Page 69 of Edge of Steele
Russ let out a long breath, his chest deflating like a punctured tire. “I’ll ride along with you and call your wife, Eddie, so she can meet you at the hospital.”
“Stay here.” Eddie shot a look at Ryleigh. “She might temporarily be one of us, but she was a fed, and feds don’t know how to do a thing.” He tried to laugh but it turned into a deep agonizing cough. “They need someone who knows the real law enforcement world to keep them in line.”
Russ chuckled, but it was forced.
A female medic with long blond hair in a ponytail rushed up to them. “What do we have, Sheriff?”
Russ moved out of the way. “Puncture wound in the back.”
The medic looked at the wound. “You dress this?”
“Nah,” Russ said. “I…” He looked around as if finally noticing Finn stood over him.
“I did,” Finn stated. “I had first aid training in the Navy.”
“Great work.” The medic flashed Finn a smile and then took Eddie’s vitals. “Pretty good for someone who’s trying to shirk his duties.” She chuckled.
Eddie tried to laugh again but gave up.
The medic looked up at her male partner. “Let’s get him on the stretcher and out of here.”
“Stand back,” the other medic said, moving in with a backboard.
Russ took a few more steps back, and Ryleigh and Finn joined him.
“You’re both fine?” Russ’s voice caught.
“Thanks to Finn’s lightning-fast reflexes.” Ryleigh looked at him, her eyes wet with tears.
“I’m good to go,” Finn said though he knew he’d suffered some minor cuts on his neck which weren’t even worth mentioning.
“Thank God for that.” Russ stared down the hill. “Anyone look at the building damage up close?”
“I got a good look,” Finn said. “The explosives’ depot is still standing, but the office has totally collapsed. We need to get someone out here to clear it so we can search the rubble for anyone who might’ve been injured.”
One of the Veritas vans pulled up and parked on the road. Finn had forgotten all about Trent and Grady coming over here.
They strode down the road as if they were arriving to take charge of the crime scene.
Grady pointed at Eddie as the medics loaded him up. “He gonna be okay?”
Russ shrugged and planted his hands on his waist. “If you’re here to get a look at the explosives, that’ll have to wait now.”
If Grady was upset over Russ’s terse tone, he didn’t show it. “We were, but looks like you can use our services again.”
Russ rubbed his forehead. “We haven’t even determined if anyone was in the building, and we’re a long way off from processing forensics.”
Trent took a step closer. “We can do more than forensics. We’ve been testing something new that could help search for victims and other explosives without risking lives.”
Russ widened his stance. “Tell me about it.”
“Not an it, but them. Robobugs.” Trent bounced on his toes. “They’re rechargeable, remote-controllable cyborg cockroaches.”
“Say what?” Ryleigh gaped at Trent.
“They’re just what they sound like,” Grady said. “Cyborg insects—part insect, part machine. These remote-controlled cyborg cockroaches are equipped with tiny wireless control modules. They’re powered by rechargeable batteries attached to solar cells.”
“So they what?” Russ raised his eyebrows. “With something strapped to their backs, they can move around?”
