Fossen Delores - Veiled Intentions стр 6.

Sweet heaven. The gunman had attacked after all, and she hadnt been able to stop it. She prayed the bullet had missed its target and that everyone was safe.

The shot came from outside, Rico offered, taking the words right out of her mouth. The west side of the building, maybe. Maybe the rear. Garrett, secure the front doors, and just in case someone else hasnt already done it, call for backup. Katelyn, youre coming with me.

Rico didnt hesitate. Neither did Garrett nor she. Her brother hurried to the front door, kicking it shut and locking it. He kept his weapon ready, secured a spot near one of the sidelight windows and then pulled out his cell phone. Rico went in the direction of the sanctuary, and Katelyn followed.

Get down! Rico yelled to the guests.

Most had already done just that, squeezing themselves underneath the pews. There were raw screams. Chaos. The smell of fear. And in the middle of that, Katelyn saw the bride, groom and the minister cowering between the altar and an archway of pale peach roses.

No visible evidence of blood. Thank God. They seemed unharmed.

For now.

Theres an auxiliary building out there. Two story, brown brick, she relayed to Rico. Our gunman could be using it as a catbird seat.

He nodded and without taking his attention off the partially shot-out stained glass window, he whispered to her over his shoulder. You dont happen to have another brother stashed in the parking lot, huh?

I wish. But no. Were on our own until backup arrives. Which wouldnt be for minutes. Long, critical minutes.

Where just about anything could happen.

Good, Rico responded. Because I have an officer out there. One whos officially on this case, and I didnt want any of your relatives accidentally shooting him while hes trying to do his job.

Katelyn didnt appreciate the sarcasm but welcomed all the help they could get. Maybe the officer would be able to stop the gunman before any more damage was done.

But at the moment that seemed a lot to hope for.

Thered been damage already. Even if they stopped the shooting here and now, every one of the guests would remember this horrifying ordeal for the rest of their lives. Katelyn blamed herself for that. Shed been in a position to stop this and had failed.

A second shot rang out, quickly followed by another. And another. Two of the three went through a window on the right front side of the church and tore chunks of glass from the frame. No doubt thats what the shooter had intended to do. Now he or she had a direct line of sight into the church.

Yelling and crying out, the bride, groom and minister scurried to the other side of the altar, but it wouldnt give them shelter for long. Bullets could easily eat through that wood.

Ill make my way over there. Rico tipped his head to a set of ornate double doors, which were only a couple of yards away from the shattered window. If necessary Ill return fire to draw the shooters attention. I might be able to get a visual and take him out.

Yes. Or maybe the gunman would get him first. Of course, that was a chance they had to take.

I can help. Katelyn kicked off her shoes and peeled off the silky jacket so they wouldnt get in her way. There arent any guests near that other window next to the doors. Ill knock out the glass and return fire, as well. Dont

worryIll keep watch for your officer and make sure I dont send any friendly fire his way.

Rico might have disagreed with that impromptu plan, but he didnt get a chance to say anything. More shots came crashing through the building.

Heavy, thick blasts.

Nonstop, this time.

The sounds were deafening. And they drowned out the shouts, screams and prayers that increased with each new round of fire. Just as Katelyn had figured, those shots were aimed right at the wooden altar. It was the same as the first shooting, the one that had killed Gail and her fiancé. Shots and plenty of them. But that knowledge gave Katelyn no comfort whatsoever. Shed already guessed that Gails murder wasnt some random act of violence.

For all the good itd done her.

Her guess was right, and yet itd still been repeated right under her nose.

The bride screamed. Maybe in pain. Maybe just from fear. Katelyn prayed it was fear.

Rico moved. Fast and low. He was almost graceful, surprising for a man his size. With Katelyn following closely behind him, they went toward the door. Along the way, he identified himself and doled out assurances to the terrified guests.

He kept close to the perimeter wall until he got to the row of the stained glass windows, and then he lowered himself to the floor and proceeded to the doors.

The shots stopped for only a couple of seconds. Not for reloading, Katelyn soon learned. And they didnt stop because the gunman was finished for the day. The break was so the person could change out rifles. The sound of the new shots told her that much since it was a different calibration. Whoever was doing this had certainly come prepared to kill but wasnt necessarily an expert marksman. The stray bullets were landing everywherewhich, of course, made the situation all the more dangerous.