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The Chief stirred, tried to focus, fighting for breath The medic saw this, his brow furrowed, perplexed Then he ripped open the Chief’s tactical vest and exhaled

"Christ"

Lacoste looked down "Oh, no," she whispered

The Chief’s chest was covered in blood Thehis chest And there, on the side, was a wound

From across the roos, his polished black leather shoes on the floor htly But it was his hand Beauvoir stared at The Chief’s right hand, bloody, tight, taut, straining And in the headset he heard gasping Struggling for breath Garabbing, treh the breath was just out of reach

As medics lifted Beauvoir onto a stretcher he whispered over and over again, pleading, "No, no Please"

He heard Lacoste shout, "Chief!"

There was , weaker Then silence

And he saw Gaht hand spasm, shudder Then softly, like a snowflake, it fell

And Jean-Guy Beauvoir knew Ar

On the uncomfortable plastic chairs, Beauvoir let out a s the reunmen

Ruth stared at the screen, her Scotch untouched

"Chief!" Lacoste called again

Ga His lipsto say

"ReineMarie ReineMarie"

"I’ll tell her," Lacoste whispered into his ear and he closed his eyes

"His heart’s stopped," thefor CPR "He’s in cardiac arrest"

Another rabbed the other’s ar way His heart’s stopped, we need to start it"

"For God’s sake do soh the ed it into the Chief’s side and broke the plunger off