Virtual Reality (Sue Thomas FBEye / Murdoch Mysteries)

Virtual Reality - Chapter One

Wednesday, Sept 17th

A heavy silent weighed on the bullpen, a silence Sue could almost hear. Sober faces stared at a blank television screen that moments ago must have displayed something unusual gruesome for her co-workers and friends to still be in shock.

"Tara?" Sue murmured. "I'm late. What happened?"

Unshed tears pooled in Tara's eyes. "At seven thirty this morning, a Starbucks in Richmond, Virginia, exploded. Emergency services quickly extinguished the fire and they're pulling victims from the debris. It's too early to determine the number of casualties, but they estimate in the dozens."

Horrified, Sue searched the bullpen for an anchor. Compassionate brown eyes enveloped her.

'You okay?' Jack signed for her eyes only.

She nodded and caught sight of D as he entered the bullpen. His rigid stance betrayed the urgency of the situation.

"Listen up, people." Like a well-oiled machine, all eyes turned toward their new supervisor. "You probably all heard about the tragedy in Richmond."

"Accident or attack?"

"Unsure, Bobby. There are gas lines in the vicinity, so it could be an accident. You and Myles will drive to Richmond."

"Why?" The cup in Myles' hand thudded on his desk as he stared at D. "Are we investigating the explosion?"

"Yes, we..." D lowered his eyes. "We lost many agents this morning."

Somehow, the notion that some of the victims had been colleagues they might have worked with made the senseless tragedy even more real.

"Bobby, your expertise in explosive is needed on the field, and Myles—" Sue didn't hear D's sigh, but she noticed his posture and expression. "Myles, tempers will heat up and—"

Myles grabbed his jacket. "I'll do my best to keep the peace."

"Good. Jack?" D handed him a file. "Preliminary report. You're leading the task force. Keep me posted."

~ * ~

Late afternoon, Sue lifted her head from her computer in time to see Jack add the name of another victim on the white board. From his sombre expression and the slight tremble of his hand, she assumed Jack knew her.

"Luce, if Bobby or Myles call, transfer them in the conference room." Without another word, Jack left the bullpen.

Lucy's only reaction to the name was the small nod she gave Jack when she acknowledged his instruction. Tara had briefly looked up from her screen without showing any sign of recognition.

The eraser end of her pencil drummed on her notepad as Sue watched the white board. Names. Dozens of names— and no clues. Deep down, she understood why Jack wrote their names. It gave a voice to the departed, it reminded the team of the human factor, and it gave them a tangible reason to apprehend whoever was responsible. Before she consciously realized what she was doing, Sue stood up. She sensed Luce's and Tara's stare on her back as she headed for the conference room.

Sue knocked, counted till five, then went inside the room. Seated in an armchair with his feet on the long rectangular table, Jack gazed at the ceiling.

~ * ~

Jack had expected her— no, not expected— hoped— he'd hoped she'd seek him out.

"Jack?" Cautiously, almost timidly, she sat beside him and placed her hand on his forearm. "Would you like to talk?"