Free The Rig 3: Eye of the Hurricane by Steve Rollins Page B
Authors: Steve Rollins
went fast, but the structure around them seemed to be collapsing just as quickly. With every hundred yards they covered, they could feel the floor under their feet grow more unsteady. They felt they were now running up and down slopes, where there had been levels earlier.
And just as they reached the dock, the noise reached its highest peak, and suddenly the rig around them was no more.
Epilogue
Commander Lovell had tears in his eyes when he saw ‘The City’ collapse. Two of the pillars had been slowly falling apart for a while now and finally, they crumbled and gave way. The whole structure tilted and the strain was too much on the other pillars, which also shattered. The whole thing disappeared into the waves in a matter of seconds. He knew then there would be no use looking for the lifeboats. They would not have been launched.
He looked across the faces on the bridge of the USCGC Hurricane and saw the same sadness and disappointment there. There was only devastation on board. He ordered the USCGC Hurricane to be sailed closer to the wreckage, in the hope to find some people still escaping from the wreckage, but he had very little hope that would be the case.
They saw nobody at all. There was simply nobody. Maybe divers could be sent out when the storm was over to try and rescue the few possible survivors who managed to find a spot with air. But they could do nothing; that much was obvious.
“Sir?” A junior officer pointed at something large and orange that rose from the waves. It was a research sub. Immediately the order was given to sail up to them and to help.
***
Elly felt deflated. She felt cheated as she sat in Helen's living room. She was glad she had done it because of the peace of mind it gave Helen, but it had made precious little difference. Earlier in the day she had gone to her editor with the audio of Senator Jacobs's confession.
The man had laughed at her and fired her on the spot. He did not doubt it was all true, but, he said, they could not make anything like that public. Those men were powerful; Portis was even an important contributor to the network. It could not be made public and Elizabeth Boukhari was suddenly a liability to the station.
A journalist has to do what her bosses tell her. She had stepped over a mark with her investigation and approaching of Senator Jacobs. They could not trust her to do the work they wanted her to anymore, so she had to leave.
The editor kept a hold of the USB drive that contained the audio file when she demanded it back. As she reached for it, he dropped it to the ground and put a heavy boot heel on it. The file would never be heard again, he said.
He had not counted on Elly having copies of the file on other drives and on her computer. And the copy that was now being played on Helen's speakers. Between them, they did not know what they should do. Helen's first instinct was to go to the police, but she realized she could not count on them. The evidence was too thin to sue, and there was no authority to turn to.
Elly suddenly realized there was something to be done. There were some people who might be willing to give some money for this information, or give her another chance. She would attempt that. It was the only thing she could attempt. Her career was ended on the basis of her having done the work of a journalist. So she would try and make the truth pay another way.
***
Wes woke up in the hospital. He had no idea how he had gotten there. All he knew is that his chest hurt and that he could barely move. He tried to lift his left hand, but found someone was holding it. He looked over and saw Sheila Briggs there. She looked exhausted. She still had obviously showered and had been provided with some clothes, but she looked exhausted.
On the bed stand, he saw his phone and he picked it up. He looked at the date and shook his head. It was two days after the events on ‘The City’ and he must have been unconscious ever since
And just as they reached the dock, the noise reached its highest peak, and suddenly the rig around them was no more.
Epilogue
Commander Lovell had tears in his eyes when he saw ‘The City’ collapse. Two of the pillars had been slowly falling apart for a while now and finally, they crumbled and gave way. The whole structure tilted and the strain was too much on the other pillars, which also shattered. The whole thing disappeared into the waves in a matter of seconds. He knew then there would be no use looking for the lifeboats. They would not have been launched.
He looked across the faces on the bridge of the USCGC Hurricane and saw the same sadness and disappointment there. There was only devastation on board. He ordered the USCGC Hurricane to be sailed closer to the wreckage, in the hope to find some people still escaping from the wreckage, but he had very little hope that would be the case.
They saw nobody at all. There was simply nobody. Maybe divers could be sent out when the storm was over to try and rescue the few possible survivors who managed to find a spot with air. But they could do nothing; that much was obvious.
“Sir?” A junior officer pointed at something large and orange that rose from the waves. It was a research sub. Immediately the order was given to sail up to them and to help.
***
Elly felt deflated. She felt cheated as she sat in Helen's living room. She was glad she had done it because of the peace of mind it gave Helen, but it had made precious little difference. Earlier in the day she had gone to her editor with the audio of Senator Jacobs's confession.
The man had laughed at her and fired her on the spot. He did not doubt it was all true, but, he said, they could not make anything like that public. Those men were powerful; Portis was even an important contributor to the network. It could not be made public and Elizabeth Boukhari was suddenly a liability to the station.
A journalist has to do what her bosses tell her. She had stepped over a mark with her investigation and approaching of Senator Jacobs. They could not trust her to do the work they wanted her to anymore, so she had to leave.
The editor kept a hold of the USB drive that contained the audio file when she demanded it back. As she reached for it, he dropped it to the ground and put a heavy boot heel on it. The file would never be heard again, he said.
He had not counted on Elly having copies of the file on other drives and on her computer. And the copy that was now being played on Helen's speakers. Between them, they did not know what they should do. Helen's first instinct was to go to the police, but she realized she could not count on them. The evidence was too thin to sue, and there was no authority to turn to.
Elly suddenly realized there was something to be done. There were some people who might be willing to give some money for this information, or give her another chance. She would attempt that. It was the only thing she could attempt. Her career was ended on the basis of her having done the work of a journalist. So she would try and make the truth pay another way.
***
Wes woke up in the hospital. He had no idea how he had gotten there. All he knew is that his chest hurt and that he could barely move. He tried to lift his left hand, but found someone was holding it. He looked over and saw Sheila Briggs there. She looked exhausted. She still had obviously showered and had been provided with some clothes, but she looked exhausted.
On the bed stand, he saw his phone and he picked it up. He looked at the date and shook his head. It was two days after the events on ‘The City’ and he must have been unconscious ever since
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