Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
Z ack found a parking spot at the Tribune’s office site and climbed the steps to the third floor. A large sign with the paper’s branding and logo sat above the entrance. The overhead bell chimed at his entrance, and the receptionist glanced up from her computer screen.
“How can I help you?”
“I’d like to speak with Tucker. He’s a reporter here.”
“His cubicle is down on the right.” The woman pointed with a manicured finger.
Zack took long strides through the hallway. For Tucker’s sake, he prayed he hadn’t been the one to publish the story. Zack’s fingers cramped. He hadn’t even realized he’d had them balled up. He opened and closed his hands to relieve the tension.
That’s not how I see you. You are a child of God. The past does not define you.
He could have sworn Naya’s words had been coupled with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. How he wanted to be the man she believed in. But how could he measure up?
Of course, it didn’t matter that he wasn’t perfect. Because he’d never attain that on earth. The posture of his heart was what was important. Zack knew it. But it was another level to believe the truth and live in it.
Naya had affirmed all the qualities in him that only God could have worked out. Yet it still didn’t feel like enough. Not after the conversation with Bryce, Macon, and Allen. They had their doubts, and Zack didn’t know when he would be able to stop proving himself. When others would stop pegging him as a troublemaker.
The thought of people whispering behind his back, questioning if he should be allowed around the foster boys, or even questioning his ability to stay on rescue squad threatened to send anxiety bubbling to the surface.
Thank You, Lord, for making me into a new man. Help me live out my new identity. May others see it too.
He stopped in front of the cubicle with Tucker’s name plate on the wall and rapped on the divider.
“Tucker, it’s—” Zack walked around the corner and froze. An array of papers littered the man’s desk. A mug lay overturned, and coffee dripped off the edge onto the floor. Where was he? The five-by-five area wasn’t big enough to hide in. And why leave in such a rush?
Zack grabbed a tissue and wiped up the puddle of coffee. He slid a few papers over to keep them from getting more wet. Maybe Tucker’s boss was in and he could talk with the man. Zack crumpled the tissue, and the words on an index card caught his attention.
I’m sorry. I can’t do it anymore. This mistake is too big to fix. I deserve to die in that river where this whole mess started.
River.
Wats only go empty’n wivers.
Now was not the time to think about his dad’s silly game.
Zack snatched the note and raced back down the hall.
Had Tucker played a role in the scheme this whole time? What if he’d lied to Naya about his involvement?
Zack bounded down the steps two at a time and sprinted to his car. He wasn’t about to let a man die on his watch. Even if the guy had played a role in publishing the article.
While one hand turned the ignition, Zack dialed 9-1-1 with the other.
“Where’s your emergency?”
“The Penn Bridge. By the river. I have reason to believe someone is making a suicide attempt.” Zack pressed down harder on the gas. The speedometer climbed. The bridge was ten minutes away, but Zack would make it five.
“Medics and rescue are on their way.”
Zack couldn’t let Tucker kill himself.
The car tires squealed to a stop by the curb, and Zack shoved open the door. He bolted past the park entrance. The bridge, or what was left of the structure, stood in view.
Please Lord, don’t let me be too late.
Zack scanned the area. A few kids played on the playground nearby. A couple walked their dog on the path that wound past the river.
Tucker had to be here somewhere. Zack just hoped he wasn’t already in the water.
Movement to his right caught his attention.
The man had one leg wrapped over the side of the bridge.
“Tucker. Wait!” Zack tore through the caution tape blocking the area and bounded up the bridge. This side of the structure seemed sturdy enough. The last thing he needed was the rest of the bridge collapsing. “You don’t have to do this.”
Tucker braced his arms on the railing. He glanced back. “It’s too late.”
The brief moment of hesitation gave Zack enough time to close the distance.
Tucker let go of his hold and leaned forward.
“No!” Zack reached over the edge and gripped the back of Tucker’s jacket. He yanked with one hand and wrapped his other arm around the man’s torso.
“Let me go,” Tucker yelled.
Zack pulled the man over the railing and tackled him to the ground. The bridge groaned under the sudden force of added weight.
Sirens pierced the air.
The structure shifted, and Zack braced his hand along the wood, his back on the ground.
“You should have let me die alone.” Tucker’s chest heaved.
“Why’d you do it?”
“I didn’t have a choice.” Sweat beaded on Tucker’s brow, and he lay on the bridge and leaned his head against the slats.
“Your life is worth more than this choice.”
The bridge jerked. Zack scrambled to a crouched position and braced himself. He peered over his shoulder. The paved walkway that led to the bridge was only a few feet away. They could make it to solid ground.
He wasn’t going to let them die. They were too close to the truth.
Zack wedged his arms under Tucker’s and grunted. The man held on to the railing, not making it easy for Zack. “You’ve got to let go.” Zack used all his weight to pull the man backward.
The bridge creaked and wood snapped apart. Splashes resounded. More pieces broke apart and threatened to pull Zack and Tucker with them.
“I don’t care what you wanted. I’m not going down today,” Zack said through clenched teeth.
Tucker released his grip from the railing and pushed against the wood with his feet, creating more distance between them and a deadly descent. Zack dragged Tucker a few more steps, and the two collapsed on the dirt.
Zack shifted to his side and exhaled—right when the rest of the bridge splashed into the water below.
“You all right, hero?” Eddie loomed overhead and extended his hand.
“Could be worse.” Zack gripped his friend’s hand and stood up.
Trace and Kianna hovered over Tucker, ready to take his vitals.
“I’m fine,” Tucker huffed. “No thanks to that guy.” He stood up and shooed off the EMTs, but Trace and Kianna stayed nearby.
The rest of rescue crew worked to clear the area of bystanders.
“What were you thinking?” Zack clenched his hands.
“The money isn’t worth it. Not when my career is now destroyed.”
“Because of the story?”
“I should have never taken the information Naya gave me.”
Zack pulled in a breath. “So she wrote it, then?” He would not let this guy use Naya as a scapegoat. “That’s the excuse you’re going with?”
Tucker’s face went slack. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”
Zack stood to full height. “Telling the truth is easy. Either you wrote it, or you didn’t.” Bryce stood nearby talking to Ridge, who pointed to the river. “And my boss should hear what you have to say. In case you didn’t know, defamation is a serious offense.”
Tiny beads of sweat broke out along Tucker’s hairline. “I was coerced into publishing that piece. They’re not even my own words, dude.” Tucker’s eyes widened.
Zack ground his teeth. “You submitted a story you didn’t even write? Why?”
“He promised me money. Said he could help me get the promotion. He’d make it look like Naya wrote the story.”
“Who put you up to the task?”
“Some guy from Ethos.”
“Who?”
“I dunno, Hudson something. I don’t remember his last name.”
Of course Hudson would have had knowledge of Zack’s childhood problems.
Why meddle in Zack’s life now? So many years had gone by since that season of teenage angst and all those dumb fights. Why did the guy still hold a grudge?
Zack waved to get Detective Wilcox’s attention.
“What are you going to do?” Tucker’s eyes darted around.
“I’m going to have a talk with Hudson.” Zack shoved his hands in his pockets. “And let the police handle you.”
“Whoa.” Tucker held out his hand. “I’d be careful with that dude. He’s not someone to mess around with.”
“And neither are people’s reputations,” Zack said.
“C’mon, man.” Trace walked up to Tucker. “You need to get checked out. Protocol.” Trace, Kianna, and Wilcox escorted a resistant Tucker away.
Zack walked off to the side and leaned against a tree. The rescue crew followed orders to secure the scene. The team he should be on right now. Zack pulled up the phone number for Ethos. It was time to put an end to all of this for good. He’d dealt with Hudson many times before and nothing had changed; the guy was still a bully. But Zack could handle him.
“Thank you for calling Ethos. How may I direct your call?” A woman’s voice came over the line.
“I’d like to speak with Hudson Callahan.”
“I’m sorry. He’s currently in a meeting. I could set up a three o’clock appointment.”
“That’s fine.”
Zack had an hour to spare. He walked over to the truck just when Eddie closed up the side compartment.
“How are you holding up?” Eddie leaned against the truck.
“Glad it was just a close call today.”
“You and me both, man.”
“There’re so many moving parts to all of this. I turn one way and there’s a hurdle. I look the other direction and there’s a boulder. It’s like being pushed to the sidelines, unable to do anything.”
“You don’t give up easily, though.”
That he didn’t. One of the worst feelings was inadequacy. Being unable to do something worthwhile. Zack fought against it like a firefighter breaking down a wall. He wanted to be useful. Zack rubbed his forehead. “Tucker fessed up about the story. One of the guys at Ethos got him to write it.”
“That better speed up the investigation. Get you back on Rescue with us.”
“How’re the guys?” Zack shifted his gaze. The rest of the crew gathered their equipment and headed up from the river. Did any of them really miss him? Even notice he was gone?
“About ready to stage a coup if you aren’t back in forty-eight hours.” Eddie smiled.
“Really?”
“Heck yeah. You’re an asset, man, and anyone with two eyes can see it.”
It was good to know the crew missed him. He’d had a lot of people in and out of his life growing up, but he’d been around the firehouse long enough that the guys and gals had become like family.
“How’d you figure out Tucker’s plan?”
“His note mentioned dying in the river.”
Wats only go empty’n wivers.
Zack rubbed his temple. So Tucker hadn’t been behind everything. But he wasn’t sure how Hudson fit into all this either.
“I can’t get this silly saying from my dad out of my head, either.”
“What is it?”
“Rats only go empty’n rivers.” Zack laughed. “My dad was adamant that r was the most important letter in my vocabulary. So important he said he’d told other people how necessary it was too. I found the phrase in the box with the other evidence my dad had. Including a note for P to tell someone.” Zack scratched his head. “I think P was for Powells. But now he’s dead, and any information he had is long gone with him.” Zack blew out a breath.
“Maybe the phrase is a secret message. Like each letter is connected to a number or something.” Eddie pulled out a pen from his turnout jacket and wrote it on his palm.
“It definitely points to the sandbags being dumped in the river.” That part made sense. Although Zack wasn’t sure what else it would allude to—except how adamant his dad had been that other people know how important the r ’s were.
“Let’s pack it up. I want us back to the station in fifteen.” Bryce shouted the order.
“I’m going to head out.” Zack slapped Eddie on the back. “I’ll let you have fun with that riddle.” Zack headed back to his car.
When he arrived at Ethos, Zack checked in with the receptionist, then took the steps to the second floor. The hallway was quiet, and he followed the signs until he found Hudson’s office.
His phone rang, and a glance at caller ID showed it was Eddie. “Yeah?” He stopped walking.
“It’s Roger . The first letter of each word spells out the name.”
Zack scanned the hall. No one was present, but he still turned and faced the wall to keep his voice from projecting. “That’s the CEO, Eddie. Roger Callahan.” He clenched his hand and sucked in a breath.
This whole time, the company had been covering up dangerous actions with lies. Instead of creating products for the good of the community, they were dealing silent blows.
He had to warn Naya. “I’ve got to go, Eddie. I’ll be out soon.”
He hung up and texted Naya.
Roger is behind it all. Keep an eye out. I’ll be at your house soon.
He turned around to head back to the stairs when an office door opened.
“You’re early.” Hudson grinned. “Trying to be punctual?”
“Didn’t want to miss the chance to clear the air between us.” Zack plastered on a smile and stepped into Hudson’s office.
“Want something to drink?”
“Water’s fine.”
Hudson turned around to retrieve a water bottle from a mini fridge, then handed it to Zack. “I’m glad you thought this meeting would be profitable.”
Zack twisted open the cap.
“It’s finally time you get what you deserve.” Hudson whipped out a small aerosol container, and a stream of liquid pelted Zack’s face.
Zack didn’t even have a chance to respond before the water bottle fell from his hand and he collapsed on the ground.