Murder On The Point

This is the first of the “What If” stories I’m writing. These stories are truly based on life events of myself and my friends. They are of course embellished and all names and some places have been changed to protect those who need protecting. When I look back on life events I often wonder what it would have been like “IF” I had done something differently.

It was a warm sunny Saturday, with almost no clouds in the sky. Happy to be off work I was ready to enjoy the weekend in the morning I went on a bike ride and hiked a short trail by the river. Afterward, I went home and jumped into the shower to clean off the dirt and smell of the day’s activities.

It was a fun and active day by most people’s standards. However, daytime was over and now I was looking forward to hanging with my friends and having a few drinks this evening.
My hair was slicked back I finished getting dressed in my finest black and white 3-button Fred Perry short sleeve polo shirt, buttoned up. Levi’s jeans with the mandatory chain wallet and had on my favorite shoes, black leather, and blue suede Creepers.
A typical Saturday night was driving around with my friends and hitting all our favorite places in the city. Which ended up being a few clubs and places known to let underage kids drink (which I was).
I drove from my parent’s place over to Jay’s apartment near White Marsh Mall in the county. I was going to spend the night there anyway. I usually spent Friday after work to Sunday evening at his place.

The Ride

Once Nick arrived we all drank a beer and hopped into Jay’s black Jeep Wrangler. It was a manual transmission, he was driving and the top was down. Nick called “shotgun” so I had to hop in the back seat. These Jeeps are so noisy with the top down, I had lean forward with my arms stretched out around both front seats to hear anything.

We were listening to the Paul’s Boutique album by the Beastie Boys. It was 1990 and this cd had been out for about 6 months. It was super loud, well actually it was only as loud as a factory Wrangler stereo would go. Which isn’t too loud because we were singing along and laughing, I know we were louder than the radio and with the top down.

We drove to downtown Baltimore and area called Fell’s Point. It’s a bar area with about 45+ bars all in walking distance from wherever you can find a place to park. Once parked you’re good for the night. This area is right on the Baltimore Harbor and used to be surrounded by warehouses and shipping docks. There’s still an operational farm/food market that’s from the 1800s.

Cash was tight and we didn’t want to pay for parking, so we parked about 5 blocks from the bar area. It’s a section that’s literally right on the edge of the water and there’s an abandoned warehouse right next to us that was fenced off. Sometimes you can see the homeless and junkies standing around a fire barrel trying to keep warm when it’s colder out. Then again sometimes they just lite the whole damn building on fire too. Don’t laugh, I’m serious, it gets crazy in Baltimore.

Tonight I could see the flickering shadows of a fire on the side of that old building behind the fence. You could also hear in the distance the raspy voices of men in the same direction as the fire.

The Bar

The bar area had always been a bar area since the 1800s so, they’re some places really old and show their age as well as some that have renovated. We’re at one of our favorite stops, Wee Peter’s Pub, 706 S. Broadway. Pete’s is owned by Pete himself, a short stout Irishman that retired from Bell Atlantic the local phone company.

We stayed there for the next 4 hours drinking Irish car bombs, and some other beer that I can’t remember, the night began to get fuzzy… Wee Pete’s has been a “home base” of sorts to us amongst all the bars. He seemed to always keep an eye on us and we did the same for him.

He mostly worked alone and if the wrong sorts of people decided to see what ol’ Wee Pete’s was about they tend to pick on the place since it wasn’t all updated like the other fancy club type bars in the area.
Things were simple here at Pete’s, we came to drink, talk and be with friends. He and we, liked it that way.

Most of the bars are quite narrow in width. Just image very slim rowhomes. The reason for this is back when they were originally built in the 1800’s they were taxed on the width or street frontage. So, all these old places are really narrow. This reminds me of a small original section of Philadelphia called Alfreth’s Alley, they used to do the same thing there. Still standing and the narrowest in the country, built in the 1770’s is a neat place to visit.

Anyway, Wee Pete’s in Baltimore is one of these narrow establishments at about 15’ wide. It’s located right off the main drag, South Broadway. When you walk through the front door immediately to the right is the bar. It’s only about 20’ long and butts right up against the front window.

On the left side when you walk in there’s an equally long shelf bar about 12’ deep, just wide enough to set a purse, coat or a drink. Tonight along this narrow side was a group of 6 or so baseball players or fans. It’s normal, the stadium on only a few blocks away. About halfway down on the left side past the ball player is an English style phonebooth and past that at the end is a Jukebox filled with Ska, Punk, Rockabilly and some classic 60’ & 70’s music.

Moving further inside, past the bar on the right and jukebox on the left is a coin-operated pool table in the middle. It was the widest area in the building. High on the left wall centered with the pool table is a 9’ long shark with its mouth opened. The largest benefit I could find is from that big shark mouth being opened is that when it’s your turn make shot you could reach up and place your cigarette between the teeth in the shark’s mouth.

It was the coolest thing ever and we always used it.

Just past the pool table was a foosball table. It worked sometimes and sometimes it didn’t. Well, actually I’m talking about the light over the table. You could only play when the light worked it was a dark pub even with the lights working.

The open space narrowed from past the foosball table, now a hallway. First door on the right was the men’s room and the 2nd was the ladies room. Have you ever seen the movie Trainspotting? Well, let me tell you, the worst toilet in Scotland ain’t got nothing on this men’s room at Wee Pete’s. It’s absolutely freaking terrible and smelly. But hey, it beats peeing outside.

If a group was at the bar and one of them had too much to drink and couldn’t stand on their own, aka passing out. They would often be escorted to the foosball table to sleep it off. It never happened to me, but I’ve carried a friend or two back to that foosball table. The idea which Pete fully supported was that just because a friend overdid it and couldn’t stand up didn’t mean your night out was cut short.

Past the bathrooms, it widened out again to a small kitchen and storage area. There were also a set of steps to the 2nd and 3rd floors.

That’s enough description of the bar, it’s as real as I remember it.

Closing Time

We were laughing and had a great time. The last call came around way too fast. Look at that it’s 2:00 am already. We’d help old Pete close the place down and get the patrons moving out the door so he could lock up and go to bed. That’s exactly what we did this night.

Then, I had to run to the bathroom in the back and pee, I’d already broken my seal a few hours earlier. Seems like I have to pee all the time.

After everyone left Pete, Nick, Jay and I all had a shot of whiskey together before we hit the road. I think Pete really did like us, we always show him and his pub respect, unlike some of the clientele. “That’s a wrap,” Pete said, and we all thanked him for the shot on the house and walked out the front door.

Walking Back

We walked about 2 blocks south on Broadway till it dead ends on Thames St. The street was becoming crowded as it was about 2:20 am and what happens in Fells Point is that when the bars call “last call” everyone goes outside and hangs out for another hour or sometimes more. The late-night pizza and sandwich shops love this time. All the drunks need to sober up quickly (or think they can) by eating a slice of pizza or drinking 3 sodas and a coffee.

You can do some good old-fashioned people watching around this place after the last call. Fells Point brings all types. Where South Broadway meets Thames St there’s a park area (not grass mind you) with open space covered with brick pavers, a water fountain, and several seating areas all about 30′ from the dockside.

We didn’t stay around long, continuing our walk to Jay’s Jeep we made a right onto Thames St and kept walking a few blocks. Nick kept talking about all the things that happened earlier and about this girl he saw. I think he got her number too.

As we walked up to the Jeep I was thinking about our half hour ride home and knew I was going to have to pee again. So I decided to do it now and now have to stop on the way back to Jay’s place. There were too many cars driving past us and people around walking to do it right at the Jeep.

When Nature Calls

My bladder is quite shy and I figured the safest place to go pee was through the break in the fence back by the abandoned warehouse on the waterfront. I could still see the flickering of the fire but not any voices.

As I was walking I could still hear lots of people walking along the cobblestone streets and the sounds of cars honking their horns. All this made my shy bladder shyer so I walked further and before I knew it I was now at the back side of the building facing the water. There were a few trees that were probably just overgrown weeds, and should have been pulled 10 years ago. Now they were almost as tall as the second floor.

I remember hearing water splashing the pilings, and a tugboat blowing its fog horn in the distance. As I looked out over the water’s edge I could not really see much because the fog was already rolling in quickly. This was as good a place as any, to pee. Not another person was around and almost all the noise was far in the distance.

I was close to the edge of the building, about 4 feet away from the wall and the weeds were about 3 feet high. I used my foot to knock down some of them so I can a small open area. I turned sideways and unzipped my Levi’s and began to pee. Ahhh the relief was absolutely amazing. As I was about to finish I began to hear people talking, and footsteps, the footsteps were on what sounded to be wooden planks. It sounded like it was above me. As the footsteps came closer the voices became more clear.

Voices From Above

Oh my gosh, not only were these people inside the building they were on the second or third of what looked like 4 floors. I could now hear much clearer as they must have been standing by the edge of what used to be a covered porch area, most of it was rotted away. At least what I could see from the bottom looking up.

“I’m not playing around anymore Mickey,” said the rough raspy voice of an older man. Then I could hear a much younger but afraid voice “I’m sorry man, I just need a little more time. Things didn’t go as planned”. “They never do, Mick, that’s why I told you last time to make sure no one sees you when you’re moving the people.”

Oh my god! I stopped peeing and almost zipped my junk up in the zipper. I’m being as still as possible and feel it’s nowhere near enough. I can barely breathe, worried that these guys are going to hear me. All I wanted to do was pee and go home, but no… I had to have a shy bladder and walk into the middle of some criminal meetup.

Never fails. I’m now moving closer to the wall and somewhat covered by the overgrown weed tree. As I look up I can see one of them out on the porch area with his back to the water, can’t get a look of the other guy. Seems like time is standing still but it’s only been a few seconds.

The younger guy Mick says “Hey, I want to make it right, you know I’m good for it. This is all I have man.” the raspy voice guy says “You’ve put me in a position where I have no choice but to make some changes to bring things back into order.” Mick say “I’ll do whatever, just tell me.” Again, the raspy voice man begins to talk “You know what the tough thing is Mick? I gotta figure out what to tell your sister”. Then I heard it, “Bang, Bang, Bang”. Three shots rang out in what seemed like only 1 second. I looked up just as the body of Mick fell backward over the rail. I watched the body do a full rotation in the air before it thumped onto the ground.

I actually felt the ground shake when the body made contact with the dirt. All I could think of is why didn’t I pee next to the car on the sidewalk like normal people. Ugh. No, I have to walk and go witness a murder. I was incredibly still and in shock, my body was so tense from the adrenaline that I could feel my joints just lock up and I began to shake. As this was happening in slowly looked up and saw the raspy-voiced man, he was wearing a baseball jacket and cap. I was thinking to myself was this guy from Pete’s place earlier tonight? He slowly walked out to the edge. He looked down at the body and then stared at the water. He didn’t make a sound.

I’m already thinking about which direction would be the fasted way back to my ride. From where I was at it I’d go straight 30′ and then turn left, I’d complete the circle around the warehouse. As I was looking up I could see him do something that only baseball players do and he did it fast. He wound up so fast like a pitcher and throw something. when it left his hand it glistened off the nearby lights.

I could see it fly through the air. I know it was the gun, I could see it clearly. oh my god, he throws away the weapon and the evidence into the water. “Plump” I heard it hit the black-as-night water and just like that it was gone. The gun now cushioned by the water was now sinking slowly down, down to the bottom of this terrible harbor water. This particular section was at least 30′ deep as they still dredge this area out.

The Get-Away

All the sudden I heard screaming, “Hey, You! Hey! What are you doing! You shot my brother in law! You killed Mickey you SOB! I’m gonna get you for this!” from the raspy voice man.

Now, I’m really scared, this murderer is calling me a killer, what the heck! Run, man run. That’s what I told myself. This guy is on the third floor and it’s going to take him more than a minute to get down to the outside and you could be at the Jeep by then.

I’m running as fast as I can, now I’m around the first and only corner, it’s a straight shot to the break in the fence. Still running fast and breathing faster, thinking to myself, “You got this! You’re almost out of there”. “Clang, smash and clang again”, “Ouch! what the hell was that!” I tripped into a pile of sheet metal slicing my hand and ripping my pants and smashed my knees. I’m cut wide open. I’ve got blood all over my hands and I hear the raspy-voiced guy again, “I see you punk! You’re not going anywhere, kid! I know what you did!” So, I’m bloody, limping and both hands throbbing with pain, somehow manage to get up and keep running to the Jeep. I stayed as focused as a cat chasing a mouse, but I was the mouse.

I can almost see the Jeep through the fence. Oh my god, they better be there waiting for me and the car running. “Hey, stop!, Stop that guy!” is all I can hear from behind me from the raspy-voiced killer. I’m still running and running like the devils chasing me. Now I’m the one screaming “Jay, Start the car, start the car, Jay… Back it up, We gotta go now!!!” Nick and Jay know me well and they knew not to screw around. If I’m yelling like this they knew not only to listen but re ready for anything.

I ran up to the break in the fence and as slipped through like some kind of wild animal. It was quick. Of course, that came at a price and I snagged my shirt, leaving a nice piece of material behind. Great, the tops down and I can just run from behind and superman style jump in. Of course, it looked nothing like Superman and I almost smashed my head into the rollbar. The whole time I was in the air I was yelling “Move it, let’s go! let’s go!” Jay, had his head turned around watching me and was revving the Jeep engine. Soon as I was in, he popped the clutch and floored it, we leaped forward like a rocket and continued tearing off towards Broadway, it’s the direction we were facing.

They’re asking what’s wrong? Somewhat safe now but severely shaken almost in shock. All I can say is “Please get me the heck outta here, fast”.

With only a short distance between us and the killer I shouldn’t have turned and looked but I did anyway.
The raspy-voiced man standing on the sidewalk outside of the opening in the fence. His eyes immediately met mine like he was waiting for it, smiling and holding that snagged piece of material off my shirt. He’s smiling in the psycho way one might expect from a killer, his head was slightly tilted to the side and he’s holding in his right hand clasped between his thumb and index finger the torn piece of material from my shirt and his left is in a fist with his index finger straight up waving it back and forth as to say “No-No, this isn’t over kid”.

I could clearly see this was one of the guys at Wee Pete’s bar tonight, I’m sure he knows I was there too.
Thankfully, the cuts on my hands and knees weren’t bad enough to need immediate help.

I spent the next several hours explaining in detail to my friends the events that happened once I slipped through that fence.

The next day I did, however, visit the doctors for a tetanus shot. Told the Doc’ I was roughhousing with some friends at an old barn. He’s laughed and said be more careful next time.

I said, “Doc, you have no idea”!

~end~

What If…

I ran right to the cops
I had a gun and shot back
I let him come down to talk to me
I pee’d by the car and just heard the shots