A Soul Redeemed

by Dakota Black

  The paper reports were only half finished and her attempt at putting the information into the computer had been half assed. She managed to get to several of the file folders, but the actual records she remained locked out of. That issue would be rectified in the morning. She continued to be worried about Roger’s condition as well as his mental state. The words, his fears seemed out of bounds. Hurt him? Who would want to do that?

  Almost an hour later, she gave up on the concept of sleep, at least for the time being. She hadn’t been this wired since her first night in the jungle. Creepy crawlies and beasts going bump in the night had taken getting used to. She had the same feelings here, only this time, the beasts were completely human. What if there was an unseemly secret being kept, men threatened if they told? “Get a grip, Nancy Drew,” she whispered as she sat up, gazing around the small cabin. She had everything she needed, but few aspects of pure comfort. And everything creaked. The time was almost two. Why was she still awake?

  Issuing an exhausted laugh, she moved toward her unpacked suitcase, finding a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. She searched until she found a flashlight and shoved her feet into her boots. She’d walk to burn off apprehension as well as energy.

  Closing the door with a soft click, she looked up and down the shadowed hallway. The LED lights lining the upper walls were dimmed, creating an ominous appearance after twenty feet. She moved toward the clinic, keeping the lights off after walking inside. She immediately headed toward the surgery room, flipping on the small light on the counter. The soft glow didn’t seem to bother him. She padded closer, gazing down at his face then checked the various instruments. Roger continued to rest comfortably, his vitals strong.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, she patted his arm. Almost immediately his eyes flew open. She held her breath seeing fear even in the shadowed light. “Hi there. You’re doing well.”

  “I…”

  “Don’t try and talk. You’ve been through a lot. You need your rest.”

  He shook his head slowly and lifted a single finger. “Pu… lease.”

  “You’re okay. You’re going to be just fine.” The moment he started to struggle, she pressed down on both arms. “Don’t. You’re going to rip out your IV.”

  Roger blinked several times, a single tear slipping out of the corner of his eye. He grabbed her hand, doing his best to pull her toward him. “Help… me…”

  Against her professional judgment, she leaned over, asking the question. “From whom?”

  He opened his mouth and breathed out, coughing then wincing. His grip tightened.

  “Roger, take it easy.”

  “They are…” He coughed again.

  She could see the same terror in his eyes, fear similar to what she’d seen twice in the jungle.

  “They’ll… kill me.”

  Veronica shivered but kept her cool. Leaning back, she had a terrible feeling she was being watched. “No, they won’t. You’re going to be fine. I’ll check on you. I promise.”

  The answer seemed to give him some level of comfort. He blinked several times before letting go of her hand. Another tear rolled down the side of his face. Seconds later, he closed his eyes, falling into a drug induced slumber.

  She took a step away from the cot and re-checked his vitals. His heart rate was strong but now somewhat erratic. On a hunch, she searched several drawers until she found a syringe. After checking the outer room, she drew another blood sample. This time, she was going to walk it through herself, even if she had to fly it off the rig.

  After an hour, she felt confident enough to leave him alone, even for a little while. She needed to walk this off, think about her next steps. Her footsteps silent, she checked the other rooms, ending with the glorified hospital room. The other men were sleeping, the soft sounds of snoring welcome. She thought about their hushed conversation, trying to put the pieces together. Clearly, the men were afraid.

  She moved out of the clinic, remaining concerned. Who would try and kill Roger? One of the other crew or one of the supervisors? What could he possibly know that could mean signing his death warrant?

  Swallowing, she zipped the jacket and moved toward the set of stairs. Once on deck, she blinked until her eyes were able to focus. The stars remained obscured, the moon peeking through a string of floating clouds, the air oppressive.

  Still, the sound of the waves splashing against the platform drew her toward the open. No one was out. Inhaling, the scent of sea water mixed with a hint of oil, perhaps remnants from the explosion. The breeze was brisk, creating goose bumps. She walked close enough to the edge she could see just how many stories above the water the platform had been built. Anyone tumbling overboard would be lost. The thought giving her the jitters, she started to walk, her thoughts remaining muddled.

  There were a few lights, both in off white and red, positioned in strategic areas and a beam of stronger light moving back and forth across the ocean’s surface. Within seconds, a calm washed over her, creating a moment of peace. She was much more relaxed, savoring the few minutes of time to herself. Her thoughts cleared to the point the bone-weary sensations screamed for rest. The exercise had been an excellent idea.

  Turning, she headed back in the direction of the cabins. She’d spend the rest of the night in the clinic, watching over him. For how long? His improvement could take days or even weeks. Maybe sending him off the rig was the best solution.

  Clank!

  The metal against metal noise gave her pause. While she expected various sounds coming from a platform that moved perpetually, what she heard came from a closed off area. She darted a glance over her shoulder and took two steps toward the bulk of the rig.

  Clang! Clink! Bang! Bang!

  She held her breath. The clanking reminded her of a wrench being slammed against another piece of steel or aluminum, complete with a hollow ringing. A slight howl from the wind catapulted the eerie sensations into a slice of raw fear. She had zero reason to be afraid on this rig. None. Then why was her mouth dry? Determined to find the source, she took cautious steps toward the direction of the noise, stopping only to flick on her flashlight for a few seconds. There was definitely another entrance leading to the quarters below.

  Bam! Bam! Bam!

  This time, the clanging noise continued for almost ten seconds. She took the opportunity to slide to the dark entrance. Very cautiously she opened the door, biting back a groan when the hinges creaked. The metal sound stopped. She peered inside, allowing her eyes to adjust. A few of the same dim LED lights were in the hallway, but she could swear the number was much less. She planted one foot on the step below and exhaled before going any further.

  Walking forward, she looked from side to side. The rooms were only numbered on the main hallway, no doubt sleeping quarters. Everything was quiet. Dead quiet. The closer she got to the end of the corridor, the darker the space seemed to become, as if she was going into the bowels of the rig. She came upon a fork and selected the left side, further away from her quarters. The area also had more light.

  There was nothing to indicate anything out of place. Perhaps the noise had been from below, normal rig sounds she was unaccustomed to. Still, hair remained standing on the back of her neck. Her gut was telling her something was off kilter. She took several additional steps, looking behind her every few seconds. The doors became further apart, now listing other locations. She passed a door leading to engineering, then mechanical.

  Wham!

  Jumping, she slapped her hand over her mouth. This time, the noise created a series of reverberations in the thin walls. The sound had to be coming from one of the cabins. Hugging the walls, she crept forward, remaining as quiet as possible.

  “Fuck you!” The man’s voice was gruff, full of rage.

  “Keep your fuckin’ voice down. Christ.” The second person was just as angry, a snarl following the exclamation.

  The voices had to have come from the door just up ahead. She moved to the other side of the hallway, inching closer
to the unidentified door. Controlling her breathing, she glanced into the darkness again before pressing her ear to the wall.

  “We’re running out of time. You know that. Damn this shit!” the first man said, the voice fading to a whisper.

  “This isn’t about time. We have our orders. Ain’t no asshole stopping this.”

  Wham!

  A slight moan pushed past her lips. She hunkered down and slid into the darkness, fearful she’d be discovered. Could these be the men Roger was afraid of?

  “Then you know what we have to do,” the first man stated, the tone menacing. “The little fucker talked.”

  “Yeah, but on my orders. You got that?”

  Veronica heard footsteps and retreated, backing away at first then turning in order to find a hiding spot. The clicking of the door meant whoever they were had left the cabin and were headed in her direction. She had a split second to make a choice. Race toward the stairs or move down the other hallway. Holding her breath, she felt along the metal walls until she found what had to be an alcove of some kind. She took a step back into the total darkness and ceased moving.

  The men weren’t conversing or making any sound other than the slight echo of their footsteps. Both seemed to stop along the split in the hallway.

  She could swear they’d heard her, were now searching for the cause. Whatever was going on, the two were reporting to someone else. Nash or another commanding position on or off the ship? What in the hell was going on? Fear slithered down her spine. Unable to tell what the hell they were doing, she waited, counting in her mind as the seconds ticked into minutes. Several beads of perspiration trickled down the sides of her face, yet she resisted wiping them. How long was she going to stay here? Until someone else found her lurking in the shadows?

  After craning her neck, she darted her head out of the alcove. Seeing no one, she eased further into the dim light and looked both ways. There was no one to be seen. Every footstep cautious, she moved toward the entrance.

  A darkened figure grabbed her arms, yanking her back into the shadows. Then a hand was slapped over her mouth.

  “Shh…”

  Struggling, she managed to elbow her attacker. Yelping, she took off, only to be grabbed around her waist and hoisted into the air, the same large hand covering and pressing against her mouth and nose.

  “Quiet,” he whispered into her ear.

  The voice wasn’t the same. This one was much deeper with a slight Texas twang. Whoever had her in his arms wasn’t going anywhere. Instead, he seemed to be waiting, as if making certain the other two crew members were well on their way.

  Veronica stopped struggling but the second she was released, she spun around, ready to attack. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  The man walked closer until he backed her against the wall. “I could ask you the same question.”

  “Taking a walk.” She couldn’t make out his features other than he was well over six feet tall, muscular and had shaggy hair. He seemed to be studying her, as if discerning whether she was trustworthy. What had she stumbled onto?

  “Listen to me and hear what I’m saying to you. Stay out of things that don’t concern you. You could very easily get hurt or worse. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  “Is that a threat?” She heard a slight chuckle and recoiled as he crowded her space.

  “A warning, good doctor. Nothing more. There are things occurring on this ship that shouldn’t concern you. Stay away.”

  She wanted to ask questions, to force him to talk to her but suddenly, he walked into the darkness leaving her very much alone. Or worse. The two words remained swimming in her mind. Who was the little fucker and more importantly, who could she trust?

  “The rosters will be changed within thirty-six hours. Some of you will be going home. Ten days,” Nash said as he looked at every crew member.

  “Yes!”

  “Awesome.”

  “About damn time.”

  The collective statements from the men were met with high fives and a few whistles. Tank, on the other hand, continued to have a scowl on his face. Nash had spent a better part of the night going through the computer, yet his access had remained restricted, like that of the doctor. There was another controlling factor on this rig.

  “There are going to be a few additional changes. I want everyone on this rig to sign in and out every shift. Period. I need to know where you are.” Nash knew this wouldn’t go over well, but flushing out any perpetrators would be easier. He noticed the good doctor standing in the background. Watching. Perhaps waiting.

  “My men know what they’re doing,” Tank said brusquely.

  “That remains to be seen,” Nash shot back. “With any luck, we’re going to have new blood on the rig within a few days. In the meantime, there will be a labor shortage. Keep that in mind. Do not cut safety on any level. If I find out you do, you’re gone. Let’s get the rig cleaned up and pumping oil to full capacity. I trust that can happen?” He narrowed his eyes as the engineers remained silent. “Gentlemen?”

  “We’ll make that happen,” one of the men finally said.

  “Good. I’ll be making rounds later this morning, but I’ll be in my quarters if you need me.” Nash turned on his heel and walked toward the cabins, stopping briefly in front of the doctor. She’d been studying him, her face pensive. She stood with her arms crossed. Even in her cargo shorts and t shirt, the woman carried an air about her, a self-assured stance. And goddamn if he didn’t remain attracted. “You’ll have your computer access later today. I’ve run into some glitches.”

  “Glitches?” Veronica asked. Gone was her enthusiasm from the day before.

  “Nothing I can’t handle.” When she nodded and remained silent, he tilted his head. “I got your list of medical supplies. They’ll be coming on the next transport in. Is there anything else you need?”

  She shook her head. “I may need another nurse, depending on the conditions.”

  He studied her face, the way her lower lip was quivering. “Hopefully the situation will improve. I’m working very hard to make certain we curtail any additional issues.”

  “Issues? You mean catastrophes?” She inched even closer until their hands were almost touching.

  The electricity sparked between them, creating a wave of heat filtering down the length of his body. Surprised, he breathed in. There was no doubt given the spark in her eyes that she was experiencing the same effect. He took a step back, breaking the connection. He also noticed she was guarded in her response. “I’m working on it.”

  “I’m certain you are.”

  The awkwardness remained, yet she wasn’t as angry.

  Nash looked toward the brightening sun. “I’d like to come by the clinic later today, check on the patients.” He didn’t need to see her face to know she was caught off guard.

  “I think the men would like that. It would also be a very good idea. Excellent in fact.”

  “I’ll expect to see you later.” She needed him to come to the clinic. He was growing more curious by the minute.

  “Yes, sir.”

  For the first time since arriving, he chuckled. The woman had a distinct way about her that would keep him on his toes.

  Nash remained in his quarters for almost two hours, poring over what reports he’d been able to glean off the computer as well as those presented by various departments. He had a meeting with engineering then the list of required equipment would be sent off to Rush. Tank’s words remained fresh in his mind, troubling enough that he’d slept little. While every report he’d read seemed as if the rig was running as required, the numbers were almost too predictable. If every aspect had been followed, all the safety measures, even with supposed faulty equipment, the production would have only been down by ten perfect, fifteen tops.

  He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. The employee files were as he’d expected. Useless. A few men had been disciplined during the last few months, but nothing stuck out as reasons for w
anting to destroy the rig. The information was just enough and what was required by law, but Mr. Parker certainly didn’t take time to add notes, or reviews for that matter. Everything was a basic dead end.

  Without any corroborating information, there were no indications of wrong doing. However, Tank knew. He’d bet his life on the concept. Tank was tough to read, but no doubt a catalyst to at least some of the shadowed activities. Taking a chance, he grabbed his phone and headed for the deck. The communications system on board was supposedly secure, however he wasn’t going to take any chances.

  Walking past several of the crew, he observed that everything seemed to be in working order. He headed to a remote section on deck and dialed Camden’s number.

  “Nash. I was expecting your call. What are the conditions?” Camden asked, answering on the second ring.

  “Guarded. I will have a full list of equipment needed by the end of the day. Some medical supplies were already emailed.” At this point, Nash would keep the responses short.

  “I got the email. You’re making progress. Have you come to any conclusions?”

  “Not at this time. All the reports have yet to come in.”

  “Why do I sense a hesitation in your voice?” Camden’s tone seemed much different than when Nash was at the corporate headquarters.

  “Tell me about Brian Williams.” Nash caught the deep breath, the hesitation.

  “Why do you ask?”

  Snorting, Nash glanced up at the communication’s tower. The sun was just peeking out, but he could tell one of the men was watching the deck. “Because he’s holding back information. I need to know who I’m dealing with.”

  “Tank Williams is a hard worker. I’ve heard of no issues with him.”

  There was another ‘but’ in the conversation. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Look, I’ve known him for years, or at least I knew him.”

  “Meaning?”