A Federal Case

Struggling out of a deep sleep, Detective Mike Halloran checked his clock.  2:18 AM!

"Hello," he growled into the phone.

"A double shooting," his partner Alva Phillips said, "and from the shell casing count, there could be more bodies around.  Got your attention?"

"Yeah," Mike said, "sorry for the attitude.  Where do I meet you?"

Mike was used to early morning calls.  Dressed and in his car within 5 minutes, he flipped on the defrost fan to dry the windshield and to clear his brain.  It beat sticking his head in a bucket of water.

The street corner was taped off.  Alva gave him a tour and an update.

"Bad news Mike," Alva said.  "These guys are Feds, one FBI, one Homeland Security.  Both took multiple hits before going down.  Based on their ids, both very new, almost trainees."

"Have the agencies been notified?" Mike asked.

"Done," Alva replied.

"Let's see what we can find before the hordes arrive," Mike said.

"Both got off some shots," Alva reported.  "They carried Glocks with extended magazines."

"Have the guns been touched?" Mike asked.

"No," Alva responded.  "We know you place a lot of importance on checking that yourself."

Using a pen, Mike picked up first one gun then the other.  "Hmm, both empty."

"How many shell casings?" Mike asked.

"66 that we've found," Alva answered.

"You won't find any more," Mike stated.  "Unless they hit someone by accident, you won't find any more victims either.  Nor any other shooters."

"They shot each other?" Alva asked, looking incredulous.

"Yup," Mike said.  "New on the job, probably no action before.  They turn it into a movie western shoot out, and empty their 33 round magazines before attrition takes them down."

"Our next job is to figure out why before the agencies lock everything down."