“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” the officer says. “This place has been abandoned. Why are you two here?”
“I’m a realtor, and I was showing the property to a prospective buyer,” I say.
The officer nods. “Did you turn on a stove or anything?”
“There is no stove,” Hunter says.
“Wait here,” he tells me. Then the officer walks toward the building, which is still somewhat standing, despite the lack of a roof and a collapsed wall.
The EMTs drive Hunter away while an officer questions me about what happened. Another police car pulls up, and the officer leaves me to go to it. I overhear part of their conversation.
“I found evidence of two explosive devices in the rubble. It appears this was deliberate.”
“On purpose. This looks like attempted murder.”
Murder? My insides lurch. I’m going to be sick. I swallow as it all sinks in. I’m breathing fast. Too fast. I’mlightheaded. No, I need to stay calm and get out of here. I take several deep breaths and focus on slowing my heart rate.
The officer I spoke with walks up to me. He asks more questions about why I am here and who I met with.
“You are free to go, but I recommend you stay with a friend. Based on what we see here, it looks like someone set these explosive devices on purpose. As of right now, we don’t know if the target was Clinton Jones, you, or the guy you were with, Hunter Charles. Do you have any reason to believe someone wants to harm you?”
I wrap my arms around myself. Yes, Bob might want to harm me. But I can’t say that. What if this is just a coincidence?
Yes, Savvy, you happened to be in a building set to explode the day after you found out your boss is dealing with weapons, and it’s all a coincidence.
“Not that I can think of,” I lie to the officer.
He stares at me for a minute. I’m a terrible liar, and I’m sure he can see through me.
“Okay. Here’s my card. If you think of anything, please call me.”
I nod as I take the card. “What hospital did they take my friend to?”
Once the officer tells me, I get into my car. I’m still shaking and probably shouldn’t be driving, but I need to know Hunter is okay.
And knowing I’m likely the target, I don’t want to go back to my house or the cabin.
CHAPTER 5
Axel
“The officer said you were involved in an explosion,” a doctor says as she points her flashlight into my eyes. “I need to check you for a possible concussion.”
“Nothing hit my head,” I say.
She nods. “You could be concussed from the pressure of the explosion. You mentioned to the nurse you were a Navy SEAL. Did you ever ride in those fast boats?”
I frown. “Fast boats?”
“Yes, it came out recently that riding in those is bad for your brain. Have you not heard about this?”
“No.”
“Follow the light,” she says. She runs a few more tests and then grabs a clipboard and writes something down. “Good news. You don’t show any signs of a concussion. It looks like you only have the cut on your upper back that needs stitches. We’ll get that taken care of, and then youcan go home. The nurse will be in soon. You were really lucky. Good luck, Mr. Charles.”
The moment she leaves, Durango’s face peers in through the curtain.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
