Page 83 of Long Past Deadly

Efficient. Skilled. Focused.

Four fire department crews had put out the fire and stayed on scene until fire cleanup was finished. Paramedics transported two people.

The police department searched the area and reported no witness information. Security camera checks were still in progress.

Niles arrived as requested, armed and with food for everyone. The spread was basic, portable, and filling, and included a lot of peanut butter and jelly with chocolate chip cookies.

Braun made a call to his father and netted agreement for his family construction company to begin repairs in the morning to seal the front entrance.

In the meantime, the police had yanked the smoldering car from the lobby and taken it to the lab.

The parking lot entrances had been blocked with concrete barriers, and the downed fence where the car had plowed through was covered with one of their supply trucks. Roving teams patrolled the exterior. All the building’s functioning doors were double secured.

Celissa went home with two team members to protect her. Christmas waited for no crazy killer, and she had family needing attention.

Elizabeth had insisted on going home, too, disgusted with her time in the elevator and the smoke smell in her clothes. Harrison and two more team members tagged along at her heels.

Brucker had three team members in the med-bay with minor injuries. Parnell, the team member who had tried to stop the car in the parking lot, had a concussion and a broken leg. He along with Craig were in UCSD Hospital to spend the night. Craig’s explosion injuries weren’t severe, but the wall had collapsed on him. Condition of both men: Stable. Everyone else had been released to quarters so the extra beds in the medical area could be used for those in need of sleep.

Kerry was rolled in a sleeping bag and passed out on Elizabeth’s office sofa after hours working to re-establish computer and security tracking. Part of the building had significant damage and no electricity which complicated rewiring and restoration.

The day room resembled a slumber party; no one wanted to leave.

Niles had staked out one of the recliners. It kept him close for anyone who needed his assistance, but let him snooze in the meantime.

Twice the usual number of people were on duty.

Cait’s house had been checked and a SEAL team member planted in their house on the red sofa.

Elizabeth’s house had been cleared. Quaid’s house was secured with Tane and Conners monitoring.

Mac slept smack in the middle of the chaos on the floor in Operations. His mother’s safety was confirmed. She’d been moved to the Coronado Patton, unhappy but mothering two team members. Barker had arrived to personally supervise her safety.

In his office, Quaid was silent and pacing.

Alanna pushed aside every bit of guilt. This wasn’t on her. It was Mercer, going rogue. But, if she hadn’t used this consult to try to find Whit, none of this would have happened.

She was currently hotwired to Cait who was monitoring Whit with four team members there and her SEAL husband at her side. Whit had come from surgery in good shape, but would stay under until morning when Cait promised she’d wake him for Alanna.

She called her boss. She squirmed as he went quiet and weathered deadly angry questions at the news, then she filed a report and scheduled more help for the morning.

She talked to Frank and acknowledged the work he was already doing to find the murderous bastard.

The bomb squad went through the building, motor pool, and outside areas. All clear.

Armory was on partial lockdown but was available for team members.

At this point, her worry centered on Quaid.

His silence. Not his normal response, but to be expected. There was a lot to consider. But the pacing…Quaid was more contained than that. He didn’t lose control of himself in act or speech, and he never gave anything away.

She scooted forward on his office sofa and stood. “Let’s go upstairs to my quarters.” Getting him to leave the building would be a no-go.

“You go on up.”

“Nope. We’re both going.” She grabbed his hand and pulled.

He came to her and stared, eyes blank.