CHAPTER THREE

Macie was having a terrible time trying to find something for Garr. They hadn’t said anything about being exclusive, not officially anyway, or even about the level of gift giving that might occur. Were they buying gifts knowing they were a couple? Or was this going to be more of the ‘friend-zone’ Christmas gifts for one another. But if he wasn’t going to make a move, she would have to do it for both of them. Hell, they barely found time to be alone for kisses with everyone around them for the holidays.

He wasn’t exactly a sweater guy. More of a sweatshirt and jeans guy. She’d never seen him with a wallet. Did he have a wallet? Surely, he had a wallet. Grooming items were always good.

But that seemed impersonal. She wanted something that spoke to their relationship, whatever that was. Friendship, but more.

“Can I help you find something?” asked the salesperson.

“Oh, I don’t know. Honestly, I’m not sure what to get him. He’s not a guy that wants much, and he’s kind of traditional with his clothing.”

“What about jewelry?” she asked.

“Oh. Never. He wears a watch, and that’s about it.”

“Wow, he is tough, isn’t he? Well, we have some great men’s skincare and fragrance lines.”

“That seems very personal. We’re only just now dating or seeing one another.”

“How long have you known him?” she asked.

“All my life,” laughed Macie.

Suddenly, people were running by the store, and there were screams coming from behind them.

“What in the world?” she whispered.

Then she heard it. She heard the sounds of gunfire and ran to the front of the store, poking her head out. Hearing the sounds again, she took off out of the store. If she could reach the exit, she could make it across the street and to her car. But the gunfire was getting closer, not further away.

Seeing the pretzel shop, she jumped the counter and slid to the floor. Frantic, she searched for something to use if she had to defend herself. What in the hell could she defend herself with from a pretzel shop? Then she realized she needed to hide, but blocking the storage room was the clerk, shot dead.

“How? How did they shoot him?” she asked herself, dialing the last number she’d called. She prayed that he would pick up. What if he were busy? She’d call her father. That’s what she would do. “God. God, I need help.”

“Macie! Hi,” said Garr in a happy voice. She couldn’t collect her thoughts, whispering his name and ‘help.’ “Macie?”

“G-Garr,” she said breathlessly.

“Macie, what’s wrong?” he said, standing and heading toward his truck. He just knew that he’d be driving somewhere fast.

“Garr, there’s a shooter in the mall. I came for some last-minute shopping. There’s a shooter.”

“Where, honey? Where are you?” he asked.

“Canal shops,” she whispered. “I’m hiding in the pretzel shop. I can hear him. I hear him moving this way, Garr.”

“Stay where you are. Is there a refrigerator or storage locker you can get to?” he asked, feeling panicked. He waved a hand at a few guys, signaling that there was a problem, and it was urgent. They came running.

“There’s a storage room, but there’s a dead man blocking it. There’s so much blood, Garr. I’m scared.”

“I know you are, honey. I know you are. We’re on our way.”

“Oh, God. Oh, God, Garr, there are more. I hear more guns. It’s not just one. There are at least three that sound different.”

“Macie, hide. Find a place to hide and stay there. Activate your trackers, and don’t fucking move, honey. I’m on my way.”

“Garr? Garr, I love you. I love you, Garr.”

“Macie, I love you…”

His phone went dead, and Macie stared at the screen. She didn’t want to touch the dead clerk, but she had to find a place to hide. Pushing the body out of the way, she opened the storage room door and gasped, seeing two more dead bodies.

The footsteps were louder, coming toward her. Pushing against the cabinet, she realized that there were storage cabinets below the glass cases.

“Please let it be big enough,” she whispered.

Opening the door, she wiggled her body through and scrunched her knees to her chest. Using her fingernails, she pulled the door closed and prayed. Then she remembered what Garr had said. She tapped her tracker to be sure it was activated, then texted him, hoping the message would go through.

Even if he were able to drive a hundred miles per hour, he wouldn’t get to her for at least thirty minutes. It seemed as though she were waiting forever. The gunfire would go off rapidly, then suddenly stop. Then, it would start again, getting closer and closer.

Then she heard it. The sound of a helicopter landing on the outside seating area of the mall on the other side of the glass from the pretzel shop. It was a lovely place, normally. You could see the river and riverboats go by while you enjoyed your snack or lunch. On a beautiful day it was romantic and fun, filled with children and adults. Not today.

Chairs and tables were flung into the river, but it didn’t seem that Chipper or whoever was piloting gave a damn from the sounds of it.

Hearing men yelling at one another, she heard more gunfire, then silence.

Too terrified to move, she waited, still curled in a ball. When the sounds of someone walking toward the pretzel shop got louder, she wanted to scream. Covering her mouth with her hand, she held her breath, closed her eyes, and prayed.

“Macie! Macie, it’s me, honey. Macie!” he yelled. She kicked open the cabinet door, calling out to him.

“I’m here. I’m here, Garr,” she cried out. Garr knelt down, gently pulling her from the cabinet and into his arms. “Garr, Garr.”

She cried his name over and over again as their friends stood guard, weapons ready, while he comforted her.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m here. I’m here and you’re okay.”

“There were lots of them, Garr. I heard them. There were at least four, maybe five. They killed the employees here. They’re in the storage room.”

Leif opened the door to the storage locker and nodded at Garr.

“Okay, honey. Come on, let’s get up and get out of here. We’ll file your report with the police from home. Why did you come out here alone, Macie? I would have come with you.”

“I was trying to buy a gift for you,” she sniffed. “I wanted to buy you something special.”

“Oh, babe. You’re all I need, Macie. Didn’t you hear me? I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she cried.

Realizing she was going into shock, he lifted her and made his way toward the chopper. Leif, Forrest, Sor, and Conor stayed behind, searching for any additional shooters, helping the shoppers and staff get to safety.

Once secured on board, Chipper and Savannah took off, but it was Sebastian who nodded toward the windows and three speedboats racing beneath the bridge. Inside each one were two men dressed in black, with rifles held high.

Someone was running.