“Just a bump to the head. I’m okay.”
“You’re not just saying that?”
“No, I’m good. What about your team?”
“Everyone from my team who was in the building has been accounted for. We’re waiting to hear on the chief, deputy chief and their admin. The deputy chief is pregnant… I’d really like to hear something about them.”
“Are they looking for other explosives?”
“Yeah, the Explosives LT cleared the building so they could do that.”
“What do you think this is?”
“I have no idea.” Sam looked around at the chaotic scene that now included multiple news trucks with satellite dishes on top. “What happened to the Russians?”
Vernon looked around. “I don’t know.”
They glanced at one another.
“Was this their doing?” Sam asked.
“I mean… I wouldn’t put it past them, but to bomb the MPD headquarters… That could be considered an act of war.”
“Good God. Let me talk to Lindsey. I’ll be right back to check on you.”
“I’m fine, Sam. Do what you need to.”
Sam squeezed his arm. “Don’t scare me like that again, you hear?”
“I’ll try not to.”
Sam, Q and Freddie took off to find Lindsey, who stood out in the crowd thanks to her red ponytail.
“Linds…”
The medical examiner spun around to face Sam. “Oh, thank goodness. There you are. I was worried when I couldn’t find you after we got separated.”
Sam returned Lindsey’s embrace. “I’m here. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, all good.”
“Where’s Amara?”
Lindsey turned to look around. “I don’t know.”
“Ivanov,” Sam said.
Together, Lindsey, Sam, Freddie and Q ran for the door to the morgue, but they were stopped by Patrol officers guarding the door.
“Step aside,” Sam said. “We urgently need to get into the morgue.”
“We’ve been told that no one is allowed in.”
“I’m giving you a direct order to allow us through,” Sam said. “We’ll come right back out when we get information that might be pertinent to the bombing. I’ll take the blame for any trouble.”
The two young officers exchanged glances before one of them shrugged and stepped aside.
With Q following close behind them, Sam and Lindsey went into the morgue. They found Amara’s things where she’d left them, but Ivanov’s body was gone.
