Gunfight

This chapter is mostly to explain how Tyler obtains guns, so I don't have to explain next time. Also, there won't be any action scenes because this is a lemon juice novel. So, unlike the chapter title, there actually is no gunfight.

But do try to understand this chapter had to be explained.

Also, early update today because I'm traveling. There might not be a chapter tomorrow as well which I'll make up next time.

~~

Chapter 59

Betty was covered in cuts and bruises. They weren't from hits but from scraping, most probably on the road. Her condition wasn't too bad but one side of her face's skin had been scraped off.

"Betty," I said as I stepped forward. I ignored Steve, who was looking at me strangely, and Sara and Mira, who ran to Betty's side and were shedding tears along with her. With an expression that I couldn't quite explain myself, I asked, "I need a name."

"Tyl---" Betty tried to say something but I blocked whatever she was about to say and said, "Not me. The ones who did this to you. I need a name, Betty. Now."

My emotions were getting out of hand. I needed someone to vent my anger on but that was only possible if there was someone who deserved it before me. Like the people who did this to Betty.

"They were from the biker gang. We have the CCTV footage." Steve answered as he handed me a tablet on which CCTV footage was being played. "My men are after them. Sooner or later we'll find them."

I recognized the men in the footage. I had seen them in the data Tom managed. The members of the biker gang who did his dirty work. I returned the tablet and once again looked at Betty's wounds.

Without a word, I turned around and left.

"Tyler!" I heard Betty's voice calling out to me but I didn't stop. I left the hospital and went straight for my car. I was driving when I saw a man on the footpath, talking to someone on the phone.

I parked my car a little away and made my way to him, well, to the black sedan parked near him. While he was still busy, I checked around and found nothing that could identify me, I quietly got into the call while his back was turned to me and drove off.

"Hey! Hey!"

I could hear him shouting behind me but I was in a hurry. I made sure to wear gloves. Even though the cops didn't have my fingerprints, a situation could arise in which they could do so by violating my rights like when the detective forcefully detained me for some time in Jackson's case.

It was better to avoid that than to risk it. I wore the balaclava set I had purchased from the LA costume shop so there was a long way for a trace there as well. Of course, a smart detective would be able to find some links but without my physical evidence, that would be difficult as well.

I arrived outside where I wanted to be. The gun store. I opened the door after I made sure I didn't feel anyone else's presence inside.

It would be bothersome if there were customers inside. As soon as I was inside, I jumped at the storeowner who, as soon as he saw me, pulled out a shotgun to shoot at me but with my stats as they were, I quickly moved out of the way before he shot me.

"Argh!"

The problem with a shotgun, however, would be the attack range. While a shotgun provided little shot distance, the area of the shot was wide due to the pellets and more destructive than a normal bullet.

Since the area covered was wide, I was still shot but I managed to dodge it. Getting shot was certainly not so bearable as often shown in movies.

It fucking hurt.

That only made me angrier though. And as soon as I was close to the shopkeeper, I didn't hold back when I grabbed his gun, pulling him along with the gun and knocking the living daylights out of him by punching him in his gut.

"KUGH!!!" He was out with that one punch but the pain left behind would surely be everlasting. I looked at my injury. I was shot in the thigh but it was an open wound. The pellet must have exited from the other way.

This was bad. I didn't want to leave anything behind but I guessed that was a very wishful thought. Still, leaving blood behind was much better than fingerprints.

After all, if they needed my blood, they'd have to be very~~~ specific which would be far more than a suspicion. Anyway, surely someone on the outside must have heard that gunshot so I was short on time. I didn't look what I was storing, but I began to throw everything inside my inventory until I had enough to battle a fucking military platoon.

Once I was ready, I left in the same car while I could spot some audience around the shop. I ditched the car once I was a bit far away and got out of the area on foot after storing my clothes in the inventory.

My wound had healed after I drank a health potion and not even a mark remained to indicate I was shot. I traveled on foot until I arrived where I had parked my car. Once again, after I had made sure there were no cameras, I got into my car and left the area.

I was lucky and didn't receive a ticket but I could have which would have left a trace. As expected, a lot of crimes depend on luck as well.

Well, time to go and kill some people.

~~

"Ahh... Fuck." I said as I ran away from the scene, leaving behind only dead bodies. I was severely injured after killing everyone in the hideout. There were four guys who caused Betty's accident but there was only one present.

I didn't obtain any information about the other three but one thing I surely figured out through this fight.

"Fuck!" I pulled the bullets out using a dagger. That's right, bullets. I was shot multiple times while killing these guys. Rox's training was more focused on swords and magic so it was useless when it came to guns and bullets.

Still, getting shot could have been worse had my stats been lower but at forty, the double of what a prime human body could be, getting injured wasn't that worse.

I was more worried about the evidence I had left behind. And now that I considered it after calming down a bit, I realized that I left in anger, displaying my intent as clearly as it could have been in which case, some people would first look at me when this incident would be made public.

Especially Steve. He was the one I needed to worry about the most. For the girls, I could make up an excuse or they would even keep their testimonies to themselves for my sake but Steve wouldn't be so kind. There was a great chance he might use it against me. After all, he had enough influence to bother me.

'Well, better worry about that later.' I thought as I escaped the area. I changed my clothes after I escaped from a park and ran to where my car was. I made sure to store one piece of my every type of clothing, including my jogging clothes. I was wearing them when I came here in my car an hour ago and I was wearing them when I left.

I tried making my presence as less detectable as possible. Still, cops weren't cops because they were stupid. Sooner or later, they'd be able to make a breakthrough. Especially the female detective I met when cops came to interview Betty.

Before that happened, I needed to make sure to divert their attention and I knew just what to do about that.

~~

I arrived at the hospital about two hours after I left. All my wounds had been healed and there was no indication that I had been in a gunfight. Of course, there were some traces of GSR on me but they were taken care of with the [Cleanse] skill. Truly convenient, I say, magic was.

Once I was inside, I made my way to the ward Betty was in and as I arrived, I saw two different guards than before. They were about to stop me once they saw who I was, they stopped and stepped aside to let me in.

I guess Steve had already lost enough men for today. I entered to see a worried Betty and Sara and Mira trying to comfort her.

I smiled at them as Betty eased a little once she saw me. I comforted her for a bit after which came the question from Mira, "Where were you?"

"Just cooling down," I replied.

It was better to not say anything. I'll leave it up to the girls to form their own theories. They'd either ask me or they won't. One of the other. But they wouldn't hold it against me, that I was sure of.

With that done, I turned to Betty and said with a smile, "From now on, wherever you want to go, you're taking me. Understood?"

She nodded but replied, "I don't think I'll be going anywhere soon."

"You will be." I replied before I said, "You will be very soon."