Read Online The Rig 1: Rough Seas by Steve Rollins - Free Book Online

ship was docked at the Northern pier. The moment they arrived, Dave looked at the registration number and the name and nodded to Joy. It was the vessel on the list, the one it said had come in from Los Angeles. The dockmaster was in the process of placing a broad gangway to the opened gate in the side of the ship. They waited there until the gangway was in place and then brought their cargo on board. As they walked up, two men in suits walked past them and went to talk to the man.
    They placed the boxes in a corner designated for it by the purser and then went down the gangway again. The suits had gone and only the dockmaster remained. As they reached the elevator, another few scientists came walking out trailing carts and trolleys full of gear, documents and test samples. Wes pressed the button for the middle deck of ‘The City.’
    “There's a bistro close to the offices. We can go there,” he said to Sheila.
    Sheila nodded slowly.
    “Let's go to my quarters first though. So I can change into something more suitable.”
    “You don't really need to.”
    Wes smiled at her, looking her up and down. Sheila smiled back at him.
    “Yes. I do.”
    Dave laid an arm across Joy's shoulder and grinned sheepishly at Wes and Sheila.
    “Well, we'll leave you two alone then.”
    The elevator stopped at the Central Plaza and Dave and Joy got out.
    “Will we see you guys here later?”
    Wes nodded.
    “Probably will.”
    Then he pressed the button for the fifteenth deck, the doors closed and the elevator jetted down again.
    Sheila opened the door to number thirty-three and went in. Wes wanted to wait in the corridor, but she pulled him in, saying he should not be silly and just make himself comfortable while he waited. She went into the bedroom and began digging around her suit case, while Wes sat down on the sofa. He could not help grabbing the remote control and turning the television on. Sheila laughed as she heard the thing burst into life.
    “There's no pizza delivery here, is there? Then you could just keep watching television.”
    “Actually there is. Good pizza too. Indian and Chinese too.”
    Sheila popped her head into the room and smiled at him.
    “Maybe we should consider one as an option then.”
     
    ***
     
    Dave and Joy walked down the Central Plaza and looked at the stage for a second. Everything had been set up, but there was nobody there yet. People had started to gather in the plaza though, many with beers in their hands. They ducked into the pizza place on the corner and ordered a large quattro stagioni and went to sit at a table out front when it came. They bought a couple of beers too and sat there eating a few slices in silence.
    It was Joy who spoke first.
    “He really does seem to like her.”
    Dave nodded.
    “Yeah. But she's a firecracker, so I'm not surprised.”
    Joy sighed and she looked downcast. She had hoped Dave would contradict her there, but he didn't.
    “You're a firecracker too,” Dave said, before picking up another slice of pizza.
    Joy looked up at Dave and saw him wink at her. Suddenly she could not control herself and she leaned forward, pushed the hand with the pizza away and pressed her lips to his.
    Dave was completely taken aback by it. He dropped the pizza slice in surprise. Joy reached a hand behind his head and he did the same, then opened his eyes in shock as he realized he was smearing tomato sauce into Joy's hair.
    They broke apart and there was a twinkle in Joy's eyes as she picked up a slice of pizza again.
    Dave was speechless, flabbergasted and he just sat there in silence. He did not notice anything but Joy. Not the people coming onto the stage, or the music starting, just Joy.
     
     
    Chapter Sixteen
     
    Fatíma, or DJ Medina as the crowds knew her, hopped out of the helicopter. She carried a small backpack with her. The pilot had asked her what she was carrying and she had answered it held her outfit for the night and her laptop. She did not mention the gun she had