The hardest part of this journey, hands down, was watching those bastards level their guns and shoot Ma. They had deliberately stood in front of her and pulled the trigger. They had the money, they should've been making a run for it. Watching that surveillance tape was hard for all of us, it proved in all of our minds that this wasn't just some random act of violence. They had actually gone out of their way to make sure our mother was dead.

The store owner told us the police had talked to one guy more than the rest when doing their investigation. He was a regular customer at the shop, was always at the courts down the street or at the gym.

I couldn't believe they had set her up. But I did know I wouldn't stop till I found out why Ma had been shot. Problem is I should have, but hind-sight's a glorious thing.

When we left the store I hadn't felt that angry since the day I was adopted by Ma. Okay now that sounds awful. Let me explain why.

I knew from previous experience what it was like to be picked on, beaten, tormented or just plain abused in many forms. I couldn't and wouldn't stand by while anybody hurt someone that was weaker than them. Unfortunately it was one of the few times I didn't hold my punches.

The kid on the receiving end of my fist was called Martin Judd and he was the biggest, dumbest, bully in the school. Martin thought of himself as the big fish in the pond preying on all the little fish, the weaker the better. That particular week he'd set his sights on Marcus, one of the few people I could call a friend. Marcus was in the foster care system as well. I never had to explain or defend myself with him, and that was a rare thing back then. We helped each other out, I taught him hockey and he helped me with my school work so I wouldn't have to repeat the year.

I can remember walking down the hall that day, turning the corner and slipping on what I thought was a newly mopped floor. Well as I keep mentioning my thought process' are flawed and the slippery substance on the floor was coming from Marcus' body. I shouted for help till my voice became a whisper whilst cradling his head on my lap. The last words I heard Marcus utter were a plea to me not to go to Juvie over Judd. It could have been minutes or hours that I sat there, blood soaking into my jeans, 'til someone prised my hands from my friend. Everything after that until I was sat in the ER is lost in a red haze. All I do remember is the pain, my knuckles throbbing like you would not believe, but no memory of why.

It wasn't till Ma took me to the police station on my release from hospital that I found out that Martin was in a medically induced coma and had needed extensive surgery. I was lucky to only be facing an assault charge and not a murder charge.

The look in Ma's eyes had told me how disappointed she was and my heart sank even further when she handed me an envelope. I never thought that handing me the papers for the one thing I had wanted most in the whole world, a family, would hit me harder than any punch. The police released me into her care and we drove in silence back to the house.

Balloons, streamers, food and a cake that read 'welcome home Bobby Mercer' was the sight that greeted me. I sank to my knees and actually cried. This woman had taken me in, loved me, cared for me, even adopted me, yet I had basically thrown it all back in her face by going against everything she had been trying to teach me. I remember apologising over and over as the tears refused to stop. She just held me all through that night, whispering promises that all would turn out good in the end.

A week later I was up before the judge, I got six months. At the time I thought that was harsh. Now, looking back, it was the best thing for me at the time. It taught me to rein in my temper or, if I couldn't rein it in, at least try and not get caught. It also taught me that no matter what I did I would still be a Mercer, and Ma would always be there for me, no matter what I did to disappoint her.

My blood was boiling when we left the store. My heart pounded to the rhythm of my feet, taking us straight to the gym across the road. If my brothers hadn't been with me that day, I don't think I would have made it off the court. It's certainly not the most sensible thing I've ever done. Interrupting a basketball game, and pulling a gun, normally never ends without blood all over the court.

Wasn't till Jerry pointed out Cracker Jack trying to get our attention I realised what I'd done. At least some of Ma's lesson's stuck as I apologised and wished them a nice day. Jerry just shook his head and followed Jack out of the Gym with me bringing up the rear. Angel and Jack had caught this kid, Keenon, leaving the gym. Figuring if he was in that much of a hurry to leave he must have something to hide. Turns out they were right, the witness was his brother, Damian.

I didn't expect the kid to sell out his own brother, I know I wouldn't if the roles had been reversed, so I grabbed his book bag hoping to find something that might help us out. The kid's report card led us to an apartment block just round the corner, and the four of us freezing our asses off waiting for the guy to come home.

Jerry bailed on us after about an hour, saying something about the girls having gymnastics. This left the three of us, Jack, in the back singing up a storm and drawing on the windows like he'd done as a kid, Angel and me in the front. I wish I'd never introduced Jack to Cool Hand Luke as he never stops singing that Plastic Jesus song.

Just when I thought I couldn't stand another verse about the sweet Madonna dressed in rhinestones, Jack pointed out the window straight at the guy. Me being me, I pulled out my gun before shouting to Damian. He took one look at the three of us and bolted into the elevator. That's when the running started. When Jack called to say he'd stopped on six I remember the groan I let out, but on the bright side I had beaten a fully trained marine in a foot race.

I've never been an animal lover, mainly because of the fact most animals were treated better than I was as a child but I would never go out of my way to harm an animal. I never understand the people who claim to love animals then use them for their own protection, knowing full well that if they are used against someone, they are going to get hurt. Damian is one of those assholes. I have the scars on my arm to prove it.

I didn't know where the dogs ran off to because by the time Angel had finished playing fireman with the extinguisher on them I couldn't see a damn thing, my eyes burning. I needed to get something for them and that came in the form of a bottle of water. Sweet relief followed but damn was I pissed.

Damian wasn't in the apartment when we got in there, but there was a rope trailing out of the window, and yet again my thought process slipped up, I stuck my head out the window and was rewarded by almost getting it blown off. Angel stepped up and tried to play the protector. You'd think that with all the training they give the US Marines that he might have learnt to shoot straight by now but no. Looking around my eyes found a cleaver and yes I acted first before my brain engaged. Once I had cut through the rope I did briefly consider that it had been a bad idea but once I saw Damian was still alive the thought drifted away like it had never even been there.

I don't think I can ever eat spare rib again after seeing the mess the fall had made of Damian's leg. After some negotiating, okay us threatening to leave Damian out in the cold, he gave us a description of two guys and where to find them. I was half tempted walking away not to call the paramedics and if it wasn't for Jack being with us, I would have left him to rot. Once I'd given the details over to nine-one-one I hung up and never looked back.

My sights were now set on the people that had killed the best woman I had ever known.