Chapter 14 Retrieval

On their way down into the forest they also heard the loud explosion. Kate's heart sunk.

"Guys, I'll go forward. Stay at the forest edge just to be safe," Dutchy said.

"Oh, no. I'm not going to stay behind. I'm coming with you," Kate said fiercely, and they both started a jogging down to the jetty. There they found a devastating scene - a burning wreck and two bodies on the jetty.

"Kate, wait," he said. While he wanted to hold her back, she was too quick and ran straight to Rebecca.

There she collapsed to her knees and started crying. Dutchy ran after her and checked took Kate in his arms and held her against his chest. "She's alive, Kate, she's alive."

"Why does... does everything... I have... always get taken away?" She sobbed.

"Now… I've… lost everything. My... daughter... Rebecca... Maxine… my boats. Everything…"

"Kate, it's all good, they are not dead. And Stephanie and Bird, we will find them. The radar can trace that boat," Dutchy said to comfort her, but it didn't help, she was too upset.

Meanwhile 2Dads ran to Dutchy and got pale when he saw his former lover injured.

"Damn, is she…?"

"No, she's alive."

"Ok, I'll cover you here. We don't know if there are any bastards left here. Harpie is at the edge with the others."

"Papa-82 to Alpha-82 and Bravo-82. Do you hear me?" Nikki sounded crazy as her voice echoed through Dutchy's headset.

"Bravo-82 to speaking. We're happy you're back within range. We have a severe situation here."

"Tell me."

"We freed Commander White, Kate McGregor and her daughter, but we lost two men. Three people are wounded, one is on the verge of a breakdown and two have been kidnapped."

"What did you say? Repeat! In detail!" Nikki ordered.

Dutchy made a face at her loud voice. "The drug gang locked up Commander White, Kate and her daughter. The X's team freed them but they were ambushed. That caused the XO's s] death and the death of the Feds' constable. RO got a shot and has a wound in his arm, and the Commander has a gunshot wound to the chest. One of the gang bosses and Mike, kidnapped Kate's daughter and Bird, and got away on one of Kate's boats. They blew up the other one where Bomber got injured as well. And Kate collapsed. That's about all."

"About all? Isn't that enough? Damn, I knew it. This case sucked from the beginning. And what did you say? Mike? Mike Flynn?" she said irritated and astonished.

"Yes ma'am, Mike Flynn." Dylan was still holding Kate in his arms. Meanwhile 2Dads was busy putting emergency bandages on Rebecca's wounds.

"What the hell! Right, do you know the boat's name?" Nikki asked.

"Kate? Kate, what's the name of the boat?"

"The… the… Sou… Southern…Cross," Kate sobbed.

"The Southern Cross, ma' blue with yellow and white."

"Ok, I'll pass the description to the coast guard and the Feds. We will be there in 30 minutes. Hold on."

30 minutes later the Hammersley arrived in front of the bay and aimed the Typhoon at the evacuation area, ready to provide cover. Swain and Charge went on shore with a team to take care of the wounded and to recover the bodies. No other men were found on the island. They left with a small motor boat from the main jetty.

Nikki stood at the edge of the bridge with her hands on her hips watching how the survivors of the mission came back on board. A few moments later Dutchy, Charge and 2Dads appeared on the bridge. The sergeant of the Feds also came to the bridge and went to her.

"Captain, I have a complaint about your petty officer. He refused to cooperate with this investigation. I have to report that…"

"Sergeant," Nikki said sweetly, her eyes shooting bullets. "I remember a small conversation with you; I will recite it for you. I asked you what we should expect there. And you said 'I don't think it will be that bad'…"

"In the context of the investigation I couldn't say anything. Moreover this is just collateral damage…." he interrupted .

"What? You call that collateral damage? Two people killed, three wounded - two severely, a destroyed boat, a disappeared boat and a kidnapped kid and a sailor. And you call that collateral damage?" She spat . "And I will also make a report about you, and your career will be added to your list of collateral damage. Prepare yourself for life as a traffic warden."

The sergeant looked astonished, like he had been hit in the face. He didn't expect such an outburst from that seemingly cute woman.

"Buffer, make sure that that piece of shit gets off my bridge!" she said firmly to Dutchy.

"Yes ma'am. Come on you," he nodded to the sergeant.

2Dads poked Charge. "Wow, did you hear that? Our Italian boss has balls."

"2Dads, did I hear something?" She said fiercely.

"Uh, no ma'am, nothing."

"Fine, carry on." She turned quickly to the windows of the bridge so that they couldn't see her smile. It was the best compliment ever since she took over the command of the Hammersley six years ago. Dutchy came back to the bridge.

"Dutchy, when you make your report about this operation, put as much detai in as you can. I will need that information to make a complaint to the Feds about this operation."

"Yes ma'am."

"You have the ship. I'm going to my cabin to report back to Navcom and to check on Swain and the patients."

"Buffer has the ship," Dutchy announced.

Nikki went down but decided first to see the patients and went to the Officer's mess that had been converted into a ward.

Man, man, man, what a mess. I will not think of the huge investigation that will come when we arrive at the base. Too many things went wrong. Too little info, too under powered. This should have been a case for the SAS. Bad judgement from Wilkinson? Dutchy and RO's reports can bring clarity and Knocker's observations too. She was there before she got shot. Hopefully she remembers what had happened. Hey, Swaino was seemingly waiting for me.

There, she met Swain. Maxine and Rebecca lay down and Kate and RO sat on the bunk.

"Hey boss," he greeted Nikki.

"Swaino, how are they doing?"

"Their status is stabilised, but they are still unconscious. It looks worse than it is, but they do need surgery. The Commander has a bullet in her chest, luckily it's far away from the heart. Bomber has two fragments from the explosion in her thigh and her back. It's difficult to say what it is - plastic, wood or metal. But the bleeding has stopped. RO has a bullet in his upper arm, but the bone is not broken. But, I'm more concerned about Kate. She's mentally breaking down. I gave her a sedative and she's calmed down now, but what next, I don't know."

"Ok Swaino, nice job, you can't do anymore," she said while she tapped him on his shoulder. She went into the make-shift ward.

"Hey boss, I think I can handle the radio…" RO said optimistic.

"Nope RO, you stay here, they need to take the bullet out. It's just a matter of time. But, you were the highest ranked sailor the X's team. I want you tomake a report of what happened. And put in it everything that you know. I'm afraid we will need it."

"Ok boss, from the moment this is fixed I'll prepare one," he said pointing to his arm.

"Good man!" Then she sat down next to Kate, trying not to show how frightened she was.

Poor girl, what do you look like?

Kate sat, or more accurately, leaned against the wall, with her arms held around her pulled up legs. Her normally bright green eyes were dull and stared blankly into the room. It was embarrassing to see the once strong character now in a mentally unstable situation. "Kate," she said softly. "How do you feel?"

"Nik, they've taken everything from me. Now I've got nothing. Even Stephanie is gone," she said softly and started crying again.

Nikki wrapped her arm around her and rubbed her arm. "Kate, we'll find her, trust me. And they will be fine. Swaino just told me."

I know how God damn much it hurts to lose someone! Grrr! And I still don't know who the father of that girl is. Mike? Maybe that's why she's so upset.

"I...I don't know," Kate answered faint.

"Yes, everything will be fine, just trust me. And try to rest a bit. You can use my cabin."

"Maybe."

"I'll come back to you later on. I must make a phone call now." Kate nodded faint. Nikki went to her cabin to call Navcom to report about the situation.

"Navcom, Lieutenant-Commander Mark Thomson speaking," Maxine's assistant answered.

"The Hammersley speaking, Lieutenant-Commander Caetano. Mark, the Feds operation turned into a right mess. Prepare a hospital transport for three wounded, two severely. One of them is Commander White. And there are also two bodies, my executive officer Lieutenant Wilkinson and a federal agent. The Feds are now taking care of the island with the lab and the bodies of the drug gang," Nikki said.

"Pfft. Great! And that for a Sunday. You've just made my day Nikki. What happened to turn it into such a disaster?"

"That's a long story, too long for the phone. I even need to get the reports from the team that went on shore to know all the details. Heard anything yet from the Southern Star or Jessica Bird and the little girl?"

"No not yet. The coast guard are making observation flights now. The moment we hear something, I'll call you."

"Yes, thanks." And she hung up.

Right, to the bridge. Get them to the base asap!

A couple of hours later the Hammersley arrived at the base. Ambulances were waiting and also a hearse. Lieutenant-Commander Thompson was also waiting for them. The gangway was nearly in place when he went on board, greeted the flag and went up to the bridge. At the bridge, Nikki was surprised to see the assistant so quickly on board without announcing his arrival. Then it must be really important or extremely bad.

"Nikki, there's some good news also."

"Tell me Mark."

"They found the Southern Cross - in one piece."

"Fine, and Bird and the girl?"

"That's the second part of the good news. Both were found uninjured on the boat. Nothing happened to them."

"Thank God," Nikki sighed. Positive mumbling was heard on the bridge too. "And where are they now?"

"They're in the police station at Port Douglas. Someone can pick them up there."

"Ma'am, with your permission, I'll go," Dutchy said.

"That's Ok Dutchy."

"Maybe, the parents can come also? That will comfort the girl," Thompson said.

"Yeah, Kate, the mother is on board. I'll tell her. And the ones who stole the boat?"

"Nope, no trace. Disappeared."

"Ok thank you Mark, I'll see you later."

Nikki went to her cabin where she left Kate a couple hours ago. When she entered, she found Kate still lying in the rack, staring blankly. She knelt next to her. "Kate, I've got some good news. Stephanie and Bird have been found. Both are in good health. Nothing happened to them."

A sparkle went through Kate. Her eyes lighted up and she lifted her head to Nikki. "Is it true? Where is she? Can I get her? When?" Questions came quickly one after another.

"Yes, yes. You can get her right now. Dutchy is coming with you". She came quickly from the rack. At once, she was a totally different person than before. She wanted to slip her feet in her muddy sandals but Nikki stopped her.

"Wait, you're not going like that, are you? You look like you've been in a mud bath for hours. Put on something of mine, we are roughly the same size."

"Uh? Hmm, yes indeed," Kate admitted with a slight smile when she looked at her muddy appearance.

"Right, use my bathroom and here's a dress and some sandals," she said while taking the clothes from her locker. I'll see you at the bridge."

"Ok, thanks a lot," Kate said when accepting the clothes.

Nikki turned towards the door, but hesitated and turned to Kate again."Kate?"

"Yes?"

"I've been struggling with this since we met again. Who's Stephanie's father?"

"Mike," she said plainly.

"What?" Nikki said nearly choking.

"No, I'm not kidding, but that's too long a story to tell you now. I'll tell you when we're back."

"Hmm, ok, see that you do," Nikki answered and left the cabin, now with more questions than before.

They were on their way to Port Douglas, to pick up Stephanie and Bird. Dutchy was driving, and Kate was sat next to him.

He looked at her. "It's just like Nikki is sitting next to me, except for the colour of the hair," he said with a smile.

"Yeah, I suppose. She lent me this because I was ready for the garbage bin. A shower can do miracles."

"You must be a very good friend of hers because she wears those only when we go out with the crew to some of the better occasions when we have shore leave."

"Yeah, we shared the cabin for years before you came on board. You both missed each other at that time. She was the navigator."

"Yeah I know."

A bit later she looked at him. "Dylan?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"Uh. Why?"

"For everything."

"I've done nothing."

"Yes, you did. For this, bringing me to Stephanie. For staying with me at the jetty. For sending me emails after I was fired."

"That's normal, isn't it?"

"No, that's not normal. Not many people would persist and you did."

"That's what friends are for." He tapped on her knee.

"And therefore I say 'thank you'."

"Ok, pleasure."

At the police station they found their people. The little girl ran to her mother who took her up in her arms. Bird followed slowly behind her. Kate couldn't say a word and tears of happiness sat in her eyes.

"Mummy, you're squeezing me," Stephanie said and that made Dylan laugh.

"Hey Chicken Legs, you're looking good after that adventure," he said while he tapped her on her shoulder.

"Pfft, indeed. This is something I will never forget," Bird answered.

"What happened?" Dutchy asked.

"We went on board and before we pushed off he said that I had to care for the girl so that nothing would happen to her. He threatened to kill me if something did happen."

Kate was listening too. "Was he armed?"

"Uh, no, I saw no visual signs. I guess not."

"And then?"

"We arrived at a small jetty in this small village. He said that we had to stay here and that they would find us and he disappeared."

She reached into the pocket of her overalls and took out a folded piece of paper that she offered to Kate.

"But before he left, he gave me this letter. It's for you ma'am."

Kate unfolded it and started reading.

Dear Kate,

I hope you will read this to end and that you don't throw it in the bin after the first sentence.

First I wanted to apologize for what I said and what I have done to you. I screwed it up, literally and figuratively, and you didn't deserve that.

I remember you wanted to talk to me six years ago, after we just left that captain's table, but I ignored you. I know too that you worked hard for everything you achieved and I know you didn't use 'alternatives'. It wasn't fair from me to say otherwise.

After all that happened, I fully understand you don't want to see me again.

You opened my eyes in that container when you yelled at me that the girl is six years old. You said that with such determination, that afterwards, I realised you gave me a message.

Thank you for mentioning we have a daughter!

On the boat, I discovered she was called Stephanie. A good choice from you!

It went from bad to worse for me. I took that job on the Coral Sea because I had nothing, not realising what kind of situation I was getting into. Now I'm going to get my life back on track and try to stay out of the hands of the Feds.

Hopefully we can meet eachother again someday?

Fair winds Kate!

Mike

Kate gave the letter to Dylan who started reading it too. "Hm, Kate, I think you'll have to explain some of this to me when you're ready. I've skipped quite a few parts," he said when he looked up to Kate and saw a few tears on her cheeks."You ok? You look upset," he asked, worried.

"No, I'm fine. It's just… you know… there was so much emotion the last few hours. By the way," she changed the subject. "You never met Stephanie before. Here she is. Stephanie, this is Dylan, the man I often told you about."

"Hi Stephanie. You're a big girl. You mother already showed me several photos," he said caressing her cheek.