“Buddy, it’s no secret. Within a short period of time, like you, I figured out how to work the system. I knew I’d wind up dead if I stayed in the front lines. A guy six foot four isn’t built for guerrilla warfare. So I asked to be transferred into Medics because of my height disadvantage. It wasn’t an unreasonable request. Plus I was an EMT in high school so I had some experience. I knew it was a long shot but nothing ventured, et cetera. Three weeks later, after days and nights of routinely seeing body parts flying through the air, I was transferred. Medics wasn’t an easy division and it wasn’t safe. We were the first called in when the fighting broke out. We were transported in choppers and we were always getting shot at. And, yes, we did get hit and have to land more than a couple of times. We even crashed, but there are crashes and then there are crashes. I was lucky.”

“I suppose that’s one word for it.”

“It’s the only word for it. Luck. And let me tell you, it was better than crouching in the dirt and shooting at Cong because I was actively doing something worthwhile. I saw a lot of horror, but I helped save a lot of lives.

“After I got back to civilian life, I drifted into the academy because it seemed like my best option. I do well with a chain of command. I’m not the gadfly, McAdams. I’m not the wise guy or the renegade and I don’t like rogue cops on a crusade because they screw things up for the rest of us peons. I’m the drudge. I worked my cases with elbow grease. I worked them to death and mostly I got results. Do I have some cold cases that eat at me? You betcha I do. But maybe those cases will eventually be given a fresh pair of eyes. And if they call me for information, I will be happy to cooperate. All I want is justice for the victims. No ego, just solutions. Which brings us to the all-important question. Are you with me or not? Because I’m going to demand 110 percent.”

McAdams nodded. “Whatever you need. And I’ll try to keep my obnoxiousness in check.”

“It’ll come out from time to time, but that’s okay. As long as you’re dependable.”

“I’m good at dependable.”

“Great. So let’s go find Julia in 4D and see if we can’t get some justice for Angeline Moreau. I may not have been suited as a lawyer, but I’m a great advocate for the dead.”

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10