Page 5 of Rescued Duty

Zack’s shoulders loosened and he sprinted to the engine bay. The interrogation with his boss would have to wait.

He donned his attire and equipment and hopped up into the truck seconds before Ridge peeled out of the drive. He held his helmet in hand and stared at the picture of his parents wedged inside. A loss he refused to be overtaken by. The reminder propelled him further. He might be loaded down with gear, but the chance to save a life made the burden light.

“Rescue 5 en route. ETA six minutes.” Bryce spoke over the radio comms.

A few seconds later, the radio crackled. “Copy. Thirty-plus victims trapped in the river among the collapsed bridge. Officers already on scene.”

They pulled up to the edge of the park where half a dozen people waded out of the river, screaming and splashing. The bridge had buckled, the middle section sunk into the river. Civilians still on the unstable structure clawed at the beams, seeking a refuge from the water below.

“Eddie, grab the ropes. I want you and Zack pulling people out.” Bryce slammed his door. “Ridge, set up an area for those who need medical assistance.”

Zack jogged down to the embankment and took a moment to assess the area. Those precious seconds of familiarizing himself with his surroundings could mean life or death for anyone involved. Rocks and dirt lined the steep slope that led to the water’s edge. Wooden slats from the bridge floated in the water. A few were caught on rocks and jutted straight up.

A woman with jet-black hair grabbed on to someone’s arm and helped pull them out of the river. They made their way over to Zack, both sopping wet.

He pointed to Ridge. “Head over to the grass by the swings. Someone will help you.”

“Help. My leg’s stuck.”

“She hit her head!”

“I can’t get up. The rocks are too slippery.”

Chaos swirled around him, all the voices blending into a wash of noise.Focus.

Eddie dashed over to Zack and slapped him on the back. “One at a time. Let’s go.”

Zack forged ahead through the water, ignoring the icy temperature stabbing his legs. He grabbed a flailing woman’s arm, righted her, and held her tight as he led her out of the water to Amelia by the medical tent. “Here you go, Lieutenant.”

Eddie shoved a broken beam aside and hefted a woman into his arms. Blood matted her hair. “If you can swim, head to shore.”

“I’ll grab the others over here.” Zack pointed to his left, upstream.

Eddie nodded. “I’ll take the two up there.”

Zack glided his feet along the rocks and worked his way upstream, careful not to take big steps and risk slipping. Hepushed several wooden boards out of the way and tossed a few onto the embankment.

Zack cupped his hands over his mouth. “Fire Department. We’re here to help.”

“My foot is stuck under the debris.” An older man waved his arms in the air from his crouched position on a rock. A woman bent low next to him, her business suit sopping wet and plastered to her frame. She worked on freeing him and now fought to yank on something below the water’s surface.

“Here, let me help.” Zack came up beside the woman and extended his hand.

She turned to face him, and her dark brown eyes bored into his. Zack’s mind rushed him back to another time and place. Between her black hair, held back in a wet and matted ponytail, and her melanin-rich skin, there was no mistaking who stood beside him.

“Naya.” Her name came out in a whisper, and Zack cleared his throat.

“Zack.” She glanced down at his soaked uniform and pulled her hand from his grasp. “This man needs help.”

Zack turned his attention to the guy. “What’s your name, sir?”

“Jay. I was just trying to support a good cause.” The man groaned, his face pinched. “Now look what happened.” He waved his hand, but his balance teetered. Zack grabbed the man’s upper arm to stop him from falling back from his crouch.

“We’re going to get you out of here, Jay.” Zack studied the water below, which was murky, given all the debris, but still clear enough to see what trapped the man.

Naya pointed. “This rock rolled over, and it’s pinning his foot down.”

“Can you spot him so he doesn’t fall, and I’ll try to move it?” Zack shifted to Jay’s right.

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