Peter found Jones, "Jones, what happened?"
Jones replied, "Come with me. Jimmy and I got here and we split up to scout from both sides. We found a warehouse with people inside. When I was approaching the front door, I bumped into something and made a noise, right here, and people from inside the warehouse came out with guns, and then a gunfight broke out."
Initially, two people came out of the warehouse. They started shooting once they spotted me. After the gunshots, another seven people came out and headed my way. Jimmy, from the side of the warehouse, shouted to draw their attention, and then we began the gunfight."
Jimmy was shooting from the right-hand corner, and I was here. A few gunmen retreated to the left-hand corner, and then Jimmy moved to my position and shifted to the left, killing all of them."
Jones walked the scene with Peter again, pointing out his and Jimmy's positions and their movements throughout the incident.
As Peter listened to Jones's account, he looked around at the positions. Jimmy wasn't with Jones; he was inside the warehouse, guarding the evidence.
Peter's expression became somewhat unnatural, "You two killed nine people?"
Jones shrugged and tilted his chin towards the warehouse, "It's said that it's two people, but it was all Jimmy's doing. Once the coroner's done examining the bullet trajectories, it should confirm it. I only used up one magazine, while Jimmy, at least two magazines and two rounds of a revolver. I couldn't mistake it; his rate of fire was extremely high."
Peter asked, "Did you find anything?"
Jones responded, "Let's go to the warehouse; this time it's a bit troublesome."
Peter and Jones arrived at the warehouse, where Jimmy was sitting on a chair next to a makeshift table of boxes, watching the people coming in and out. Nothing on the table had been touched.
When Peter approached Jimmy, Jimmy stood up, "Peter."
Peter asked, "Jimmy, did you find anything?"
Jimmy replied, "You should take a look at the materials on the table."
Peter took out disposable gloves from his pocket, put them on, leaned in, and started looking at the documents on the table. After checking only a couple, he looked up at Jimmy and Jones, then bent down to continue his examination. After checking everything on the table, Peter stood up straight and took off his gloves.
Peter said, "Arrange for the forensics team to recover the evidence. I need to make a phone call."
Peter took out his phone, dialed as he walked outside.
Peter informed, "Hughes, there's a problem."
"Yes, it's urgent. Our people were tracing the art linked to Nathan Bird's death case. Jones and Jimmy ran into a gang of bank robbers during an investigation of a suspect, and a gunfight ensued. The robbers were all shot dead, and there are maps with marked routes and blueprints of the bank structure at the scene."
"Yes, nine people are all dead, most likely Jimmy's work, but we'll need the autopsy report."
"Of course, they first opened fire on Jones, and Jones and Jimmy returned fire in self-defense."
"Evidence is being collected; I can give it to you tomorrow."
"OK."
After hanging up, Peter, hands on hips, looked at the mess before him. His lips quivered a few times but ultimately he didn't say anything. He turned and motioned toward Jones and Jimmy, who were inside the warehouse, and they walked over.
Peter said, "I'm heading back. You guys wait until the evidence processing here is complete, then take a rest as well. Don't be late tomorrow, and each of you submit a report."
Peter didn't wait for a response and quickly turned, went to his car, and drove away from the scene.
Jones and Jimmy exchanged glances, with no choice but to turn back and watch the crime scene technicians work, as there was nothing more they could do.
The next day, Jimmy and Jones arrived at the office together. They were unlucky; they had to come in early to finish their reports.
Jimmy returned Jones's magazine to him. His own two magazines had been refilled, and he replenished the bullets for his revolver too, bringing an extra box of ammunition to keep in the office as a backup.
Jimmy had decided that during his break, he'd look for a leather shop to add some bullet slots to his underarm gun holster. A few loops stitched in to hold the bullets should do the trick. He could do it himself, but Jimmy didn't trust his own handiwork.
The gunfight from yesterday had suddenly triggered Jimmy's fear of being outgunned. In the future, he was determined to carry more ammunition; yesterday had actually been quite dangerous, especially when he ran out of bullets and felt utterly vulnerable.
Writing the report from yesterday was quite challenging, particularly the final part. Jimmy's way of shooting could only be described as a massacre. At the time, Jimmy didn't know what he was thinking; he just annihilated them all, including the previously injured, leaving no survivor or testimony.
He glossed over the shooting with a writing technique that downplayed the incident and after pondering a bit, Jimmy placed the report on Peter's desk.
As for Jones, his report was written fast and had already been handed in. They were now waiting for the forensic report, which was essential for confirming identities, especially their primary target, Jacob Hodgson.
Because there were quite a few bodies, and despite Peter reaching out to the coroner's office, they still didn't get the forensic report until noon. Jones stepped out to pick it up and returned to the office in the afternoon.
Jones, "Peter, our number one suspect Jacob Hodgson has been confirmed among the dead. It seems that this underground broker was quite expansive. Jacob must have contacted him for the bank information."
Peter, "Continue investigating the remaining persons. Prioritize number three, Carlisle Gale. Did you get the information on the motorcycle?"
Diana, "We have it."
Peter, "OK, the two of us will head out. Jones, you keep tracking the whereabouts of number two, Travis Norton."
Jones, "OK."
Peter and Diana set off together, and Jimmy once again found himself with nothing to do. Peter had already reported yesterday's incident, and all that was left was to wait for the bureau's investigation. Jimmy just hoped it wouldn't involve him, considering the rarity and thrill of such a case compared to his previous artifact investigations—getting suspended now would be a huge disappointment.
Bored, Jimmy flipped through files when Hughes stepped out of his office and called from upstairs, "Jimmy."
Jimmy looked up at Hughes, who motioned with his index and middle finger hooked together—alright, he stood up and ascended the stairs to Hughes's office.
Hughes, "I've read your report. Now, go see Dr. Mary Walter for an assessment."
Jimmy, "Uh, now? Peter is working on a case, and I need to provide him support."
Hughes, "Jones can provide the support. You go for the assessment, now."
Jimmy, "Yes, sir!"
Jimmy turned and left Hughes's office, went back to his own desk to grab his suit, and headed out the door.
It seemed Hughes was also quite angry, and Jimmy didn't want to provoke him further. It was just an assessment after all, and since he had already visited Dr. Walter twice before, once more wouldn't hurt.
Jimmy reached the ground floor and immediately called Dr. Mary Walter. Over the phone, he learned that Hughes had already scheduled an appointment with Dr. Walter, so Jimmy simply took a cab there.
A few days had not changed Mary Walter; she was still stunningly beautiful, donned today in a business outfit with a blazer and a pencil skirt, a look that she made effortlessly stylish.
Mary was also quite interested. In just a few days, Jimmy had made headlines again. When Hughes called her, she thought she had misheard.
Jimmy had won an almost nine-on-one bout, one of which was purely for numbers, taking down virtually all of his opponents single-handedly.
Mary still made tea for Jimmy, and they casually discussed the situation at the time. Jimmy even drew his revolver, emptied it of bullets, and handed it to Mary, allowing her to feel what it was like to hold a real Slaughter Gun.
This revolver could now be dubbed a Slaughter Gun, having been the instrument of death for twenty to thirty people. For most, this gun could be considered a collector's item.
Seeing how relaxed Jimmy was, Mary couldn't help but reinforce her previous assessment: executing criminals wouldn't put any psychological strain on Jimmy.
After changing the tea leaves, Jimmy got up to leave. Each visit with Mary, having tea and chatting, was incredibly relaxing. Being pressure-free was one thing, but casually talking with a beautiful woman was another excellent way to unwind, especially without any ulterior motives.