The events at Union Station yesterday has forever changed the landscape. What started as an epic live outdoor event for the Kansas City Chiefs back-to-back Super Bowl win with a parade and speakers, turned into tragedy of enormous proportions. The numbers of those injured keeps on rising. The children trampled by adults keeps on rising. One mother of young children lost her life. I was there with my son and one of his friends. The gunshots were below us. A madhouse of people running and scared, trampling on children and breaking their bones and much more. Three critically wounded may or may not survive and, if they do survive, how will they be? Brain damage? Spinal damage? This is nuts!

What was epic turned deadly and for no reason. It happened below us and I didn’t go to help. As a nurse, I’ve helped in every situation that has crossed my path. I feel bad for not helping, but I knew that it was an active situation. My son and Cory with me, no, if by myself, yes, I would have tried to help. Right now we are at Legends and Famous Dave’s for a meal. It was so hard to not go with all the ambulances and vehicles. We went the opposite direction. Yet it happened in front of us. I’m just so sad…

I think back to the shooting in Vegas on October 21, 2017, at the outdoor music venue. Did we learn anything from that? No. What happened today was senseless. We are at the brink in which decisions must be made to stop all outdoor events that have no way of using metal detectors and crowd control, just like its done for political events and rallies. Union Station is not set up that way and it can’t be. The area has highly varied terrain and so many ways to get in tall buildings. That leaves holding events in stadiums must be held in with great metal detectors and more security.

What’s more scary? What is to stop anyone from deciding that parades are the new thing for killing people? Anyone could start shooting at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or the Rose Parade in Pasadena.

When does the insanity end? I’m home now, but what happened us was senseless. The heros? That would be the first responders and police who ran right into the thick of things to save people. They are true heros. Why the h@ll can’t those who respond to school shootings do the same and be true heroes.

Guns do not kill people, but people do kill people. There is difference.

Book Link

From Amazon:

The first thriller in the Blackstone and Prescott series by New York Times and USA Today best selling author, Linda S. Prather. Adam Blackstone is challenged to a unique game of chess by a deranged opponent. There won’t be a stalemate, resignation or draw—the only way to win the game is CHECKMATE.

Adam Blackstone’s obsession with serial killers ran deep in his veins. As a psychopath himself, he couldn’t resist the pull towards their twisted minds and brutal crimes.

When he joins forces with FBI agent Samantha Prescott, they return to Blackstone’s birthplace of Lexington, Kentucky to play a dangerous game. But as the stakes rise and the endgame draws near, Blackstone realizes that winning means succumbing to his own darkness and becoming just like the killers he studies.

My Review:

Sam or Samantha is full of sass yet very quick and totally competent as her outward appearance didn’t give off the same vibe. Late to meet her prospective partner, dressed as plain Jane but deadly with a Glock. Checkmate is written skillfully using the game of chess. Agent Blackstone needed a guard, and Sam was who he ended up with. The wit and expertise jumped off the page from the start. Now it’s the next reader who get to find out the rest of the story.