During the earthquake, I was trapped in the rubble with my feverish son, but my husband carried his sprained secretary to the ambulance. Just then, my father arrived by helicopter… – True Stories

He had ordered workers to hide cracks behind marble panels. I knew because I had the emails.

A roar filled the sky.

At first I thought it was aftershock thunder. Then wind blasted through the dust, and a black rescue helicopter dropped toward the ruined courtyard, its searchlight slicing across the rubble.

Men in orange tactical gear rappelled down. continue reading …