Part 6: The Hero of Hurricane Iris
Brett frowned.
“You know this clown?”
The mayor turned on him.
“That ‘clown’ saved my husband, my daughter, and my two grandsons during Hurricane Iris.”
The terrace went dead silent.
Brett’s mouth opened.
The mayor stepped closer, her voice shaking but clear.
“Our evacuation boat capsized in the storm surge. The Coast Guard ordered all rescue teams back because the water was too dangerous. Matthew disobeyed no order. He volunteered after his shift ended.”
Matthew looked away.
The mayor continued.
“He tied himself to a rescue line and went into that water four times. Four. He got my family out. Then he went back for two crewmen from another vessel.”
The sheriff added quietly,
“Only one of those crewmen came back with him.”
Matthew’s eyes lowered to the watch.
The sheriff looked at Brett’s loafer.
“That watch belonged to Petty Officer Daniel Reeves. He gave it to Commander Matthew Hale before he was swept off the deck.”
No one spoke.
Even the phones dipped.
Brett finally lifted his foot off the watch.
Too late.
The crystal was shattered.
May you like
The leather strap was split.
The second hand had stopped.
