Another loud boom and a flash of light broke through the smoke. The next moment something huge streaked over her head and landed close by with a whine and a thud. She flinched at the sight of a cruiser door embedded in the soft soil, its window intact. Oh Jesus. Instinct to survive kicked in and she rolled into a ball as debris rained down on her. The helmet and liquid Kevlar vest Kane had insisted they all wear would protect her from serious injury. Coughing, she rolled to one side to scan the smoke-filled area for Kane. Her flashlight was gone and the smoke was so thick, she couldn’t see more than a few yards in any direction. Shredded paper and pieces of cloth fell from the sky in an almost graceful descent, like birds coming into land. Amazingly the facemask had remained in place under her visor. Moving her limbs and wiggling fingers and toes, she appeared to have come through the explosion unscathed. She coughed violently and then lifted her voice above the roaring in her ears. She pressed her mic. “Kane. Can you hear me? Is anyone out there?”
Nothing. It was as if she was the only person on earth.
“Kane… Kane.” She coughed and wheezed. “Dave, call out. Carter, Jo… Wolfe?”
Nothing.
Disoriented and nauseous, she crawled around on her hands and knees, hoping not to come across any body parts. The rear vision mirror of the cruiser lay on the dirt still attached to part of the windshield. Trembling and suddenly afraid for everyone on scene, she swallowed the acid crawling up her throat. Could she be the only survivor in a mass bombing attack? I must get up and search, there must be someone else alive.
Sitting up slowly, she stared around the smokey field but couldn’t make out any movement. Years of training fell into place. First, she must evaluate her condition and supplies. She checked her pockets: apart from the flashlight, everything was in its place. Her clothes had come through intact, although encrusted with dirt. Her bare hands carried a few scratches and her neck was a little sore. Too dizzy to stand, she looked all around praying everyone was alright. She sat staring into the smoke for what seemed like forever before she caught sight of flashlights bobbing in the distance. The next moment, Wolfe burst out of the smoke, with Webber and Emily close behind. From another direction, Zorro dashed toward her his mouth opening but not making a sound, and behind him she could see Carter, his eyes wild as he searched the area. Behind him, Colt Webber was running toward the firetrucks. Why would anyone place an IED in a plowed field? Who was the intended target? It made no sense.
She stared up at Wolfe. He crouched beside her and his mouth was moving but no words came out. Emily was there too, rifling through the medical kit but all Jenna could hear was the roar of the fire. She blinked at him and shook her head. “I can’t understand a word you’re saying. I’m okay, where’s Kane?”
She glanced down as Wolfe handed her his phone. He’d written her a message.
Not sure, Carter and Webber searching now. Where does it hurt?
Jenna handed him back the phone. “I’m fine, can’t you hear me either?”
When Wolfe smiled at her and nodded. Jenna touched her ears. “Oh, it’s the blast, I hear roaring in my ears. It will be okay soon, right?”
Wolfe nodded again and then wrote another message and held out the phone for her.
You have a few scrapes. Em will tend them. I’ll go check on Kane, Carter went to find him.
“Okay.” A rush of anxiety hit her and she trembled. “I hope he’s okay.”
Wolfe peered at her and passed her the phone again.
He won’t be able to hear us calling him either. Take out your earbud. It will have protected one ear at least.
The next moment, Wolfe threw himself over her and Emily and then pushed them to the ground. He stared at Jenna and mouthed the words: “Shots fired.”
On her back, Jenna stared into the strange glowing sky. She cried out in terror as an explosion high above the ground, lit up the night like a starburst. The loud bang came through her already buzzing ears and then Zorro burst through the smoke, behind him Kane and Carter ran toward the explosion. “Let me up. I can see Kane and Carter. Look over there.” She gave Wolfe a shove and sat up.
She pressed her com mic. “Kane, please tell me you can hear me. Are you okay?”
“Well, it seems I can hear in one ear. The other is ringing so loud I can’t think straight.” Kane sounded fine. “I saw you hit the dirt. You okay?”
So happy to hear his voice, Jenna’s fingers trembled as she pressed her mic. “Yeah, I’m good. Casualties?”
“Just the deputy’s cruiser, and a few cuts and bruises from falling wreckage.”
Jenna sighed with relief. “Who was shooting?”
“That was me.” Kane sucked in a breath and coughed. “Carter found me. My earbud had fallen out and then Zorro spotted a drone. It turned out to be carrying an explosive device. I must be concussed from the blast.” He sounded bemused. “It took me two shots to bring it down.”
Forty-Two
Slightly off kilter, Kane leaned against the Beast and sipped water beside the open passenger door. His head throbbed but physically he’d survived the explosion with only a bruise caused by his weapon and a sore shoulder. The buzzing in his ears seemed to resolve itself faster than most people but the headache was a problem. His helmet had protected his head just fine but since the second metal plate had been inserted, he’d found a vulnerability he could well do without. He’d chosen not to take the pills he carried for pain, and decided to wait. Wolfe would check him for concussion and he’d be good to go. He glanced at Jenna and chastised himself for not protecting her from the blast. If he’d been following her across the field, he’d have had time to react.
After seeing her tuck and roll as she fell, a move he’d insisted she perfect after the last time someone tried to blow them to kingdom come, and then flex her arms and legs, he’d assumed she hadn’t sustained any serious injuries. This time he hadn’t been able to protect her. The missile had flown by and she’d dived away out of his reach. As it exploded the shockwave had thrown them in different directions. Being heavier than Jenna, he’d rolled like a pile of autumn leaves across the field and come to rest in time to see her fall out of the smoke. When Carter found him, Zorro had gone ballistic and it didn’t take them too long to spot the drone. It had destroyed a cruiser and was coming around for a second attack. He didn’t hesitate and aimed to bring down the drone intact, so they could trace the owner. He’d clipped it and taken another shot when it self-destructed, knocking them off their feet in the blast. He sipped his water and shook his head in disbelief. Somehow, they’d all come through two explosions uninjured.
“I refused to give the bomber the satisfaction of scaring us away.” After brushing the dirt from her clothes, Jenna climbed into his truck. “When you’re good to go, I intend to remain on scene and gather evidence.”
Kane leaned into the cab and looked at her closely. “Sure, I’m waiting on Wolfe to check me out but I’m just fine, don’t worry.” He took in her pale face and the nasty scratch down one side of her neck. He figured her anger outweighed the shock. He could just about see her mind working on how next to proceed.