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gave better than he got.
    When he met Brook, it was love at first sight. She was a nurse near Fort Lewis when he was stationed there with the 1st Special Forces Group. It was 1999, they were soon married and Raven was born shortly after.
    Being an operator was his life and when those nineteen shit bags dropped the twin towers it became a crusade. He believed in the war against terror so wholeheartedly that he had “INFIDEL” tattooed in Old English lettering across his back.
    Cade did everything his superiors asked of him, sacrificing anniversaries, birthdays, he even missed Raven’s first words and steps while he was hunting terrorists.
    Soon after the new President Odero took office and the crusade had lost its luster for the American people, Cade decided to hang up his spurs.
    It was a slap in the face to all of the people in uniform fighting for their country when the young liberal president and his new administration decreed that terrorist acts be called “man-made catastrophes”. It was equally disrespectful when the president and his people in the White House stopped using the word “terrorist” verbally and in print and started coddling the Muslim world.
    Choosing to leave his unit and not re-up was the hardest decision he had ever made. A lot of career shooters were also taking this route, and then working for Blackwater or Triple Canopy providing private security in the sandbox.
    Cade immersed himself in family life.

 
     
    Chapter 10
    Day 2 Southeast Portland
     
     
    Cade’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He extracted it and saw that Brook’s name and number were on the display, he answered it immediately. Sobbing on the other end of the line was indeed his wife Brook. She recounted everything that had happened to her in the last twenty minutes. Cade cut her off and said, “If my memory serves me, your parents live on a cul-de-sac, right?"
    "Yes" she replied, "So?"
    Not knowing how long he would have a signal, he told Brook to just listen, "It’s a good thing they do; if Myrtle Beach is anything like Portland those things will be all over the surface streets. Stay away from big public places especially hospitals or triage centers. The National Guard and FEMA will try to limit your travel. If they give you any problems tell them where you are going and who you seek. Talk about your relationship with me as a last resort. Get as many shells for the shotgun as possible. Grab some food and water from the house and take the Escalade and get Raven and yourself to Bragg. Remember to go around popular major routes. Do not pick up anybody and give Rave a hug for me. I’ll meet up with you at Bragg. See you soon, I love you."
    “Finished yet” Brook said jokingly.
    “Just the pertinent facts ma’am” he fired back.
    Then all business aside, voice wavering, Cade said, “you guys be careful, and I really do mean it, I love you. See you soon.”
    The connection was lost and replaced with the hiss of static.
    There was no reason to tell Brook about Ted and Lisa, their neighbors from around the block. She had enough on her plate and Cade didn’t want to muddy the waters any further.
    *****
    Brook was sitting on the neighbor’s sofa and taking this all in when her brother skidded to a stop outside. He left his car running and sprinted into his parents’ home.
    By the time Brook walked out onto the lawn Carl had already been inside and seen his parents and was on hands and knees hurling in the grass. They met each other’s gaze when Carl finally stopped. His eyes were red; he looked at the shotgun Brook held, "I'm sorry you had to do it Sis. I left work this morning; before I saw mom and dad in there I thought I could never convince you what went on at the hospital. It was a hell house. I'll never forget last night."
    Breathing in deeply, he continued, “earlier this morning I had a moment of clarity and remembered the bite that dad got. I tried to call here; I only got a recording. Shortly after that people