filled the room, talking and laughing. The police would have their own debriefing.
Jerry came in almost last and planted a quick kiss on Emma's cheek. When he saw Craig across from her he smiled widely and yelled a greeting.
When the brass finally showed up with the psychiatrists the room was overflowing and loud.
The Chief, a large man with a huge handlebar mustache, stood at the front of the table and motioned for quiet.
"All right everyone, this is too many people to work with, so we are going to split you into two groups. Where's our lead paramedics?"
Emma and Jerry raised their hands.
"Ok, Hill you're with me, Mansko, you're with Assistant Chief Stein.
Jerry stood behind the assistant chief.
"OK, we are splitting you up - Everyone on this side of the room, you go to Conference Room C. Everyone else, move these tables to th e side and pull your chairs into a big circle.
As the other group filed out, Emma noticed that Craig was supposed to go to Conference Room C but he didn't, he stood up but started pulling the tables to the side. His arm muscles flexed underneath his form-f itting uniform shirt and she felt her insides go all gooey. What is wrong with you Hill! Shape up! She chastised herself mentally for her ongoing, unwanted attraction to this man.
When they all started sitting down, Craig chose the chair right next to her . Again, her heart fluttered a little at his attention.
Chief Turner grabbed a chair and turned it around backwards, in his characteristic "one of the guys" way. "OK group, the first thing I want to say is 'great job'. You men and women did the city proud yesterday. You worked all day and all night without complaint and I have never, in all my years, seen a team do a better job. So thank you."
An awkward silence filled the room. If they had been a football team, maybe they would have cheered, or clapped, bu t they weren't a football team, and people were hurt.
"First round of business," the chief continued, "We have 49 wounded. 28 ended up at Westwood General, 12 were taken to St Mary's, and 9 went to Kaiser."
Emma noted the 49 wounded. Her chest tightened and she dug her fingernails into her palms. Did 5 people really die, or were his numbers off?
"Of these 49, 38 of them have already been released and 11 are still receiving care in one of the hospitals."
He stopped and took a deep breath.
"4 men and 1 woman died after arriving at the hospital. I am going to read their names and I need to know if anyone here knows them."
Emma's felt pain in her palms and forced herself to relax her hands. 4 half-moon shapes remained etched into the meaty part of each from her nails. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She saw death every day, but it never stopped bothering her. Those people had been mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends. And now they were gone. What she really wanted to know was what caused the explosion.
Chief Turner read off the 5 names and looked around. No one in the group indicated they knew one of the dead.
"Ok, let's have a moment of silence for these fine people whose time on this earth is done."
The group bowed their he ads together. Not a word was spoken.
After a few moments the Chief went on. "The investigation into the explosion is ongoing. Early reports indicate that a pipe bomb was planted at the scene."
A bolt of sensation shot through Emma's chest at the words "pipe bomb." A few gasps peppered the room.
Emma jumped to her feet. "Planted? Planted by who?"
"Calm down Hill, sit down please. We don't know by who. Once we finish our investigation it will be turned over to the police department."
Emma sank back into her c hair. A pipe bomb? Why would anyone plant a pipe bomb in a factory that made baked goods? The thought made her sick to her stomach. 49 people hurt, 5 dead, not because of a stupid mistake, but because of malice. Because of evil. Because whoever would do that surely was evil.
Emma only half heard the rest of what
Jerry came in almost last and planted a quick kiss on Emma's cheek. When he saw Craig across from her he smiled widely and yelled a greeting.
When the brass finally showed up with the psychiatrists the room was overflowing and loud.
The Chief, a large man with a huge handlebar mustache, stood at the front of the table and motioned for quiet.
"All right everyone, this is too many people to work with, so we are going to split you into two groups. Where's our lead paramedics?"
Emma and Jerry raised their hands.
"Ok, Hill you're with me, Mansko, you're with Assistant Chief Stein.
Jerry stood behind the assistant chief.
"OK, we are splitting you up - Everyone on this side of the room, you go to Conference Room C. Everyone else, move these tables to th e side and pull your chairs into a big circle.
As the other group filed out, Emma noticed that Craig was supposed to go to Conference Room C but he didn't, he stood up but started pulling the tables to the side. His arm muscles flexed underneath his form-f itting uniform shirt and she felt her insides go all gooey. What is wrong with you Hill! Shape up! She chastised herself mentally for her ongoing, unwanted attraction to this man.
When they all started sitting down, Craig chose the chair right next to her . Again, her heart fluttered a little at his attention.
Chief Turner grabbed a chair and turned it around backwards, in his characteristic "one of the guys" way. "OK group, the first thing I want to say is 'great job'. You men and women did the city proud yesterday. You worked all day and all night without complaint and I have never, in all my years, seen a team do a better job. So thank you."
An awkward silence filled the room. If they had been a football team, maybe they would have cheered, or clapped, bu t they weren't a football team, and people were hurt.
"First round of business," the chief continued, "We have 49 wounded. 28 ended up at Westwood General, 12 were taken to St Mary's, and 9 went to Kaiser."
Emma noted the 49 wounded. Her chest tightened and she dug her fingernails into her palms. Did 5 people really die, or were his numbers off?
"Of these 49, 38 of them have already been released and 11 are still receiving care in one of the hospitals."
He stopped and took a deep breath.
"4 men and 1 woman died after arriving at the hospital. I am going to read their names and I need to know if anyone here knows them."
Emma's felt pain in her palms and forced herself to relax her hands. 4 half-moon shapes remained etched into the meaty part of each from her nails. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She saw death every day, but it never stopped bothering her. Those people had been mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends. And now they were gone. What she really wanted to know was what caused the explosion.
Chief Turner read off the 5 names and looked around. No one in the group indicated they knew one of the dead.
"Ok, let's have a moment of silence for these fine people whose time on this earth is done."
The group bowed their he ads together. Not a word was spoken.
After a few moments the Chief went on. "The investigation into the explosion is ongoing. Early reports indicate that a pipe bomb was planted at the scene."
A bolt of sensation shot through Emma's chest at the words "pipe bomb." A few gasps peppered the room.
Emma jumped to her feet. "Planted? Planted by who?"
"Calm down Hill, sit down please. We don't know by who. Once we finish our investigation it will be turned over to the police department."
Emma sank back into her c hair. A pipe bomb? Why would anyone plant a pipe bomb in a factory that made baked goods? The thought made her sick to her stomach. 49 people hurt, 5 dead, not because of a stupid mistake, but because of malice. Because of evil. Because whoever would do that surely was evil.
Emma only half heard the rest of what
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