Boston Blues - BLACKBIRD book 2

3. collapse

After Hank and Aldana left, Russell and Fred joined Perkins. Behind them, the Squads got ready to work again.

"I swear we searched every inch of this damned place!" Perkins repeated, upset. "Twice! And we came out empty after those three bombs!"

"So how could these devices skip detection?" asked Russell. "Did you scan the walls?"

"Every one of them!"

"Floors and ceilings?"

"Of course!"

"Well, somehow he fooled you," said Fred. "Can we at least assume where the bombs were?"

It was Russell who answered, instead of Perkins. "I'd said the first one was right above Wood's apartment, to collapse the ceiling on whoever was there. And the last one would be at the access hallway, to block our way in."

Fred nodded slowly, thinking. "So if you were Wood, and you wanted to cause maximum damage to the police department, where would you place more bombs?"

"That would depend on the standard rescue protocols. They vary depending on the kind of place," said Perkins.

Brock paused at the bedroom door and moved his flashlight around, seeing what was left of the living room: the ceiling was completely gone, as well as most of the floor. From where he stood, he could look down straight to a pile of debris on the ground floor.

The light of incoming first responders' vehicles flashed into the room as he stuck to the wall and tried every step before taking it, making his way slowly to the only window, across the room.

A tower ladder and two ambulances drove into the lot. The man leading the Rescue Team hurried to Russell, Fred and Perkins.

"Captain Jules, this is Russell Coleman, with the FBI," introduced Fred.

"Do your men know they have to turn off their phones?" asked Russell. "They can detonate more devices."

Jules waved at a firefighter, instructed him in a few words and turned back to them. "Okay, what happened here?"

"Two explosions, five minutes or so apart," explained Fred. "One at the fourth floor, the other one at the ground floor."

"Lieutenant Gillian and my partner are trapped inside, but we think there can still be more active devices," said Russell.

Jules automatically turned to Perkins. "Didn't you guys check the building before letting them in?"

Russell anticipated Perkins' annoyed reply. "Yes, they did, but this is no traditional bomber. Captain, we need you to explain to us what would be the normal procedure in this situation, so we can come up with alternatives."

"We need to assume the bomber knew your drill, and used it to place the devices," said Fred.

Jules frowned. "You mean this guy wants to kill first responders?"

"Among other people," replied Russell.

Fred noticed some firefighters looked up and pointed at the building. He spun around and grabbed Russell's arm: Brock was at a window on the third floor. He seemed to be talking, but they couldn't hear him.

"Quiet everybody!" Jules shouted.

Russell ran to stand right under the window. Everybody shut their mouths, gawking up at Brock.

"Brock! You okay?" shouted Russell, both hands by his mouth.

Brock stood on a narrow strip of floor still attached to the wall, grabbing the windowpane to keep his balance.

"Coleman! There are more bombs!"

"We know!"

"Not here! In the city!"

His words made everybody start murmuring, until Jules shut them up.

"You sure?"

"Gillian found the schematics!"

"Is she there with you? She okay?"

No, but saying so would make Russell and Fred storm into the building, no matter what. "Yes!"

Jules patted Fred's shoulder and pointed with a flashlight at a crack on the wall, right under Brock's window.

"See that crack, Morris? That wall is about to collapse."

"We can't get to you yet! Can you guys hold on in there a little longer?" shouted Russell.

No. Brock nodded. His own voice muffled a soft crack from the window. "Find those bombs! Three of them!"

Jules grabbed Fred's arm. "Morris! Tell the fed to step back! Now!"

Fred sprinted to Russell, waving his arms high.

"Watch out, Brockner! Step back!" he yelled.

Brock looked down and scowled, sensing something was off. He did hear the next crack and he got to jump to a side. Fred pulled Russell back as part of the window wall gave away and debris fell down on them. They looked up, agitated.

"Brock!"

He could only take half a step and wave his hand out the big hole where the window was just a moment earlier. Fred saw him and patted Russell's shoulder, as Russell grabbed his own head.