Page 71 of Edge of Steele
“What if this one had a photoelectric cell too, and wasn’t connected to a computer?” Ryleigh asked. “It could’ve been in a closet or other dark place and the bomb wouldn’t detonate until they opened the door and the light hit it.”
Russ frowned. “Except no one was in the building today when this went off. Unless someone came in without my deputy seeing them. Either way, it’s just like the other bomb, and the bomber didn’t care if the explosion hurt or killed someone.”
Ryleigh nodded. “Once the bugs confirm no one is in the building and there’s no remaining danger, then the Veritas staff can look for residue from the bomb. What they find could not only tie it to the other explosion, but provide a lead that the fire destroyed at the mill.”
As if the mention of the Veritas team brought them to the scene, their van finally pulled to a stop by the barrier. Grady, Trent, and Blake slid out and marched around back, purpose in their steps.
Good. Their eagerness to get this show on the road was just what Ryleigh wanted to happen.
“Let’s see what these cyborg cockroaches are all about.” She raced for the van and didn’t care if Russ or Finn caught up, but they did.
The Veritas guys were slipping into white Tyvek suits.
“I wondered who would control these bugs,” Ryleigh said. “Guess it’s you guys.”
“Most of us are trained.” Grady expertly slid his other hand into a disposable glove. “But since this involves a bomb, Trent and I are best skilled in searching for bomb fragments.”
“Of course the priority is to search for survivors first.” Blake tugged up his zipper. “As sheriff, I worked my share of collapsed buildings and know how to find trapped people.”
Russ planted his feet, his forehead wrinkled. “I almost lost a deputy in this explosion, and I hope you all can give me what I need to bring the perpetrator to justice.”
“We’ll do our best,” Trent said. “And our best is better than most investigators give you.”
Russ’s phone chimed, and he looked at it. “As much as I hate to leave before you do your thing, something urgent demands my attention.” He looked at Ryleigh. “Keep me updated.”
“FYI.” Blake picked up a pair of gloves and shook them to free the fingers. “Sierra and Kelsey are flying back on the chopper with the victim’s remains. I also sent the evidence we’ve collected so far. Sierra will run her tests on the photoelectric cell and then return.”
“Excellent work,” Russ said, his admiration for Blake’s skills in his expression. He strode toward his car.
“Showtime.” Trent gloved up and reached into the van. He withdrew a small closed container with tiny holes in the lid and sides. He lifted out a Lucite container from inside. Two-inch-long roaches scuttled around in the clear plastic box.
Never did Ryleigh think she would be happy to see roaches. Yet she was—sort of.
Trent opened the container and used tweezers to remove one and hold it out for them to inspect. “As you can see, on the front end of the thorax is a tiny wireless control module powered by a rechargeable battery attached to a solar cell.”
The bug’s entire body was covered with plastic and wires ran to the legs.
“The wires stimulate the leg segments.” Trent placed the roach back in the box and secured the top. “Allows us to send the bugs where we want them to go. And the solar panel on top keeps everything charged. With just a handful of roaches, we can thoroughly scour a building in record time.”
“Disgusting yet very interesting.” Ryleigh wrinkled her nose.
“I concur.” Finn pretended to shudder.
“Let’s put these bad boys to work.” Grady quirked an eyebrow and smiled. “Someone grab the controllers.”
Blake reached into the van and opened another bin to reveal handheld controls that resembled video game controllers with a computer screen mounted on the side. He handed one to Trent and Grady, then took one for himself.
Trent held his out to display it for them. “This device works on Bluetooth and is basically the same system as you would use to control a robot.”
Grady picked up the roaches and started for the driveway, where he held up his hand. “End of the road for you all. Stay up here for your safety. We’ll keep you updated.”
Ryleigh didn’t want to be left behind. She wanted to watch the camera feeds from the bugs, but she also didn’t want to get hurt. Nor did she want the three men continuing down the hill and toward the building to be hurt either. She offered a prayer for their safety and that they wouldn’t discover that someone perished or was injured in the building.
The guys halted near the crumbled structure.
“Anyone here?” Blake called out and paused to listen.
No sound. Not even a squeak.
