Special Agent Anon: Chapter 2

>You check your watch for what must have been the hundredth time in the last hour.

>It read 10:45pm.

>Jeez, it's been about four hours already.

>This was, and always will be, the biggest downside of a stakeout.

>The plan was to wait for the dock to clear out most of or, hopefully, all merchants and ship crews.

>Of course you knew this wouldn't happen until much later into the night, and you wanted to be here early.

>The two of you would be able to count the Corgi's crew as they entered the bar for the evening. You'd then be able to estimate any stragglers left on the ship.

>You had warned Cuff about the boredom that would come from this, but he obliged to the tedious task.

>About two hours in, Cuff insisted of breaking for some food. You happily, and hungrily, agreed.

>He was content with a daisy and cucumber sandwich, but you had to be the picky bastard you were.

>You ended up scouring two more restaurants until you had a nice thick caprese sandwich.

>It wasn't meat, but it was damn good regardless.

>Once the sun had started setting, night time came quicker than either of you had expected.

>You and Cuff had set up behind a stack of crates off to the side of a bait shop several ships down from the Corgi.

>It gave the both of you a perfect point of view of the the trading vessel as well as the Barnacle.

>While you stayed ground level, Cuff had positioned himself on one of the taller crates. Once again, he had his binoculars

>You peaked your head out into the dock.

>Looks clear to you.

>You'll double check with Cuff.

"Hey, Cuff. How's the dock look from up there?"

>You are met with silence from up top the crate.

"Cuff?"

>You were going to raise your voice, until you hear it.

>The all too familiar sound of light snoring.

>Great. How long has he been asleep for?

>Instead of yelling, you bang on the crate the sleeping cop was perched on.

 

>He immediately shudders awake, overly dramatic in regaining his composure.

>"Gwah! Huh, wha?"

>He fumbles with his binoculars and brings them back up.

>You chuckle to yourself.

"I said how's it look from up there?"

>"Coast looks clear."

>Cuff tries to stifle a yawn, but you hear him.

"You alright?"

>"Yeah, I'm fine. Just dosed off for a second."

>You can't help but smirk. He reminds you of yourself on your first stakeout.

"And the bar?"

>"Packed. I can already see two dogs slumped outside."

"Alright, let's get closer to the ship and start this up."

>You step away from the crate as Cuff leaps down from it.

>He stretches his limb for a few seconds, and the two of you are off into the alleys once again.

>You and Cuff stop between two buildings, and pear out from the darkness.

>You look directly at the Corgi from the other side of the walkway.

>The ship should be empty.

>You look down to Cuff, who's rather fidgety.

"Okay. You stay here while I get onto the ship."

>You expected Cuff to be disappointed in being left behind. Instead, he kept his head up.

>"If you're going to find anything, the captain's cabin is on the deck under the wheel. Cargo should be in the hold."

"Got it. I shouldn't be too long."

>You're about to break cover in the alley when your partner calls back to you.

>"Hey, what if one of them makes it back to the ship?"

"Just keep them busy until I'm off it."

>"How do I do that?"

"Use your imagination."

>You check the boardwalk for any stragglers once more.

>Not a soul in sight.

>You begin making your way to the ship, keeping your focus on the bar down on the right.

>You can hear the commotion going on inside from here. Mostly drunken singing to a tune you don't recognize.

>Luckily, this world hasn't figured out electric lamp posts.

>The only light that illuminated you as you waltzed up the gang plank were some dim oil lamps.

>Wow, this ship was a lot bigger than you expected. It reminded you of something out of a Pirates movie.

 

>You make you way to Blackbone's cabin. The inside was pitch black, confirming the captain was out.

>Might as well try the door.

>You turn the handle.

>No dice. Of course it's locked.

>You look over to a window on the right.

>It's cracked open, probably to keep the cabin ventilated.

>You give it a nudge, and it slides open slightly.

>Another go and it's completely open.

>Giving the opening a once over, you know it's going to be a tight squeeze.

>You start arms first. Once you get past your shoulders, you flop right on through and ungracefully onto the wooden floor.

>Good thing the place was deserted.

>You pick yourself up and dust off your jacket and pants.

>Let's see, where to first?

>You pull out your phone and turn on the light, covering it half with your other hand to cut down on the flash.

>In the middle of the main room was a large table with nautical map covering it. Several instruments and smaller maps were strewn about as well.

>Behind it was a decorative desk with book cases flanking its sides.

>To your immediate right was a dining area with a table seated for one.

>That's no use. Better head for the desk.

>On your way, you take a quick look at the navigation charts on the table.

>You switch your phone to the camera and take a picture, the flash going off in the pitch black.

>It can be examined later for anything out of the ordinary.

>You move behind the desk and rest yourself in the cushioned leather chair.

>Pushing the implications of the upholstery you begin carefully examining everything on top of the desk.

>You snap a picture of any small papers, but the prize lied right in the middle.

>The cargo manifest.

>You open it up and begin flipping through each page, looking for today's date.

>Here we go.

>You skim through the items being moved.

>Hmm. This is depressing.

>There's plenty of goods being moved, but nothing illegal. No blast powder, no nothing.

>You mentally smack yourself.

>He's probably keeping it in a separate log.

 

>You start opening the side drawers in the desk.

>Most of them are junk.

>Actually everything is junk.

>The most interesting things in here was a supply list for the crew and one for the cook.

>You close the drawers, sighing in frustration.

>You catch a door on your left peripheral and shed some light on it.

>It was half opened, revealing what looked like a bed inside.

>Of course. Guy's gotta sleep somewhere.

>You open the door all the way.

>The room is small for a captain, but it serves its purpose.

>Along with the bed was an end table with a cold lamp on it.

>You go right for the top drawer in the table, and open it up.

>Inside is a leather bound folder cinched closed with some matching stripping.

>You undo the binding, revealing several parchment letters inside.

>Picking one of them out, you open the letter. It's dated today.

>It's short, sweet, and to the point.

Blackbone.

Two more will be waiting in the usual spot. Don't be late.

>No name of the sender.

>You check the other letters, all of them with the same format.

>Some indicate one more or less of whatever is being moved.

>You take a picture of each one before putting the letters back.

>The remaining items in the drawer are nothing stellar.

>You open the bottom drawer.

>Inside is a framed picture of... oh god!

>A black poodle in some sexy red lingerie.

>You almost drop the frame out of shock, but manage to place it down.

>You're not getting that out of your head any time soon.

>As you try to mentally wipe your short-term memory, you examine the bottom of the drawer.

>Strange, it seems shallower then the first one.

>You stick your phone inside, revealing a hole in the back bottom.

>You smirk.

>False bottom.

>You stick your finger into the hole and gentle lift the floor out.

>Jackpot!

>Inside the compartment sits a single log book.

>You open to the first page.

 

>It's all in here. All handwritten by the captain. Dates, amounts, even prices he's getting payed for.

>Most of the items are abbreviated, but you can make an educated guess on most of them.

>A for alcohol, W for weapons, and most importantly of all: BP for blast powder.

>You flip to the most recent entry, which is today.

>Next to BP is a number 8, and next to that is a 4000.

>So four thousand bits for eight units of powder.

>You're in the wrong line of work.

>You kid of course.

>The remaining items being smuggled share a similar pattern

>However, there's one item different at the bottom.

>A letter 'P' along with a number 2 were all that was there.

>No price.

>Hmm. Maybe the letters correlate with them.

>There was two of whatever in this book, and two of whatever in the letter.

>Maybe 'whatever' it was was in the cargo hold.

>Before you put the log back, you switch your phone to video.

>You position the phone right over the log and hit record.

>As the video records you start on today's date and flip all the way to the beginning, making sure to get a clear picture of each.

>Video frames can be examined later.

>You close the end table, and bring the bedroom door to its original position.

>The window was just as awkward leaving as much as it was entering.

>Now you're back on the deck, already heading to the stairs to the lower level.

>You start your way down the first level.

>From the staircase, you can spot bunks running down towards the bow.

>If the smell was anything to go by, the galley ran to your left to the stern.

>You continue your way down to the hold.

>It was almost total darkness down here save for the one lamp at the bottom of the stairs.

>Your phone's light flashes back on as you start your blind search.

>You're not exactly sure what you're looking for.

>Back on Earth, old-timey gunpowder came in either kegs or barrels.

>Guess you'll look for those.

>Easier said than done.

>It was so dark in here, your phone light was the only source.

 

>And you had to hurry, because that damn thing is sapping your battery.

>You spot what looks like a bunch of whiskey-sized barrels closer to the bow.

>You make your way through the mess of crates and sacks until you reach them.

>There's two double stacks and one by itself.

>The other three must be somewhere else. These will do for now.

>You move over to the lone barrel and inch your phone over it.

>Sealed. You'll have to break into it.

>You look around for anything to use.

>As you move your light around, you notice a pry bar on top of a crate.

>You pick it up the heavy piece of iron, and prop your phone so it faces the barrel.

>A firm grip and a quick swing was all it took to puncture the lid.

>The barrel reeks or sulfur and charcoal.

>Bingo.

>You run your hand through the course black powder.

>Almost forgetting, you snap a picture.

>There's one more thing you're going to do.

>Out of your inside pocket, you pull out a small glass bottle and cork.

>Pictures will be great, but bringing back actual evidence will be even better.

>You dip the bottle into the barrel until there's just enough space left to cork it.

>The bottle moves back into your jacket, you can call it a night.

>You smile at your fortune.

>Normally, getting this far getting anything done in your world would've taken weeks of navigating red tape and papers.

>You've only been here for one day and your a city stroll away from bagging another scumbag.

>Just as you're about to head back up and get out of this hell hole, you just catch a shuffling noise behind you.

>You whip your head around to spot anything.

>Nothing.

>Hm. Just your imagin-

*shuffle*

>Fuck. There it is again.

>Your move your phone frantically, trying to pinpoint the noise.

*shuffle*

>You finally know where it is.

>It's coming from behind the crate in front of you.

>You lean over the chest high crate to try to find the perpetrator.

>Nothing.

 

*shuffle*

>Wait. It's coming from inside the crate.

>You crouch down to examine it more closely.

>It was an unmarked pine box.

>A bar latch was all that held the side of the crate closed.

>Up on top of the crate were a series of holes.

>Air holes.

>What in the fuck was in this box?

>Well, you're going to find out.

>You undo the latch, and the door slowly creaks open.

>You bring your phone up to see what's-

>...

"Good god."

>As you stare at the crate's contents, you whole body freezes up.

>The light shakes violently in your hand.

>You let in a sharp breath, refusing to let out a single vapour from your lungs.

>Your heartbeat slowly pounds up into your brain as you begin to sweat bullets.

>The letter, the log. It all came together.

>Inside the crate were two ponies, a pegasus stallion and an earth mare, bound and gagged.

>And they were looking straight at you, total fear in their eyes.