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“They were late Six minutes” He shook his head and shut his eyes “I sat at thefor Mitch and the crew to fly in the helicopter for six longout, pressure low, heartbeat faint He had zero time left Finally they showed up They’d taken on ene fuel Not bad—” he shrugged “—but enough”

“Enough for what?” Julia whispered, worried that too loud a voice would scare him away

Jesse sturabbed the Formica for balance

“Mitch wanted to head to another base A smaller one—closer, but with lih was bitter and small “No medical resources Gomez would have died”

“So you said no?”

“Uncle Sam couldn’t afford to have another dead journalist in theup public opinion of the war So I was supposed to break Gomez out of that prison and Mitch and his men were transport and firepower Goht Mitch was scared and—” he flexed his hand and squeezed again “—I was pissed I was pissed because I knew once Mitch was fired on, he’d fire back He was late because he’d engaged the enee the enemy, under no circumstances”

“That sounds like Mitch”

“I ignored his warnings He said ere losing too much fuel That ouldn’t make it”

“But you made it,” Julia said stupidly

“I ot Gomez out but I couldn’t—” He broke off “They burned Artie, Dave, Mitch”

“Jesse, that’s all terrible but it’s not—”

“If we’d gone to the other base, Mitch would be here Mitch and Dave and Artie would all be here”

“But Caleb would have died” She realized that was the equation that tore him apart Three soldiers or one journalist? His best friend and loyal squad mates, or a man he’d never met before?

Mortalwith these decisions The price was high and cut deep through his entire life

Failure Death Either way