Chapter 4.
Honiara, Solomon Islands.
LS Kathy Green was on duty watch when the call came. She left the bridge and walked along to the CO's cabin and knocked on the door.
"Come in," said Kate. Kathy opened the door and put her head in.
"Ma'am, there's a call for you from NAVCOM. Cmdr Marshall."
"I'll take it here," Kate answered, and she picked up the handset in her cabin.
"Yes Ma'am," and Kathy returned to the bridge and hung the handset up.
"Kate McGregor-Flynn," she said.
"Kate," Steve spoke in hoarse tones, as if he was losing his voice. This instantly alerted Kate.
"Sir? What is it?" There was no response.
"Sir?" Kate repeated.
"It's Mike. He's been in an accident. Hit and run. They've rushed him to hospital…Kate…it doesn't look good…Kate, come home at the rush."
Kate dropped the handset and her face paled in shock. She retrieved the handset and whispered, "How…when did this happen?"
"Thirty minutes ago. He was walking to his parents' place to see his daughter and have dinner. AB Knowles saw it. This car just ploughed into him then drove off. He's in hospital, Kate. He's critical."
"We've completed the evolution, sir. I'll crash sail and steam for home. And sir, could you see his parents? And call Ryan. And sir, please keep me up to date."
"I will, Kate, Godspeed." Steve hung up and was surprised to find a tear coming down his face. Wiping it away, he picked up the phone to call the Flynns.
Kate found herself uncontrollably shaking. Mike. Mike, don't you dare die on me. I nearly lost you twice before, don't try for a third time! She stood up, sucked in some deep breaths, Come on, get a grip my girl! You can't let your crew see you like this! She went to the little cubicle, washed her face and checked her hair. Then straightening her back, she reached for her mobile and called David.
She heard the soft Irish lilt come back to her. "David Miles."
"X, return to the ship. Call the crew to return at the rush. Prepare to crash sail. I'll explain when you return. Inform the harbour master of our intention to depart."
"Aye, Ma'am. I'm five minutes from the ship now. "David cut the call and went to inform the harbourmaster. Then he started calling the crew to return to the ship.
Squaring her shoulders, Kate walked to the bridge, just as her buffer and coxswain presented themselves to the bridge. Quietly she said to them, "Sam, Tony, prepare to crash sail. We have to return to port at the rush. Is Gee-Gee back yet?" Chief Engineer Graham "GG" Goodwin was the replacement for Jack Rogers, her previous Chief who had returned to a shore posting after a period of convalescence.
Sam said, "Yes ma'am he was with us."
"Chief Goodwin to the bridge at the rush," Kate piped. Turning to Kathy, she said, "Get the Honiara delegate who met us when we arrived…I can't think of his name." Kathy did remember and made the appropriate call. While Kate was paying her compliments, she explained that Hammersley had to depart imminently, and she apologised for any breach of protocols. The delegate, however was sympathetic to the situation, and they ended their call on friendly terms.
"Gee-Gee, we have to crash sail. I want those engines giving me all they can, right? This is a matter of urgency."
"Yes Ma'am," he said and moved to his console.
David had managed to convey the urgency of the crash sail to the crew, in spite of the fact that he, as yet, had no idea what had instigated the order. Within thirty minutes all crew had returned, and Kate gave the orders to close up and cast-off lines. When the Hammersley, under the expert guidance of Coxswain Brierley was heading away from port and toward open sea, Kate told him he had the ship and requested her X come with her off the bridge.
When they got to the wardroom, Kate went in and David followed her. He saw her pale face and eyes wide in shock. He waited for her speak.
"X – David, something awful has happened. Mi- Captain Flynn was hit by a car this afternoon. They've rushed him to hospital…it doesn't look good…David, he might be dying. I don't know much more."
She turned away to hide the tears which so wanted to come. Then David said, very gently, "Ma'am sure and won't we have ye home soon to himself, may the saints preserve him. Now, why don't you go to your cabin ma'am, I'll have Cookie bring her best tea. Go on now, ma'am, I've the ship now and so I have."
"Thanks," Kate whispered, and allowed herself to be escorted to her cabin, where she knew she could give way to the emotions that she could no longer suppress.
Cairns.
When Buffer came home, he was planning to tell Nikki what he suspected with the beer being possibly stolen. He was also looking forward to some play with his twins. He stepped in the door, and Nikki flew into his arms. It was plain that she had been crying.
"Nik? Sweetheart what's happened? Are the kids OK? What's wrong?" He guided her to the lounge, and saw the twins playing on their playmat on the floor. She looked up at him, stricken.
"Pete, bad news. There was a hit and run outside NAVCOM. It's Mike. Pete, some bastard swerved into him and just drove off. He's in hospital Pete, he may not live…" Her voice trailed off as Buffer sat next to her trying to take in what she was saying. "Steve Marshall phoned me, and I heard the news on the radio. The police are looking for the driver of a blue Nissan Skyline –" She stopped as she saw Buffer's look of disbelief. Buffer tried to speak and found he couldn't. He knew the car; he'd seen it often enough. That bastard, that bloody drunken bastard. How could you!
When he could trust himself to speak, Buffer said gently, "Nik, I have to go back out. Will you be OK with the twins? I might be gone for a bit. Save me some dinner, I don't know how long I'll be." Then he kissed her and went out into the evening twilight. As he got into the car, his mobile rang. It was 2Dads.
"I suppose you heard?" said 2Dads. His voice sounded flat.
"Yeah," Buffer said. "You still at home? I'll pick you up. You know where we're headed, right?"
"Right."
When Buffer arrived, 2Dads was already waiting outside his place. Wordlessly he got in the car next to Buffer. In silence they drove through the streets to a certain address. When they arrived there, Buffer stormed over to the front door and banged on it yelling, "Mad Dog! Open up now!"
The door slowly opened, and Mad Dog looked blearily at Buffer. "Boss?" he slurred, "Whatcha want?"
For answer Buffer punched him in the face. The force of the blow sent him staggering backwards into the room where he fell over the coffee table. Buffer followed him in and was about to land a second punch when 2Dads grabbed his arm. "Buff, belting crap out of him won't help."
Buffer held Mad Dog by his shirtfront. His face was so close to his that he could smell the alcohol on the man's breath. The room was littered with empty beer cans, and coke cans. Two empty bottles of bourbon kept them company.
Menacingly, Buffer said, "Did you take the beer from the cool room?" He shook Mad Dog violently. "DID YOU?!"
"Yeah…"
"And you were driving the car that hit Mike Flynn, weren't you? WEREN'T YOU?! Then you drove off like the cowardly bastard you are. If he dies, I'll see that you rot in jail. I'll see that you NEVER get out." Mad Dog went to shake his head but Buffer punched him a second time. He strode across the room and picked him up by the shirtfront. He shook him again. "The cops gave a description of the car that hit him. YOUR car, you lowlife!"
By this time 2Dads had caught hold of Mad Dog. Buffer growled, "Hold this until I get back." Then he stormed out to the garage where, sure enough, there was the offending Nissan Skyline, with its right driving light smashed and bloodstained, and its front bumper bar crumpled. Buffer instinctively stepped back from the car, recoiling in horror. Shaking, he pulled out his mobile and called the police. He told them he had found the hit run driver and the car, and directed the police to the address. Then he sat in his own car, put his head on the steering wheel, and cried like a child.
