Read Online Halfway to the Truth by Anthony Mays - Free Book Online

don’t you? I mean with the attitude and all. Well you’re going to need all that and more if you start snooping down at the docks. Those guys don’t talk to strangers but they sure would enjoy taunting a pretty woman. You know what? I don’t need your shit! See you around.”
    Reese thought she better check her impertinence quickly or she was going to lose the only lead she may have. It wouldn’t reflect very well on her if she had to tell Doug she blew it.
    “Scratch,” she said, grabbing at his arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m a little impulsive sometimes. Please don’t go! I’d like to hear what you have to say.”
    He stopped and took measure of her again.
    “Let’s have a seat over there,” said Reese, indicating a nearby bench seat. “I’d like to start this conversation all over.”
    He followed her lead and sat down. She sat next to him.
    “Why are you called Scratch?”
    He ran a hand over his head as if questioning himself why he used that name. “Don’t worry, it has nothing to do with my personal hygiene,” he replied, still sulking. “I like to doodle.”
    He saw the puzzled look on her face.
    “You know, doodle, like draw things on paper,” he motioned with his hands. “It helps me think. Nobody could ever see a picture that made sense to them, so they called them scratches. The name just sort of stuck after that.”
    “Are you from Savannah?” she asked trying to relax him.
    “Nah, I’m originally from Jacksonville, Florida. Came here about three years ago. I’m a welder by trade and got hired by Drakos Shipping to help fix those large metal containers you see stacked up in the rail yard and on those large container ships.”
    “Interesting,” said Reese. “Do you know what goes into those containers you build?”
    “Anything and everything,” he replied.
    “Anything unusual? Like, that would make you question, why are they doing that?” she asked.
    “That’s why I contacted your newspaper. Because there is something that’s been disturbing me lately. I think it’s been going on for a while, but I never paid much attention to it.”
    “And, that would be…?” she solicited.
    “Some of those containers have been getting special liners put inside them. I think they’re made of lead. I see them being moved to an area called the red zone. Now why would you have a red zone unless it contains something dangerous or secret? Anyway, even with my ID badge, I can’t get near that area. There’s only a select group of dockworkers who can access that location to load whatever it is they’re putting inside those containers.”
    “Any ideas how I can get more information?”
    “Just one, a man named Greenfield. He drives a fork lift. I see him down in that zone regularly. He doesn’t talk to anybody, but maybe he’ll talk to you. Be careful though, he looks a little squirrely. Either that or he’s scared all the time.”
    “Anything else you can think of that may help me?”
    “No, that’s about it. But if you should see me anywhere down there, act like you don’t know me.”
    “Thank you for your time Scratch,” she said, shaking his hand getting up to leave. “And again, I’m sorry I got so snippy with you.”
    “It’s all good,” he replied looking up at her. “Hope you can learn something. If I think of anything else, I’ll call you. Can I have a number?”
    She took out a pen and small pad of paper and wrote 555-4343. “You can leave a message. Do you need a lift anywhere?” she asked.
    “No thanks, I have a Harley around the corner. Think I’ll just sit here and enjoy the shade.
    “Here,” she said, and offered her pen and pad, “you might want to do some doodling while you’re sitting here. Nice to have met you.” She turned and walked away.

CHAPTER 10
     
    “Reese, how did your meeting go with our dear Mr. Scratch? And… here are a few photos I had one of our photographers take with a long-range lens,” he said,