and hunt me. he's obsessive and persistent. If he goes after you or gets in the crossfire, I’ll have to take him out, but I won’t actively hunt a man doing his duty, just because we have different career choices that conflict. If God wants him eliminated, there are plenty of killers out there in the busy street where he’s playing.”

“So Carl is our only ally? A stereotypical white male serial-killer-looking serial killer, who mostly kills elderly people with lethal injections and has enough guns to draw more attention than his Unibomber look? That’s our best guy?” she asked.

“Either that or a drive-by gang shooter who probably doesn’t know the sights are on the top of the gun rather than the side. You wanna go out for a recruitment date with Tyler and see if there’s more to him than we think?”

“Not really. But I wanna go back to the meeting once more.” She said firmly.

“Too dangerous.” Mike said shaking his head.

“There’s gotta be other options. Maybe Carl doesn’t know as much as he thinks he does. Maybe Deacon isn’t as loyal to Catherine, and we can use him temporarily, Maybe he can be bought, and we can turn on him after. Maybe Tyler has a gang of friends, maybe having a whole gang on our side is worth dealing with one dumbass for a while. Who has more guns…one gun nut or a whole gang?”

“Probably the one gun nut. Gangs don’t buy legally, that’s why gun laws limiting sales don't work. They get a lot of second-hand filed-down garbage to distribute out to a lot of thugs that don’t follow orders. Carl has no criminal record, and he makes good money, I bet most of that goes into the collection.”

“Just let me go back to the group and talk to some people. I feel like God was leading me there for something, and it doesn’t feel finished. I felt it. There’s someone else there we need, I just don’t know who. And if they glow in the dark, so what? We hire a sinner to take down the devil herself, and then you can deal with him alone like you do best. Have faith in me. Trust me, there’s someone else of interest.” She insisted.

“I hope you’re right. We’ll take Carl in the meantime, next meeting, you can follow your heart and the voice, but be careful. Not every voice is the right one. You gotta be clear-headed and listening for the right one.”

“Mike I’m sober, no drugs, no booze.” She sighed.

“Sometimes it takes a while to hear him, even once you stopped. Just be careful.” He said, returning to the other room. “Carl, good news. You got the job. We weighed our options, and you are by far the clear choice. Welcome to the opposition.” Mike said, offering a hand.

“Nice. I’m stoked to hear it, I really did not wanna move out of state again. The red-tape on the stash is a nightmare. Hey, you guys wanna check out the range? I got a wicked setup in the hills I think you’ll love. If you weren’t sure about this, you will be. This is gonna be great.” He smiled, sticking out a hand to shake and getting it from Mike. “Also, are you two a thing, or…”

“Kinda. It’s complicated.” Muttered Tanner.

“It’s less complicated, and more that the details aren’t anyone’s business.” Mike added.

“Just checking, I don’t wanna step on the bosses toes the first day, ya know. Loud and clear message, chief.” He nodded. “But I do have one request. If I’m sharing the collection, I want to know what the Lakeshot Shooter has hidden behind the fake wall. I know you got one. Mile and a half headshot. That’s insane. I have my theories, don’t spoil it yet. I wanna see the big reveal.”

“Sure. Just don’t get disappointed if the setup is a bit simpler than you hoped for.”

“Oh man, this is exciting, I’ll bring a few 6 packs of beers and a bunch of steaks.”

“Neither of us drink.” Mike calmly said.

“One 6-pack and a bunch of steaks. Got it.” he nodded.