Dark Mountains by Amanda Meredith Page A

for calling so early but it was imperative that I reached you.”
    “It’s alright.” She tried swallowing but her throat had gone dry.
    “Ma’am, my name is Staff Sergeant McMurray with the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion. I’m calling in regards to Corporal Colton Andrews.”
    “Oh God.” Libby slid into a chair as her knees buckled. “Not Cole, please not Cole.”
    “Ma’am?” The Sergeant was still speaking. “Ma’am?”
    “Is he dead?” Libby was gasping for air, barely holding the phone up.
    “Ma’am, please,” he tried cutting in.
    “Is he dead?” She repeated.
    “No, ma’am. Corporal Andrews is alive.” The phone slid from Libby’s hand and clattered to the floor and she struggled to breath. She could hear the sergeant’s voice calling for her. She bent down and picked up the phone with a shaking hand.
    “Ma’am, are you there?” He asked.
    “Yes, I’m here,” she whispered. “What happened?”
    “Ms. Michaels, you were listed as next of kin on Corporal Andrew’s paperwork with his parents after that.” The sergeant explained. “He has you listed as his fiancé.” Libby tried not to cry at the information. Of course, Cole would do that. It was the only way guarantee the Corp would contact her.
    “Yes, that’s right,” she finally answered. “What happened to Cole?”
    “Ma’am, Corporal Andrews was very seriously injured in combat a week ago…”
    “What?” Libby shouted the sound echoing in her hotel room. “He’s been hurt a week and I’m just now being notified?”
    “Ma’am, Corporal Andrews was not wearing his identification at the time of the incident and was not able to be located right away. He was not conscious and able to confirm his identity. We notified you as soon as we could get DNA verification.”
    “Oh my God.”
    “We can fly next of kin to the nearest base if they are willing and able to go.”
    “Of course I’m willing,” she sputtered. “Just where is it that I’m going?”
    “He is being treated at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.”
    “Germany?” She squeaked.
    “Corporal Andrews isn’t stable enough to transfer stateside,” he answered. “We can fly you coach class to Germany and provide accommodations at Ramstein Air Base. It’s very close to the hospital. Do you have a passport ma’am?”
    “I do. I’m in Chicago on business but I always bring it with me.” Libby’s voice cracked as she spoke. She heard the clicking of a keyboard again before he spoke again.
    “There’s a flight leaving O’Hare in two hours, can you make it there in time?”
    “I can,” Libby answered. Her hands were shaking again.
    “Your tickets, flight schedules and base passes will be waiting at the main entrance. We’ll have a car waiting for you in Frankfurt.” Libby hung up the phone and stared at it for a few minutes. Then snapping out of it she grabbed her suitcase and started throwing things in it. She called for a cab, grabbed her cell and the picture off her nightstand before sprinting out the door. She stopped at the front desk to check out, filling out the address form to mail anything she had forgotten to grab. Then she called her producer to tell him she was now on her way to Europe.
     
     
    Libby caught her plane on time and arrived in Frankfurt nearly nine hours later. A young woman in a marine uniform was holding a sign with her name on it when she finally got through the gate at customs.
    “Ms. Michaels, I’m Lance Corporal Carlton. I’ll be taking you to Ramstein.”
    “Thank you, Lance Corporal, but I’d rather go straight to the hospital.”
    “If you wish, ma’am,” she answered. “This way.”
    Libby followed the woman through the airport to a car waiting in the lot. Libby was thankful the Corp had sent a car; the signs were all in German and the streets all went in the wrong direction. Between that and sheer exhaustion, Libby was sure she would’ve gotten lost or in an accident trying to find the way