This City Is On Fire
I try hard to stifle my fear. It may not be the first time I've had a gun at my face and I can assure that it won't be the last but there's something about the situation that makes me feel uneasy. It's too quiet for one; I'm expecting Gomez's cavalry to come rushing in, guns blazing and ready to punish me as a traitor, because in reality that's all I really am.
I can't help but wonder if Gomez even knows and I have the strange feeling he doesn't and my mind is racing trying to figure out why. It doesn't make sense and suddenly I have the terrifying thought that maybe we're dealing with something a little more serious than a drug deal. My gaze locks with Jeremy's, steely grey eyes boring into me with hate and his hand quiver slightly as the gun is shoved further in my face.
"Man, calm down," I say soothingly, "what are you talking about?" I play the confused middle man card and hope it can already get the damn gun out of my face. It's so close now I can smell the metal and oil.
"I know your girl, Jade, is dirty." He spits, the corners of his mouth curling up in a wicked smile. I had to make play and I had to make it fast. Otherwise a huge shipment of heroin was going to be the least of my problems. Knitting my eyebrows together and drop my hands back to my sides, forming fists.
"What the hell are you talking about?" I ask in a fierce voice, daring to step closer. "I've known Jade since she was nothing. When I met her she was a party girl with an addiction to fill and a mouth she didn't know how to shut. I would damn well know if she was trying to play me." Jeremy's face falters but he recovers quickly and smiles once more.
"Come on I know you can lie better than that. You can't tell me you didn't know she was on PD's side. I've been working these docks for six years, under Gomez for four. I know everyone that walks in and out and I'm telling you that she bleeds blue." Listening to Jeremy's rant my gut clenches. He's one of those guys hell-bent on loyalty, whether it's because he feels he owes it or because his life depends on it. Right now I can't tell which of those applies here.
I'm starting to sweat, panic welling up so quick I'm almost sure it's going to burst the damn I've put up. Thinking quickly I switch the angle I've been working. Maybe the truth is better than a lie this time around.
Reaching out I land a punch to Jeremy's jaw and he staggers, the gun falling from his hand and clattering on the concrete. He straightens up and comes towards me but I deliver an elbow to his ribs, grabbing him and wrestling him up against the wall. He's looking at me with so much hate I wasn't sure it was possible and he struggles against my grasp.
"Who are you?" he asks, thrashing around like a fish out of water. Pressing him against the wall a little harder I lean in close and keep my voice low.
"Right now I'm the only guy that can help you. If Gomez gets word you knew about this you're dead. If you wait around here and this gets to the police, you're dead. One way or the other Gomez will find a way to get to you unless you help me." Pulling the gun from my waistband I flick the safety off, wanting to make my point perfectly clear.
"I need you to tell me everything you know. About Gomez, about this investigation. Everything. If you can help me, then I can help you." I let him go and he stumbles a bit, looking up and seeing my face and the gun. Finally he relents.
"Alright," he breathes, running a hand over his face. He looks scared now and I wonder how much of the repercussions are going to fall back on him. My guess is a lot.
"I've been watching these docks for Gomez for years. I keep track of who comes in and who come out. I know what they do, who they're with. All of it. After the shootout at the marina the cops came looking around, using the tip one of those good for nothing thugs gave them." He sighs and leans against one of the big red crates.
"Of course I made sure I was the one they counted on for info about the docks. I could point them in the other direction if things went wrong stuff like that."
"And what happens when they start snooping around anyways?" I challenge. Jeremy swallows and squeezes his eyes shut.
"Normally they don't. The stories I sell are pretty believable and with all the other workers clueless they have no reason too."
"Normally?" I echo. He nods and lets out a shaky breath.
"This last time, after that undercover cop was killed they were mad. They had this bust planned, someone had tipped them off and they knew the crew was coming by to check things out. After the last few weeks Gomez said he couldn't be too careful; had all these checks in place to make sure he lasted until this shipment…" He looks up at me with pleading eyes and shies away from the gun. His voice has taken on a panicked tone and something inside of me is screaming, clawing and scratching to get my attention.
"Please, it was an accident. I didn't think anybody would get hurt." He starts panicking and the tremble in his voice is a breaking point. My thoughts were slowly becoming the truth and the rage in my stomach is undeniable. Bringing my face just inches away from Jeremy's I brace my arm against his chest, listening to him sputter and cough against the pressure.
"What are you talking about?" I demand. He swallows thickly and struggles for a breath.
"It wasn't the crew that fired first… I did. I thought I could work my way up quicker if I could show him I knew how to take care of things, and I thought if I scared the cops off and showed them what they were messing with then he would see. It wasn't to kill anyone I swear, but after the first shot bullets started flying and that detective, the one that follows your girl around. He fell and I got out of there. Listen man I'm sorry, but I-"
"Shut up," I growl, letting him go and watching him sink to the ground to catch his breath. I knew if I didn't I would do something I regret. Things are jumbled now and my mind and heart are racing. Nothing is making sense and I can't see straight.
"You better hurry," Jeremy suddenly says, and his expression is grave, "Your girl's with Gomez right?" unable to speak I nod and walk numbly toward him.
"Why? What did you do?" the look he gives me answers my question and I have no time to reciprocate. It's the reason no one is here to deal with me right now, they're too preoccupied with someone else. Suddenly my feet are moving beneath me, pounding into the concrete with loud thuds. I wrench my phone from my pocket and dial Mike's number. He answers on the second ring and his voice is calm.
"Jess, how'd it go?"
"Mike? Mike you gotta get Fi and get to Gomez's." I'm shouting into the phone and I can hear shuffling in the background, probably Fi coming to see what's going on. Mike voice becomes dark and lowers slightly.
"What the hell happened? Where are you?"
"The guy at the dock, he knew everything. He started the shooting that got David killed and Gomez knows our plan." There's hushed whispering in the background and the slam of car doors.
"Fi and I are on our way. Get Sam and get over there as fast as you can."
The line disconnects as I reach my car, yanking the door opening and starting the engine before even getting the chance to catch my breath. My tires spin helplessly as I stomp down on the gas, taking off in the direction of Maddie's house. Sam is supposed to be there fixing the leak in her kitchen sink.
My hands grip the steering wheel with more force than I thought possible and I speed past the other cars on the road. Maddie's house comes into view and I screech to a halt just inches behind Sam's car, throwing the door open and practically sprinting to the front door before bursting inside.
Maddie jumps and a cigarette dangles from her mouth. "God Jesse, what the hell's the matter with you?"
"Where's Sam?" I yell, looking into the kitchen for him but finding it empty instead. Maddie stands back and her face has taken on a worried look and she points to the garage.
"He's getting some more tools." she says and before she can ask me anything I'm out the door.
"Sam!" I yell as I walk in, finding him digging through a rusty-red tool box, his head shoots up and he drops the wrench he was holding.
"Jeez brother, what's the matter with you?" he asks the question as if it's no big deal but he sees my face and the atmosphere changes. He can tell something is wrong.
"We have to go," I say, leaving no room for protests and I sigh in relief when he follows me outside. We get in the car and speed off, the speedometers needle slowly inching forward with each passing second.
"Emma's in trouble," I finally say, knowing Sam is wondering what we're doing. He looks at me with eyebrows knit together.
"The man at the docks found out about everything, he was behind the shooting. Emma is alone with Gomez and he knows we're all against him." As the words spill out my gut clenches and I can hear Sam sigh.
"This isn't good, do Mike and Fi know?" he asks. I nod silently. We're close to the house by now; it's hard to miss anyways. It's the same house the party was at just a few days ago and the location seems burned into my brain. The long, winding drive way comes up and I can see the Charger parked off to the side behind a row of palm trees. Mike walks up to the car and I roll down the window.
"We can't see inside," he says angrily, "there are three guys outside, armed of course. I think our best bet is to take them out and then find a way in without making a scene. The quieter the better." The plan sounds alright, besides it's the only one we have right now.
We split up and take our places, Fi and I taking the front while Sam and Mike sneak to the back and look for a good way in. Fi holds her rifle close, lining up a shot while I keep watch for any others that may show up. She takes out the light bulb in one of the porch lights, the sound of the shattering glass catching the attention of the three rent a thugs.
When they turn their backs and I run up and knock the first one out with a blow to the head with my gun. By the time the other two are able to comprehend what's happened I do the same to one and Fi the other. Now that there's nothing to stop us we run around to the back of the house and see Mike and Sam picking the lock to the back door.
They're arguing quietly with each other and Fi rolls her eyes as she looks at me. Sauntering towards them she shoves Sam out of the way and holds her hand out to Mike.
"Let me show you boys how it's done," she smirks, bending down and working quickly. There's a soft click and the door opens. Pushing inside I go in because I know the majority of the layout. I can hear voices but it's muffled, obviously in one of the back rooms. I draw my gun and slowly slink down the hallway, the voices slowly growing louder.
There's one door that's completely shut, locked too if I had to guess. The voices are loud now, angry yelling assaulting my eardrums and the steady sound of pacing footsteps. This is it. I brace myself for anything and right now the adrenaline running through my body is what's keeping me going.
I hear footsteps behind me and see Mike a few feet away, gun drawn. He looks at me questioningly, wondering what I'm gonna do. Honestly, I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do but my gut tells me things are going to get worse.
In the end I'm pretty sure my mind just started working on its own because the first thing I'm aware of the dull throbbing in my leg and the sound of the door nearly falling off its hinges. The room is slightly out of focus and I stumble forward a little before a low chilling voice sounds and I'm frozen to the floor, my gun falling from my shaking hands.
It's no surprise it's Gomez and it's not really a surprise there's a gun in my face once again. It doesn't really bother me anymore but as I blink a few times, trying to calm my erratic breathing I can tell things aren't going to be as simple as the break in was. My gun has been kicked across the room Glancing up my heart nearly bursts from my chest when I finally see Emma, desperate green eyes trained on me and watching me closely.
"Jess, you need to go," she chokes out. There's blood dripping from a cut beneath her eye and her cheek is swollen. For the first time I see she's sitting in a chair, hands bound behind her and sweat dripping from her head. I want to move but the gun is making it difficult. Michael comes in behind me and Gomez's eyes go wide at the sight of yet another person but quickly he changes tactics and points the gun at Emma, walking up and taking a fistful of her hair and yanking her up.
She yelps in pain and protest as he drags her to the other side of the room. He presses the barrel to her head and looks at Mike with pure evil in his eyes.
"If you come any closer she's dead."