Read 299 Days: The Collapse for Free Online Page B

armed. What could go wrong? He laughed.
    The drive to Capitol City was a little weird. He did not see many cars on the road. He could hear sirens everywhere, especially off in the distance. Two police cars with sirens blazing were speeding toward the capitol, followed by a fire truck and ambulance.
    The radio had news about massive protests and even small riots in San Francisco, Detroit, and Philadelphia. DC was a mess; it was totally paralyzed by protests and the bombing. Key government officials were being evacuated. There were lots of other amazing things that, in peace time, would have seemed like the biggest news of the decade. These included “lone wolf” terrorist attacks like mass shootings at airports and movie theaters, and the assassinations of various government officials and celebrities. Lately, however, they were just the latest headlines, soon to be outdone by the next hour’s headlines.
    As Grant got closer to Capitol City Guns, there was more activity. The parking lot was overflowing. The street going into the store was blocked. Pow’s Hummer was there, as was Bobby’s truck. Wes was directing traffic. He had a pistol on his belt. He saw Grant’s car and motioned for him to come over.
    “The store is closing and moving its inventory,” Wes said. “Things are too hairy right now. Chip is worried that looters will come for the guns and ammo. We’re putting up a discreet perimeter and getting customers out of here. Park over there and ask Pow what he needs you to do. You got a pistol on you?”
    “Yep,” Grant said and patted his right side where his Glock was.
    “Good,” Wes said. “No long guns should be visible. We don’t need the cops here.” Wes paused. “If there are any left.”
    Wes went back to directing traffic and telling people the store was closed. There was no time to chat.
    Grant parked and did a press check of his pistol. Round in the chamber and the slide was back in battery. Ready to go. He had a full magazine in and four additional fifteen-round mags on his belt. Plus the AR and mags in the trunk. OK. It was time to help Chip.
    Grant jogged from his car to the store with his hands out to his sides so no one would think he was a threat. Everyone was armed, except the customers who were getting turned away. Most were OK with the news that the store was closing, but some were getting pissed.
    Pow saw Grant and said, “Get the customers out of the store and out of the parking lot.”
    Grant nodded. He was using his most polite voice with the customers. “Sorry, folks. The store is closed.” Most were leaving. One guy wasn’t.
    “I have cash and want to buy a gun,” the guy said. “Right now.” Grant sensed that the guy was a threat. He would try his voice first and then go to more drastic means.
    “Time to go. Right now,” he said in his strongest command voice which he developed after becoming a father and had to use it to get the kids’ attention when they were about to do something stupid or dangerous. The guy stared at him, deciding what to do. Wait and see, Grant thought.
    The guy just stood there; he did not comply with the order to leave. Time to ramp it up, Grant decided.
    He moved his light jacket so his pistol was visible. In peacetime that would be the crime of “brandishing” a firearm. But this wasn’t peacetime, anymore.
    The guy looked at the pistol, and then at Grant. His eyes got big. Without saying a word, he backed away from the gun counter, turned around, and walked out. Grant followed him out and watched him get in his car and leave.
    When Grant was outside in the parking lot, he listened to the sirens in the distance. It seemed like every cop and fire truck for a hundred miles was downtown at the capitol fighting the protestors.
    The customers were out of the store. Bobby was getting them out of the parking lot. When the store was empty, Chip came out of the back room which was where the inventory was kept, secretly. Special Forces Ted was with