Dead Calm (34 page)

Thumbing once more through the file, Jim stopped and
extracted a loose page. After reading for a few seconds, he said,
“No appreciable change. The alcohol base that makes up most of
their body fluids and acts as a preservative is still high. There's
been very little degeneration in cellular structure, even less
tissue breakdown then that of normal aging in a human subject.”

Flipping the page, he added, “The new estimate based
on longevity also came back. The lifespan of someone infected with
the HWNW virus comes back at ninety-six years. That starts from the
time of initial infection. That's plus or minus five years.”

“Amazingly ironic,” Hawkins commented dryly. “The
secret to long life is death.”

“By the way, Doctor,” Jim said. “In the past month
there's been no further loss of body mass. Although most of the
muscle structure is gone, the subjects still function at the same
physical level.”

Hawkins considered this before asking, “What about
the subjects that have been fed?”

Picking out another chart from the pile, Jim moved
over to stand in front of the dead creature chained at the far end
of the line and started to read. “Twenty-two year old male-.”

“Skip that,” Hawkins interrupted.

Jim found what the doctor wanted. “No nutrition was
absorbed into the subject even though it consumed everything it was
fed. This included sheep, pig and human entrails. They only eat to
eat, doctor. They get no sustenance from it.”

Hawkins was about to comment when the PA system
informing him he had a call interrupted him. Picking up a nearby
phone, he listened to the message and hung up without saying a
word.

Moving back to the observation port, he pressed the
button for the intercom and said, “Jim, were finished with this
part of the research. Dispose of the subjects and clear this room.
We'll be getting new equipment in tomorrow so I need you to start
on this right away. “

“What's going on, Doctor?” Jim asked.

“We’re expanding research on the Malectron.” Hawkins
told him. “I'll also need the other three containment rooms cleared
out. so you've got your work cut out for you. See if Doctor Connors
needs any of our equipment for her antivirus research before you
get rid of it.”

“She's going to want some of our floor space,” Jim
warned. “She still has one test subject left in containment three.
It's one of the people that are immune. “

“She can't have any of my space,” Hawkins snapped.
“She has to make do with what she has, and she'll have to find
somewhere else to quarter her test subject. The Malectron takes
precedence over the other research at this facility. Finding a cure
for the HWNW virus has now taken a backseat to more important
research.”

“Yes, Doctor,” Jim replied.

When Hawkins was gone, Jim picked up a hand held
taser from the exam table and approached the dead creature he'd
unmasked at Hawkins bidding.

With regret, he said to her, “Sorry, Honeybun. We had
a long run together but I've got my orders.”

Placing the prongs against the skin of her side, he
thumbed the trigger and said, “Lights out.”

Chapter Eighteen

The Dead Calm:

Steve met with Seth on deck five. Ricky's man had
brought along floor plans of the ship, much like the one Tick-Tock
had pried off the wall on the day they first boarded the Dead Calm.
Steve could see that the pages for decks seven and eight had been
shaded with different colored pencils.

Pointing to the cabin area colored in red on deck
seven, Seth said, “That's where the stinkers are locked in so you
don't have to worry about that. If he somehow made his way in
there, you won't want him back. Next to that you've got service
areas for the ship and then the Centrum. Most of those shops are
sealed off but a few might be open. You'll have to check them as
you go along.”

“Got it,” Steve acknowledged.

“Next you've got the Sombrero Lounge,” Seth
continued. “Beyond that's the main floor of the Sounds Lounge. It's
not really a lounge, it's a theater for live shows. That's also
full of the dead. You can't access it, nor would you want to, but-”
flipping to the layout of deck eight, he said, “You can get to the
balcony through the deck above. You might want to check it out.
Maybe your guy's hanging out in there. Outside the balcony area is
the casino and then the Centrum again. There's not many shops and
shit there. It's mostly an observation deck and a few small bars.
After that there are more cabins that are sealed off. You don't
want to go in there either.”

“And your people are checking the decks above this?”
Steve asked.

“We've got people searching them now,” Seth assured
him.

Handing over the floor plans, Seth said, “You can
have these. Good luck and I hope you find your guy. If we come
across him and he's alive, we'll send him back to you.”

After Brother Seth left, Steve unclipped his radio
and removed the piece of clear tape holding the transmit button
down. Keying it a few times to make sure it wasn't stuck, he
pressed it and asked, “Heather, Tick-Tock, you there? Did you get
all that?”

“Loud and clear,” Tick-Tock replied. “I'm looking at
the floor plans of the ship right now. From what I see, they're
gonna try and hit us in the Sombrero Lounge on seven and the casino
on deck eight. Those are the best places for an ambush.” Before
Steve could answer, Tick-Tock came back on saying, “By the way,
your other half just told me to tell you that when we're done
talking we’re suppose to say over, over.”

“Over, over?” Steve asked.

“Say over,” Tick-Tock came back.

“Over, over,” Steve said, knowing it would bug
Heather to no end.

“Say ov-,” Tick-Tock started to say, but was cut off
as Heather took the radio from him. “You two need to knock that
shit off. It wasn't funny the first time.”

Steve laughed and gave a chastised, “Yes, dear,
over.”

“Tick-Tock's going to set up to cover the Sombrero
and I'm going up the casino, over.” Heather told him.

Steve was about to reply, over, over but knew it was
time to get serious. Tick-Tock and Heather had climbed up the
elevator shaft before Steve's meeting and waited inside by deck
seven so they could have quick access to wherever Seth tried to
direct the search parties.

When Seth slipped up and Steve realized that Ricky
had Brain, his first impulse was to grab the ex cop and find out
where Brain was by beating the information out of him. He had
barely restrained himself. He knew they needed to figure out what
Ricky was up to first and if need be, he could grab the man later
when they met to go over the search plan. When Sheila made the
connection between why they wanted Brain and told them of Ricky
wanting to get to Cozumel, all the pieces of the puzzle fell into
place.

Knowing that rushing the stairs and starting a search
of the upper decks would result in a gun battle with Ricky's
people, he decided the best way to go about freeing Brain was to
eliminate the Ushers first. Ricky wanted Brain for his knowledge
and the sailboat for transportation, but the rest of them were
expendable. As he considered this, it suddenly came to him what
Ricky was up to. Getting the group to split up during a search
would be the perfect way to take them out. This way he got Brain
and eliminated the rest of them at the same time.

Steve came up with his own plan. Ambush the
ambushers. Ricky would have all his people coming after them, so
they needed to turn the tables and take them out. They would try to
leave one of the Head Ushers alive to find out where Brain was, but
if that turned out to be impossible, they would kill them all.
Without any type of effective fighting force, Ricky would have to
give Brain up. Or at least they hoped so. He didn't want to get
into some kind of hide and seek hostage situation on the Dead Calm.
If they succeeded in taking out the Head Ushers, they would be in a
much stronger position to get Brain back.

Steve explained this to the others. They decided
that, while it was risky, they didn't have any other options. They
couldn't leave Brain, and without knowing where he was, they had no
other choice but to go for it.

Keying the radio, Steve said, “I'll give you fifteen
minutes to set up and scope the area out. In the mean time, I'm
going to get the rest of the bait, over and out.”

Clipping the radio back on his belt, he headed to
deck four. Seeing Sheila standing at the bottom of the stairs, he
thought to himself that from a distance she'd pass for Heather. If
any of the Ushers got a good look at her though, they'd recognize
her and we might be screwed. A lot hinged on them thinking that
Sheila and Mary are Heather and Tick-Tock, so we have to be
convincing.

As he approached Sheila, the first thing she did was
moan, “My hair.”

“It'll grow back,” he promised her.

“But it's blonde,” Sheila whined as she fingered it.
“I look like a ditz. Blondes are all airheads. Everyone knows
that.”

Steve checked to make sure the transmit button on his
radio wasn't pushed. If Heather had heard that comment, war with
the Ushers would pale in comparison to the one between her and
Sheila.

Seeing Susan hurrying toward them, Steve said to her,
“Good job on Sheila. She could pass for Heather's sister.”

Susan thanked him and then rolled her eyes as she
said, “Wait until you see Mary. She's not a happy camper.”

Susan had taken both Mary and Sheila into the Four
Bells Hair Salon to alter their appearance while Steve, Connie, Tim
and Cindy made a show of searching deck five in case any of Ricky's
people were watching. Just then, Mary appeared and Steve had to
stifle a laugh. Most of her long blonde hair had been cut off and
what remained had been stuffed under a baseball cap. It was a good
thing Mary didn't hear Sheila's comment about blondes either. Or
maybe that's where it stemmed from.

Steve wasn't sure what Susan had used to strap Mary's
breasts down, but whatever it was had done the trick. It had taken
her from about a 34C to flat-chested.

Seeing his gaze, Mary said angrily, “Quit looking at
my tits, Steve.”

Or lack thereof, Steve thought, but didn't dare
voice. Averting his eyes, he found they'd settled on Sheila's chest
for a moment. She's got bigger ones than Heather but she'll pass,
he decided.

Not wanting to micro manage a plan that had been put
together on the fly by comparing boob sizes, he cleared his throat
and asked, “Everyone know what to do?”

“I'm supposed to be Heather,” Sheila said
despondently. “I stay ten feet behind you. When the first shot is
fired, I find something to hide behind.”

“I'm with her,” Mary said as she pointed to
Susan.

“And?” Steve prompted.

“Same as Sheila, only I'm supposed to be Tick-Tock. I
stay ten feet behind Susan. When the shooting starts, I find
cover,” Mary motioned to her legs and complained, “Why do I have to
wear blue jeans? I'm already chafing.”

“Because Tick-Tock does. We need to convince them
that you're Tick-Took,” Steve explained. “Take a little of the
wiggle out of your walk too,” he added. “You need to be convincing.
Walk like a guy.”

“I feel so butch,” Mary moaned.

Steve had to cough to cover the laughter welling up
in him. When he got himself under control, he turned to Susan with
a raised eyebrow.

“I'm on point. I listen to the radio and follow
Tick-Tock's instructions,” she said, “He'll let me know where any
targets are that he can't hit. I have to take them out.”

“And I’ll be doing the same with Heather,” Steve
finished. “As you all know, Connie's on The Usual Suspects with Tim
and Cindy. If anything happens to us, she knows to cut loose and
head west. She'll have enough gas to make it to land and she knows
about Cindy. She'll try to get her somewhere safe.”

Checking his watch, he saw it was almost time to
check in with Heather and Tick-Tock before moving out. One by one,
he looked each of them in the eye to check their resolve. When he
was done, he said forcefully, “Let's go get Brain.”

***

As he sat in the cockpit of The Usual Suspects, Tim's
mind was in turmoil. He felt trapped no matter the outcome of
Steve's plan and it was tearing him apart. If Steve and the rest of
them succeeded in killing Ricky's men and freeing Randy, they would
surely find out his part in the kidnapping. Tim's biggest fear was
what his punishment would be.

I know that treason is punishable by hanging so
that's what they'll probably do to me, he thought. The words 'hung
by the neck until dead', echoed through his mind.

And if Ricky wins, he wondered. Then my sister will
cut the sailboat loose and head for land and I'll never see dad
again. Ricky will kill dad after torturing him because I lost the
sailboat. But if Ricky wins, he can force Connie to stay on the
Calm of the Seas. Tim brightened at this until the thought came to
him that he'd still have to live with what he'd done. Things were
so messed up.

At that moment, Connie came up the ladder from below.
Seeing her brother looking tense and frightened, she asked, “Are
you okay, Tim?”

With guilt racking his brain, Tim glanced up at his
sister. Instead of seeing her face and the concern on it though,
his eyes focused on the small pistol Steve had given her for
protection. His mind screamed, she knows. She knows I betrayed them
all and handed her boyfriend over to Ricky. They're all after me.
They know I'm a Judas.

With a cry of anguish, he bounded to his feet. His
fear suddenly turning to rage at the thought of what they'd do to
him. “I hate you all,” he screamed. “You did this to me. It's your
fault.”

Stunned by her brother's outburst, Connie took a step
back down the ladder. Jumping onto the gunwale of the ship, Tim
found it was an easy leap through the hatch.