Chapter 18 - What Danny Would Have Done
Marcus wanted Rusk to feel even one minute of what Danny had felt. Then he remembered Danny running toward the people in that truck, not away from them.
"Brooks! Get the firefighters to the rear door!" Marcus shouted.
He slid the recorder inside his vest and moved toward Rusk. Together, Marcus and Viper pulled the loose debris aside enough for the colonel to crawl free. The effort sent Marcus's injured leg into a spasm. He dropped to one knee, gasping.
Rusk stared at him. "Why would you save me?"
"Because Danny would've done it. And I'm not you."
Firefighters opened a route through the smoke. Brooks helped Rusk out first. Marcus tried to stand, but his crutch had fallen under the wreckage. Viper leaned against him the way he had at Black Ridge, refusing to go without him.
"I'm coming, buddy," Marcus coughed. "I'm right here."
Two firefighters reached them and guided Marcus outside. On the pavement, fresh air felt sharp enough to cut. Viper staggered a few steps, his breathing rough.
Ortiz took the recovered recorder and handed it directly to an MP for evidence custody. She turned back toward Rusk, who sat wrapped in a blanket, staring at the dark hangar.
"The route log wasn't wrong," Rusk said suddenly. "We were warned."
Marcus stopped. "Say that again."
Rusk's face crumpled. "We were warned at Black Ridge. I told them to proceed. Afterward, Vale said the program would collapse if that went in the report. I let them change it."
Ortiz raised her body camera toward him. "Colonel, you're making a statement about a serious incident. You should speak with investigators."
Rusk covered his face. Shaw's security detail took him aside for questioning.
May you like
Marcus reached for Viper, ready to tell him it was finally over.
The dog took one more step, swayed, and collapsed against his boots.
