The Redemption

by David Boiani

  “You son of a bitch!” John shouted.

  Another brick was released, and his left shoulder was separated as well as his left knee. Another brick hit the ground and three of four limbs were detached, connected only by ragged flesh and skin. Captain Johnson’s screams stopped as his head went limp. John watched in horror as Gabriel swiftly took a hunting knife that was strapped to his leg and sliced the rope, freeing the counterweight. The last of the bricks hit the ground and Captain Johnson’s body was ripped apart, each limb propelled in a different direction. Blood poured from every unnatural orifice.

  John was on him with his hands around his throat, squeezing as hard as he could, just like he had done to his brother Silas. John could feel the life draining out of Gabriel Crimson’s body as a sinister smile appeared on the killer’s lips. Suddenly, John thought of his children, his wife, and Ricky. He thought of learning from our past transgressions and redeeming ourselves when granted the opportunity. He thought of the captain and what he said before dying: “No, John! This is what he wants!”

  John released Gabriel’s throat, and slowly the life returned to his eyes as he gasped for breath. John grabbed the knife and cut a piece of rope from what remained. He turned the murderer over and tied his arms behind his back.

  “Corbin, what are you doing? No…”

  “Gabriel Crimson, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present while you are being questioned.”

  “NO! what are you doing you coward? Kill me!”

  “If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed to you. You can decide at any time to exercise these rights. Do you understand each of these rights I have explained to you?”

  John tied Gabriel to a tree, sat, and glanced at what remained of his captain, his friend. He put his face in his hands and wept, not stopping until the spotlight from the helicopter fell on the scene.

  CHAPTER NINE

  There was no area for the copter to land, so Agent Phillips climbed the rope ladder down to the crime scene, handcuffed Crimson, and took him into custody. They called the local police to come and pick him up. Phillips stayed, monitored Crimson and waited for the arrival of the caravan of local cops, detectives, crime scene investigators, and press who were sure to follow. John shook hands with Phillips, thanked him, and climbed the ladder for the ride back to Seattle in the copter. He rested his head against the window and didn’t move the whole journey back. He kept replaying the course of events over in his mind until, filled with exhaustion, mental trauma, and the lingering effects of a concussion, he drifted off to sleep.

  John was woken with a thud as the helicopter landed. He was then transported from the air support unit to the station by vehicle. John walked in and headed for Daniels’ office for debriefing and paperwork. He walked in on Daniels laying into Ricky. They each glanced up at John, but Daniels continued his onslaught.

  “I told you no more BS, did I not? You kept all this from me. You communicate to a pedestrian, and he goes on a rogue mission himself to save Johnson? No wonder he’s dead. You both failed to follow protocol, failed to do your jobs correctly, and now a good man is gone. Well, what do both of you have to say for yourselves?”

  “Sir, I was instructed by the killer not to alert anyone of the situation or he would kill Michael.”

  “He killed him anyway!” Daniels yelled in Ricky’s face. “Burton, I am advising this force to send you on unpaid leave for a month and let me tell you, if I advise it, it will happen.”

  “As you wish, sir,” Ricky replied.

  John noticed Daniels’ eyes turn to him and he saw a spark in them. He was enjoying this. This piece of shit reveled in denigrating men that gave their heart and soul in an effort to save people.

  “Well, Corbin? Who the fuck do you think you are, Johnny Rambo?”

  John looked at Daniels, walked over and punched him square and hard on the chin. The malicious expression in his eyes was instantly replaced with shock as his chair collapsed and his body landed in a heap behind his pretentious, oversized desk. John turned to Ricky, gave him a quick hug, shook his hand, and walked out.

  John entered his house without knowing what was waiting for him. Julie’s car was in the driveway, which meant she didn’t leave. The house was quiet aside from Simba running up to him like he hadn’t seen him in ten years. Dogs have a way of always making a person feel wanted. It’s no wonder why humans have grown to love them as not just pets, but members of the family. He walked upstairs and into the bedroom where Julie was out cold on the bed. On her nightstand was a bottle of sleeping pills which was unusual for Julie. She didn’t approve of pills as a rule, and hardly ever gave any to their children.

  “Julie, babe, wake up,” he said as he slid into bed beside her and put his arms around her.

  “John? You’re here… alive!”

  “Yes, I’m alive. Where are the children?”

  “My Mother’s, I needed to sleep. John, what happened?”

  John looked away with his head down.

  Julie sat up. “Is he… gone?”

  “Yes. I tried Julie. He’s dead.”

  Julie hugged him tight as she started to cry on his chest. “Does Sarah know?”

  “Ricky has the unpleasant job of going to her house. I’m going to stop by there and talk to her tomorrow.”

  “I think that’s a good idea. I didn’t like your decision, but I understand it now. Are you okay?”

  “Michael was like a father to me. He saved my life more than once. Watching him die ripped me apart inside, but that pain only goes so deep. We learn to keep a part of ourselves, a core, unavailable to anyone, or anything. That defense is instilled in us from the beginning. As soon as we witness that first bullet soar past our partner’s head, or the first time we view a child’s broken body from the stronghold of their abusive parents, or the first time we observe the dead bodies of innocent souls who had their lives taken because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sensitivities become stunted, all in an attempt to preserve our sanities. I have successfully done that. Julie, I made that part of me, the innocence behind those walls, available to you, and now the children,” John said, pausing for a moment to regain his focus. “I had to try to save him. It’s what I am, but I am also sorry to put you through this.”

  Julie hugged him. “John, my love, don’t apologize, I understand. And as much as I wanted to keep you from going, I knew you would. That’s why I fell in love with you. What about the killer?”

  “I got him. He is in custody.”

  John kissed his wife with a passionate hunger fueled by love. Love that we sometimes take for granted but are made aware of when we least expect it, when tragedy becomes possible. They made love with an urgency they hadn’t felt in years.

  The following two days, John stayed home with Julie and away from everyone else. He needed to mourn, rest, and rekindle his drive to live. Dealing with the evil in the world for so long had impacted his ability to rebound as quickly as he used to and losing one of his best friends made it that much more difficult. He finally rolled out of bed late one morning and pushed himself to visit Sarah Johnson. After the short ride, he parked, walked to the door and knocked. Moments later the door swung open.

  “John, hi, so nice to see you,” she said as she gave him a hug.

  “Sarah, I’m so sorry.”

  “Come in, John.”

  As he walked in and followed her to the sofa in the next room, he sensed something was off. He assumed she would have been nearly broken by the death of her husband, but she seemed settled, almost content.

  “The funeral is tomorrow at Sacred Heart, at eleven.”

  “Okay, I will be there with my family. Sarah, are you okay?”

  “I’m doing as well as expected, I guess.”

  “I tried, I did everything I could do—”

  Sarah put her hand up to stop John mid-speech. �
�I know you did, and so does Michael. John, I am at peace. Michael came to me in my sleep. He told me everything will be fine, that we will be reunited when it’s my time to leave this earth.”

  John searched her eyes for a sign of chaos, if the emotional turmoil had caused her to lose her hold on reality.

  She smiled and said, “John don’t look at me like that, you know I’m a very stable, sensible woman. He came to me; I know it was real.”

  John nodded and took her hand in his. “Is there anything I can do? Is there anything you need?”

  “Just remember him. He loved you like a brother.”

  John dropped his head and surprisingly, he was the one crying.

  They shared a cup of coffee together and toasted to Michael Johnson, the captain, friend, husband, and man he was throughout his life. It was time to go, and Sarah walked him to the door, hugged him again, and said goodbye. As John started down the walk to his truck, she called after him.

  “I almost forgot, he wanted me to tell you something.”

  John stopped, turned, and awaited her secret.

  “He said he is proud of you for letting go.”

  “What?”

  Sarah shrugged. “Letting go of someone’s throat. Also, he thanks you for Daniels… he never liked him.”

  ***

  Over a thousand people were present to pay their respects as Michael Johnson was laid to rest. The military gave a twenty-one-gun salute, thanking Michael for his service in the Gulf War. After the ceremonies, John stood by himself overlooking Captain Johnson’s grave when Ricky quietly walked up next to him. After a few moments, he broke the silence.

  “Is this all there is?” Ricky asked softly. “We end up here, earth and stone… we all go back to nature?”

  “There is no secret to life. It seems we all search for that magical elixir, that hidden meaning that the others who have lived before us missed that will make us immortal, at least spiritually, if not physically. Truth is, there is no magical finish line any of us will cross victoriously. We live, we die, and the world goes on until everyone we have ever known joins us and generations spin on and on and on.”

  The two partners, friends, stood overlooking the grave until all others had left. Finally, the pair turned and walked away together.

  The first call came at nine in the morning. John let it go to voicemail. In the proceeding days, a flood of calls followed, all looking for the same thing: an interview with the rapidly-becoming-famous hero, John Corbin. Every television station, radio station, and blog host within a twenty-five-mile radius wanted to nail John down for a time slot on their shows. John ducked them all. By the end of the afternoon, he had received over seventy-five messages. It was a full week since the incident in the Olympic forest, and John was planning on getting back to his restaurant full-time. Finally, a call came in from a number he recognized.

  “Hello,” John answered.

  “Well, how does it feel to be famous, partner?”

  “Hi Ricky, I wouldn’t call it famous because my phone is blowing up with propositions from a bunch of parasites.”

  “Oh, it’s more than that, KIRO-TV just aired a special on your story. They said, and I quote: “The bravery it took for Detective Corbin to offer himself up as bait in an attempt to save Captain Michael Johnson was legendarily heroic.”

  John grimaced. “Wonderful. I just want to be left alone, I’m no hero.”

  “Tell that to the masses, my friend. Hey, I miss ya, how about a drink tonight at the tavern?”

  “Sure, I have to go over some scheduling issues with Red anyway. Eight o’clock work?”

  “You got it, Dirty Harry.”

  “I’ll see you then.”

  Just as John put his phone in his pocket there was a knock on the door. Assuming it was the press, he walked over preparing his negative response to whatever they wanted him to do. He tugged the door open while putting on a stern, assertive face. Standing on his doorstep were three handsome men who all looked to be in their fifties, dressed in suits.

  “John Corbin?”

  “I am. Gentlemen, if this is about a media spot, I’m really not interested.”

  “No, John, we aren’t from the press,” the leader said with an amused look on his face. “We’re from the city council. I am City Manager, Barry Redding, and these are valued members of the council, James Moore, and Chris Tate. May we have a bit of your time?”

  “Sure, come in,” John replied.

  The four men walked into the dining room and sat around the table.

  “So, what’s this about, Barry?”

  “You’ve been approved as the predecessor of Captain Michael Johnson. Now, I know this will come as a shock and you’ve recently retired from the force, but we would very much like you to consider our offer.”

  John put his head back and ran his fingers through his hair.

  “Now, please do not make a decision now,” Barry said quickly. “Take some time to think about it and talk to your family. If you decide to accept, we’ll have a formal meeting to go over salary and benefits.” Barry stood and the other gentlemen followed suit. “It would be an honor to have you serve as captain,” James said. John followed them to the door to see them out.

  “How long do I have to decide?”

  “Take as long as you need.”

  “Thank you, gentlemen. Have a good day.”

  John watched them drive away with a slew of thoughts racing through his head.

  John walked into an incredible scene. Everyone in the place gave him a standing ovation as he made his way to the bar where Ricky and Red awaited him.

  “How does it feel to be famous?” Ricky asked as he sat down next to him. John noticed their three most loyal bar customers were even standing and clapping at the other end of the bar.

  After the applause died down, John answered Ricky’s question. “It doesn’t feel like anything. Michael is dead. I’m no hero… I failed and lost a lifelong friend.”

  “We both did. I hadn’t known him nearly as long as you, but I couldn’t have respected the man more in the time we did have together.”

  “That’s part of the deal. There is death around us all the time, and sometimes it really hits home. We give up the ability to smile as children do once we sign on.”

  “Smile as children?” Red said.

  “Yes, smile freely without reservation, before we learned no form of love is unconditional and the human race is selfish and evil most of the time, before innocence was trampled and destroyed, never to return.”

  “Speaking of evil, did you know that Daniels pushed to press assault and battery charges against you? The brass vetoed him and told him to shut his mouth. They probably even gave him a bonus to keep quiet. They also reduced my suspension to two weeks paid.”

  “I was assuming something would come of that. Why did they veto it?”

  Alan, a new bartender, placed shot-glass after shot-glass on the bar in front of him.

  “Fuck’s that?” John asked.

  “All the free drinks you have waiting. The whole place is buying for you tonight.”

  Ricky continued: “They wanted a feel-good story with a hero. You’d be a difficult hero to sell to the press and public if they knew you walked in and slugged your superior officer.”

  “Yeah, well, fuck him.”

  Ricky burst out in laughter, as John and Red followed suit. When the amusement settled John became more serious.

  “Listen, guys, I have something to tell you that may impact you both.”

  Ricky’s face became stoic and Red turned and waited to hear John’s secret.

  “They offered me Michael’s job.”

  “Captain? Of headquarters?”

  “Yes.”

  “What did you tell them?” Red asked.

  “I said I wanted to think about it. I wanted to talk to you guys and Julie before I make a decision.”

  “Well, I’m all for it, partner,” Ricky said immediately and turned to look at Re
d.

  “John, I know what your work means to you. You base your decision totally on that. We’ll figure this place out if we have to. I’m doing fine, and we could hire a floor manager to help out if need be.”

  “Thanks, guys.”

  John ordered a round for the bar from his collection of free drinks. When Alan returned, he informed the bartender to give what was left to Sean, Artie, and Matt. John watched as the expression on Sean’s face resembled a child on Christmas morning. He raised a glass in salute to his patrons.

  The calls kept coming along with a constant stream of visitors from the press knocking on the door, which John had ceased to answer. Finally, John made a call to a friend who worked as a travel agent and was able to book a week-long cruise for four leaving Seattle the following day. Julie’s parents agreed to stay in the house for a week to watch Simba. John, Julie, and the children said their goodbyes and headed for the Port of Seattle. They boarded the ship and just like that, were off on a week-long vacation, touring the coast of Northwest America, Canada, and Alaska.

  On the third day of the cruise, the ship was docked in the Port of Juneau, Alaska, for a twelve-hour visit. They observed Mendenhall, an immense, twelve-mile-long river of ice, then tried out a scenic ziplining course, and finally settled in for a seafood dinner at a famous local restaurant.

  “Dad, this is so awesome. I can’t believe you just decided to take us on a cruise!” Ryann said excitedly.

  “I really can’t either. Sometimes you just have to set caution to the wind and go on an adventure,” John replied as he gave Julie a warm smile.

  “Dad, did you see that girl I was talking to on the glacier tour? She lives in Tacoma. She told me to look her up on Facebook,” Ryann said as Gianna rolled her eyes.

  “Wait, when the heck did that happen?” John turned to Julie for an explanation.

  “It happened on the tour…”