I put butter in two frying pans and began cracking eggs into a bowl. Scrambled eggs and toast would have to do for the crowd I’d be feeding. I could also start some grits and oatmeal in case we needed more than that or someone was allergic to eggs.
I put on some coffee and took all the juice out of the refrigerator. After this meal, there wouldn’t be much fresh food left, but there was plenty of canned and frozen food to fall back on. I couldn’t even begin to guess when we’d be able to leave the inn.
“We’re done with the dishes,” Marissa said, wiping her hands on a towel. “I wish there were paper plates to use for breakfast. I’ve always hated washing dishes. Do you need some help over here?”
“Maybe you could look around and find a breadlike substance for toast.” I stirred oatmeal into boiling water. “I’m sorry I got you into this. I really appreciate your help.”
“It’s starting to get light outside.” She glanced out of the window at the back of the kitchen. “I’d really like to call my grandfather and make sure he’s okay. He’s not good at remembering to take his meds. I know everyone would like to go home so we can see what’s going on.”
“I know what you mean. But I think we should stay put until we get the all-clear. Officer Randall said it’s bad out there.”
“I know.” She sighed. “But how bad? I know I haven’t lived here all of my life, but I can take it. I can walk around a car in the road.”
“You know it’s not just debris. There are power lines on the ground, ruptured mains of one kind or another. Dangerous stuff. That’s why they try to keep people off the streets after a big storm.”
“I know.” She absently stirred the grits that was beginning to bubble in the pot. “I know.”
When the meal was finally put together—buffet style, like earlier—everyone hurried to eat. Watery sunlight was calling us all outside, and no one would be happy staying in playing games now.
Many of the men wanted to volunteer their assistance in the cleanup. The women too, for that matter, although most of them were more concerned with what had happened to their families and homes. After that, they’d be ready to help out the town. I couldn’t blame them and I knew I couldn’t stop them.
Everyone wolfed down their eggs and grits. Once the food was gone, the front doors were thrown open and everyone rushed outside into the cool morning air.
It was like walking out into a massive, open-air flea market where anything and everything was available—except you might have to climb up a tree for your kitchen table or get some help flipping your car upright. I was certain all of this couldn’t have come from Duck. Surely some of the items had blown here from Corolla, Southern Shores and Kill Devil Hills.
Once everyone got over the first glimpse of what the storm had done, anyone who had a car at the inn rushed to see if it was drivable. I cautioned them that they couldn’t drive down the streets. I wasn’t surprised that no one listened.
I found my little golf cart. It was about two hundred yards away from the hitching post where I’d left it. There was a recliner in it that pretty much made it worthless, since there was no way to reach the controls.
For once, I abdicated my position as mayor. I couldn’t force all those mayors and their families to stay—I wouldn’t want to anyway. I heard some of their cars starting and knew they would take their chances on the roads, trying to get back home. I’d probably walk home once I got the inn straightened up. It was human nature to want to protect our own.
I heard a whining sound coming from the back of the inn. Worried about the generator giving out or running out of gas, I walked around the structure, picking my way through clothes, furniture and other storm-tossed rubble.
I’d spent enough time here that I knew there were two sheds in the back. One of them, obviously the one left standing, was the shed that housed the generator.
I checked the generator—it was fine. Probably just not used to running for so long. There was plenty of gas in it. Kevin’s freezers were good for a while longer. Maybe he wouldn’t lose everything.
The other shed was just a place to store tools. Kevin kept his lawnmower and other outside maintenance equipment there. The storm had flattened it—boards and shingles sticking up everywhere.
I was about to go back inside and begin the cleanup when I saw something protruding from one side of the demolished shed. I walked a little closer, At first, I wasn’t sure what it was on the soggy ground near the collapsed building. But as I looked down at it, I realized there was still a foot in that pink shoe and it was attached to a leg. I dropped down on the saturated ground, trying to catch my breath.
It seemed I’d finally found Sandi.
Chapter 8
I couldn’t bring myself to move. I finally thought—she might still be alive. There was that time a few years back when Mr. Fitzroy was trapped under his house after a storm. He was ninety years old, but he’d survived.
I knew it was a long shot with the whole shed blown down on top of her, but I couldn’t ignore the chance that I could save Sandi.
“Dae?” Nancy called from the kitchen door. “What are you doing out here?”
“I found Sandi,” I called back as I began throwing the boards that covered her. “Help me, Nancy! She might still be alive!”
“Don’t be daft!” I heard someone say in a very un-Nancy-like voice.
I looked around, but no one else was near. Nancy was still trying to make her way past all the wood and other items that had blown here to the shed where I was working. It must have been the crashing waves hitting the sand as the water churned and spit only a few hundred yards away. Or the raucous call of the gulls above me.
“The lass be long past your earthly ministrations,” the voice continued. “Best not bother.”
Okay. This was too weird. But then the entire night had been one long weird fest. “Who’s there?” I demanded. “You’d better get back inside with your parents instead of out here playing this stupid game!” I decided it had to be one of the kids staying at the hotel. No adult would be so callous.
“Is she alive?” Nancy asked when she finally reached me.
“I don’t know,” I answered. “Did you see anyone else when you came out here?”
“I think everyone else left the inn. I guess they’ll come back for their stuff once they think about it. There might be a few left lingering at the bar. They’ll be lucky if they can walk out here on their own after they’ve been drinking all night.”
“Did you hear anything?” I asked as we moved the lumber away from Sandi.
“The ocean,” she replied. “Dae, we have to call someone.”
“I know. Any ideas? There are no phones—no radios.”
Officer Randall was obviously born with perfect timing. He came around the side of the Blue Whale and picked up speed when he saw us by the remains of the shed. “I’m calling EMS,” he said after we’d explained to him about Sandi. “I hope they can send someone right away. Things are really backed up.”
With Scott’s help, we were able to reach Sandi in no time. I knew when I saw her blue-tinged face and white lips that there was no help that could reach her. Scott checked for a pulse, then shook his head.
“I’m sorry, Mayor O’Donnell. I managed to get in touch with her husband in Manteo. He’s on his way up here anyway.”
“I hate these storms that come up so fast,” Nancy said, her hands shaking. “Why can’t they give us better warning? You’d think after all these years there’d be a better way.”
I looked at the generator shed only a few feet from the collapsed shed that had killed Sandi. It was in good shape, not even a board missing. It was amazing how the fury of the storm could pick and choose what it was going to take.