Page 51 of One Last Stand

“He could try doing it without destroying the rescue team that saves so many lives?—”

Moose held up a hand. “Listen. I hate that Grace Benton died. I hate that we couldn’t find her while she was still alive—although, like the coroner said, maybe she’d already been shot by the Midnight Sun Killer, so who knows? I do know that it’s a terrible balance—saving the lives of others and protecting the people who have volunteered to put their lives on the line. Believe me when I say I lie in bed some nights and replay that rescue, wondering if I did the right thing.”

“You did,” Axel said.

Tillie nodded.

“Your testimony was rather passionate, Axel. I’m not sure it helped.”

“Oh, it helped.” He finished his candy bar. “The jury hung on my every word. I’ll bet that’s why Ridge made a motion for a directed verdict—because he knew that there was no legally sufficient evidence for the jury to reach a conclusion and it was just wasting all their time.”

“You memorize that?”

“Wrote it down.” He tossed the soda can into the trash, a three-pointer.

“Maybe he just wanted to get you off the stand before you told any more stories that might make the jury think I’m reckless. I cannot believe you told them the story of the crash on Denali, with you hanging off the line.”

“Bro. It was to show how committed you are to saving people—you performed an incredible maneuver to get those guys off the serac on Peter’s Ridge?—”

“And nearly killed you and them in the process.”

“Aw, what’s a little snow burn? You going to eat that granola bar?”

“Have at it.” He gave it to Axel, who opened it.

“Listen, Moose, no matter what happens, you’re a great leader and an amazing rescue pilot, and everyone on the team knows that you’re not reckless. You might push your limits, but if you can save someone, you will. You just couldn’t in this case. And Benton and that other guy—who is he?”

“The victim’s fiancé,” said Moose. “I think his name is Liam Grant.”

“Right. Benton and Grant just need to accept that she’s gone and start healing.”

Silence as a couple people walked by. Moose looked away and cut his voice down. “This is all my fault for letting that reality show take so much footage. It feels like every time I turn on the television, I can catch an episode. And social media hasn’t helped. The show made me look like I made a choice to leave her out there to die. I can see why Harry Benton just can’t move on.”

“He lost his oldest daughter,” Axel said. “So I get that.”

“But Moose and the team saved his daughter Caroline.” This from Tillie. “And that show provided funding for all the rescues this summer.”

And with her words, yesterday’s events stirred inside Moose.

London wasalive.

Still trying to get his head around that.

But, “Shep was abducted and nearly killed because of that show. And you, Tillie—Rigger would have never found you if it weren’t?—”

“Stop.” She had stepped up to him, put her hands on his chest. She smelled good, and he got stuck on her gaze, those brown eyes tipped with gold around the iris, so much love in them he nearly reached out and pulled her to himself. Left the building without looking back.

Tillie’s voice grounded him. “This is not your fault.Noneof it is your fault. You do what you can with the wisdom you have at the time. Now, breathe. From what you said, Shep and London are going to be fine. And Benton’s civil suit will fail?—”

The door to the courtroom opened, and Ridge White stepped out. He’d slicked up today in a suit and tie, and he looked terribly like Bradley Cooper might be presenting his case. Which could be a good thing, if the jury were all women, but no, the jury was a mix of middle-aged women, older men, and a few younger men who’d been pulled out of their jobs. And the judge—a middle-aged man who had a reputation for letting the people decide.

People who probably thought that rescuers were superhuman and who had seen too many fictional television shows where the impossible happened.

“The judge is ready with his decision.” Ridge held open the door, his face betraying nothing of prophecy either way. Probably better to brace Moose for the inevitable.

Moose filed inside, followed by Axel and Tillie, who took the row behind the defendant’s table. Ridge motioned him to stand as the judge was announced and came into the chamber.

The jury hadn’t returned.