Inner Workings

Inner Workings - Part 19

The Head Weapons Tech, Nate, took one look at the security footage from the Rental Center and knew something was strange. He blew his nose, itching from the faint smell of gun oil and ozone, and took another look. A few photos of the wreckage and copies of the police and bomb squad findings, and he had a summation of what was used in the bomb. Cetz sent Beni and Reese to hear Nate's debriefing. On the Weapons Tech screen, Nate replayed the explosion.

"What do you guys notice about the explosion?" asked Nate, tossing his tissue into the basket for a two pointer.

Reese shrugged. "It's big, loud and destructive."

Beni took a moment. "It's like a car explosion from the movies."

"Exactly like in the movies," pointed out Nate, zooming in on the explosion. "That's the problem. The explosion is too big, too flashy. You want to kill someone in a car it's going to happen fast and loud and hot. This one has a lingering firebomb and its orange flames for a while. Whoever rigged this bomb may be an explosives expert, but he's been trained to more flash and smoke than actual damage. Some C4, a pressure detonator, and most of the fire from a couple of gallons of gasoline tied under the hood and in the body of the car."

"Like a Hollywood effects guy," said Reese with realization.

"Bingo," said Nate. "Achoo!"

"Bless you. Could you write down exactly what was brought in to rig the bomb?" asked Beni.

"I can have a rough list in about five minutes."

Beni and Reese thanked Nate and went back up with a lead, immediately searching for effects crews in Hollywood.

***

Running with a large suitcase strapped to his shoulder caused Will to skid close to the ground as he swerved around a dumpster. Having on shades didn't help either, dimming his vision. He took them off when he barely avoided being hit by a car backing up into the street. Despite moving away from the boardwalk, there were still too many people around. He could still hear the clap of shoes behind him coming closer. The further the ran the darker the brick buildings grew, more trash in the streets.

Will turned a corner around an alleyway and smacked into a putrid smelling man in old jeans and a t-shirt with a box full of plastic bags. He hit the ground hard, his scraped arm taking most of the weight and burning as the scratch was aggravated. The weight inside him hit harder.

***

Louis and Massaru clamped their arms tighter around each other as they "fell" from one side of the stomach to the other, nearly knocking heads. Their involuntary cries couldn't compete with the thudding of Will's heart and the rush of his lungs. There was no stop, just moving and smacking and sliding and falling. Louis imagined this was what it was like to be soda in a shaking can, or inside a flesh-trapped tornado. Cold fear throbbed through his veins, driving him to whimper and shake, claustrophobia settling in like a fast moving disease. He couldn't tell up from down anymore, not getting enough time to look around and see where they were situated. It had to be harder for Massaru to endure since he couldn't see anything at all.

Despite their death-hold on each other, the next fall broke their grip only their arms tangled together. Louis tried hanging on to Massaru's arm, but the next movement parted them further, wrenching his shoulder.

"Shit!"

Massaru was bounced to the other side, face suddenly going pale. Massaru gasped harder on the other side of the chamber, loosing oxygen every moment Louis was away from him. Damn! Louis wouldn't have what nearly happened to Dory happen to Massaru. Louis had to reach him but he couldn't with Will moving the way he was. In between sliding Louis kicked at the rippled stomach wall; three times fast, slow, fast.

"Dammit, Will! Feel this!"

***

"Watch it, man!" spat the dirty man with the box, picking up the balled up plastic bags scattered around him. "What's your hurry?"

Will got to his feet; his stomach aching and heart pounding. "Sorry, I—"

The footsteps were getting closer. He noted a large dumpster further into the alley. He crouched behind it and unslung the strap on Massaru's briefcase massaging his bruised shoulder. Then he felt a distinct flutter from his stomach. S.O.S. The back of Will's neck went cold. Oh, no. What was wrong? Had his run hurt them?

The dirty man shrugged and kept picking up his plastic bags, muttering to himself. "Not the first time I've been hit, I tell you. Cars, mopeds, even one a them Segways. Don't mind me. Course at least you apologized. Not many people do that."

The two flannelled men came around the corner. "Hey, you seen a guy with a large suitcase strapped to him, hair about down to here?"

"Nope. You got any plastic bags you ain't using?"

The two men shook their heads and turned to leave.

Vrrrr!

Massaru's phone went off again, the subtle sounds drawing their attention back to the alley, and the dumpster. Will fumbled with the pocket that held the phone, but it was too late. He heard the men jog closer and he held the bag by the strap.

The moment the first man came around the dumpster Will swung the bag full force against the man's chest, knocking him down.

***

Massaru had passed out. Just as Louis was about to reach him, the stomach shifted again, sliding them both against another wall. Luckily, Louis managed to grab a hold of Massaru's shirt.

***

But the second man was better prepared, and as Will spun around the edge of the dumpster, the man's fist caught him just below the solar plexus.

***

For a moment, the stomach compacted, becoming narrower and tighter, as if Will had been crushed from the outside. Louis and Massaru bounced to the other wall, making them closer, and Louis could hold the Indian doctor better, but a choking gasp from the lungs made Louis start. What the hell was happening to Will?