“You got it, boss. We’ll get him cleaned up, and ready for the funeral home.”
Zane made a clipboard appear, and she signed off on it. Since Jet had no wife, family, or kids, she was going to make sure his last will was handled.
“COD is GSW to the left temple,” Zane said, signing off on the cause of death. “What time?” he asked her.
Elizabeth knew.
“Ten oh six tonight, he took his last breath in service to his country,” she offered.
This was the dignified transfer he deserved.
He scribbled in the information, and then had Dalia sign off too.
“I need to say goodbye,” she said. “Then, my Marines do too.”
They understood.
Chris had friends at this hospital, since he donated a lot of money, and he’d cleared the way.
Everyone stepped back, minus the two Marines who worked with the man, and they stayed by her side.
Staring down, she touched his face, the side that wasn’t too damaged from the gunshot.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “If I could go back and fix this, I would do so many things differently. I regret that this cost you your life, Jet. You served and stood your watch for me and this country. This is your last call, and wherever you are, find my old man, and he’ll keep you company. Dad, take into your arms this Marine, for he has served his country, the people of the United States of America, and the Constitution. He has served it with dignity, honor, and strength befitting the best Marines.”
She unbuttoned his bloody shirt the best she could while he was in his vest, and pulled out his tags. There were two on the chain, and she knew he wore them.
Then, she pulled one off and tucked it into his cold hand.
“I’ll stand the watch for you now, Soldier. Oohrah, Marine. I love you, and I’m going to miss you,” she said, dropping his dog tags over her head to keep them safe until she could put them on her wall at home.
Then, she did something no one expected.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her badge. She unclipped the gold shield emblazoned with FBI and tucked it into his shirt pocket.
“Keep this safe and hold onto it for me. I won’t be needing it for the next few days—not until I find the man who leaked mylocation so you would die. Trust and believe, there’s payback, and I’m going to be the one who deals it out. Before, I was hesitant to cross that line. Now, the line has been erased. I will get you justice. I promise.”
Then, she kissed him softly on the lips as her tears dripped onto his face.
When she stood up, she saluted him, and both Marines did the same beside her.
Then, and only then, she walked out, leaving Jet Donato, one of the Marines who had been with her since the beginning on that gurney in her friends’ hands.
And she went to find a place to pray.
BecauseOperation Hell’s Gatewas about to open and begin.
And Destruction was coming.
For Devon Slater.
* * * The Blackhawks * * *
Thirty Minutes Later
Monday Morning
Well Past Midnight
