If Robert changed the file, more people would die. That’s what it all came down to. Robert didn’t care about keeping his job if it meant protecting the grievous mistakes of the President and his cronies. The people would protect him. They would see through Fitzwilliam and Terrace and rally around Robert, who they knew had never compromised for the sake of political gain or to save his own ass. If he had to leave ECAG, he would find another way to help.
“We’re not changing the file, Claire,” Robert said firmly, looking earnestly into Claire’s eyes. “It may not seem like a big thing the VP is asking, but...”
“I understand, sir,” Claire assured him, a smile tickling the corners of her mouth. “And I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
5.
The next two hours were plagued by details and anxiety. It crackled through the building like the lightning outside and more than one lower-rung office drone had to take a moment in the bathroom to calm themselves. Pilots were assigned specific routes and landing instructions, nurses were briefed on their missions, and storeroom attendants piled aid boxes in helicopters. Robert took the elevator up and down, dividing his time between signing orders, giving instructions, and peering at the tracker screens in the basement. The flood waters continued to spread further inland on the coast, but the rate at which it rose had slowed. The first choppers had made landfall and reported back with footage of the damage. Everything was underwater. Tall resorts had been tumbled like sandcastles and 10-foot tall trees looked like shrubs peeking up out of the surface. People began to be rescued, lucky ones, who just happened to be the first that the pilots saw waving from rooftops. There was a troublingly small number of rooftop survivors, however; Robert knew it would be a long time before they’d be able to accurately tally the number of those lost.
The tornado areas were less of a priority, to Robert’s dismay. He desperately wanted to send out choppers, but it would be to find Danny, and they needed all their pilots for the coast. ECAG was able to communicate with the Valcoht office and learned that local systems were in good order. Police, firefighters and medical resources were all properly in action.
If everything is so great, then why doesn’t Danny call? Robert thought anxiously.
He kept checking his cell phone, but there was nothing from either of his children. Before one of his elevator trips down to the basement, Robert suddenly felt the need to talk to Elisa. He veered from the elevator to the bathroom and locked himself in a stall. He selected her number.
“Hello?”
“Hi, honey, it’s me.”
“I was hoping you’d call,” Elisa said softly.
They didn’t say anything for a moment and just listened to the other breathe. Robert felt very close to Elisa and closed his eyes, forgetting for just a moment where he was or what he was facing. Things felt still.
“It looks like things have calmed down a little,” Elisa said hesitantly.
“Oh, hmm. A little. The choppers got in, so that’s good. Have...have you heard from either of the kids?”
“No,” Elisa replied, her voice nearly a whisper.
“Oh.”
“We’ll just keep trying,” Elisa said, trying to sound more optimistic. “A lot of things could have happened. Rachel could have lost her cell phone, the cell towers could be down, things like that.”
“You’re right.”
They were quiet again for a moment. Robert thought over all the possibilities and felt better knowing there were a lot of other reasons for why his children hadn’t called besides them being dead or terribly injured.
“What’s the weather like at the office?” Elisa asked, filling the silence.
“Bad. Stormy.”
“Same here. The sirens even went off for a little while, but it’s not as bad anymore.”
“This day is like a nightmare. I just want to come home.”
Robert didn’t know when that would be. During lesser disasters, he had stayed late into the night. He still would have to give a press conference and respond to what the President said, and then there was the whole issue with the files...Robert considered telling Elisa about what had transpired, but decided to wait. However, he should at least give her an idea about what was going on.
“Did you see the President’s speech?” he asked.
“I did. I’m not very happy with that man.”
“No, it wasn’t great.”
“There’s a whole story to that that I have to tell you when I get home. Just know that there’s some iffy politics going on right now and I’m kind of in a bind.”
“What kind of bind?”
“I was asked to do something unethical. And it would ultimately hurt the public.”
“So you’re going against the President’s orders?”
“Essentially.”
Elisa was quiet for a moment, thinking. Robert could picture her chewing on her lip, frowning, and no doubt calling the President a series of ugly names in her mind. She was not a fan of Fitzwilliam. She found him phony and spineless.
“You know my feelings about him. And you know that I trust you and support you.”
Robert smiled. He wished he could be with Elisa in person in that moment and wrap her in his arms. They had not been together this whole day, during this ordeal, and Robert ached for her.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you, too.”
Going down to the basement, Robert felt more at ease. His heart wasn’t so jumpy and he didn’t feel like he was right on the verge of vomiting. Almost the moment he entered the tracker room, an assistant with a phone was there.
“Sir, you’ve got a call. He says he’s your son.”
Robert grabbed the phone from the assistant, nearly snatching it away, and brought it to his ear.
“Danny?”
“Dad, it’s me.”
Relief washed over Robert. He leaned forward, gripping the phone tighter as if that would bring him closer to his son.
“Thank God! Are you guys okay? We’ve been tracking what’s going on and it looks like about five tornadoes touched down within a 40-mile radius.”
Robert pointed over the tech’s shoulder at the screen, as if Danny could have seen it. The tech zoomed in for Robert, so he could see the vibrantly-colored swirls still circling the area.
“Yeah, we got hit. We’re all ok, though, but the house is gone.”
Danny’s voice was strangely calm. He was still in some form of shock, no doubt. Robert had heard the tone from Danny many times before. It was his default when he was trying to fight his anxiety.
“I’m so sorry. Are you safe now?”
“We’re at a church. Not sure what the next move will be.”
“Does it have a basement?”
“No, just the gym.”
Robert snapped his fingers impatiently, triggering a brief scramble to decipher what he wanted. He pointed aggressively at the screen again. Omid zoomed in even further. Clusters of tornados were moving steadily southern, carrying heavy storms with them.
“Dad?”
Robert focused back on Danny. “There are more tornadoes forming. Can you see anything?”
“Some storms in the north. Is it bad?”
“Hard to say by the time they reach you, but it is definitely heading your way. I would find better shelter if I were you, something concrete. How are the boys?”
Silence. Robert pulled the phone from his ear and stared at it. He looked at the keypad.
“What the…?”
Before he could finish, the lights went out, leaving only the large bright climate screens, which were on their own separate generator for just this reason. People began to scramble and cries of, “Check the fuse!” and “Get the phones back up!” echoed through the room.
“What’s going on? Did something blow?” Robert asked the tech he had been standing behind.
“Not sure, sir,” the man replied, switching to another screen with a swipe of his finger. “The storms here seem to
have been getting worse. It could be lightning, sir.”
“I need a light!” Robert called, heading towards the elevator.
Someone appeared by his side holding one of the flashlights that were standard issue for assistants. Robert glanced over and saw that it was Michael.
“Thanks,” Robert said.
He pressed the elevator button but it did not light up.
“That’s not good,” Michael said.
“Stairs,” Robert declared.
He bolted to the stairwell with Michael close behind. They jogged up, the light jolting with Michael’s movements. When they reached Robert’s floor, they were greeted by a bright glow of lights as people scrambled about the hallway.
“Claire!” Robert called, entering the fray. “Where is my assistant?”
“She’s in her office!” someone answered him with a high pitched voice.
Robert rounded the corner to where he knew Claire’s office was located. Her door was slightly ajar and Robert could see light from within. He paused for a moment, puzzled. The light was not from a standard issue flashlight. It was yellow instead of white-blue. Someone else was in there. Robert pushed open the door, Michael still at his elbow with the light. As soon as they entered, the yellow light went out, but Robert could make out a male silhouette standing behind the desk.
“Who’s there? Claire?” Robert said, stepping forward.
Michael held up the light to illuminate the stranger. They ducked to avoid being seen and before Robert could speak again, they had leapt over the desk and pushed past Robert and Michael roughly.
“Hey!” Robert shouted.
He took off after the intruder. Robert was fast, but the stranger was faster. Robert saw him push his way through the people still in the hallway and make for the stairs. “Somebody hold the guy!” Robert yelled, but nobody reacted fast enough before the figure could reach the nearest staircase. Robert arrived at the top of the stairs just moments after the man had and followed him down the stairs; their footsteps thundering in the echoic stairwell. The stranger ran through the door to the outside instead of the lobby. Robert was right on his heels, but there was a car waiting. The stranger somersaulted through the open door and the car screeched away, water flying off the back of its tires. Robert shouted after it, his voice muffled by a roll of thunder. He tried to see the license plate, but there was nothing there. He was left standing in the pouring rain, confused and angry. When he turned to go back inside, he found that the outside had locked. Grumbling, Robert went around the side of the massive building, towards the front and went inside through the lobby. There were still a few reporters hanging around, but he ignored their stares.
“I have no comment!” Robert declared before anyone could say anything.
“Director Morgan, wait! Sir, just one question!”
Sighing, Robert paused and nodded.
“One. Go ahead.”
“What do you think of the President’s remarks regarding the efficiency of ECAG?”
The question felt like a splinter under Robert’s fingernails. He fought an instinctive sneer.
“All I have to say is that my office performed all of its responsibilities to the best of its ability, including ordering the Emerald Coast officials to issue a tsunami warning following the earthquake. As we speak, rescue pilots and medical authorities are in the affected areas and hard at work saving lives. That’s it. No more questions.”
A few shouts followed him, but none of the reporters were aggressive enough to physically pursue Robert. He went to the stairwell and trudged back up the four flights to his floor. The emergency lights on the stairs had gone on, so he could at least see where he was going, but the regular ceiling lights were still out. So the President’s office was resorting to robbery now? Who else could the stranger have been? As he approached his floor, Robert got out his cell phone to call Elisa to tell her Danny was all right. He saw that his reception was spotty.
Damn storm, Robert cursed. Why now?
As he entered the hallway, Michael was standing by Robert’s office door, fidgeting nervously, his flashlight clutched in both hands. When he saw Robert, he rushed over to him.
“There you are! Are you okay, sir?”
“I’m fine.”
“Hurry, sir, Claire was attacked!”
They rushed over to Claire’s office. A few other staffers had gathered there, shining their lights to illuminate the situation. Claire was sitting in her chair, being tended to by the office nurse. She had a nasty bruise on her forehead, which the nurse was dabbing with something that made her wince.
“Are you all right, Claire? What the hell?” Robert exclaimed.
“I found her behind the desk, sir,” Michael explained. “After you ran after that guy.”
“He hit me,” Claire said. “He came out of nowhere. I could hear someone behind me, and when I turned, he just hit me.”
“Did you get a look at him at all?” Robert asked.
“Not really, not in the dark. Definitely a man. He had his raincoat collar popped. Taller than me.”
“For the love of God,” Robert muttered. “Did he take anything? Get anything from the computer?”
“No, I checked. He didn’t even get past the password protection.”
Robert nodded slowly, pleased. So the VP did not expect Robert to follow the orders and change the file. That much was clear.
Well, let’s give him what he’s expecting, Robert thought.
“This can’t go on,” Robert said solemnly. “Michael, go downstairs and bring up all the reporters you can find. This ends now.”
6.
Seven reporters crammed into Robert’s office and listened intently while he took all their questions by the light of his battery-operated desk lamp. Some had specific inquiries about the extent of the tsunami, some wanted to know what was happening in the tornado regions, but everyone was most interested in why no warning had been issued for the Emerald Coast. Robert kept his answers short and to the point. He did not mention anything about his meeting with the president, the call from Terrace, or the stranger who attacked Claire.
“Kirk Baxter was in charge of the Emerald Coast office,” Robert said. “He did not issue a tsunami warning following the earthquake, and by the time I spoke to him, it was too late.”
Robert was keenly aware of the reporters’ scribbling pens in the dimly-lit room. It was only a matter of time before the whole story blew up. Research would be done and Baxter’s connection to the President would be unearthed. Robert knew to expect an angry call from the President’s office. When the reporters ran out of questions, they hurriedly thanked him and rushed out of the room, nearly tripping over each other. Claire, who had been resting in her office, entered holding two paper cups of water.
“You should drink some water, sir,” she advised. “You don’t want to get dehydrated.”
“Thanks.”
Robert took one of the cups and drank it in one mouthful. It was cold and felt icy against his teeth.
“How did it go?” Claire asked.
“Pretty well. I told them the truth. That Baxter was in charge of the Emerald Coast office. Nothing more, nothing less. They can figure out the rest.”
Michael came in, carrying a mug. He paused when he saw Robert with the paper cup, but Robert motioned for him to come forward.
“I just brought you some coffee, sir, in case you were feeling tired.”
“Thanks, Michael, I appreciate it.”
As Michael set down the mug, the lights flickered. The three looked up, waiting breathlessly. The lights flickered a second time, and then came on. A faint buzz filled the room.
“Hey! Look at that,” Robert exclaimed. “We’re back in business.”
A cheer could be heard from the hallway as everyone rejoiced at the light’s return. Robert took a sip from his coffee mug, his insides warming up.
“Have you heard from your family, sir?” Michael asked.
“I heard from my son,”
Robert said. “Our call got cut off when the power went down. Nothing from my daughter yet. What about you, Michael? You said you had family on the Ruby Coast?”
“Yes, and they’re safe. They were worried that they would be heading into the tornadoes, but they just got some storms. They found a hotel with a tornado-safe basement, so even if more funnels drop, they’ll have somewhere safe to go.”
“That’s great,” Claire interjected.
“I need to call my wife,” Robert said, realizing she still didn’t know about Danny.
He was about to pick up the phone when it suddenly rang, loudly. Everyone jumped a little. Claire looked concerned.
“It could be the Vice President,” she said quietly.
Robert nodded. His hand hovered over the phone.
“Michael, will you call my wife and tell her our son is safe? Here, use my cell phone.”
Robert held out the phone for Michael.
“Her name is Elisa. Look in ‘Recents,’ if it’s easier.”
“Right away,” Michael said, heading out the door.
Claire and Robert were alone. Robert took a deep breath and picked up the office phone.
“Director Morgan,” he said.
“What the hell were you thinking?”
Terrace’s voice was saturated with anger. There was something in his tone that deeply bothered Robert, and all his hesitation melted away. It was as if Terrace was speaking to a misbehaving child, and Robert would not be spoken to that way. He clenched his teeth.
“Mr. Vice President.”
“I was just watching the news, and all these stories are coming out where you confirm that Kirk Baxter was in charge of the Emerald Coast office, and did not issue the warning in time.”
“That is correct.”
“Goddamn it, you don’t get it, do you? Do you understand anything? You’ve made a terrible mistake, Robert,” Terrace said, his voice spiteful. “For your career, for ECAG, and for this nation.”
“I really don’t see it that way, sir,” Robert said calmly. “The way I see it, I just gave the nation an opportunity to stand up for itself.”
“You betrayed your President. You have tarnished his name.”
6:00 Hours: A Dystopian Novel Page 11
