Chapter Fifteen #2
“She’s going slow because she has to get out from under the steering wheel and over the back seat. And I saw her working on getting the bullet-resistant vest off. Which you’ll agree makes sense.”
“Perfect sense.” Creed had shifted to a combat breathing cycle meant to keep his limbic system from going crazy so he could stay in the fight. “Her car’s still on the bridge?”
“I was trying to show you a visual. It might be tipped to a sharper angle, but I can assure you it’s still on the bridge.”
“What about Morrison’s SUV?”
“By the time I got out and looked over the edge—at that point the rain was coming down hard enough to obscure my visual field—I didn’t see the SUV.
With the current, I think it got washed down the river.
From the map Auralia showed me earlier, the waterway thins as it flows around the outside of the field we were in.
If that’s the case, the car should be stuck, and everyone probably can crawl out.
I haven’t looked again. I’ve been busy staunching blood. Not mine. Other people’s.”
“Can you look again? I need to let rescue know.”
“No, I can’t let go of this leg. Some lady is holding the phone to my ear.
Listen, I’m not talking to you as a reporter here.
I’m guessing at what happened. I got out of Auralia’s car, looked over the bridge to the extent that I felt safe, as the cars continued to shift with each new impact.
I didn’t see the SUV that went over. I’m guessing it’s downriver.
I haven’t seen Auralia, and she hasn’t called me, so I’m assuming she’s still in the car and is moving carefully as she gets out from under the steering wheel and over the seat, then out the window. ”
“How far is the drop?” Creed asked.
“The distance was obscured by the heavy downpour. Do you want me to guess?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Okay. It’s far down. But not far enough that I wouldn’t have jumped off the bridge back in high school.
Creed, honestly, there are so many people in dire straits right now, I’d keep on with your task and let Auralia figure out her situation.
She was thinking about you as I was getting out of the car.
She’s sure to call you the second she’s got feet on the ground, so you know she’s safe. What is your team doing?”
“I’m counting cars and counting heads. Gator’s on triage.
We’ve got tourniquets going on where needed and mylar blankets all around.
Since you two aren’t in immediate danger, I’m going to work my way toward the bridge, gathering this information and passing it on to emergency management as quickly as possible.
But, Doli, you have to call me immediately if Auralia’s car …
” He couldn’t form the words. He pushed the picture out of his mind.
How many times had he been in battle when, just over the ridge, his brothers were in real trouble, but accomplishing his task meant lives were saved?
He just needed to speed things along.
“Shit,” Doli said, “they’ll be pulling emergency equipment from the entire region. I don’t know how they’re going to get people out of here.”
The phone buzzed through.
“Gotta go. Keep in close contact,” Creed swiped the line open. “Creed here.”
“Striker here. My Logistics rep says you’ve stopped moving. Sit rep.” he was asking for a situation report.
“Getting an update on Auralia. Her car’s dangling off the bridge.”
“She good?”
“Doli, her camerawoman, got out the back window and said Auralia was going slow and careful. Uninjured.” He took a moment to relay what Doli had said about the SUV going in.
“Auralia’s got this. Where are we with numbers?”
“I see babies in car number eighteen. The parents are trapped.”
“I have a nurse here. Walking wounded, but she’s trapped in her car.
I’m going to stay here and try to get her out.
Another set of medically trained hands is crucial.
I’ll send her to car eighteen as soon as she’s freed.
Heads up, no one is paying the least attention to Jack, his whistle, or the flares.
The pileup will continue, and the impacts will have a ripple effect beyond their collision.
What’s true now of our headcount and triage will change quickly.
“They’ve got to have it out on the area radio stations,” Creed said.
“Do you know anyone who listens to local radio?” Striker asked. “Incoming, get back from the road!”
The squeal of tires as they locked into place, the sound of treads fighting against the forces of kinetic friction, speed clashed with the slick surface and gravity.
The air smelled thickly of burned rubber and chemicals.
Creed jumped up the embankment. He was too far away to see the impact, but car parts flew into the air and rained back down. The car with the babies was pushed forward.
“Status?” Striker asked.
“They were hit, the kids look fine in their booster seats. This is one for the record books.”
“Who are you working with in operations?”
“Mandy,” Creed replied.
“Have her enter the new coordinates for the vehicle with babies so the nurse can find them.”
A woman’s voice rose in a tone that wanted to be heard by whoever was on the line.
“The nurse is called Karen—keep your jokes about my name out of your mouth. Yeah, you need to get me out of here so I can be helpful. Now listen, my church is a few miles from here. I called over there, and they’re bringing in the choir bus.
They can park it at the top of the hill and be a dry place for folks to set, while they’re waiting for emergency services to get their butts in gear.
Tell your Jack fellow that they’re on the way, and they’ll park in the middle of the goddamned highway if necessary.
You can’t ignore a bus. Even a shortie like we’ve got, it’s still big and yellow. ”
“Yes, ma’am,” Striker said off the phone. Then he was back, “Creed, I’m out.” And the connection ended.
Creed tapped the call on hold. “Mandy, Creed here.”
“I’m set up on my end. You’re a go.”