“Please. Have a seat. Can Robin get you anything? Coffee? soft drink? Water?” He asked.
“No really I’m fine. I know you are very busy and I really appreciate your taking the time to speak with me so I’ll get to the point so you can go back to doing much more important stuff,” she replied.
“I’m never too busy for the media,” he assured her.
“Governor, what I came to ask you about was the medical facility that you expounded on in your press conference,” she said.
“I see. Well, what would you like to know?”
“How has it been going? I mean is it working out like you had envisioned. Have people voluntarily come forth?”
“We have had some degree of success in that area. People have been taking advantage of the opportunity to be checked out medically,” he replied.
“I see. What about other people turning in suspected cases?”
“Oh, that hasn’t really happened very often. I mean, it’s not like everyone is spying on each other. We have had a few calls but not many,” he assured her.
“Can you give me a percentage? Is it ten percent? Twenty? More?” she asked.
“Oh heavens no. Probably no more than one percent if that amount,” the Governor replied.
“And are people allowed to leave if it is determined that they have not been infected?”
“Absolutely. We certainly would have no reason to detain them.”
“So they can come and go without restrictions?”
“Well, if we find they are infected we do try to convince them to stay. That is the whole idea behind the project. If they just go right back out into the public they will only infect others. Remember, we are trying to save those who are not infected. It is all about reducing everyone’s risk of contracting this virus.”
“I see. Well that certainly is a relief to hear. You see the thing is I was told it was operating more like a concentration camp. You know, work sets you free, type of thing,” referring to the saying over the entrance to Auschwitz.
“That is a total fabrication. Whoever said that is just trying to undermine what we are trying to accomplish. That is totally reprehensible. We are doing our absolute best to aid and care for the sick and infected. Anyone saying otherwise is misrepresenting the facts.”
“Alright Governor McClain. And has anyone been shot or killed at the facility that is not related to the virus.”
“Young lady, I don’t know where you are getting your information but you certainly need to check your sources a little better before you dare ask such a question,” he said angrily, rising from his seat.
“Governor, I would like for you to comment on a couple of pictures,” she said, taking them out of an envelope and sliding them across his desk.
He looked down and turned pale. The razor wire was in clear focus with the medical facility in the background. He looked at the second one. It showed armed guards standing around men and women as they were being pulled from the truck. The third one showed a man being dragged with hands under both arms by guards, off to one of the large buildings.
“Where did you get these? These are fakes. Someone has manipulated them. You have been duped Ms. Meeks,” he said, tossing them over to her side of the desk.
“You see the thing is, I was there. I was right next to the photographer. They are not fakes. I even saw your so called guards shoot a man who refused to cooperate. They riddled his body with bullets while he lay on the ground.”
“That is a damned lie. I don’t know what you think you are trying to prove but let me tell you Ms. Meeks. I will crush you if you continue with this line of reporting. Those are nothing but false accusations. You have nothing but a few crappy pictures. Everyone knows you investigative reporters just look for the dirt and never talk about the good. All you want is to bring people down. Your kind are trash. You can’t be a real reporter so this is what you stoop to. Now get out of this office and don’t you ever come back. Do I make myself clear, Ms. Meeks?”
She stood, picked up the pictures and put them in the envelope.
“Have a nice day Governor,” she said and walked out of the room.
She could hear him throwing something. She just smiled and walked on.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Buck came rushing into the trailer and grabbed Randal.
“It's one of my guys,” he said breathlessly, “He was working on the winch and ripped his suit.”
“Where is he?”
“Outside in the truck.”
Both Randal and Mark rushed out. He was sitting on the tailgate pinching a rip together on his leg. Randal examined it for several seconds.
“Well, the good news is that it’s pretty far down. You had a positive pressure on the suit so that helps as well. How long was it ripped before you noticed it?”
“Not long. I felt a tug and then thought, oh hell. I reached down and there it was. I pinched it off immediately as best I could.”
“Then what?”
“I told Buck. He practically threw me in the truck and we took off.”
“What do you think?” Buck asked anxiously.
“At this point there is not much we can do. I honestly think he should be okay. The rip isn’t very big and with the pressure and all he should be okay. It was quick thinking to grab the spot and pinch it off. It would have been better if you had put tape over it but all things considered, I think you will be fine.”
“Man, we have gone all this time and not one accident and the day before we lower the thing, this happens,” Buck said shaking his head.
“You guys need to keep a roll of duct tape handy. If something like this happens again, cover the rip but also wrap tape around the area above the tear. It will help prevent the air from traveling up to the mouth,” Mark added.
“I’ll damn sure have a roll with me before we even go back down there. Man, this stinks.”
“Sorry, I didn’t get your name,” Randal said to the guy sitting on the tailgate.
“Shelton Farley.”
“Okay Shelton, here is what I want you to do. I want you to head over to that trailer over there,” Mark said pointing to a similar one to theirs, “Tell them we sent you and explain what happened. They will draw some blood and then they will isolate you. I hate to do it to you but it has to be done.”
“Can I call my wife and let her know?”
“Of course. Make sure she understands it just a precaution.”
“Understood. Thanks.”
“For what? We haven’t done anything so far. If we come up with a vaccine, then you can thank us,” Mark said patting the man on the shoulder.
Buck walked him over to the trailer.
“Buck sure takes things hard,” Mark said as they walked off.
“He cares. He is a darn good man. If one of his workers gets hurt, he never misses a pay check. Not many like him anymore,” Randal replied.
The editor threw the printout on his desk and looked up at Jane.
“No way am I going to let you run that story. It doesn’t matter if he got mad. It doesn’t matter that he threw you out of his office. I’ve seen the pictures and there is nothing in them to support your accusations. What the hell are you thinking? Concentration Camps. Are you just trying to get us sued?” he said his voice starting to rise.
“Look, that part may be a little over the top but the rest is true. You can see the razor wire. The patrols and dogs are right there,” she said tapping the picture.
“I don’t see the building in the background. I see a man with a dog. I see razor wire but I damn sure don’t recognize what’s in the background. This could be anyplace. I am telling you to drop this right now. I don’t want to hear another word about this. The Governor is trying to prevent the spread of this damned virus. Why are you so intent on making a mountain out of a mole hill?” he almost yelled, his face starting to turn red.