Page 32 of Best Laid Plans

The chirp of a siren has me turning to see another cop car approaching, along with a firetruck from the next county over.

“Let’s move back until the cavalry arrives. If that thing goes off, we’re still in the blast zone.”

Havoc and Kruger don’t need telling twice. We walk past the first cop, ignoring him, and move to the next car when it stops, and the two officers get out. They approach as a couple of firefighters jump out of the truck and head our way, too.

“Fill me in. Chief says there’s been a report of a bomb?”

I don’t blame him for his surprise. Shit like this doesn’t usually happen in small-town USA. I point to the Taurus and fill him in on what happened with Lucy and what steps we’ve taken so far.

The fire marshal listens, nodding before slapping his teammate on the chest. “Take Rogers and Henenez and head over to the school. I want every child and teacher accounted for and out of the blast zone. Do we have any idea how big that might be?” He looks at me.

“Not until I can pop that trunk. I have a guy flying in with some safety equipment. But until then, I’m as blind as you are, and I’m not willing to risk anyone’s safety.”

When Lucy growls, I look down at her. She’s looking back at the car. The hairs on my arms stand on end. I look at Havoc and swallow. “Run!”

I turn, grab Lucy’s lead, and yell. “Run, everyone. Take cover.” I sprint toward the firetruck, planning on using it for cover. Thankfully, the others don’t hesitate and follow suit. We dive behind it and crouch down as silence swallows us all.

The annoying cop rolls his eyes. “Knew this was a fucking⁠—”

The world explodes in a riot of noise and flashes of color. I cover Havoc as Lucy pins us both to the ground and covers me with her body.

My ears ring and my head throbs. I can see Havoc’s lips moving, but for a moment I hear nothing. And then everything comes rushing back in.

“Lucy, off,” I order. She moves off me and waits beside me as I get to my feet.

“Is everyone okay?” I ask. My voice sounds weird as I hold out my hand to Havoc, who grabs it and lets me yank him to his feet.

“I’m getting too fucking old for this shit.”

Kruger gets to his feet with a groan, holding his head. “Son of a bitch.”

“Get to the high school, now. Go.” I hear the voice behind me shout. I spin around to find that the front of the high school has taken some damage. A few people are lying on the ground, but most seem to be moving, thank fuck.

“Lil,” I say her name gently, reminding myself that she’s smart and resourceful. She wouldn’t come back out the front without me giving her the okay. I jog toward the school with the firefighters, noticing another truck at the far end of the road blocking traffic, which explains why there have been no parents hurrying in to collect their kids. Thank fuck these guys don’t mess around, or this could have been a whole different ball game.

“Sir, I can’t let you in there,” the firefighter next to me says.

I shake my head and point to the dog. “We’re the only way you’re gonna know if there’s a secondary device. Help is still a while out yet.”

“Shit.” He looks from me to Lucy. “Captain?” he says, talking into his shoulder radio, relaying what I just said.

“Get him suited up. Might not protect him against a full-on blast, but it will give him some protection against the flames. I’ll send Jenkins over with a spare.”

“You heard the man. You get suited up first. Anything happens to you, we’re fucked.”

“No pressure.” I chuckle, making him slap me on the shoulder.

Turns out it’s not Jenkins who runs the suit over but Kruger. “Theo is on his way back to the clubhouse. Last he saw Lil, she was out back, ushering the kids away from the building.”

“Thanks, man. I’m going to do a loop of the school to make sure there are no other devices, then find her. Better fill the cops in on what I’m doing so they don’t charge in and arrest me.”

“My day just keeps getting weirder,” he says, shaking his head.

I pull the uniform on after handing Kruger my cut. “Look after that for me.”

“You know I will. Oh, and when you find Lil, hug the shit out of her for me for getting my boy out. If anything happened to him, it would have killed Delphi.”

It would have killed him, too. But thankfully, my woman is as stubborn and hard-headed as I am, and that served us well today. I can only hope we’re this lucky next time.