"I think it would be better if we stayed back in the dark in case they try something funny. This way we'll be out of range. Why don't you let the desk clerk go and you could go find Carrie so we can hurry up and make our demands."
"Good idea Stretch. I'm ready to get out of this black hole anyway. Take off girlie."
He slapped Paula on the rear and cackled like a rooster. "Don't trip on the way up the ramp."
Paula looked back at Steve with a thank-you for saving my life look and hurried toward the ramp. Steve breathed a sigh of relief as he saw her legs disappear up the ramp and whispered to Kathy. "In a minute we can be right behind her."
Frankie started walking in the direction, he had last seen Carrie when his feet went out from under him. The torrent of water that came rushing in was knee high and had the force of a small tidal wave. Steve lost his grip on the revolver when he got knocked over and he turned to look at Kathy but she had already disappeared from sight. He started sloshing around in the quickly moving water trying to locate her when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"It's me, Tyrone. Just when you had him fooled this had to happen. Did you lose Kathy?"
Tyrone had been watching the scenario play out from the shadow of a large beam that had fallen from the roof and he managed to maintain his balance when the water hit. He immediately headed for Steve and Kathy when he realized what happened. He lost track of them in the darkness but somehow managed to luckily bump into Steve and not Frankie.
"Yeah Tyrone. She was just here a minute ago. I don't know how I could have lost her so fast. I'm really glad you are here but, we have to find her before the water gets any deeper. I can't possibly lose her now. She is my future. Maybe that was a dumb idea trying to rescue that desk clerk anyway. He probably would have let her loose pretty soon."
"You know as well as I do Steve that the maniac would have probably killed her. You saved her life and you know it. We'll find Kathy. Don't worry."
Steve and Tyrone started wading in the direction of the water flow and to their horror they saw the level was climbing quite rapidly.
June 14, Saturday 3:06 p.m.
Outside the corporate office.
The closest fireman to Bill Forham and Kevin Backlin handed them both paper cups filled with ice water. He had a five-gallon yellow and white water cooler next to him on the ground and a cardboard container filled with cups.
"I figured you men could use a nice cold drink after being in that hole for a while."
"Yes. Thank you very much." Both men echoed in unison.
"Have you heard what's happening at the other end of the hole? Are the people that got out still okay?" Asked Kevin with deep concern in his voice.
"Have those gunmen harmed anyone? We heard a shot before we found this back way out." Added Bill Forham.
"Apparently, from what we heard on the radio from the sheriff, one of his deputies is badly wounded and the gunmen won't let anyone in or out of the hole. We heard a rumor from someone that was on top of the ripped roof that the gunmen had the governor's wife hostage but we double checked with the capitol and we know that she is still sick in bed. I don't know what they are trying to pull but they can't fool us in believing she is held hostage. Wait just a minute."
The fireman heard a call come through on his radio and he put the box of cups down and picked up the radio that was sitting on the lid of the cooler.
"This is Sheriff Slocum again." Came loudly over the radio that all three men could plainly hear. "We just received word from the desk clerk that was held hostage that as soon as she was released and almost out of the hole that water had started pouring in at a rapid rate. She got out just in time but, she looked back down and saw people being swept away in its flow. I'm going to try to get my deputy out of here now that the gunmen have left the opening leading to the lobby. He is still alive but I don't know for how long because he has lost a lot of blood. I think the bullet must have just missed his heart because he is still breathing but I know it is a very critical wound. The men from the second helicopter are waiting with a stretcher and we need to rush him to a hospital. I'll call you back as soon as I can better evaluate the situation."
The fireman waved to one of the City of Lakeland fire trucks that had recently arrived and signaled for them to bring another ladder and several ropes. He turned to the two men and said.
"Well guys. I guess it's time to see whom we can get out of the hole from this end. Are you guys up to going back down and showing us the way before the lake completely fills the hole?" "Yeah we're ready, aren't we Kevin?" Bill directed to his friend.
"Sure. I'm anxious to get back down there and see whom we can help." Kevin started back down the ladder, not waiting for the other firemen to arrive. "Let's haul tail though. I think were quickly running out of time."
Bill Forham followed him quickly down the ladder and they both waited at the bottom for the firemen to bring the ropes and another ladder. The firemen, seven in all, grouped together when they reached the bottom of the ladder and awaited orders from their lieutenant who had been briefed quickly by Kevin and Bill.
"Well men. The way it has been explained to me is that we have a really straight passage to follow and there is a large chasm at the end of it. If we lay our ladder across the opening and tie off ropes on both sides by pounding stakes in the limestone walls, you did bring the hammer and stakes didn't you Fred?" One of the firemen nodded down at a toolbox he was holding. "We can form sort of railings to hold on to so people won't be so squeamish about crossing the ladder over a large drop off. When we have that set up, we can branch off in groups of two and search for survivors. Does anyone have any suggestions?"
"I have one Lou. Why don't we use the other ropes to tie each other together in case the water tries to knock us over? The chances of at least one person standing and being able to save his partner cut down the odds of two people getting lost at the same time."
"That's a good idea Tom. We have enough ropes don't we?"
"We have more than enough." Answered one of the firemen. "We brought every coil we had on the truck and we also have two oxygen setups in case we run into anyone having trouble breathing."
"Very good men. Well let's hit it."
The firemen turned on their flashlights and started following Kevin and Bill into the darkness.
June 14, Saturday 3:11 p.m.
Outside the hole
Wendy Wikowski began broadcasting again into the microphone as the TV camera began to roll. This was her big moment and she didn't want to blow it. There were enough people outside the lobby to help the survivors being helped out of the hole and every since the gunmen had taken over no one else was allowed out. She thought back to when she first arrived at the entrance to the resort after getting the call from her friend Marcia. She had gotten a glimpse of the rear end of the sheriff's patrol car rounding the bend away from the entrance when she had pulled up next to deputy Horwith.
"What's happening in there deputy? I heard there is a large sinkhole and hundreds of people are trapped."
"Well miss. We are having somewhat of a problem at the resort but, I can't verify the amount of damage or how many people are in trouble. Now, I must ask you to back your car up and head back down the road. I have to leave this open for emergency vehicles to get through so please leave now."
"Listen deputy, I'm a reporter for channel ten news and I need to be at the scene of the disaster."
"I'm very sorry miss but, my orders are to not let anyone but emergency vehicles in and I'm going to do just that."
"I have a press pass. I'm allowed to go anywhere. So if you don't mind please let me pass and I will go about my business."
"As I said before, Miss Channel Ten, no one goes in that is not authorized and you are not authorized so please leave or I will have no choice but to handcuff you for obstructing justice and place you in the back of the patrol car until I have time to take
you back to town."
She remembered she had been fuming as she had thrown the car in reverse and had spun her wheels as she had headed back in the direction she had just come from. Her reporter instincts had put in the back of her mind a small sign she had seen about one half mile before she had arrived at the entrance to the resort. The sign had been white with black letters. "Construction Vehicles Only" it had read. She at the time would have bet her eye teeth that the dirt road leading off into the woods was a back entrance to the resort and by God she had thought she was going to be a construction vehicle. She had sped down the road until she saw the sign on the right shoulder and had hung a turn faster than the car's manufacture would have said was safe in the owner's manual. The car had bounced in the ruts caused by the heavy trucks and had left a plume of dust trailing behind it. She had gone no more than a quarter of a mile when the woods diminished and she had seen the lake shimmering in the distance. Everything had looked very peaceful but, the problem had been, she had seen only one row of buildings, and from the publicity shots she had known that there should of been at least five other groups of buildings visible. She had thought this was terrible as she had driven the last quarter mile toward the lake. The closer she had gotten the more devastation she had seen. There had been large holes where the buildings had been and the main road right before the resort had cracked and fallen into the earth. She had seen several groups of people running or standing around and most of the attention had seemed to focus in front of what she had guessed the main lobby. Wendy had seen flashing lights on top of three vehicles but, they were between the main entrance road and the large crack in the pavement. What a hell of a mess she had thought as she had pulled her car onto the tennis courts, one of the safest places she had seen, and had gotten out and ran toward the nearest group of people peering into the hole where the lobby had been. Luckily she had called the camera truck that was on its way to The Green Swamp on her cell phone while she was still heading toward the resort and told them to meet her there. She called them back on the way down the dirt road and told them she was being denied access to the entrance but, she thought she found another way in. The minute she saw the resort in the distance she told them where the turnoff was and to meet her inside. She had helped several people by the time the truck came to a halt by her car on the tennis courts and she ran back to guide them as close to the hole as they dared. The ground seemed quite stable in the parking area directly in front of the hole so, the truck maneuvered into position and began unloading their equipment. The sheriff was already tending to his wounded deputy and he gave them no hassle when they began setting up the camera directly above the hole.
Wendy was covered with dirt and her hair and makeup was a mess but, she decided it would give better play for the viewers and her bosses to see she was really involved in the rescue attempt. When the camera and sound men gave her the okay signal, she jumped right into her broadcast.
"Ladies and gentleman, if you've just joined us, this is live from what is believed the largest sinkhole ever to hit the western hemisphere and perhaps in the entire world. We have hundreds of people trapped beneath the ground and we still have no word on the number of casualties that we might have. A report just in said world famous movie stars Tiffany Royal and Brandon Miles were trapped below the surface but have been saved by a brave group of people who started a rescue attempt long before the authorities arrived. Their condition is listed as good even though Brandon Miles was briefly knocked unconscious. Tiffany Royal's agent and traveling companion and Brandon Mile's bodyguard and best friend are still reported as missing. We hope they will be found safe and sound."
One of our very own reporters, Marcia Meadows, who does the Monday night human interest program, was also reported to be kidnaped by a local businessman but apparently has been rescued by a local high school sports hero. More stories keep pouring in and we will try to bring them to you as soon as we receive them. An apparent rumor that the governor's wife was being held hostage by the gunmen has been proven false because of verification from the state capitol that she is by her husband's side in Tallahassee."
"Also on a sad note. Computer expert Steve Sidel, who designed the entire security and massive technology of the resort is still down in the hole. He was leading the rescue attempt until the gunmen took over control of the exit. Reported to be helping him is, Kathy Santos, the sole heir to the Santos Corporation, one of top three cosmetic manufacturers in the world. Last report is that they are still alive but unable to assist in any more rescue attempts by the blocking of the gunmen. We will pause for a moment for a commercial break but will return live to keep you completely informed on this continuing tragedy."
June 14, Saturday 3:13 p.m.
Front entrance of resort
Deputy Nelson Howirth had just stubbed out his twelfth cigarette when the first of the National Guard trucks rolled up beside the patrol car. He saluted the sergeant that stepped out of the passenger side of the truck and stood at attention facing the camouflaged soldier.
"I'm glad you have arrived sir. Everyone has been calling on the radio to see if you had gotten here yet."
"Well, it's a long way from Tampa but, we are here and we are ready to take over command. Where is the sheriff?"
"He's inside, at the main sinkhole sir, taking care of one of our deputies that has been shot."
"How did that happen son? I thought we were dealing with a land disaster here. Did someone's gun accidentally go off?"
"No sir. There are some gunmen who were trying to rob the resort when the sinkhole started and apparently the deputy got in the way of one of their guns. They are supposedly holding hostages and not letting anyone in or out of the hole."
"We'll have to deal with these gun wielding punks before we can save the civilians. Luckily we have a full armament aboard our vehicles. We'll deal with them quickly. You are free to go help your sheriff with your wounded deputy. I'll station a guard here to relieve you but, remember don't get in our way when we take over."
"Thank you sir. I won't be a burden on your troops. I have had a lot of training in disaster situations at the academy. I know exactly what to do."
Oh great, thought the sergeant. A book learned soldier. Just what we need to screw things up. He signaled for two of the men in the back of the truck transport to stand guard at the entrance and they climbed out of the truck with their rifles and stood on each side of the roadway. The deputy climbed in the patrol car and sped down the road toward the resort with the convey of military vehicles close behind him.
June 14, Saturday 3:17 p.m.
In the hole
Steve Sidel waded through the water which was now waist deep with Tyrone Washington splashing behind him. Steve had managed to hold on to his flashlight due to the fact that he had jammed it in his back pocket when he pulled the con on Frankie Medford. He had no idea where Frankie had gone and at this point he could care less. He had one thing on his mind and that was to find Kathy Santos. He swept the flashlight in continuing arcs in front of him hoping to spot Kathy somewhere in the murky water.
"Any luck Steve?" Tyrone yelled over the roar of the water. "Have you seen any sign of her?"
"No Tyrone but, she has to be in this direction." He pointed in front of them with the flashlight beam. "The water would've carried her with the flow of the current. We have to find her before it's too late. I'm afraid she'll drown if we don't locate her in the next minute or two."
"We will Steve. We will." Tyrone tried to comfort Steve. "What's that?" He had spotted something in the beam of the flashlight on the right-hand side of them as the light had made one of its sweeps.
"Where are you talking about Tyrone? I don't see a thing."
"On your right side. Yeah, right there."
Steve had swung the light back to where Tyrone was pointing by holding his arm in front of Steve's face. They both sloshed through the water and reached a white and black ob
ject that was jammed against a fallen beam. Tyrone reached gently down and lifted a body up to the surface of the water. He quickly dropped it when he realized it was a man in a half-ripped off tuxedo with no head sticking out of the neck hole. Steve took one look and said in a very solemn tone.
"I wondered what had happened to Dilford Bailey's body. I found his head when I first came down here but the body wasn't lying next to it. His body must have been back in the shadows and the water washed it over here. Well come on Tyrone, we still have to find Kathy."
The two men continued their searching and arrived at the door to the kitchen. The water was forcing the swinging door inward and they entered the kitchen with the hope that maybe Kathy had been washed into the kitchen area. The emergency lights were still hanging near the ceiling in the kitchen and Steve turned off his flashlight when they entered the dimly lit kitchen.
"Well, welcome to the party Stevie baby." Came a voice from the behind the center counter. The voice was very similar to Steve's voice and Steve winced when he saw who his brother was holding against the counter with a large butcher knife. "You wouldn't happen to know this lovely lady would you brother dear? I saw you two together huddled in the shadows. I was hiding myself waiting to see what was going to happen when this damn water started rushing in. I saw the light coming from the window in the kitchen door so I knew I could climb on a counter if it got too high. I had just pushed the door open when something bumped into my legs and almost knocked me over. Well guess what? I reached down and plucked this damsel in distress right out of the water. She started gagging and coughing and pretty soon she was as good as new. You wouldn't happen to want her back would you?"
"Let her go Sam. She hasn't done anything to you. If you want to hurt someone, try picking on someone your own size for a change, like me."
"Oh no buddy boy. I think I'm going to stay right here with her while you go out to the hole in the ceiling and make sure you tell everyone out there that you have someone very important that needs to get out without being messed with. I'll let her go as soon as I'm away from this place. You have my word on that."