Oblivious (20 page)

Joe ducked down behind the wall and checked the chamber to make sure it was loaded.

‘Are you still there, Joe?’ Shouted Gordy from the ground..

Joe moved behind the wall and looked over slowly to see at least four guards standing around Gordy. Tom was kneeling down at the edge of the dock overlooking the water, his hands bound behind his back. Joe knew that this wasn’t going to end well, unless he thought carefully about his next move.

‘There you are.’ Gordy shouted as he could see the silhouette of Joe’s head in the night sky. Joe quickly ducked back behind the wall before someone was able to get a good shot at him.

‘Let him go.’ Joe shouted, ‘He has nothing to do with this.’

‘Oh, I wish that were true.’ Said Gordy, looking up at the wall where Joe was. ‘But he knows too much and I can’t just leave people behind.’

‘Was this your plan all along, to kill Tom when you’re done with him?’

‘Well, I only need one of you and it’s so much easier to keep an escaped convict by your side because he knows that if he does something wrong he will be right back in the concrete fortress which will end up being your tomb.’ Joe could hear Tom starting to cry.

‘Please let me go, I won’t tell anyone.’ He sobbed, ‘I won’t go to the police because I’m an accessory and they’ll lock me up as well.’

‘Do you really think I am that stupid?’ Gordy said, pressing his gun against the back of Tom’s head. ‘If I let you go and your brother stays then it will only be a matter of time before you play vigilante.’

Joe stood up slowly with the rifle and handgun raised above his head.

‘Okay.’ He shouted, throwing his guns over the wall and onto the ground, ‘I’ll come down. Just don’t hurt Tom.’

Joe walked back across the roof to the fire escape and scaled down to the platform. He kicked the ladder down to the ground and climbed down, to be greeted by one the guards holding a gun to his head.

‘Nice and slow.’ Said the guard, pushing Joe around the corner to where the other men stood.

‘What now?’ said Joe as he stepped over to Gordy, still pressing the pistol firmly against the back of Tom’s skull.

‘As I said,’ said Gordy, ‘I only need one of you from here on. But, then again two of you could be even better.’

‘Let him go, Gordy. This is between you and me. If my wife owes you money then I am the one to get it back for you, not Tom.’

Joe stepped forward to speak only for two guards to grab him by his arms. Gordy lowered his arm and took three steps over to Joe. He held his gun down by his side and took a cigarette from his top pocket. Igniting his lighter, Gordy lit the cigarette and blew the first smoke into Joe’s face.

‘Do you think that this is all about money? You see, your brother knows my secret and I can’t just let him go.’

‘I don’t know anything,’ Tom blubbered, still staring into the dark water below him.

‘Shut up!’ shouted Gordy.

‘But I don’t know anything.’ Gordy walked over to Tom, knelt down beside him and spoke into his ear.

‘You see, Tom, you know that I framed your brother. You have been with me from the beginning and you know my entire operation. I can’t just let you walk away now, can I?’

‘Just leave him alone, Gordy. Let him go.’ shouted Joe, trying to shake himself free from the two guards. Gordy turned around quickly and shook his gun frantically towards Joe’s face.

‘Just stop talking! I am sick of you talking! Actually, fuck it!’ Gordy raised his gun, pointed it at the back of Tom’s head and pulled the trigger. The bang echoed around the silent docks. Tom’s body fell almost instantly onto the concrete, blood quickly pooled around his head.

‘No!’ Joe cried, trying to pull himself free from the grasp of the guards holding him.

‘Now we’ve got that out of the way we don’t need to worry about who stays and who goes.’ said Gordy with a wicked grin across his face. He stepped over to Tom’s body, blood spilling from the hole in the back of his head. ‘Such a shame, he would have been useful to me if he wasn’t so weak.’

‘Why?’ Joe cried as tears streamed down his cheeks.

‘It’s simple, really,’ said Gordy as he looked down at Tom’s body bobbing gently in the sea, ‘I don’t need him anymore. Not now that I have you.’

Gordy walked towards the entrance of the warehouse, slipping his gun into the back of his belt as he stepped. He opened the door and held it as the two guards ushered Joe inside. The other two remained at the waterside.

‘Make sure you take care of that body.’ Said Gordy as he closed the door behind him.

As soon as the door slammed shut, Joe was thrown to the floor. He looked around to see two cars parked in the warehouse. There was a set of stairs at the back that led up to an office or storage area, this must be where Gordy was keeping Gina and Mary.

‘What now?’ Joe asked as he slowly stood. He turned to face Gordy at the door for the two guards to be pointing their guns at Joe. ‘Is this the end for me as well?’

‘Upstairs now!’ Gordy ordered.

Joe lifted his hands gently above his head, turned around and walked towards the stairs. He stopped at the bottom and stared at the closed door at the top.

‘What are you looking to get out of this?’ Joe asked.

‘I thought I told you, Joe. I need what is mine, and I will do anything I can to get it.’

The two guards remained by the front door, it was obvious to Joe that Gordy wanted what came next to be personal between them. Joe lifted one foot and placed it on the first step. A loud noise from outside distracted them both. A car crashed through the front of the warehouse, collapsing the door. The guards seemed to disappear in a moment. Gordy had been knocked off his feet and Joe was lying on his front on the stairs. They both looked through the dust to the car and could see Francis sitting in the driver’s seat.

‘Run, Joe.’ She shouted. She lifted a gun from her lap, opened the door and fired several bullets into the wall above Gordy. ‘Get out of here, Joe!’ she ordered once more.

Joe quickly got to his feet and ran up the stairs, throwing the door open quickly. He turned to close the door for a bullet from Gordy’s gun to narrowly miss his head. Slamming the door shut he ran along a small corridor with several doors leading off.

‘Gina, Mary!’ he shouted, opening each door. ‘Where are you?’ As he opened the third door he heard a voice coming from the next room.

‘Joe. We’re in here.’ Joe quickly ran to the next door and tried to turn the handle but the door was locked. Taking a small step backwards he lunged forward and broke the door down. In the corner of the room was Gina, holding Mary tight to her chest in a blanket. She was sitting on a dirty mattress but there was nothing else in the room that suggested they had any nice treatment.

‘Joe!’ Gina exclaimed standing up and running over to give him a hug.

‘Is she okay?’ he asked, pulling the blanket back to reveal Mary’s face.

‘She’s fine. We need to get out of here.’ Joe grabbed Gina by the wrist and pulled her out into the corridor.

‘Don’t go anywhere.’ Gordy shouted from the end of the corridor. He was standing with his arm gripped tight around Francis’ neck with a gun pressed firmly against her cheek. ‘Drop the gun and get back in the room.’ Francis clearly had a gunshot wound in her shoulder that was releasing a large amount of blood. She was clearly very weak and in no way able to fight off Gordy.

Joe and Gina stepped backwards into the room as Gordy got closer. Still holding onto Francis with an iron grip, Gordy pushed her through the doorway.

‘You asked me what I want to get out of this.’ said Gordy pointing the gun at Joe. ‘Let me tell you. I want my daughter.’ Joe looked at Gordy with confusion.

‘Your daughter?’ he asked.

‘Why don’t you tell him, Gina?’

‘Gina?’ Joe asked. ‘What is he talking about?’ Gina looked at Joe as her eyes filled with tears.

‘I’m so sorry, Joe.’ She said. ‘I wanted to tell you but I didn’t know how to.’ Tears streamed down Joe’s face as the news started to sink in.

‘But why have you gone to this great length to get rid of me?’ he asked Gordy.

‘It’s all very simple really, Joe. I wanted my daughter and Gina refused to leave you so I needed to get you out of the picture. The only problem was that your brother found out what I was going to do. Instead of just taking my daughter and leaving I threatened to kill them both if Tom didn’t do as I wanted. That was until I got enough money and power so nobody would dare to touch me. But now that you’re here I guess I need to change my plans.’

Joe froze in place, staring at Francis struggling to stand.

‘How did you know about my condition? How did you know that I would not remember?’ Joe asked.

‘I have some friends in good places and I knew that your rage is triggered by these pains. When I heard  you shouting at Gina one night I figured it was a good time so two of my boys came and sorted it out.’ Joe couldn’t believe what was being said. Tears streamed down his face as the reality sank in. He turned and faced Gina, still holding Mary tight to her chest.

‘Why would you sleep with him?’ he asked. Gina started to cry as she spoke.

‘I owed him so much money and I know how proud you are of everything. He to threatened to do horrible things to you if I couldn’t come up with the money unless I slept with him.’

Still being held by Gordy, Francis’ eyes began to close and she dropped to the floor as he could no longer hold her upright. Pointing the gun at Gina he reached out his hand.

‘Give her to me, now!’ He demanded.

‘Please don’t take her away from me.’ Gina begged.

‘It’s okay, Gina.’ Joe said, taking Mary from her arms and passing her to Gordy. ‘It will be okay.’

With his gun still in one hand, Gordy cradled Mary in his arms and pulled back the blanket to reveal her face. He smiled at her innocent face as she lay peacefully. Gordy tucked the blanket under her chin and held her close with one arm. He pointed the gun at Joe and Gina.

‘If I see you following me, I will not be held responsible for what happens next.’ He ran out of the door and they heard his footsteps descend the staircase to the warehouse below.

Joe stepped over to Francis and went down on one knee.

‘Franny, can you hear me?’ he said panicked.

‘Is she dead?’ Gina asked with fear in her voice.

‘No, she’s still alive but she hasn’t got long if we don’t get her to a hospital.’ Francis opened her eyes softly, just enough so she could see Joe’s face.

‘You need to save your family, Joe.’ She whispered with what breath she had, ‘If you love them as much as you say you do you will go after him.’

‘I can’t leave you, not like this.’ he said with tears running down his cheeks.

‘The police are coming, Joe. I told them everything and they will be here soon. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you anymore. Just go.’ With her last whisper, Francis’ eyes closed and her breathing stopped. Joe placed his fingers on her neck to feel her pulse, but there was nothing there.

‘Thank you, Franny.’

Joe stood up and wiped the tears from his face. Grabbing Gina’s arm he led her into the corridor, picked his gun up from the floor and tucked it under his shirt.

‘I want you to stay here, Gina.’ He said. ‘Wait for the police and tell them everything you know.’ Gina grabbed Joe’s arm to stop him from going.

‘No, Joe.’ She said, ‘this is my fault and I’m coming with you. He has another warehouse on the docks that I’ve heard him talk about. It’s number 168, he has probably taken Mary there.’

Without wasting any time arguing, Joe and Gina ran down the stairs, stepping over the dead bodies by the cars they stood on the dockside. Gina picked up a gun from the debris and held it tight in her hand. With the warehouse being on the end, there was only one way they could go. Joe tried to remember any signs he had seen previously that told him where certain units were. 

As they ran down between the towers of buildings they could hear the unmistakable echo of police sirens getting closer. Eventually they found the row that had the building they were after. This was smaller than the last warehouse and probably easier for Gordy to see them coming. Joe drew his gun and walked slowly to the front door. It was already ajar and a light inside indicated that someone was in there.

‘Gordy!’ he shouted as he pushed the door with his foot. ‘I’m coming in, Gordy.’ Joe stepped through the door and was greeted by large piles of cardboard and wooden boxes. In the far corner was a ladder that led to a hatch in the ceiling. Gina followed Joe through the door looking around for a way through.

‘This way.’ she said, pointing around the corner. Led by Joe, they ran through the boxes and went quickly to the top of the ladder. Joe gently pushed the hatch to reveal the night clouds, broken up by stars shining down. As he pushed his head through the opening he couldn’t see Gordy on the rooftop. He lifted the hatch all the way and stood up, pointing his gun around as he looked. Gina followed through the hatch but neither of them could see anything immediately.

Unlike the previous warehouse, the buildings on this row were adjoined and a metal platform bridged from one rooftop to the other for access to the fire escape at either end. With his gun still poised, Joe ran onto the platform and looked along the row of buildings. A few buildings down Joe could see a figure running into the distance.

‘Gordy!’ Joe shouted, pointing his gun.

The figure stopped and turned to look at Joe, it was Gordy and he still had Mary clutched tight against his chest. He stopped for a moment and then kept on running, up and over every rooftop. Joe and Gina followed Gordy, jumping and running around the walls, ventilation ducts and whatever else stood in their way. Joe jumped over a wall but he stumbled when he landed on the other side, causing him to fall onto his hands. Gina stopped to help him up.

‘Just go.’ He said, trying to stand up. ‘Get her back.’

Gina kept running after Gordy over the rooftops as Joe tried to help himself up. He struggled to stand and looking down at the blood soaking into his trousers, he knew that this wasn’t a good sign. He pulled himself up slowly and stood the best he could. Taking a deep breath he looked ahead but couldn’t see Gordy or Gina anywhere. He took a few steps forward and heard two consecutive gunshots echo around the docks. As fast as he could, Joe hobbled across the rooftops. The last building had a small shed on the roof, Joe walked around it carefully where he saw Gordy holding Gina by the back of her neck and Gina gripping Mary tight in her blanket. Tears streamed down Gina’s cheek, only to be stopped by Gordy’s gun pressing hard against her face.

‘Drop your gun.’ Gordy ordered Joe. Joe tossed his gun over the wall, the dull sound of it hitting the ground in the distance was unmistakable.

‘What now?’ Joe asked. ‘We can’t just stand up here forever. The police probably heard the gunshot so they’ll be on their way. What’s your plan, Gordy?’ Gordy looked panicked; it was obvious to Joe that he had no idea what he wanted to do next. Gordy stepped around the roof, backing up closer to the edge to get as much distance as possible between him and Joe. Gordy pointed his gun at Joe and pulled back the hammer with his thumb.

‘This is the end for you, Joe.’ He said. ‘Soon the police will be here but it will be too late. I will be left looking like the hero. You and Gina will both be dead and I will be the loving father who did everything he could to save his daughter. I will tell them that this was all her idea because she wanted to get rid of you, after all she did give birth to my child.’ Gina started to sob uncontrollably into the blanket as she stared down at her daughter in her arms.

‘I’m sorry.’ She said.

With her free arm, Gina thrust her elbow into Gordy’s stomach, causing him to drop his guard. She tried to step away but Gordy still had a grip on her collar. In the distraction Joe used all of his strength to jump forward. He struck his shoulder into Gordy’s chest causing him to stumble backwards. He faltered over the wall and his entire body toppled towards the ground below. Still holding onto the collar of Gina’s jacket he pulled her with him, still gripping Mary in her arms. Joe reached out to grab either of them but they moved too fast for him to react.

‘Gina!’ he cried as he watched them all fall to the solid concrete below. Instantly Joe fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. The police sirens were getting closer and he needed to give himself up now because he couldn’t physically run anymore. The sound of the sirens became almost muted when he heard Mary’s cry. He felt his heart leap into his mouth as he got to his feet as quickly as he could. Joe looked over the wall to see Gordy and Gina lying side by side, motionless. The blanket was moving and Mary was crying. With a slight sense of relief he stumbled to his feet and over to the fire escape ladder in the far corner. He descended the ladder and hobbled over to see to Mary. As he dropped to his knees the light from several police cars obscured his vision. He picked up Mary from Gina’s arms and held her close to calm her.

‘It’s okay, baby. You are going to have a good life now.’ He said caressing her cheek with his finger. He looked at Gina lying motionless staring up at the stars in the sky. Small amounts of blood trickled from her ears as she lay still. Joe leant forward and kissed her softly on the forehead.

‘I’m sorry.’ He whispered. Several police officers ran in Joe’s direction and stopped a few feet away. All pointing their guns at him, he stood slowly.

‘Don’t move.’ One shouted. ‘Put the child down and raise your hands.’ Joe placed Mary on the floor next to Gina and Gordy’s bodies. Mary started to cry again as he stood back up and lifted his hands.

Another police officer rushed to Joe and placed his hands in cuffs behind his back. Getting Joe towards the cars waiting, he looked over his shoulder to see Mary being picked up by another officer. He couldn’t see much ahead of him due to the bright lights from the cars but he could see a silhouette standing in his path. Joe squinted to try and make out who the man was. Getting closer he could see it was Captain Richards, looking as smart and orderly as he remembers.