Damaged

CHAPTER 64

"She's in," Pete Kesnick said, but Maggie didn't hear any relief in his words. If anything he sounded more on edge. Their swimmer was out of sight and they still didn't have any idea what the situation was down below.

"If the medical condition or injury is serious, she may not be able to use the quick strop." Kesnick practically hung out the open doorway. He leaned against his own cable, fighting the rain and wind, trying to watch for Liz.

He had double-checked the cable. A good thing, because Maggie was certain she wouldn't be able to help this time. Not with the wind violently shoving the helicopter around. The roar made it difficult to hear even the voices inside her helmet.

"She's gonna need to hurry." Wilson sounded as tightly wound as the cable. "We gotta go. Command center is telling me ten minutes. Tops."

"We can't do this in ten minutes," Kesnick told him. "She might be stabilizing someone on board."

"I'm watching the clock. That's all I'm saying."

"Can someone go down and help her?" Maggie asked.

Silence. It was as if they didn't want to acknowledge her presence.

Wilson had already put up a fuss about her being on his craft. He had complained to Liz as they geared up. Didn't care that Maggie was standing right there.

"No one else is authorized to deploy except the rescue swimmer," Wilson finally told her. "We can send down anything she needs. Anything that might help her. But we stay in the helicopter. Or we have to leave and send a cutter back."

"You'd leave her down there?"

More silence.

"Sometimes you don't have a choice. You follow the rules. I have a responsibility to the entire crew."

"But the hurricane--"

"Exactly," was his one-word answer. A pause, then, "Seven minutes, Kesnick."

"You can't just leave her."

"Agent O'Dell, you do not have any authority in this craft. I do. Understand?"

"I don't see her," Kesnick yelled.

"Give her a tug."

"Nothing."

They waited.

Maggie's heart pounded against her rib cage, the rhythm the same as the thump-thump of the rotors. Sweat rolled down her back and yet she felt chilled. She watched Wilson's profile. Jaw clamped tight. His visor prevented her from seeing his eyes, but his hands were steady, fists clenched on the control. Beside him, Ellis was an exact contrast--head bobbing and twisting around, trying to see below.

"This is the Coast Guard," Ellis yelled into the radio. "Restless Sole, can you hear me?"

"Five minutes," Wilson said. "Where the hell is she?"

"Restless Sole, can you hear me?" Ellis shouted but only got static in response.

That's when it hit Maggie. Restless Sole. Wasn't that the name of Joe Black's boat?

"No one's answering," Ellis said.

"Kesnick?"

"I don't see her."

"We have got to get the hell out of here. Pull her up, Kesnick. PULL HER UP NOW."

Kesnick obeyed. The cable whined and spun. Maggie waited to see Liz come over the doorway. Instead, she saw Kesnick grab the cable and spin around to his pilots. He didn't say a word as he held up the cable. It had been cut.