Night Guard

In late 2002 I was on stand down orders from the Army, so I went back to work. I was a Major with a security company and had to go to a post that people kept either calling in sick or would just simply refuse to go to. I meet the Officer on duty and was informed of the post orders and given a tour of the grounds. This is a Foundry (Metal shop) located in East central Florida. While going through the tour with the Officer I observed that the buildings were very old and asked if there was any building that I should not enter at all. The Officer said he couldn't think of any.

We went through the employee break room and bathroom area which were in a modular building that looked almost new. There was an older radio that was playing some country music in the corner by a microwave. The Officer walked over turned it of and then unplugged it. I thought it strange but I didn't want to talk to this man anymore than I had to, so I didn't ask questions to why he did it. He then started just talking and telling me how it was where the original railroad station used to be back a 100 years or so ago, but they moved it to were it was now. The station is now a museum in this small town and was within sight of where we were standing.

The man told of some stories he had heard about murders, rapes and all other bad things had happened there. At all this being his supervisor I asked if he was scaring other officers away so he could get the over time? He looked at me insulted and started walking away into the closest building. Once inside he produces a small black pistol and a flash light but he wasn't facing me. I had my service revolver a Smith and Wesson model 19 chambered in. 357 magnum so I pushed my coat away and unsnapped the retention strap. I stood there thinking, "Holy crap this dude's flipped out..."

He turned around and said, "I don't think this will help but it makes me feel better..." All I could think to say is, I hope you have a permit for that thing. He laughed at me and stated, "Kid I don't even have bullets for this thing..." I figured it best to stop asking questions, because the answers weren't making much since anymore. We proceeded to walk through this huge building full of metal cutting tools and welding machines. In the center was a cleared walk space outlined with yellow florescent paint to mark the path. At the end of this building was a Security Office with a phone, radio and a desk with an old duck taped chair sitting behind it.

The Officer turned and asked me if I had planed to stay the whole night? I informed him that I was because his relief had called in sick tonight. He told me that he knew that girl (referring to the other officer) was scared out of her mind last night and he had to come in early and work a sixteen hour shift per the Colonel (my boss). It was a 12 hour post and I knew it was going to be a long night running on a couple hours of sleep the day before.

I let the Officer go home and walked the property one more time before I sat down and relaxed. I must not have noticed large this property was when I had walked it the first time, so laziness got the best of me so I went and got my jeep and drove it around the second time and just stopped in front of the building got out and walked through them. I returned to the office and called my wife and told her I was not going to be home that night and I would see her in the morning. I turned on the little radio in the office and sat down and started payroll for that week. It must have been really exciting stuff because I woke up about an hour and 45 minute later. It was dark now and I needed to make a round anyway, but first I had to take a leak. I went and got my jeep and drove down to the employee rest area unlocked the door and went in.

I was standing in front of the urinal when I heard somebody start singing, it was very faint but I heard it none the less. I got done with my bathroom break and entered the lunch room. The radio was playing so I went over and turned it off, I started walking out of the break area when it dawned on me that the Officer had turned it of and un-plugged it. So I returned to the radio and un-plugged it again. I went outside got in my jeep and drove around the grounds and checked every building twice; I thought someone had jumped the fence and was playing around. I just wondered if the person realized I was carrying hand cannon on my hip and a shotgun in my jeep.

I returned to the security office after my search didn't turn up anything and called the Colonel. I told him to keep his radio on because I might have someone on the property and may need backup. He said you know that place is haunted, don't you? I told him that the Officer had made some hints but didn't out right say it. I told him that I would not be calling him to come hold my hand, I'd call him when I knew for sure are had the person detained.

I continued to make my rounds in my jeep just in case. I went back by the break room to check the radio it was off and unplugged, cool. I then went to exit through the bathroom and I didn't even make it to the door when I heard singing. I have the only keys to the building so I must have locked the trespasser in the building. I drew my pistol and went back into the break room expecting to see some scared local kid or some crack head that got "lost" some how. When I entered the room not only was the door locked and there no where to hide, it was empty of life to. I walked over to the radio turned it of and unplugged it again picked it up and moved it to one of the tables across the room.

I went back outside got in my jeep and started driving downs the dirt path between the buildings. It was starting to rain (it is Florida it's either raining or about to). I was making my way back to the office when I decided to make another round by the break area. I pulled up to the building unlocked the door walked in and was rather pleased to see the radio where I left it. I locked the building back up and went back to my jeep. I started to drive the dirt path again it was raining pretty heavy at this time. I just started off when a kid (black male) in ragged clothes ran in front of my jeep. I slammed on my breaks and went to open the door when a man (big and white) in faded overalls ran the same path as the kid had. I exited the jeep grabbed a flashlight off the dash and took off after them.

At this time in my life I ran the 2 Mile in 13:02, we covered some ground when I finally drew my pistol and yelled stop or I'll shoot (I know it's corny but it's what I said). The kid kept running but the man turned and faced me. Clean cut. Built and full of rage. I drew the hammer on my revolver to single action to show I would shoot. I whipped some rain and sweat from my face with my hand holding the flash light. When I opened my eyes he was gone.

I walked his foot steps in the soft sand but they just stopped where he did. I went back to my jeep got my shotgun and tracked the footprints again from where I first saw him but it was the same out come, they just stopped.

I have more to this story but I summed up the bulk as best I could. I will post the rest latter.