Chapter Fifteen
During Quaid’s first Afghanistan tour with the Marines, his unit had an explosives expert named Haslow.
Some of the men affectionately called him Boomer.
But privately, Quaid always thought of him as Crazy Dave.
The man had no fear, loved mixing and matching, and could identify what the explosive was by the smell and the results.
“I wish the Navy had nailed this guy before he ever came back here,” he muttered.
Tane was driving like a bat with its wings on fire. Alanna insisted on staying with her partner. The commitment stuck in the tender spot reserved for friends and more so to her.
Alanna laid a hand over his. “The military and intelligence agencies are only searching for an assassin. They don’t have the right mix for his motivation.”
“I knew a guy in my unit better with explosives than this.”
“It’s not his primary assassination protocol. This is a distraction. He has us running around. It’s time we adjusted.”
“You’re formulating a plan.”
“Yes, I need your tactical brain, too. I have no military experience.”
They hit the parking lot of QM on two wheels. Cop cars, fire department littered the way. There was no way to get close.
“Go around to the dock for the motor bay. We’ll go in the back.”
Tane followed instructions, swerving around cops trying to stop them. Wasn’t happening. Tane pulled within three parking spaces of the door, slammed the car into park and exited with Quaid. They reached the door before the cop cars did.
Dialing his phone, he connected with Celissa. “Spring the lock on the Motor Bay. I’m here.”
“Freeze.”
Alanna flashed her credentials. “FBI.” The lock clicked and the door opened.
“Send Remy through to the motor bay.” Quaid pointed at the cop. “Tell the Fire Department to move a crew back here. They can get to the elevator controls from stairs to the sixth floor. Tane, wait for them and take them up.”
Alanna stepped to the cop. “Is the fire in front contained?”
“No, not yet.”
“Driver in the car?”
“No, remote,” the woman officer answered.
“Fucking figures,” Quaid swore. “Get Frank Walker here now.”
The woman’s face soured, but he had no time.
Alanna stepped in. “We’re working with Sergeant Walker on this case.” By her body posture and expression, the cop wasn’t sure about leaving them alone.
Quaid didn’t care. “I’m going up. Let’s do a welfare check on everyone.”
Remy appeared at the door. “Missing all the fun, boss.”
“Craig? Parnell?”
“Paramedics have Parnell. Craig is still talking to us on his cellphone waiting to be extracted. Elizabeth and Harrison, too. The elevator was on four. The tremor from the explosion stopped it between three and four. It hasn’t fallen.
They aren’t in danger from the fire unless the flames hit the shaft.
Fire department is working on that. The system crashed, so figuring out who was in the building will rely on Celissa’s memory. Mac coming?”
“Not yet. We found Whit. He’s sticking with him to UCSD with Dr. Cait. Pull two people and get them there to relieve him. We’re gonna need Mac.”
“We need Brucker, too,” Remy announced. “Minor injuries. Most are turning away paramedics.”
A fire truck and another police car streaked around the building with a roar.
Alanna turned to the cop. “Is anybody searching the neighborhood? What’s your name?”
“Bridget Nelsen.”
“Nelsen, are you only focused on the building?”
“No, there’s two teams doing a canvas. So far, nothing.”
“He’s not going to have left anything behind.” Quaid’s irritation was palpable.
“I’d agree, but he’s devolving, remember? He doesn’t give a shit. He expects us to immediately figure out he’s the culprit.”
The cop eyed the building. “Not disagreeing, ma’am. But are you sure this is the person?”
“Oh yeah. Same type of explosive blew me into a pool at the LA Patton Downtown, seven days ago. It’s not his only skill either. He’s a sniper and well-known assassin. Warn your people to be careful.” Alanna shifted to cover Quaid’s back.
A black Suburban with lights flashing screeched to a stop at the back door. Frank.
He hurried from the car to the door, stopping at Nelsen’s side. “I’m taking the scene. Can you monitor in front?”
“Yes, sir.” She nodded at the rest of the group and left.
Frank turned to Quaid. “How sure are you there are no other explosives?”
“You think he breached the building and planted more? I’d say no. Am I willing to take the risk? No.”
“We’ll deploy a perimeter and watch the street for other car threats. Let’s get the bomb unit here and search the building.”
Quaid shook his head. “Not waiting for them. I’m going to third floor to Celissa.
Alanna is with me. Remy go with Frank. Give him access where he needs it.
We’ll use the bomb squad when they get here.
Find Patina and Welker and have them search every vehicle in the motor pool and clear for bombs and weapons. ”
“Copy, boss.”
Quaid took the stairs two at a time, Alanna on his heels. A faint hint of smoke and burning electronics greeted them, but dispersed as they went upward.
Guns draw for unfriendlies, the precaution grated. This was as much safe harbor as Cait’s house, and the attack pissed him off.
“You behind me, Williams?”
“On your six.” Her dry response hinted at irritation at his question. He’d explain later. He was comfortable with her behind him like she was Mackey or Hunt. He’d come a long way since the first attempt on their lives.
They met no one until they entered the third floor. With the electronics out, the third floor door was locked tight. Quaid shuffled his phone to call Operations.
Casey Miner manually opened the door. “Good. A boss is here. Don’t get me wrong. Celissa is doing great, but she’s not operational.”
“Understood. We’ll deal with that later. Anything I need to know?”
“All I have are fire department and police updates.”
“I got those outside. Classified documents locked down?”
“Yes. Skiff is secured. Computer systems are offline, but Kerry is working on rerouting.”
“Let me finish the sweep, and I’ll be in.”
Quaid put his gun away. Obviously the threat was from the car. Celissa had been moved away from the main entrance, the security door having been dropped, and she was using Mackey’s office.
“I’m working on it.” Celissa shoved her strawberry blonde hair out of her face and scribbled notes on her iPad at a frantic pace. “I remember everyone who is in the building and had all personnel report to the day room so I can get a visual on every person.”
He leaned over her shoulder and studied the list. These people could be deployed to help when she finished the check. “Let’s keep an eye on the fire department updates in case everyone needs to evacuate.”
“Right.”
Alanna came to her other side. “Are you okay?”
“Scared the bejesus out of me, the explosion. But I’m in one piece. My kids…”
“Where are they and what do you need?”
“I was supposed to leave early and pick them up, but I called the school and had my mother get them. Are they safe going home?”
“We won’t take chances. We’ll send somebody.”
“They can go to my mother’s.”
Alanna patted her on the back. “We’ll get them covered any way necessary, until we have the scope of this.” She turned to him. “I can help Celissa confirm personnel, if you want.”
He wanted her close, but it made no sense. “That would help. We need Niles, too. Put him with Tinkerton to lock down the armory until we confirm HQ is secure and have him work his magic with some meals.”
“I’ll call him.” She left with her phone at her right ear, and he had a moment to be thankful she hadn’t been here for this explosion. Her left ear couldn’t take it.
In Operations, he reassessed jobs. Confirmation of all personnel across all locales and their safety was already in the works.
Plus, they needed to form security details to check Celissa’s family and QM family homes.
A review of security footage and adding personnel to canvas the neighborhood was also on his mental to-do list. Medical research and manufacturing in their area didn’t leave anyone to see anything, but they’d check anyway.
Miner came to his side. “Fire department has the fourth floor elevator open, and they are extracting Harrison and Elizabeth. They’ll be up in a minute.”
“Are either of them injured?”
“No, Elizabeth is pissed, though.”
“To be expected.” She’d been known to go for her shotgun when in a temper.
Twenty minutes later, Harry and Elizabeth walked into Operations. Quaid let out a sigh of relief that he didn’t show to either of them.
Elizabeth kissed Quaid’s cheek, and he held her for a long minute.
She patted his arm. “I’m all right. Harry took good care of me. What can I do?”
“Alanna is upstairs in the dayroom helping Celissa. I want a full status on everything before dark.”
“I’m on that.” She left the room, heels in hand.
Harry propped hands on his hips and assessed the room. “Where we at?”
“I need someone supervising fire department and police activity. Can you manage? I want to know the second they find anything. Frank has the bomb squad searching the building.”
“Yes, I’ll check in.”
Mackey stepped into the room, taking over the management of the two-man details. Soon, they were running like the well-maintained engine they were. Even Frank allowed them to work with his cops to check everything.
After several hours, Quaid stopped to reflect and chug an energy drink. Though the man had tried days ago to kill him, too, he’d shifted all the reasoning over to Alanna being in danger and detached from his own safety.
This was different.
Mercer attacked his business, something he and Mac had worked to build and grow for five years, and his aunt had been in the building. He thought of most of these people as family – and if you came at him and threatened all that, you were tar-ge-ted.
He was done playing it safe to protect Alanna.
She was chomping to go after Mercer, too, making the decision that much easier. The trick was to keep it professional and be smart and tactical.