Free Apocalypse Crucible by Mel Odom Page A

files, forms, and followups. All of those reports remained with career military men and women throughout their service. And with their kids.
    Kerby glanced at Megan. “Private Collins was convinced she would have shot him, ma’am.”
    “What about Tori McKean?”
    “She was glad to get out of the house.”
    An MP opened the door of the Jeep that had switched its lights on and off. He touched the brim of his helmet with the barrel of his assault rifle in an abbreviated salute and shone his light into the vehicle. “Mrs. Gander.”
    “Private,” Megan replied. She glanced inside the jeep.
    Tori McKean huddled in the passenger seat under a man’s leather jacket. Her blonde hair, normally fussed over for hours, hung in disarray. Black mascara tracked her cheeks in thin trails from bloodshot blue eyes.
    She was about the most frightened seventeen-year-old Megan had ever seen. In the last five minutes, she amended. Terrified kids had filled her office for the last two days.
    “Tori,” Megan said in a normal tone.
    The girl squinted against the bright light, raising a hand to shield her streaked face. “Mrs. Gander?”
    Megan closed her hand over the private’s flashlight and gently pushed the light away. Getting the message, the private shut the beam off.
    “That’s right, Tori,” Megan said. “I’m here to help.” If I can. Lord, help me help. Help me stay calm and help me think.
    “I’m afraid Leslie’s going to hurt herself, Mrs. Gander.”
    “No.” Megan kept her voice calm and firm. “We’re not going to let her do that.”
    “I don’t think you can stop her. She’s not herself.”
    “I’m going to try.” Megan reached out and took Tori’s hands into her own. They were cold as ice.
    “She’s not herself.” Tori sniffled. “It’s all this … this … ” She shook her head helplessly. “Nobody knows what’s going on. Leslie’s mom disappeared, and she doesn’t know if her dad is alive or dead.”
    “I know. I’ve been talking to her privately and in group.” During the last two days, there had been little opportunity for private counseling sessions. The disappearances, the outbreak of war in Turkey, and the chaos that seemed to consume the world had affected all of them. Megan had started to schedule private sessions again, but there simply weren’t enough hours in the day. On top of that, half the base’s counselors had gone missing.
    “She’s going to kill herself, Mrs. Gander.” Tori clutched Megan’s arms. The girl’s hands knotted into white-knuckled fists. The whirling amber lights atop the sawhorses striped her face, flickering into and out of existence.
    “Why?” Megan asked.
    “She’s confused. She’s all mixed up.” Tori cried and hiccupped at the same time.
    With the heaviness of the rain, Megan hadn’t caught the smoke stink that clung to Tori’s blonde tresses. “Why is Leslie confused?”
    “She just is! ” Tori drew her hands back and wrapped her arms around herself. “Aren’t you confused? I mean, you lost your little boy and everything! You can’t just ignore that!”
    Bright hot pain lanced through Megan. She almost turned away from the accusation in the girl’s eyes. Instead, Megan mustered the strength to push the pain aside. For right now, Chris is out of reach. Concentrate on those you can save. Right now, these girls need you.
    Megan hunkered down beside the Jeep, letting Tori have the high ground. Teens were used to adults leaning over them, browbeating them.
    “You’ve been smoking tonight,” Megan said. She kept her tone flat and deliberately neutral.
    “It’s incense.” Tori’s eyes wouldn’t meet Megan’s. “That’s all. Just incense. Leslie was burning incense.”
    “That’s not incense.” Rain drummed against Megan’s shoulders, but the slicker she wore kept her from getting drenched. Her hair, though, was a different story. She felt it plastered against her head. “You were smoking.”
    Tori looked like she was going