The Man the City Swallowed

The ringing in Ethan's head had become a constant scream. He could barely hear the sirens outside. The moment they clawed back to the surface, a new group came charging down from the bridge. Not firefighters. Not police. Men in black rain slickers with matching chest logos, some private security company crest. The leader had a rifle and a cold look that landed first on Ethan, then on the tool bag, then on Maria. "Pin the man down," he said. "We have a suspect at the scene." "What?" Ethan said. "You triggered the blast." The man's tone sounded scripted. "We saw you come out of the shaft. Don't move." It was absurd. Ethan had just dragged someone out alive and instantly became the criminal. But the people around him did not need the truth.