It was around eleven o'clock at night, and I was wandering through the park. I couldn't sleep you see and a walk through the park always calmed my mind,
it's nice feeling the night breaze through your hair, staring at the stars. It's enough to make you forget your previous worries, and thats all i need.
I was half way through my usual route in the Anacostia park, almost to the edge of the river, when i heard shouting.
I'de never heard people in the park this late before, i wasn't sure if i wanted to be here anymore.
Against my better judgement i wandered a little closer, catching a glimpse of two dark shadows farther off standing beside the river, my original destination goal.
I could hear shouting in English and in a foreign language, it sounded like it was Arabic, but i couldn't be sure. I could make out some of what the english, the voice was deep and rough, and had an accent similar to the foreign speaker.
"If you don't give me the cash, you're secrets out."
The foreigner said something i couldn't understand.
"no it's 3 million cash, no exceptions, or i'm going straight to the cops." and again the foreign spoke.
"no, no you listen to me, if you expect that bomb to go off, you pay up front. You're not going to find another inside man."
The foreigner sopke again, now moving and pulling something out of his coat.
"Hey, hey now be reasonable, we can work something out, can't we?" The man's voice switched from being angered to paniced. I could see his figure moving away from the other man.
The man spoke a few words, and then gun shots were fired.
The sound was deafening, one, two, then three cracks of the gun. And the english speaker fell.
I could've sworn i'd never hear anything again.
I had to hold my breath to keep from screaming.
I pressed my back against a tree, desperate to keep from being seen.
What should i do, do i call the cops, should i wait. What if he's still alive?
A thousand thoughts were running through my mind, and i didn't know which one i should act on.
I heard the rustling of leaves coming toward my direction, i peaked around the tree being as quiet as i could. My heart stopped. He was right there,
i could see his face so clearly. And in one flash he looked in my direction. I prayed silently that he couldn't see me there.
My prayers must have been granted, when he turned away and kept going.
I sank to the ground and cried. I had nearly escaped death, i couldn't believe it.
Then the thought struck me, what if he was still alive?
I took a deep breath and tried to prepair myself for what i was about to see.
I went to the fallen man. I was shocked to see he had taken three bullets to his chest. I touched his neck, i couldn't find a pulse.
I pulled out my cell phone and dialed 9.1.1. I sat on the ground next to the dead man and pulled my knee's to my chest.
Now was not the time to have a mental break down, i needed to keep myself together.
Breathe in Breath out, i kept reminding myself.
It was about 20 minutes before the first officer arrived.
I explained to him what happened the best i could. I could see the sarrow in his eye's for what i was telling him.
I knew my voice was shaking as much as the rest of me.
It wasn't long before even more people arrived quarenting off the area, and i was asked what i "thought" had happened another ten times.
The first cop i had spoken to approached me.
"You're going to need to be hear a little longer, i've got to call NCIS." He explained.
I gave him a puzzled look and he elaborated, "the Navel Crime Investigative Service"
Again confused i asked him, "Why do you have to call them?"
The man looked at me pulling out his cell phone dialing a number.
"This man was a marine."