All in the Family

The swaying of the houseboat in the wind, gently rocking
Rain washing over the windows and pounding the roof
Life on Lake Union always a breeze, no pun intended
The sound and motion slowly putting him to sleep
Allowing dark thoughts to enter his brain, a slow creep

Nightmares are inherent in this line of work
Homicide detectives see people on their worst day
Visions of women and children, the ultimate victims
Tossing and turning, night sweats and chills
Dark days on the job provide few if any thrills

Pounding, sounding like it is far away, a dream?
Again, on the door this time...for sure...maybe
Staggering through the rocking houseboat, to the door
His partner pushes inside, something about the phones
City wide, Seattle has no phone service or cellular he drones

White as a ghost, you realize something is wrong
Your dad is missing he says, blood all over the house
The lab is checking to see whose...a note was left for you
"If you want to see him again, come to the locks"
Ballard, the fisherman's community on the Sound, the docks

Hundreds of people you have put away...all of them hating you
Vowing revenge for taking their lives, their freedom
Something sticks in your head, but what? It is almost there...
Getting dressed, concentrating, trying to sober up...why did you drink?
Head pounding, heart racing, eyes throbbing, unable to think

Your partner and you are off the clock, this is personal
Parking a few blocks up the hill your partner works his way south
Whistling and wanting to be seen, you walk down the street
Keenly aware someone is watching you, from afar
As you approach the docks you spot a patrol car

Passing by without a care, you exhale and move on
Gun in your belt, one on your ankle, knife in your boot
Who would take your dad and why this way?
A flash, a vision, some clarity...the letter from the prison today
They released the first killer, the first psycho you put away

Walking the catwalk along the locks, no boats tonight
Out of the darkness a child appears, bag in hand
He walks to you and says, "take this mister" thrusting it at you
Looking inside you cringe and begin to cry, your dads face
Waves of sorrow and anger wash over you in this dark place

Arrest no longer on your mind, vengeance all that matters
Glimpses of times playing catch, cops and robbers, skinned knees
A laugh comes from the night, then another to your left
Reality setting in, wondering where your partner went to
Realizing that this sick bastard is here to kill you

Leg is on fire, a shot rings out, hitting the wet wood hard
Looking up you can see someone approaching, taking out your Glock
Blood flowing from the gunshot wound, scrambling for your life
Slipping off the safety, raising the gun to fire, a deafening click
Shooting again, striking your shoulder, you begin to feel sick

Looking down, smiling at you like the angel of death
Realizing your gun is empty, slide hung open in the rain
"How's your dad? Was his name Headley?" he asks
"I bet you are wondering how I emptied that clip?"
Glaring at him, blood pooling around your shoulder and hip

Suddenly your partner appears silhouetted in the street light
Firing, he hits you in the leg, shattering the femur, opening your thigh
Laughing in the night, you realize the resemblance, brothers...
"Sorry partner, blood is thicker than water"
Realizing you are in for a slaughter

Folding in half, screaming in pain, the shotguns kabloom loud and clear
Your partner is down for the count, unholstering your drop gun
Getting off a shot, striking the killer in the knee, the shotgun again
This wound ripping open the killer's dark, unholy chest
As your partner begins to move, you slip the gun under his vest

Another shot in the night, blood again on your hands
Who wields that damn shotgun? They saved your life
Crawling towards the shadow, they move to the light
Smiling, you are amazed to see a member of your family
Looking like Rambo tonight, your cadet sister, Emily