Floating Lies and Sinking Truth - P1 COMPLETE

Chapter Sixteen - July 1980

Ray Reid knew the ship like the back of his hand. He knew every cupboard, locker and hiding place. He had a head start and he was confident that he could evade them...but for how long was the real question.

Ray sat on a box in a small dead space between the large refrigeration unit and the bulk head wall, listening to the sound of ships metal frame straining as the ship ploughed on through the ocean. The ship was so big and cumbersome that it bulldozed through the waves more than cutting efficiently through the ocean.

No doubt after Ray's violent outburst the Captain would have issued firearms to certain crew members. If he could overpower one of them he would be armed and a real force to be reckoned with. Then he would be able to wipe that smirk of Neil Farmer's face, if he survived their fight in the Brig. Ray hoped he wouldn't. It was true he didn't mean to kill Joe Smith but Neil Farmer he would gladly see buried at sea.

*

'What is the update John?' the Captain asked the Chief Engineer who had been put in charge of the search for Ray Reid. The search was slow as they had to be cautious as Ray was a dangerous man and it was clear from the tape recording of the interview in the Brig that he had killed once and tried to kill again. The Captain hoped that Neil and Eliot would pull through and the death toll would remain at one.

'No sign of him I'm afraid to report Captain. Ray Reid had sailed on this ship many many times so he probably knows it better than any of us.' John responded despondently.

'Aye your right John. Well keep looking, hopefully the pressure will start to tell on Ray and he'll surrender' the Captain said unconvincingly, he doubted Ray would come quietly now.

*

Ray heard two crewmen coming, they were talking loudly and he could hear them talking about him. They either weren't very clever or didn't want to risk startling Ray and ending up in a fight with him.

Ray peaked out from behind the refrigeration unit and could see the two, they were from the engineering team and Ray looked them over in the hope they might be armed but no luck. They had small clubs but no guns.

Ray felt a rumble in his stomach and hoped it wasn't loud enough for the two crewmen he was watching to hear. The one on the left paused and looked around but then shrugged his shoulders and they moved off.

How long could Ray keep this up? He couldn't out run them indefinitely as he would be exhausted. Maybe Trish would help him, get him food and hide him. For all his faults Ray realised that was a bad idea as it would make her an accomplice to his crimes. A nagging thought lodged in the back of his mind also made him wonder if she would help him or turn him in to the Captain. Ray sung the song by John Lennon called Starting Over in his head and dreamt of how life could be good again if only he could get away and disappear.

*

Trisha was released from the Brig but confined to her cabin. A crew member stood outside the door to keep her in and also keep Ray Reid out.

'Stand aside please' Jessica Clough asked the crewman guarding the door. Jessica was married to the Purser David Clough and that gave her some status on the ship, as a wife of an officer. That and her role as the ships Librarian made her a person well known to all the crew and Jess was friendly with everyone.

'Fraid not Jess, Captains orders' the crewman responded apologetically.

'Be a good lad now, I won't be trying to smuggle Trish out under my skirt will I?' Jess responded in jest and pointed down to the knee length skirt that was tight to her legs. Jessica was what might be described as voluptuous or to some curvy. At only just over 5ft tall she was relatively short. Her thick strong legs and large bust made her look even shorter.

The crewman smiled at Jessica in a mixture of friendliness and a leer and stood aside. 'Play nice or I'll have to come in and separate you' he said in a tone of hopeful mirth.

Jess smiled benignly at the crewman and went in and closed the door firmly behind her.

'Oh Jess, thanks for coming. What's going on?' Trisha said almost all at once.

'First of all are you ok Trish? Did Ray take a hand to you?' Jess asked with care and compassion.

'I'm fine. I heard Ray attacked some of the crew but no one would tell me who. Are they sure it was Ray...I mean I know he has a temper but he's not really dangerous.' Trisha responded and trailed off as she saw the suspect look on Jess's face.

'Eliot Black and Neil Farmer are both unconscious and it seems pretty clear it was Ray. He also attacked my Dave but he's ok now.' Jess responded calmly.

'Oh I'm so sorry Jess!' Trish responded and stood and paced frantically.

'Calm down Trish, I don't blame you and no one does. I'm sure the Captain has confined you to quarters for your own safety no other reason.' Jess responded.

'Oh I'm so confused and frightened Jess' she said as she slumped onto her bed.

'Do you know anything that might help them find Ray? He's gone missing on board and must be hiding somewhere. Do you have any idea where he might be?' Jess asked softly.

Trish looked at Jess but was too confused and stressed to focus. Jess rubbed her shoulder in a motherly way. Jess was 33 years old and only seven years older than Trish but Jess felt a motherly kindness toward Trish and her troubled marriage to Ray Reid who was well known as a brute.

'Ray is dangerous and I don't want him or anyone else getting hurt. I can't think of where he might hide, he wouldn't have told me things like that really. I want him to be caught but I don't want him getting hurt in the process. Maybe if I go with the search party I might be able to convince him to give himself up?' Trish offered with hope and confusion.

'Ok thanks Trish. I will mention that to Dave, it's a good idea but do you think Ray might hurt you?' Jess asked tentatively.

'Humm....yeah maybe.' Trish responded with fear in her face and tears in her eyes.

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