Page 31 of The Beautiful Mess

“Even better.” Curtis gave the rigging a solid tug and extended it to Kerry. “It’s ready for you, boss.”

Kerry quirked a brow as he accepted the gear. “Would you send your mother over the side of the bridge in this harness?”

Curtis scrunched his face in concentration. “Absolutely.” His captain was the king of mama’s boys, so that boosted Kerry’s confidence.

“That’s good enough for me,” Kerry said before donning the harness and safety equipment. The crew overseeing the driver’s rescue checked his rigging one last time. Curtis handed him a safety helmet and earned a snarl. “What good is that going to do me if I plummet into the river?”

“He’s just afraid the helmet will obscure his face from the news cameras,” Curtis told the crew. “You can put it on the driver’s head during the ascension,” Curtis said. “Give them a good view of your face.”

A cop approached them with a cell phone pressed to his ear. “The rescue team is suited up and getting ready to come down, sir. I need you to stay calm just a while longer.” So he’d been tasked with keeping the driver calm. The cop lowered the phone to mid-chest. “We almost ready here? The driver has been stranded for nearly forty minutes now.”

“We’re good to go,” Kerry said, though he wanted to point out that there wouldn’t have been a big delay if they’d contacted his rescue crew in the first place instead of Chuck the Fuck Up. “I’m doing a last check, then I’ll head over.” The cop walked away, and Kerry faced his crew. “Let’s do this. Nice and steady, fellas.”

A loud metal creak came from the big rig, and the trailer gave a violent shake. Hysterical screaming came from the side of the bridge as the trapped driver panicked. And who could blame him? Semitrailers weren’t built to withstand this kind of pressure. They were built to haul things, not anchor heavy semi cabs.

“Scratch that,” Kerry said. “Get me down there as fast as you can before this guy loses his cool and makes things worse.”

Kerry crossed to the side of the bridge and assessed the distance down to the driver’s door. Broken sobs came from the truck, and Kerry realized that keeping the driver calm might be the biggest challenge. “Hang on, buddy. I’m coming down for you right now.”

He swung a leg over the barrier rail and then the other. He carefully turned around so he could keep his eyes on the truck cab while his crew lowered him down. Beyond the reach of the spotlight, the world was completely black. Kerry couldn’t see the river, but he heard the rushing water below. He kept his breathing nice and even as he began his descent. The first few feet were the most nerve-racking. Kerry enjoyed skydiving at sunrise, but dangling over a river took a toll on his brain. He battled back his fear with deep breaths and by communicating with the driver.

“Not much longer now. Only about five more feet,” Kerry called out. “What’s your name?”

“R-r-r-onnie,” came the nervous reply. “Ronnie Pettigrew.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ronnie,” Kerry said. “Here’s what’s going to happen. In a few feet, I’m going to tell you to open your truck door.”

“N-n-no w-w-way,” Ronnie stammered. “I’ll fall out.”

Kerry understood his hesitance, but he needed to move him past his fear. “I either pull you out and up through an open door, or I pull you out through the window. The first way is much easier and won’t shake the truck cab nearly as much. You heard that creaking, Ronnie. That trailer is what’s holding you in place. We need to avoid unnecessary vibrations.” By the time he finished his spiel, Kerry was almost to the door. “Look in your side mirror. Do you see me?”

Ronnie turned his head and met Kerry’s gaze in the mirror. “Yeah.”

“I know what I’m doing, Ronnie. Listen to what I say, and we’re both going home tonight. Okay?”

The guy nodded vigorously, then widened his eyes in alarm. Kerry could tell he was worried the jerky movement would be his doom. And it could be if they didn’t act fast. “Yes.”

The truck released another loud groan of protest that made Kerry very uncomfortable. “I have a crew working to stabilize the trailer, Ronnie. I want you to focus on what I’m saying. Okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Is your seat belt on?” Kerry asked.

“Y-y-yes.”

“Good. Leave it on. Open the door for me, Ronnie. You don’t have to push it open wide. Just unlatch it and let me do the rest of the work.”

The front end of the truck sustained a lot of damage, but the driver’s door released without incident. “Good job. Just hang tight.” Once he was level with the door, Kerry offered the man what he thought was a reassuring smile. Ronnie still held his cell phone to his ear, and Kerry asked him to disconnect and give his full attention to the rescue. “I’ve got some safety gear we’re going to put on you, Ronnie. I’ll attach your harness to mine before we release your seat belt.” The driver shook his head, but Kerry kept talking. “My crew will pull us up together.”

“Just haul the truck back up onto the bridge,” Ronnie said. “That’s what the cop said the other guy was going to do.”

Kerry knew the identity of the “other guy” without being told. Chuck hadn’t learned a damn thing from his previous mistake, but at least someone had been smart enough to stop him before he killed someone with his stupidity. Kerry carefully opened the driver’s-side door and laid the harness on Ronnie’s lap. The driver stared down at it and recoiled like Kerry had set a venomous snake there instead. Another metallic protest from above emphasized that Kerry didn’t have time to coddle Ronnie or debate with him. He put a little starch in his voice and said, “Listen up, Ronnie. The first responders didn’t go with the other guy’s idea because it sucked. I’m down here for a reason, and that’s because I’m the best at what I do. Do you want the best?”

Ronnie swallowed hard. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” Kerry offered encouragements as he efficiently helped Ronnie put on the harness. The driver trembled with fear, but he didn’t protest one time. Kerry double-checked the fit and security of the safety gear. He practically climbed into the cab so he could tether Ronnie to himself. The integrated seat belt kept Ronnie secure in the chair, but it was also in the way. There’d been no way to work around it unless Ronnie had wanted to take off the seat belt while donning the harness. That was a risk Kerry hadn’t been able to afford.

“How are you going to get me out around this?” Ronnie asked frantically.

---