Sea Sick: A Horror Novel

“My partner was shot to death a year before. She was trying to help a family against a bunch of yobs in the area. Kid called Frankie Walker shot her in a goddamn hospital while she was checking on one of his victims. When I got there she was lying up against the wall in a pool of blood. Her face had gone all grey, like it was made out of ash or something. She was a beautiful person and Frankie just snuffed her out like a cigarette. The only positive out of the whole thing was that he was dead on the scene too when I got there – shot by his own brother no less – but his gang was still on the streets, intimidating people and acting like they owned the place. I dealt with it.”


Donovan didn’t say anything. He just looked at Jack and shook his head sympathetically. It was the first time Jack had spoken about his actions outside of the force. To speak about such things freely would have sent him to prison. His superiors had found out what had happened from a not-yet-completely-dead witness at the scene, but they covered it up. Most of his colleagues who knew were just glad that a prolific street gang had been taken out of action. There was no sympathy for the victims. But the men and women Jack used to consider his friends were suddenly very afraid of him. He had become isolated and alone, and then, later, a loose-cannon that had nobody to remind him of the rules. The decision to protect Jack by covering up the crime – and keep the damning truth from the already police-hating public – had proved to be a mistake. Jack had only gone off the rails further and had become untouchable by the secret that he and his superiors kept.

“You must have loved her a lot,” said Donovan. “A man doesn’t feel that much rage unless he’s failed to protect the woman he loves.”

Jack nodded. The cowboy was astute. “We’d been together a while, but had been hiding it – had to really. We were saving enough money to get a house and then Laura was going to quit the force to have a child with me. I lost everything.”

“And someone had to pay?”

Jack nodded. “I don’t regret it.”

“Well, I don’t blame you, pardner. Seems that the world gets worse and worse each day. Bout time some good folks started fighting back. Still, how the hell did you get away with such a thing?”


Jack shrugged and sighed. “I didn’t. I got suspended from the force – under the guise of bereavement – having my partner killed and all – and they stuck me in therapy for six months. I started drinking far too much and stopped looking after myself in any way that a human being should. Eventually, after a couple years of watching me self-destruct they authorised the budget to send me on this cruise to try and relax and break out of the emotional tailspin I was in. I get the impression that it’s their final gesture of kindness before they finally discharge me. Tell you the truth, if things ever go back to normal, that’s just what I want. I can’t do that job anymore. I’ve seen how little justice there is in the world and I can’t be a part of it any longer.”

“I hear ya. Ain’t no place left that hasn’t witnessed the evil of man. Bad guys all over.”

Jack gave Donovan a surprised look. “Yeah, and you’re one of those bad guys.”

“What’s that now?”

“You’re delivering bribe money to a corrupt politician,” said Jack.

Donovan seemed to think about it. “Well...yeah…I guess now that you mention it, I am one of the bad guys. Maybe I’ll rethink things if this nonsense ever ends.”

Jack laughed heartily. “This nonsense? That’s one way to put it.”

Donovan swigged the last drop of the whisky and leant back in his chair with a satisfied grin on his face. “Hell, that’s the only way to describe it, far as I’m concerned. I’ve never known anything make less sense in my life.”

“You’re right,” said Jack, laughing. “This is all a big load of nonsense. I still need to get to the bottom of it, though.”

Donovan stood up, disappeared for a moment, and then returned with another bottle of bourbon. “You sure do, but there’s no need to rush, pardner. You came on this cruse to relax. So relax.”

Jack took another swig and did just that.



Day 215