Cut and Run 4 - Divide and Conquer

chain-link.
    Zane got to his feet next to him and looked out across the field
    with a frown. “What?”
    “Garrett,” Ty practically whined as he grabbed at Zane‟s
    shoulder. “The Bronco!”
    The green Bronco rocked as the robotic arm of the bomb robot
    rolled slowly off the hood. The dent it left behind was massive, giving
    the distinct impression that the grill was scowling.
    “Ouch,” Zane breathed.
    “My truck,” Ty whimpered.
    “Oh, Ty,” Shannon said sympathetically as she stood and peered
    out into the parking lot.
    Someone else down the dugout gave a low whistle, and several of
    the other agents began laughing. “The articulating parts don‟t blow off,
    huh?” someone asked in a teasing voice.
    “My truck,” Ty repeated pitifully.
    “I‟m sure that‟ll… buff out, man,” one of them told Ty in a voice
    that was attempting to be consoling but only managing to waver as the
    man tried not to laugh.
    “In three years, nothing has ever landed there!” Ty cried
    suddenly. Everyone in the dugout began to laugh.
    Zane moved slowly, deciding that turning to face Ty and standing
    between him and the dugout exit was probably not a bad idea. With
    Ty‟s state of mind, he was liable to run out there and lay himself out
    over the truck to protect it. After another look at Ty, Zane took hold of
    his forearm. Just in case.
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    “Who the hell thinks that shit‟s funny?” Ty shouted at everyone.
    “Where‟s my gun?” he demanded with all seriousness as he began to
    pat himself down.
    “Who are you gonna shoot? The robot?” Zane asked with a sigh.
    He saw one of the bomb squad men give the all clear sign, and he
    tugged at Ty‟s arm. Reporters began to crowd toward the cordoned-off
    area as people began to stir. “Come on. We‟ll go check the damage.”
    Ty swung out of the dugout and began stalking toward the
    Bronco, muttering angrily as he started shedding his catcher‟s gear.
    Zane jogged after him, dodging the shin guards and chest protector as
    they bounced to the ground.
    “I can‟t fucking believe this,” Ty exclaimed. “What‟s the
    likelihood of that shit, huh?”
    “Special Agent Grady!” a reporter called out, and Zane turned to
    see her running after them in an impressive pair of stilettos.
    Ty turned to her and flopped his hands. “Seriously?” he shouted
    angrily.
    “Is that your car, Agent Grady?” she yelled after him, microphone
    out as she and her cameraman continued hurrying toward them, trying
    to catch up from twenty yards behind. Zane wondered how she knew
    Ty‟s name.
    Ty turned to look at the Bronco, waving his hand at it. “Yes, it‟s
    mine! Look at it!”
    He took one more step toward the frowning Bronco, and the hood
    blasted upward, belching flames. The sound followed, a scream of
    metal and machinery, like a terrified mechanical plea for help, and the
    old Bronco jumped into the air, flame and heat blasting out of it as the
    gas tank exploded. The concussion of the explosion knocked Ty and
    Zane backward and to the ground, heat whooshing over them with what
    Zane would have sworn was a pained groan from the vehicle.
    The dying breath of Ty‟s beloved Bronco.
    Ty rose slowly, looking with absolute horror at the flames that
    licked at the tree branches above. He suddenly pushed himself up and
    made to run toward the wreckage. Zane grabbed for him, tripping him
    76 | Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux

    up and then tackling him to the ground. Zane had no doubt Ty would
    try to put the flames out himself and probably go down in a fiery blaze
    of glory trying to save the damn thing.
    “She‟s burning, Zane!” Ty yelled, in a panic, voice full of anguish
    as he tried to squirm out of Zane‟s grasp.
    The sound broke Zane‟s heart. He had to wrap both arms around
    his partner and put all his weight into him to keep Ty from lashing out
    blindly as firemen ran past them. “Ty, stop ,” he said firmly.
    Ty tensed like he was going to lunge again, but then he relaxed
    beneath Zane as if someone had let the air out of him. He didn‟t make a
    sound, and he seemed to be holding his breath as he craned his neck,
    staring at the crackling flames and pillar of black smoke.
    The cameraman skidded to a stop beside them, filming the
    burning Bronco, filming the firemen trying to stem the flames with
    extinguishers, and filming them as Ty lay beneath Zane and watched
    his oldest friend burn.

    Divide & Conquer | 77

    Chapter Five

    ZANE jogged