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

planned’ was the entire message. She took her clothes out of her bag and began pulling them on.
    “Are you in here again?” Reg asked, as he walked in.
    Fatíma cried out in surprise, clutching her bright orange top to her chest.
    “I was told I could use this office to change!”
    “Ah,” muttered Reg and he walked to the desk.
    “Do you mind?” Fatíma asked indignantly.
    “I still have to do my work,” Reg said and he began looking for something on the desk. He moved her bag. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed something odd. He looked closer and saw the gun in the bag.
    “What the fuck is this?”
    He stood up straight and looked at Fatíma. But Fatíma had closed on him like lightning and her fist crashed into his temple. Reg staggered back and began falling. Another fist hit him on the other temple and then Fatíma slammed the palm of her hand into his chin and his vision went black.
     
    ***
     
    Fatíma took her bag back down on the elevator with her and laid it by her feet under the turn tables. Akhmed was still sitting quietly in the corner and minding his own business. She was happy for that. She looked at the box of records below the one she would be using. He had not opened it. His fingerprints would be all over it because he had hauled it in. It was the box that the bomb had been placed in.
    She sighed. She liked Akhmed, but things had to be done. She looked at her watch and knew it was time. She winked at Akhmed and reached into her bag.
    “A few minutes left. Shall we go to the restroom and then get some drinks? We won’t have any time once I get started and I’m gonna need you to stay close to me.”
    Akhmed nodded and walked ahead of her to the restrooms next to the elevator. She followed him, hiding her gun and silencer in the folds of her dress.
     
    ***
     
    Dave and Joy made their way to the stage. They held hands, even though Joy had given Dave a slap for getting tomato sauce in her hair. When they saw the DJ and her roadie leave and walk towards the restrooms, they figured the show would be properly underway in another twenty minutes, so they went into one of the bars on the Plaza. It was busy but there was still space to sit down at the furthest end, behind the long bar. They sat down there and Dave went to the bar to order them some beers. He came back with pints and they sat down close to each other. They did not know what to say to each other now. Everything had just changed between them and it took some adjusting.
    Dave noticed the attraction every time he looked Joy in the eyes and he knew she did too. He wanted to act on it, but his own sense of decency held him back. He did not want to be seen groping her in such a public place, they were both respected professionals on the rig. He would have to be really drunk before that would happen. Instead, he laid his hand on Joy's knee. Joy responded with a smile and laid her hand on his. Their fingers intertwined and they just sat there, drinking and waiting for the best moment to head into the Plaza.
     
    ***
     
    Fatíma stepped into the men's room just as Akhmed stood by the urinal to empty his bladder. She walked up to the man and raised her weapon. She held it close to the bottom of Akhmed's ear and sighed. Akhmed heard her and wanted to turn around but she stopped him.
    “Uh uh.”
    She glanced at her watch.
    “Two more minutes. Then I pull this trigger and you will have committed suicide.”
    “Wh... wh... h...” Akhmed stammered.
    He had no idea what was going on.
    “Listen, pet. There is no sound effect. There is a massive big bomb that you brought onboard this monstrosity all on your own. So you will be found here, in one of the very few places that will be left untouched by the initial blast. And you will have found it impossible to reconcile your actions with your faith and so you shot yourself in distress, or whatever.”
    Akhmed felt his sphincter clench and he had to concentrate not to soil himself. He did not