Dead rail, p.5
Dead Rail, page 5
Ethan crouched near the body. The blood was still fresh. “Whoever did this left just before we got here.” He looked around the spacious living room. “They might have had another exit plan.”
Sam turned, scanning the penthouse. “Security cameras?”
Tony gestured toward a sleek home security system on the wall. “If the footage wasn’t wiped, we might get lucky.”
Ethan moved to the panel and pressed a few buttons. The screen blinked to life. A grainy feed appeared, showing the penthouse entryway. Ethan rewound the footage until the timestamp read just ten minutes earlier.
The screen flickered. Then, a dark figure appeared.
A Chinese man in a black jacket and gloves entered, moving with purpose. He held a gun, but he didn’t shoot right away. He confronted Henshaw—demanding something. Henshaw opened the safe, then the gunman motioned for him to sit back down.
Then the shot. Henshaw crumpled. The man moved to the safe, reached inside, grabbed some cash and a jewelry box, turned, and disappeared through a service door.
Sam leaned in. “Can you zoom in?”
Ethan adjusted the image, but the intruder had kept his face turned away from the camera. Still, something caught Ethan’s eye. A patch on the man’s jacket.
A railroad logo.
“Wait a second,” Ethan murmured. He knew that emblem. It was from the Holloway & Eastern Railroad, a short-line freight company that had been struggling financially for years.
Tony frowned. “Why would a guy tied to a real railroad steal cash and jewels and kill a guy? What does it have to do with a stolen model train?”
Sam’s eyes widened. “Because it’s not just a model. I think the cash and jewels were just snatched when the gunman saw whatever might be in the safe connected to the Hudson wasn’t there.”
Ethan nodded, his mind piecing it together. “Langford was involved in something else. Something valuable enough to kill for.”
Tony looked puzzled. “Drugs? Jewels? Documents? Gold?”
“Whatever it is, the Holloway & Eastern is the next clue,” Sam said.
Ethan stood, determination setting in. “Then that’s where we go.”
Monroe’s voice came over Tony’s phone. “Officers are en route. Don’t go anywhere.”
Ethan exchanged a glance with Sam and Tony.
They were absolutely not staying put.
The Hudson was still out there. And now, they had a lead. “Time to pay the railroad a visit,” Ethan said.
Sam nodded. “Let’s go find that train.”
Chapter 14: The Holloway & Eastern Connection
Ethan, Sam and Tony slipped out of the penthouse through the same service door the murderer used and found the service elevator, heading for the parking garage.
“Alright, fill me in,” Sam said as the elevator descended. “What do you know about the Holloway & Eastern?”
Ethan crossed his arms, his mind sorting through years of railroad knowledge. “It’s an old short-line freight operation that runs about seventy miles of track through some industrial areas outside the city. Used to be profitable back in the day, hauling goods to D.C., but in the last decade, business has dried up. They’ve barely been keeping the lights on.”
Sam frowned. “So why would a failing railroad be mixed up in this?”
Ethan’s jaw tightened. “That’s what we need to find out. But if Langford was using stolen locomotives and cash in freight cars as part of his operation, Holloway & Eastern might have been the ones moving the goods.”
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. They hurried to Tony’s sedan. He got behind the wheel, tapping at his GPS. “There’s a freight yard not far from here in Silver Spring. Belongs to Holloway & Eastern.” He looked at Ethan. “If this Hudson is still in play, my bet is that’s where it’s going.”
Ethan nodded. “Then let’s move.”
Tony pulled onto the street, speeding toward the outskirts of the city. The bright lights faded behind them, replaced by industrial warehouses, abandoned factories, and stretches of rusting rail lines.
Sam was scrolling through her phone. “This railroad’s got a history of shady dealings. A couple of years back, after they were bought by some Chinese company, they were investigated for tax fraud, and before that, there were rumors about stolen cargo shipments. Nothing ever stuck, though.”
Ethan said angrily, “Because someone was covering for them.”
Tony turned onto a cracked two-lane road, headlights cutting through the darkness. “We show up asking questions, we’re not gonna get a warm welcome.”
Ethan glanced out the window. In the distance, the faint glow of floodlights marked the Holloway & Eastern freight yard—a sprawling lot filled with aging locomotives, stacks of rusting containers, and a single warehouse.
Sam leaned forward. “So, what’s the play?”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “We go in quiet. Find that Hudson before it disappears again.”
Tony pulled off the road, parking behind an old, abandoned maintenance shed nestled in a stand of trees just outside the wire fence surrounding the rail yard. He cut the engine, and they sat in silence for a moment, taking in the scene.
The yard was active. Workers moved between the train cars, some carrying crates, others speaking in hushed tones. A few men, some of them Chinese, stood near the warehouse entrance, armed.
“Yeah, definitely not a normal freight operation,” said Sam.
Ethan checked his watch. “We don’t have much time. If they’re moving the Hudson, we need to find it now.”
Tony reached into the glove box and pulled out his police revolver and a small flashlight. “Then let’s do this.”
Ethan opened his door. “Stay low, stay quiet.”
As they slipped into the shadows of the freight yard, the weight of the mystery pressing down on them. They weren’t just chasing a stolen model train anymore.
They were about to uncover something much bigger.
And if they weren’t careful, they wouldn’t be leaving Holloway & Eastern at all.
Chapter 15: Into the Yard
Ethan, Sam, and Tony moved through the freight yard like shadows, weaving between rusting containers and stacks of wooden pallets. The air smelled of oil and damp metal, and the distant hum of a locomotive idling somewhere in the yard sent vibrations through the ground.
Ethan kept his voice low. “If the Hudson’s here, it’s either in that warehouse or already loaded onto a train.”
Sam scanned the area. “Too many guards at the front. We need another way in.”
Tony pointed toward a row of empty freight cars parked on a siding. “We can climb through one of those, get closer without being seen.”
Ethan nodded, and they moved quickly. He reached the nearest car and hoisted himself up. Sam followed, moving with quiet precision, and Tony brought up the rear.
Inside, the freight car was empty except for a few scattered wooden crates—not a likely place for the Hudson. Ethan crouched near the open doorway and peered out. The warehouse was just ahead, its massive sliding doors cracked open. A forklift rumbled past, carrying a small tarp-covered object sitting on some boxes.
Sam nudged Ethan. “Think that’s our Hudson?”
Ethan watched as the forklift operator maneuvered toward the open doors, where two men were waiting. One of them lifted the tarp for a brief second, revealing the gleam of brass beneath, still in its glass case.
His heart kicked into overdrive. “That’s it.”
“So now what?” asked Tony.
Ethan scanned the yard. The warehouse was well-guarded. No way to just walk in and grab it. They needed a distraction.
A low whistle sounded in the distance. A locomotive’s headlight appeared at the far end of the yard, slowly rolling toward the main track.
Ethan thought for a moment. “I’ve got an idea.”
Sam arched a brow. “I’m afraid to ask.”
Ethan moved to the edge of the freight car and pointed toward a nearby track switch. “If we throw that switch, that train’s gonna come right through this section of the yard. Cause some chaos.”
Tony grinned. “And while everyone’s scrambling, we grab the Hudson.”
Sam shook her head with a half-smile. “This is insane.” Ethan gripped the ladder. “Only if it doesn’t work.”
He climbed down, keeping low as he made his way toward the track switch. Tony and Sam stayed behind, watching for any movement.
Ethan reached the lever and crouched. It was stiff from rust, but it was unlocked. He put his weight into it and wrenched it over. The rail clanked into its new position.
Almost immediately, the approaching locomotive let out a loud blast of its horn—three short bursts. The engineer must’ve noticed the switch too late. The train wasn’t slowing down.
“Showtime,” Ethan muttered.
Inside the yard, workers turned toward the unexpected noise. Shouts erupted. Men scrambled to clear the tracks.
The two guards near the warehouse entrance turned and ran toward the commotion.
“Now or never,” Ethan said as he sprinted toward the warehouse. Sam and Tony were right behind him.
They slipped unnoticed behind the guards and in through the open doors, ducking behind a row of stacked crates. The Hudson sat just ahead, still strapped on the forklift which was now parked next to a small shipping container.
A single workman stood near it, his back to them as he watched the chaos outside.
Ethan moved first. One swift motion, and he grabbed the man from behind, pressing him against the crates. “Not a sound.”
The man froze, eyes wide. “Don’t hurt me,” he said, trembling.
Sam moved to the parked forklift, pushing off the tarp and running her hands over the Hudson’s glass case. “We need to move fast.”
Ethan released the man, shoving him to the ground. “Stay quiet, and you’ll walk out of here.”
The man nodded furiously.
Outside, the train’s brakes screeched as it finally ground to a halt, but the damage had been done. The yard was in chaos, men shouting, horns blaring.
Ethan glanced at Sam. “We’re really doing this.”
She grinned. “Let’s steal a train.”
Ethan’s instincts kicked in. "We’re grabbing the case and running." Sam shot him a quick look. “You sure?”
“Positive,” Ethan said, his gaze narrowing on the case that contained the Hudson. “We’ll move faster on foot.”
Tony kept lookout, glancing around as the sounds of chaos echoed from the yard. With Sam at his side, Ethan reached the case and lifted it off the forklift, tucking it under his arm and they began to move, their pace fast but careful. Out of the warehouse, they ducked behind a row of train cars, hearts pounding in their chests.
A distant shout reached them from the yard foreman. “Hey! What are you doing with that?!”
Ethan looked over his shoulder. There were more shouts as the Chinese guards joined the chase.
“Run,” Ethan urged.
They sprinted toward the exit from the yard, the sound of their footsteps thudding against the ground. Ethan spotted a nearby parked pickup truck. The logo on the side read "Holloway & Eastern Railroad."
“That’s our ride,” he said, jerking his head toward the truck. “Let’s take it to Tony’s car and get away from those guys chasing us on foot.”
Tony’s eyes flicked to it. “You think the keys are in it?”
“They better be,” Ethan grinned. “Because we’re not sticking around to ask.”
Tony reached the truck first. He yanked the door open and hopped inside, fumbling briefly with the key left in the ignition. With a triumphant click, the engine roared to life.
Ethan set the case on his lap, and Tony floored it. They tore through the yard, weaving between freight cars and workers who hadn’t yet realized what was happening.
The gate was still open, and in a matter of seconds, they were out, speeding down the main road, leaving the freight yard—and the chaos—behind them.
Seconds later, Tony stopped long enough for them to pile into his parked sedan and they abandoned the truck.
Sam looked back through the rear window as they pulled out. “They’ll be looking for us.”
Ethan’s mind raced, thinking ahead. “We need to get off the main road. Head to the woods. Lay low until we figure out our next move.”
Tony nodded, his grip tightening on the wheel. “Got it. Hang on.”
The sedan barreled forward, kicking up dust as the freight yard faded behind them. They were out, but they still had a long way to go.
And as the vehicle swerved down a winding back road, Ethan’s thoughts turned to the next step. The Hudson was in their hands now, but it wasn’t just a stolen locomotive—it was the key to a much larger operation.
One that was going to take a lot more work to crack.
Chapter 16: Time to Regroup
The car rattled along the uneven back road, the sounds of the engine filling the air as the trees on either side blurred into a greenish haze. Ethan sat in the passenger seat, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. Sam sat behind him, eyes darting occasionally to check the rear window.
Tony drove with determination, but the tension in the air was thick.
“We’ve got the Hudson,” Tony said after a long pause, his voice sharp. “But now what? We can't just walk into the convention hall with a stolen engine and simply say we found it.”
Ethan let out a breath. “The next move is going to be delicate. We need to figure out who the real buyers are and why they wanted this thing so bad. And what do the Chinese have to do with this whole affair.”
Sam glanced at him. “You think Langford was just the middleman?”
Ethan nodded. “It’s starting to look that way. Langford’s operation was part of something bigger—something tied to the Holloway & Eastern and the Chinese. This Hudson, as rare as it is, could be the key to whatever they’re moving. And that $25,000 in the freight car might have been a payoff.”
Sam shifted in her seat. “So we just lay low until we can figure out who’s running this show, then? Seems like the safest move.”
“For now,” Ethan replied, his eyes scanning the surroundings. “We need to think ahead. Whoever’s behind this isn’t going to stop. We’re not just after a stolen locomotive anymore. We’re after whoever’s pulling the strings.”
The car bounced over a pothole, jolting them for a moment. Tony slowed the vehicle, focusing on the narrow, winding road ahead.
“I may be a policeman but I’m not in the mood to get caught in the middle of a war between some shady railroad company and armed Chinese agents,” Tony muttered. “How about I call Monroe, bring her up to speed and ask for some backup before we make a move?”
Ethan considered this. “Maybe. But the fewer people who know about this, the better.” He paused, the wheels in his mind turning. “Monroe's good, but I don't want to involve her just yet. We don't know who else is involved.”
They were now in rural Maryland. They passed an old farmhouse, its lights dimmed. The area was becoming more isolated, less populated. Soon, they reached a small clearing where the road split, and Tony turned onto a dirt track leading to a secluded cabin that belonged to one of Ethan’s old friends, someone who could help them lay low.
“We stay here for the night,” Ethan said. “We’ll regroup, figure out our next steps.”
Tony pulled into a gravel driveway, and they climbed out, making sure to lock the car behind them. The cabin was modest, tucked away from the road and surrounded by trees. It was perfect for getting some rest while they planned their next move.
Using a key Ethan knew was hidden in a wooden planter, they entered the cabin. Inside, the small, cozy space smelled of pine and wood smoke. Although it was summer, it was cool inside so they started a fire, crackling in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the room. Ethan set the Hudson on the dining table, and Sam immediately headed toward the window, checking to see if they were being followed.
“Everything still looks clear,” she said, turning back.
Ethan nodded, but the unease in his chest wouldn’t go away. “We need to get our hands on any intel we can find about the Holloway & Eastern.” He turned to Tony. “You know anyone who works there, or someone who might have access to records?”
Tony scratched his chin. “I’ve got a few contacts. If you want to dig into their financials or employee records, I might be able to get you the names of some people who would be willing to talk.”
Ethan thought for a moment. “Start with the names. If we can’t get the records, we’ll talk to the people directly.” He looked at Sam. “You’re still with me on this, right?”
She smiled faintly. “You really think I’m going to let you do this alone? Besides this is going to make a great story!”
Ethan grinned back. “Good to know.”
Just then, Tony’s phone buzzed, and he quickly picked it up, scanning the message. “I texted Monroe and filled her in on what we’ve been up to. She’s not happy but says she’s sending a team to the yard. They’re gonna check security cameras and review footage. We need to move fast. The company’s certain to call it a theft, but then they’ll be looking for us.”
Ethan turned to Sam. “We need to keep one step ahead. Tomorrow, we hit them where it hurts—figure out what game Holloway & Eastern’s been playing. Then, we can make our next move.”
Sam nodded. “We’ve got this. Let’s get some sleep, then.”
Ethan sank into a chair by the fire, the crackle of the flames filling the silence. As much as he wanted to take a breath and let the events of the day catch up with him, he knew sleep wouldn’t come easy. They had the Hudson, but this was only the beginning.
The real fight was just about to start.
The cabin was quiet in the early morning light. Ethan sat by a small table, a cup of coffee in hand, staring at an open map. His mind was already racing through the next steps.
