Rhonda stepped from her own office.

  “Jim, when you’re finished with the paper files, make backups of all the electronic files for me.”

  She turned to Matt, “You’ve got twenty-four hours to batten down the hatches on all of the buildings.”

  “Why? What’s going on?”

  Jim answered for her, “Hurricane. Two days. Cat Five expected.”

  Matt questioned him, “You expect this place to survive a Cat Five?”

  “Get your ass in gear, mister. You’re not leaving until every structure here has been bolted down solid,” Rhonda ordered.

  “Right!” Matt said as he turned and ran from the building.

  ~~~

  Chapter 51

  Moments later Matt exploded into Chastity’s bungalow.

  “Chastity?”

  He hurried into the bedroom. She wasn’t there either but he heard the shower running.

  Door bursts open as Chastity squealed.

  She stepped from the shower and grabbed a towel to her breast.

  “Get dressed. I’ve got to get you off the island.”

  Chastity, boiling mad at his over familiarity, yelled, “The hell you say! If you ever barge in…”

  “Shut up and listen. We’ve got a hurricane headed our way and if we don’t get off the island we’ll be trapped for who knows how long. Days? Weeks?”

  She seem unmoved so he added.

  “Haiti hasn’t recovered from the last one and that’s been five years.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. NOW GET OUT!”

  “Chastity!” Matt pleaded.

  “GET OUT! DAMN YOU!”

  “All right, but be ready to move when I tell you,” Matt said as he retreated from her wrath.

  Chastity yelled after him, “It’s gonna take more than a little rain and high winds to make me leave this paradise.”

  Then she Chastity collapsed to the floor, ashamed and embarrassed. She cried.

  ~~~

  Chapter 52

  Matt and the maintenance crew, clothed for a change, were hanging storm windows on the buildings as the residents were being shuttled to the air strip to be returned to the mainland.

  Chastity refused to be evacuated and worked her ass off as she fetched tools, food, drink, and whatever else was needed by the crews.

  ~~~

  Chapter 53

  The office walls were lacquered tropical fruitwoods. The furnishings were stainless steel and leather on inches thick green berber carpet.

  Rhonda sat impatiently outside the H.R. Director’s office. She looked again at the clock above BETHENA GRAY, the director’s young, pretty, blonde, curvaceous administrative assistant.

  “Does he know I’m here?”

  Bethena looked over her computer monitor.

  “He will be with you when he’s ready.”

  “It’s just that I’ve been here almost an hour.”

  In an effort to distract Rhonda from an impending tirade, Bethena asked, “Can I get you some coffee?”

  Rhonda, irritated, frustrated, and anxious, stood. She was used to controlling the work environment, not being controlled by it.

  She retook her seat.

  Bethena’s phone buzzed.

  Bethena answered it.

  “Yes, sir.”

  She looked at Rhonda.

  “You may go in now.”

  Rhonda stood and rushed toward the door. She rapped her knuckles once before she opened the door.

  Kenneth Walters a short, wide, bald, man in his 50s was dressed in an expensive Italian suit. He looked up as Rhonda enters. He is not happy.

  Walter’s large office is all Danish Modern, wood and muted colored fabrics. Expensive oil paintings hang on the stark white painted walls. To one side is a wet bar against the wall and a conversation pit.

  Rhonda decided she’d take control of the meeting by starting it with, “I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

  “Close the door.”

  Rhonda stopped two steps beyond the door. She returned and shut the door before walking toward the bar.

  “No.”

  Rhonda stopped in her tracks.

  He pointed to a chair before his desk. “You won’t be here that long.”

  Rhonda sat, reached into the attache case she brought with her and pulled out a thick expandable folder.

  “Kenn…”

  She stopped as her eyes focus on the anger on the director’s face.”

  Walters, with barely controlled rage in his voice, asked, “Why aren’t you on the island? There’s work to do before that damned hurricane hits.”

  Rhonda stuttered, “I… ah… I wanted to get the records to a safe location.”

  “So, why didn’t you bring them here immediately?”

  “It’s a long flight. I needed to shower before…”

  “Perhaps you can explain the phantom employees you’ve hired over the last five years? Employees who could be doing the work YOU should be supervising right now.”

  The blood drains from Rhonda’s face.

  “I… That’s not… I…”

  “Who is…

  Walters referred to a paper in his hand,

  “Charles George Yarbourgh, age 22, with a social security number that belongs to a 97 year old woman in an Atlanta nursing home?

  Or Linda Ann Richardson, age 33, a housekeeper using the social security number of a seven year old who died six weeks ago?”

  “I don’t know anyone…”

  Walters interrupted her, “Excuse me?”

  Rhonda decided to attempt a bluff.

  “I have no idea who these people are or how they ended up in our employee database.”

  Walters was incredulous. “Really?”

  Rhonda tried to switch Walters from his line of inquiry to another. “It’s gotta be Jim… Jim Salinas was… is responsible for hiring…”

  “You realize, of course, that it is your signature at the bottom of these employment contracts and time cards.”

  Rhonda, frightened by this turn of events answered, “Yes… I… signed whatever Jim put in front of me. I didn’t bother to read…”

  “So, in addition to mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud and embezzlement, you are admitting to gross negligence and incompetence?”

  Panic began to creep into her voice, “Yes… NO!… I… Where’d you get this crap?”

  “The investigation was initiated by the law firm representing the new owners of this company… It appears you’ve been embezzling since you took over management of the resort.”

  Rhonda attempted to shove the folder in her hands at Walters.

  “I’ve got evidence of…”

  “Whatever you have is irrelevant. Ms. Lightner, your contract with Bare Essentials Resorts Corporation is hereby terminated effective immediately. We shall be seeking immediate restitution.”

  Rhonda sat stunned by the turn of events. She stares incomprehensively at Walters.

  “But I’ve got…”

  Walters pressed a button on his phone.

  “You may send them in now.”

  He laced his hands together and rested them on his desk.

  “God help you, you’ll need it.”

  Rhonda turned her head as the door behind her opened.

  Two FBI agents entered. One, Dennis, a tall male, aged, close to retirement. The other, Trish, a young female, about to spread her wings.

  Dennis

  “Ms. Lightner, we are with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and you are under arrest. Trish, would you like to do the honors?”

  “You can’t do this…”

  Trish pulled her handcuffs out. “Stand up. Hands on your head.”

  Rhonda dropped the expandable folder on the floor as she stood. It exploded upon impact and the papers flew everywhere.

  “But you don’t understand…”

  Trish cuffed her. “You have the right to remain silent…”

  ~~~

  Chapter 54

  The wind was rising as the last planeload of employees lifted off the airstrip.

  Matt and Chastity sat in the tram as it climbed into the gathering storm.

  “Well, everyone’s away,” Chastity sighed.

  Matt looked at her. “I wish I’d tied you up and thrown you in.”

  “It’s starting to rain. We’d better go.”

  Matt turned the tram back toward the resort. “I hope we haven’t made a mistake.”

  Chastity squeezed his knee. “So do I.”

  ~~~

  The light was fading as the outer edges of the hurricane found landfall. The heavy rain and moderate wind was making it difficult to move along the jungle path that was paved with fast moving water.

  Matt and Chastity are tied together around the waist by a six foot length of rope.

  Matt yelled into the wind, “We’ve got to hurry.”

  A tree branch fell, missing Matt by a miracle.

  Chastity hollered back, “You alright?”

  “Just scratches. Come on.”

  Chastity slipped in the rain slick mud. She fell face first into the rivulet that rushed downhill.

  Chastity squawked, “AWK!”

  Matt helped her to her feet and held her tight.

  Matt, in her ear, “You hurt? Nothing broken or sprained?”

  Chastity, answered in his ear, “No. I’m okay. Let’s go.”

  Matt turned and they continued slipping as they forced their way through the jungle.

  ~~~

  Matt pulled Chastity out of the raging storm into the tunnel entrance.

  Matt held her tightly, “You okay?”

  Chastity wiped her rain drenched hair from her eyes.

  “Nothing a hot shower won’t fix.”

  Matt pointed the million watt flashlight inward as the two approach the blast door. An old, rusted, chipped enamel sign was above the door.

  NO ESSPASS NG

  U.S. GO RNMENT ROPERTY

  Matt handed Chastity the flashlight. “Come on. Let’s see if we can get this bitch open.”

  Chastity hugged herself as she shivered from the cold of the tunnel.

  “How?”

  “They found a code in old man Malachuk’s papers.”

  Chastity, puzzled by his answer asked, “Who?”

  “Can you see a keypad?”

  Matt searched the door and the sides of the tunnel for the electronic keypad.

  “Who found the code?”

  “Ah ha! Here hold this.”

  Chastity demanded his attention, “Matt!”

  Matt ignores her as he punched in the code.

  They heard a click and then the door opened outward to the sound of an electric motor. A bank of lights flicker beyond the door.

  Matt took Chastity’s hand and led her into the bunker.

  ~~~

  Chapter 55

  Matt reluctantly decided to answer Chastity’s question. “What’d you ask?”

  “Who found the code to open this door.”

  Matt realized he had no choice but to obfuscate. “The people I work for. Now let’s get you into some dry clothes.”

  Matt and Chastity untied themselves. Matt coiled the rope and set on the floor beside the door.

  “So, who do you work for?”

  Matt knew her inquisitive mind wouldn’t let drop if he didn’t answer, “Chastity, look. I was hired to do a complete survey this island for some lawyers, so let’s see what this safe haven has to offer before we start fighting about nothing.”

  Chastity handed him the flashlight. She turned and walked deeper into the tunnel.

  Matt set the flashlight down next to the rope and hustled after Chastity.

  Matt alarmed the bunker might not be safe called, “Chastity, wait!”

  She ignored him and continued to walk away from him.

  Motion sensors turned on the lights ahead as they walk.

  One hundred yards in, they came to a T junction.

  “Left or right?”

  Matt scratched his head. “I don’t think it makes much difference at the moment.”

  “Fine. You go left. I’ll go right. Call out if you find anything.”

  Matt hesitated. “Alright. But you be careful. Remember to test the ground…”

  Chastity looked at him in disbelief. “Really?”

  She walked confidently into the tunnel as overhead lamps continued to light her way.

  Matt shook his head, turned and moved into the left hand tunnel. It ended fifty yards in, cluttered with rubble and debris.

  He returned to the junction and moved down Chastity’s tunnel.

  “Chastity?”

  He received no answer.

  Matt quickened his pace. He noticed a number side tunnels, several with their lights had been turned on and they tended to blink out as he passed.

  Matt ran down the corridor as panic began to rise, called again, “Chastity!”

  ~~~

  Chapter 56

  Matt stumbled into a grotto and in the middle of the pool he found Chastity afloat on her back. Her clothing, wrung out and wadded up at the side of the pool.

  “Matt! Come on in. The water’s warm.”

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Chastity sank into the deep water.

  Matt quickly stripped out of his boots before he dove in to save her.

  Chastity surfaced and swam away. Matt, angry with himself because he fell for her trick, pursued her.

  He finally caught her and they tread water inches apart.

  “What on earth made you…?”

  Chastity placed a finger against his lips.

  “Shh. You’re disturbing the tranquility.”

  Matt shook his head.

  “You warm now?”

  Chastity smiled. “Yeah.”

  “Then let’s find you some dry clothes.”

  Chastity looped her arms around his neck.

  “We could just stay here a while.”

  Matt pulled her closer.

  “We could. But I don’t think we should.”

  “Why not?”

  “Well. For one thing. I’ve got to take a piss and I don’t want to contaminate the water.”

  Chastity laughed and swam quickly toward the edge of the pool.

  Matt followed at a more leisurely pace.

  ~~~

  Chapter 57

  A couple hours later, after Matt had opened a couple cans and warmed the contents up on a propane stove and made some coffee, Matt sat across a stainless steel table from Chastity.

  Their damp clothing was laid out on the table next to them to dry.

  Chastity wrapped her hands around a thick ceramic mug of hot steaming coffee.

  Matt looked up from his coffee into her eyes.

  She chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You are.”

  Matt questioned here with his eyes.

  “You were naked the first time we met.”

  “No. I was wearing…”

  “I mean on the island. Here at the resort. You had no problem strutting…”

  “I wasn’t strutting.”

  “…around with nothing but your tool belt.”

  “I was working.”

  “While I was afraid of my own shadow. Now it seems the roles have reversed.”

  Matt looked down at his mug.

  “I know damn good and well you wanted to rip my clothes off.”

  “No. I was just trying to make you…”

  “What? Uncomfortable. Well, you certainly did that.”

  The regret was evident in his voice when Matt said, “I know.”

  “What I want to know is how you managed to make me feel comfortable enough to be naked with you after the fireworks?”

  “I had help.”

  “No you didn’t.”

  “Are you sure? What about that evening on the porch with everyone telling you about their first time.”

  “I thought…”

  “Fantastic stories. Weren’t they?”

  Chastity’s doubt colors her answer, “But…”

  “Some of them were so fantastic they couldn’t be real. Right?”

  Chastity stared at him in disbelief.

  “And for all I know they might even have been real.”

  “Then how do you know they weren’t?”

  “I don’t. What I am saying to you is that if our friends hadn’t told us their stories you wouldn’t have…”

  Chastity quickly changed the subject.

  “Did you know that, before I came here I had no idea what a man looked like? Below the waist, that is.”

  Matt stood and walked to sink. He rinsed his mug before setting it upside down on the counter.

  He turned back toward Chastity.

  “Let’s go find some dry clothes.”

  Chastity remained seated. “Why? I’m not that cold.”

  “Because…”

  Chastity teased him, “Will you make love to me?”

  Matt was taken aback. “What? NO!”

  “Why not? Is it Rhonda?”

  Matt was repelled with the mere thought of Rhonda and her predatory practices. “Good God, no.”

  “Then what? You don’t prefer men, do you? I heard some guys…”

  Matt glares at her in silence.

  “Then why not?”

  “Because you’re a client. I was sent here to survey the island. Not make you fall in love with me.”

  “I won’t tell if you won’t.”

  “Chastity! Drop it. I’m not going to make love to you. Ever.”

  Matt left in search of clothing.

  Chastity called after him, “Wanna bet?”

  ~~~

  Chapter 58

  Several hours later, after an extensive exploration of the rooms that branched off the central corridor of the bunker, Matt and Chastity returned separately to the common room.

  Matt was standing next to a pile of cotton OD green clothing that included t-shirts, underwear, both boxers and briefs, pants and shirts.

  “Well, we’ve got food,” Matt said. “Tons of it. All dating from the 1960s, it seems. What’d you find?”

  “Whoever built this place seemed to think in single sex terms. No bathtubs, although I did find a communal shower with a couple dozen shower heads.”

 

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