The Siren of the Titanic

Chapter 12: Booze and a Plan (Barton)

It has been a week since Wiley and I were returned to land. A few days after being rescued by the cruise liner, the captain gave us one final salute before we were ushered onto a Navy vessel that carried us back to New York. The kid's older brother came to pick him up and bring him back home. Now here I was back in my own home in Bridgeport, Connecticut, thinking about my next move.

Scenes of men being skewered and screams flashed in my mind. I lost several good men that day, friends that once went to school with me, friends that I built a business with. I took a swig of the half-empty scotch that sat next to me.

"Damn that merman!" The bottle shattered against the wall. Once again my hair was in my face but instead of getting mad I finally let the grief catch me, letting a tear or two fall down my cheeks. I was interrupted by a phone call.

"What do you want?" I grumbled, more annoyed than anything else.

"I hope I wasn't interrupting sir, but I was wondering if you would like to come down here tomorrow. We were going to celebrate a party for my brother's promotion and I thought it might take your mind off of what happened." Wiley sounded way too annoyingly happy. But what did I have to lose?

"Will there be booze?" I whispered not even expecting him to hear me.

"Probably, both Dad and Danny like their alcohol. Sis and I don't drink though. But there will be plenty of food, so will you come, Captain?" His voice almost faltered but his happy demeanor held through.

"Where?" I grumbled, accepting the fact that I needed a break.

"Brick Township, New Jersey, I think you'll like it, sir." He exclaimed.

"Yeah, yeah kid, whatever." With a huff, I began to pack a few things.

I found myself outside a fairly nice two story home. The exterior was a light blue with white balconies on each floor which overlooked the Metedeconk River, whose waters weren't exactly blue. The kid walked up to me with a smile and a welcome, before introducing me to his family.

"First, this is my Dad, he was a Warrant Officer way back when." The older man looked me in the eyes, his stare was cold enough to make me shiver a bit, before gripping my hand.

"Thanks for protecting my son." He was definitely the type to get right to the point.

Next was his older brother Daniel who was promoted to Tech Sergeant in the Air Force. He has his father's black hair and deep brown eyes but didn't possess his cold demeanor, and smiled as he shook my hand.

Lastly was the little sister, Natalie, that Ethan mentioned often. She had long wavy red hair like Ethan but the brown eyes like her father. Much like her father she dead-eyed me before lifting her chin in defiance, but shook my hand politely, but she quickly pulled her hand away and wiped it on her jeans.

"Sorry about her. She is going to college to be a marine biologist, remember? We do kill the things she's trying to protect. She's mad at me for the same reason."

After a few hours of beer and stories, the kid pulled me off to the side.

"Sir there was another reason I asked you to come here." His eyed the floor. "This might sound crazy sir but," He paused taking a deep breath. "I think I saw a merman fight with that whale." I was surprised I thought I was the only one.

"No kid I saw him too. You're not crazy." I reassured patting him on the head. He sighed in relief. "That's why I'm changing our mission." His eyes shot to mine in confusion.

"What are you saying, sir?"

"I'm saying that I'm going to buy a new boat with my insurance and we are going to catch that fish."