Tom Simpson - Sink

“We’ll go with you if you want Kathy and try to help you locate him.” Kevin said.

“No, it’s all right. You two stay with your families. They’re happy to have you back.”

“I’ll go with you.” Paula Howard suggested. She was standing a few feet away with Tyrone Washington while, a paramedic was bandaging his arm. She heard the conversation and she wanted Kathy to find Steve. She had seen the look between them and knew she had witnessed one of those miracle “love at first sight” scenarios. “You’ll be all right won’t you?” She directed the question at Tyrone.

“I’ll be fine honey.” He replied. “You two go find Steve. I’m sure he will be happy to see you.”

The two women walked around the collapsed lobby and headed for the other hole across the green courtyard. They both looked back and saw the scattered hundreds of people walking around enjoying their freedom from their near death experience.

Stretch Sidel kept nudging his brother in the back while they walked along the rock floor of the tunnel.

“Why don’t you put that gun away? You know I’m not going to try to take it away from you.”

“Shut up Steve. I’m sick of you always telling me what to do. You’ve done it all my life and I don’t have to deal with it anymore. You always thought you were better than me and bossed me around because of it. Well I’m the boss now and you’re going to do exactly what I say. Got it?”

“Okay Sam. Settle down. I didn’t try to boss you around. I just tried to help you. I wanted you to get your life straightened out. Get a job. Raise a family. I didn’t want you to have to go back to prison again for making stupid mistakes. You could have turned your life around if you had let me help you.”

They got to the end of the tunnel and saw the ladder that was still leaning against the dirt wall of the hole. Sam(Stretch)Sidel told his brother to turn around and he pointed the gun at his head.

“You know Steve. I hate for it to end this way but, I can’t afford to let you live in order to testify against me for killing those guardsmen and Frankie. I’m sorry Steve.”

Kathy Santos and Paula Howard had just reached the edge of the hole and looked down

when they saw Stretch pointing the gun at Steve’s head.

“Don’t do it. Oh my God, no.” Kathy screamed.

Stretched pulled the trigger and the blast echoed in the enclosed area. Kathy Santos fainted as the reality of what happened sunk in.

“This is Wendy Wikowski, reporting live from the massive sinkhole that has struck central Florida. In our earlier report we stated that hundreds of people, perhaps a thousand were still trapped below the surface of the ground. We are happy to announce at this time that the Florida National Guard has now taken control of the situation and with their extensive disaster training and large equipment allocation they found a large group of people thought originally drowned when the lake poured into the sinkhole. The death toll is much lower than earlier forecast and hundreds of jubilant people are milling around, thankful they are no longer trapped in this water filled pit of horror.”

“On our earlier report we stated the two traveling companions of internationally famous movie stars Tiffany Royal and Brandon Miles were missing and presumed dead. They have both been located safe and sound and were saved from near disaster by clinging precariously to a large floral display stand deep within the bowels of the earth. The quick and efficient work by the National Guard saved those two peoples lives and we have been told the movie stars were ecstatic upon their rescue. On a lighter note we have also been informed that Tiffany Royal and Brandon Miles have announced their engagement and they both plan to completely retire at the end of Tiffany’s latest TV series.”

“The deputy wounded in the earlier kidnapping attempt has been airlifted to Lakeland and at this point is in stable condition. We also have some very sad news to report. A body tentatively identified as multi-billionaire and creator of this once lavish resort, Hiruto Tankinato has been found, face completely disfigured by a falling gutter system. The once proud man has died still wearing the colors of his world famous resort.”

“We have to pause for a commercial announcement but we will return in sixty seconds.” Wendy Wikowski looked at her cameraman and gave him the thumbs up signal. She brushed the hair back off of her forehead and continued reporting as soon as she saw the red light mounted on top of the camera flash back on.

“We have returned once more to this, one of Florida’s largest disasters, and will continue reporting live as the reports pour in. The computer expert Steve Sidel has not been found at this point but, we were assured he is still alive and kicking deep in the bottom of the sinkhole. Kathy Santos, the sole heir to the Santos fortune, has been located and is reported to be doing quite well but is deeply concerned for the safety of Steve Sidel.”

“The apparent hostage situation has completely evaporated with the arrival of the National Guard and the fate of the gunmen are still unknown. Ecologists Kevin Backlin and Bill Forham have been credited with saving many lives by finding a back exit out of the sunken lobby and leading fireman back through the dangerous area at the risk of their own lives in order to save more than a score of people. At this time, we have been told the two men are reunited with their families. An earlier report we received but, had not broadcast were, the sons of the famous ecologists had fallen into another sinkhole somewhere in the surrounding woods and the quick thinking of cosmetic heiress Kathy Santos saved their lives. Another earlier report not broadcast was the marina captain Otis Sherman had been trapped in his own collapsed marina office and the heroic efforts of Paul Zangallio, a resort lifeguard, with the use of CPR saved his life. Paul Zangallio, was the local sports hero we originally broadcast as saving our own reporter, Marcia Meadows, from an assault from a local businessman gone berserk. Way to go Paul. We hope you get a medal from the president for your outstanding contributions to Mankind. We will continue broadcasting live from central Florida with each breaking news report. One more report before we brake for commercials. The prestigious manager of this resort, Dilford Bailey, has been also found dead in the sunken lobby. I guess the captain in this case, went down with his ship. This is Wendy Wikowski live from central Florida.”

Kathy Santos, dressed in black, walked slowly toward the open grave and tossed a single rose into the deep dank hole. It landed atop the walnut casket and slid slowly down the side into the bottom of the grave. The tears had streaked her makeup and she kept gently sobbing. The funeral pamphlet had “Sidel may he rest in peace” on the front cover and she was clutching it in a black gloved hand.

“I only briefly knew him but I can really feel the loss.” She said to Becky McClellan who was standing on her left side. “Such a tragic loss. It didn’t have to happen.”

“Well Kathy. They say things always happen for the best. He might have messed up your life. This is probably better this way.”

Paul Zangallio walked up to the two women and said. “Did I tell you I saw Otis this morning at the hospital? They managed to set both his legs properly and he should be back on his feet in about two months.”

“That’s great Paul. I know you really care for him.” Kathy said. A small smile on her face. “I was just talking to Becky, Paul and I think she is right. Sometimes things happen for the best.”