Chapter 96 Chapter Ninety-Six

"You're a hero, Bobby. You saved Drake and maybe all of West Virginia," Pooler said. He sat across from his brother in the interview room of the U.S. military corrections battalion. Robert Puller was evidently doing his best to conceal the pleasure he felt at these words.It was the first time Puller had seen his brother look proud in the correctional camp. "Did they send a commendation order?" Robert nodded. "It's the first time in a correctional camp. They don't know what to do." "I suppose so." "I feel sorry for your friend Sam Cole."

"I'm sad that they didn't agree to commute your sentence." "Do you really expect them to commute? The U.S. military never revises their own decisions. That's an admission that they did something wrong. The military will never admit that." Puller held out his arm to shake his brother's hand, ignoring the gazes of the gendarmes on duty standing by. "You saved me." "That's what a brother should do." On the voyage back, Puller spent most of the time looking out the window.The pilot turned on the loudspeaker as the plane passed over West Virginia.He explained to the passengers where the plane was, adding that he was born in Bluefield, West Virginia, the most beautiful place in America.Puller turned off the loudspeaker and read the in-flight magazine.

Puller drove home from the airport in his repaired Malibu.Eivor warmly welcomed him back, and he played with the cat for a few minutes.He looked out the kitchen window into the small backyard and couldn't help but think of Sam Cole's scenic backyard with its fountain, and how they sat talking on the swing together.He stroked the cheek she had kissed.He wondered if it had been a mistake to turn down Sam Cole's not-so-tactly invitation to go to bed.But he came to the conclusion that it was the right thing to do in the circumstances, for both of them.It's just that at that time he always thought that he and this woman would have other opportunities.

To be honest, who can figure out what is going on with fate?He will live, but she must die.The big lump of cement could have hit him on the head, or a tree, or a fawn.But it chose to hit Sam Cole on the head and ended her life completely. Someone will explain that his time has not yet come.Puller said as much after dodging death on the battlefield.Other soldiers died, but he was still alive.But this explanation seemed far from enough to him.This survival can never be explained in this way.He didn't know why this time the event was so different, he just knew it was unusual. He left Eivor at home and reported to CID headquarters in Quantico.He wrote a written report and made an oral report to the relevant personnel.He learned that he was about to be promoted, two steps up the military hierarchy, not just one.Such a promotion is unprecedented.

Puller declined on the spot. His boss, Don White, took a long time to convince him. "Anyone else would have dreamed of such an opportunity." "Then let them accept this honor." "I don't understand, Puller, I really don't." "I understand, sir, sometimes I don't understand myself." Puller cleared his desk, responded to a few e-mails, and met with several bosses who wanted to hear "first-hand."He decided to bid farewell to a period of military life for a while.He had already saved up some vacation time, and this time he planned to use them intensively.Those senior officers fully supported his request for leave of absence.A man who helped save the continental United States from a nuclear hurricane can do whatever he wants.

As long as it makes sense. Puller went home and fetched some things, including the cat, and put them all in the Malibu.He's on his way.He had no map, no plan, no destination.He's just a special investigator for the CID hanging out with his most trusted friend, Eivor.Eivor stayed in the back of the car as if Puller was its hired chauffeur.Puller is happy to fill that role. They set off in the middle of the night, because Puller liked to experience the feeling of speed in the dark.He found a road leading to the west and drove along.By dawn, he had driven five hundred kilometers in one go.He finally stopped the car, relieved himself, refueled, gave Eivor a tour, and bought the largest cup of coffee.Only then did he realize that he was already in West Virginia.Not Drake, another place.He's not going back to Drake.There was nothing waiting for him there, if ever.

He didn't want to see that fort again, whether or not there was anything left there. He didn't want to see Trent's and Cole's families again, no matter what happened to them in the future. Sam Cole's voice and smile will forever be cherished in his memory.He was sure of it.With her, he'd be a better soldier, a better man.He will miss her for the rest of his life.He was sure of it. He will return to the army, return to his post, and continue to bring those who have done bad things to justice.There were reasons for believing that when he returned he would be stronger and more alive.It's a good feeling.For Sam Cole, he should be like this.

He opened the door, and Eivor hopped back into the car.Puller sat back in his seat, shifted into gear, and asked, "Shall we go, Eivor?" The kitten meowed in agreement. Puller drove back to the road and stepped on the gas.He left the string like an arrow, moving forward without hesitation. He was gone as if he had never been here.You know, it's true.You can't beat someone who comes and goes without a trace.