The clock is ticking
Chapter 47: The Clock is Ticking
Detective James stood beneath the flickering streetlight, the crumpled list clutched tightly in his hand. His mind raced, heart pounding as the implications sank in. Captain Richard Deckhand. The man who had shaped his career, who had always been three steps ahead of every criminal he’d encountered—now marked as a target.
James exhaled sharply, pushing past the rush of emotions. No time for that now. He needed to act.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Deckhand’s personal number. It rang once. Twice. Three times. Then—
“Deckhand,” the gruff voice answered.
James didn’t waste a second. “Captain, we need to meet. Now.”
A pause. “James? What’s going on?”
James glanced around, making sure no one was watching. “You’re on a list, sir. And if my intel is right, you’re in danger.”
Another pause. This time, longer. Then, Deckhand’s voice came back, quieter but firm. “Where?”
James thought fast. “Pier 17. Thirty minutes.”
“Understood.”
The line went dead.
James tucked the list into his pocket, squared his shoulders, and made his way to his car. The night had grown colder, the wind carrying the scent of rain. As he drove, he couldn’t shake the feeling that every turn he took, every car behind him, could be another one of Dr. Martin’s pawns closing in.
This wasn’t just about Jake anymore. It wasn’t just about prison politics or old grudges. This was bigger. Dr. Martin had been planning something for a long time, and James had barely scratched the surface.
But now, he had a name. A connection. The next move.
The waterfront was nearly deserted when James arrived. The gentle lapping of the waves against the docks was the only sound. He parked near an old warehouse, cutting the engine but leaving the keys in the ignition—just in case.
A few minutes later, another car pulled up. Black SUV. Tinted windows.
James’s hand instinctively hovered near his holster.
The driver’s door opened, and Captain Richard Deckhand stepped out. He looked older than James remembered, the years having carved deeper lines into his face, but the sharp, calculating look in his eyes was the same.
“Alright, James,” Deckhand said as he approached. “Tell me why the hell I had to come all the way out here.”
James didn’t hesitate. He pulled out the list and handed it over. “Recognize any names?”
Deckhand unfolded the paper, his expression unreadable as his eyes scanned the page. Then, something flickered across his face—something close to realization.
“Where did you get this?” His voice was controlled, but James could hear the edge to it.
“An informant. Ryan. He used to run with Jake before prison.”
Deckhand’s grip on the paper tightened. “Jake…” He exhaled. “Damn it.”
James stepped closer. “You knew?”
Deckhand hesitated, then nodded. “I knew Jake’s father. And I knew Dr. Martin. But I didn’t realize how deep this went.” He gestured to the list. “These names… they’re not just powerful people. They’re obstacles. People who could stop Dr. Martin if they found out what he was planning.”
James’s stomach twisted. “Then that means—”
“—he’s not just eliminating threats. He’s positioning himself. He’s making sure that when the dust settles, he’s the one left standing.”
A sharp gust of wind blew through the dock, rattling the metal siding of the warehouse. James processed the revelation, feeling the weight of it settle on his shoulders.
“What do we do?” he asked.
Deckhand’s jaw tightened. “First, we make sure we’re not the next ones on the list.” He looked James dead in the eye. “Then, we take the fight to him.”
James nodded.
No more waiting.
No more running.
I
t was time to take down Dr. Martin.
Before he could take everything.