Consequences

Reed’s Realm

The Port Dock was a place along the Mississippi River at which incoming and outgoing ships waited to either be loaded or offloaded. This area had not always been a place for ships to dock. It used to be a working part of the port like all the other factories that lined the harbor. The warehouses here, however, that had previously stored products and raw materials, had not been up and running in many years, and thus the docking stations had become the perfect parking place for ships that needed a little extra time. It was also a way to help keep all the ships safe. The river had seen its fair share of ships collisions.

On this night, two boats were parked at the dock stations. One was a river push class tugboat that had no doubt aided in the docking of the large dry cargo freighter that was up just ahead of the tug.

As Reed and Martin slowly made their way down the wooden planks of the dock, they passed the tug. It was easy to see that no one was on board, as the vessel consisted of only a deck with a square helm made almost entirely of glass, giving the captain the greatest possible range of visibility.

They drew their attention away from the tug and focused on the dry cargo ship, their target, that was just ahead of them. Reed wasn’t a ship expert, but living in New Orleans, a person couldn’t help but learn a little about the ships day in and out rolling down the great Mississippi. All different types of cargo ships came into the port. Reed knew this particular type of freighter was what was called a dry cargo due to the two large cranes that were mounted on the deck. The cranes were used to fill the holds in the belly of the ship. Dry cargo ships mainly held things that needed refrigeration, like produce.

As they made their approach to the ship, Reed and Martin were able to read Ocean Dragon, the name of the ship, painted on side. Above the three-foot tall letters was something else that caught their eyes. It stopped both of them cold in their tracks. The shape of a person loomed on the deck of the ship and appeared to be looking down at them. Even though it was dark and the street lights did not reach the deck of the ship, it was evident that the person that was standing before them was Willings. His eyes were hidden by the blackness, but Reed could feel angry daggers looking down upon them.

“What’s he doin’?” Martin asked, transfixed by the man.

“He’s waiting for us,” Reed answered.

Both of the policemen continued to look up at their suspect, knowing that Willings had indeed brought them there for a reason. He wanted a place that was private and away from the city. His intentions, as dark as his past deeds, were perfectly clear.

“So what’s the move?” Martin asked.

“Well, I would hate to keep him waiting,” Reed responded as he started walking closer to the ship. Martin followed along.

As they moved toward the vessel, the figure looking at them moved as well, backing up slowly, but not taking his eyes from them until he was completely out of sight.

Quickly scaling the stairs up to the deck, the officers boarded the ship and took a swift scan of the deck. There were no signs of Willings.

“Let’s head back to the area where he was standing,” Reed said as he walked toward the rear of the boat.

There were two deck towers mounted in the center of the ship along with two cranes and four large cargo holds sunk deep into the hull. They were heading to a station near the back rail. It was more than likely the substation that worked the cranes and controlled the lower workings of the ship saving, the front tower for the captain’s helm.

Reed and Martin arrived at the rear sub-tower and moved along the wall until they reached the corner of the housing. Reed singed with his fingers: one; two; and then nodded for three, placing both hands on his gun as they both whirled around the corner. There was nothing waiting for them but an open door that led into the substation. They moved over to the door and both carefully made their entry. They quickly cleared the room that looked like an empty lobby, with little else in the room than a few storage lockers and bins that lined the walls. The centerpieces of the area were two stair cases: one that led up to the sub station main and one that spiraled down into the lower workings of the ship below.

There was no doubt in Reed’s mind which staircase Willings had taken. As they approached the entry that would lead them below, Reed stopped and turned to Martin.

“Remember, we need him alive,” Reed whispered. “I’ll take lead. You cover our six on the way down.”

Martin nodded and readied his gun for the decent. Reed turned and focused his attention to the stairs and the darkness that awaited them down below, then started to slowly move down, one step at a time. Dark, silent air surrounded them in the narrow space taking them into the bowels of the ship. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, there was barely enough room for the officers to have enough cover to safely gauge their surroundings before having to step out into the main corridor that led down the center of the ship.

Reed leaned over and peeked around the corner down the dimly lit hallway. On both sides of the corridor were machines that made up the inner guts of the ship with jetting small spaces between machines. The various widely spaced security lights were the only things that yielded any light at all. The mechanism all had points of rust and wear from years of high humidity and constant use. The poor upkeep caused the light covers that were once white, now to be faded to a milky gray. They cast out a dingy hue throughout the tangled machines, casting out evil looking shadows that could have been birthed in a Stephen King novel. The creepy lighting made an already intense environment that much more stressful to think about navigating.

Reed knew that was exactly what had to be done, however. They had to find Willings and they had to do it fast. Their entire case had led them to this ship and this moment. Reed felt that it was his duty to the people to find the man that had committed some of the worst crimes imaginable against the city and its people. Reed knew that the halls of justice were waiting for Willings, and Reed was the man that wanted to drag him through the doors.

“I’m going to move to the other side. Cover me,” Reed said to Martin.

Reed stepped past to the other side of the hall through the dim light, trying to use the shadows for cover. Reed could tell that Martin was just as nervous about the situation as he was. Martin’s eyes showed his concern like lighthouse beacons. Even though he shared Martin’s feelings, Reed refused to let his companion see it. Reed extended his left hand, moving it up and then pushing it down as to tell him to relax and take a breath.

Martin got his message, nodding to Reed that he was ready to proceed.

Reed looked over and whispered, “We’ll take turns moving down the hall while we cover each other.”

Martin nodded, gripping his gun harder. Reed pointed at himself and then down the hall to let him know that he was going to go out first. Reed drew in a deep breath and pulled his gun in front of his face,cocking the hammer back. Martin squatted down and slowly peeked around the corner, letting his gun lead the way. He gave a quick look right, left, and up. He then ducked his head to Reed, signaling that the coast was clear and that he was covered.

Reed spun around the corner and started making his way down the hall, heading for the next big space between machines that could provide cover up on the left. He moved down the right side of the hall, trying to stay in the shadows as much as he could. As he reached the space, he slowly glanced around the corner and then sprinted between the machines. He bent down, leaning out into the hall to provide cover for Martin, who moved out of the stairway and towards Reed.

Martin moved at a faster pace knowing that the path was clear. He passed Reed and continued to move forward, trying to see and hear everything around him. He made it down to the end of the corridor and then stopped. The darker man leaned down and motioned for Reed to move up. Reed stepped out and met him at the corridor. It became clear why Martin had stopped. The corridor split off in two directions, with the main hall ending.

“What’s the call, boss?” Martin asked looking over at Reed.

The hallways widened as they stretched through the ship. The extra space had been utilized with storage containers that lined the walls. Reed could see for ten feet down the passageways, but after that, they turned outward and blocked his view.

“I don’t like it, Martin. I don’t want to split up. I think we should stay together,” Reed whispered.

“Yeah, but what if we go the wrong way,” he asked looking back at Reed. “This guy is the only lead that we have and he knows that we’re on to him. We can’t afford to let him get away and lay low somewhere.”

Reed looked down at the floor. He knew what Martin said was the truth, but he also knew that he had a bad feeling about splitting up. They thought Marco was trying to trap them, but if he wasn’t and he got away, they would have missed a prime opportunity to break the case open.

Martin pulled him out of his thoughts by adding, “We can do this.”

Looking into his partner’s confident eyes, Reed shook his head, “Okay, you go down the port side and I’ll go starboard.”

Nodding enthusiastically, Martin started off down the hall towards the left side of the ship.

“Hey,” Reed whispered loud enough for him to hear.

Martin stopped and looked back.

“Be careful,” Reed said.

Martin nodded again and then continued down the hall, dropping out of sight once he turned the corner.

Taking a deep breath, Reed made his way to the corner and stopped before turning down the blind hall. He didn’t like this at all. He looked back toward the fork where they’d been standing and thought about Martin leaving without him. Reed gave thought to going and catching up with him, but knew that would be dangerous at this point, so he shook it off and readied himself to continue on, whispering to himself, ”What the hell am I doing?”

He then whipped around the corner and surveyed the layout in front of him. The hall stretched for a ways off into the darkness, with machines jetting out every now and then, making the hallway very narrow in places. Reed moved slowly down the hall. He made it about halfway down the corridor when something unexpected caught his eye. Among the crazy shadows of the ship, there was one that didn’t seem to fit. Reed could barely see the shadow cast out into the main hall ahead of him. It was not a shadow cast in a near perfect geometrical shape like the ones produced by the machinery that made up the ship’s inner workings. This shadow looked like a figure that was against the wall of the corridor, waiting for someone to walk by.

Reed moved over to the left side of the hall so as to be on the same side as the shadow. He tried to move as quietly as he could, taking extra care to gently place his feet down on the metal floor. He stepped slowly and evenly. Although he was being as quiet as humanly possible, every step sounded like his shoes were sledge hammers. As he drew closer to the shadow, his heart began to race faster and faster, beating against his the inside of his chest like drums. He opened his mouth to help control his breathing and to bring more oxygen into his already adrenaline rushed veins. The small sweat drops that were on his forehead and face started to slowly combine and streak down his cheeks.

He felt that any moment the figure would turn quickly into the hall, on the attack with who knew what kind of weapons, and the intent to take him out.

About ten feet from the figure, Reed was convinced that there was someone standing around the next corner wearing a coat. He thought about how to proceed, and decided that the person, who was more than likely Willings, was waiting for him and knew he was coming. Reed decided that his best defense was taking the element of surprise away from his attacker.

Reed slowly bent down onto one knee and pointed his gun toward the corner of the hallway.

“David Willings, NOPD,” Reed said, breaking the silvery silence. “We know that you are here. We can see you and you’re surrounded. You have nowhere to run. Come out with your hands up.”

Reed didn’t want Willings to know that he was there alone. He kept his gun on the corner and looked for signs of any movement from the shadow, but there was no movement whatsoever.

“Don’t make us come in there after you. No one has to get hurt here,” Reed announced once more. “Just come out with your hands up. This is your last chance!”

Reed never took his eyes off the corner of the shadow that still didn’t move. Reed decided to move closer, the feeling of dread over him intensifying. He began to move slowly and silently toward the shadow. When he was only a couple of feet away, he rushed forward with his gun leading the way, ready to use it.

“Freeze! Don’t m….” Reed stopped in mid sentence. Willings had indeed been there, but he was long gone. In his place, the suspect had hung his black overcoat on a piece of machinery.

Reed felt a wash of anger come over him, battling inside of him to push out the equally insistent fear. He’d underestimated Willings.

“Martin…,” Reed said as he turned around and sprinted back down the hallway, not caring how much noise he made. The passageway felt twice as long as he tried to reach his friend.

Gun shots rang out from the direction he was headed, echoing through the empty ship. Reed stopped and slammed himself against the wall shortly before the nearest turn. Cursing to himself, he willed his feet to move again and wheeled around the next corner. He made it five more steps when another single shot rang out through the halls. At that moment, Reed knew that he was breaking safety protocol, but he began to run down the hall at his top speed. He also shot two bullets into the ceiling to let his presence be known.

The hallway had the same jutting machines as he’d seen on the other side of the ship and the same empty spaces. He stopped before he came to the similar bend where Willings had placed his ruse. The awful feeling that had been in his stomach was now in his throat. He took a deep breath and then sped around the corner. His stomach sank even further when he saw Martin, who was lying on the floor, his arms sprawled and his face turned away. Reed’s eyes shot to all points of the spectrum, surveying the room. Willings wasn’t there.

His steps hesitant, Reed moved toward Martin’s body. He positioned his body to keep an eye on the door at all times. A pool of blood ran out from under Martin’s chest and was already trailing its way down the grooves of the steel jointed floor beside him.

“Oh, God, what have I done?” Reed muttered as he dropped down to his knees and felt his heart drop completely out of his body.