The Escape (Detective Jane Sparrow Book 2) (7 page)

              “Jane is everything ok? What is in the box? I haven’t touched it but as I got up close to it it’s making the weirdest humming sound.”

Eric who had once been in the army was the first to approach the box as the rest of the team stood back and stared with a mix of puzzlement and cautiousness. If the box contained human remains like they thought why was it humming. The box certainly did look big enough Jane thought to fit a body in. Eric started to have a look around Jane thought from the outside that nothing seemed unusual or distinguishable about it. But Eric seemed rather perplexed and then almost as though the fog had lifted and the perplexing in his mind had been resolved as the answer to their problem presented itself the colour drained from his face.

              “We need to clear the area and we need to get the bomb disposal unit here now!!”

“Eric what is it? How bad are we talking?”

              “The box is rigged with a trigger bomb so that as soon as you go to open the box boom. Bang there goes our evidence. I’m pretty sure as well although without the right tools to check but I’m sure it’s sitting on a pressure plate bomb. So if the weight of the package changes or the position shuffles too much again boom. Bang there goes our evidence.”

“Oh my God this is unbelievable we need to clear the area now. When and how did Thaddeus learn about explosive devices? There was nothing in his file or anything ever in his signature that he has included thus far involves him having the knowledge to pull this off and now we have two bombs.”

              “Well it’s safe to say that what we need to help us find him is definitely in that box. Otherwise he wouldn’t have gone to so much effort to make it so hard for us to get at.”

“Definitely sir. At all costs we are going to need to make sure that the evidence makes it out of that box in one piece and to where we want it.”

Jane was certain that Thaddeus did not have the extensive knowledge needed to build such devices. It would take years of practice; knowledge and experience to create two devices like this. He could of easily blown up himself while making them. And she was almost certain that Thaddeus did not possess that knowledge before he went to prison. But could he possibly have learnt it while he was incarcerated, Jane was doubtful but she would need to take a closer look at the system. It would probably be a good ides to have a chat with the Chief warden at the prison as well. See if any of the inmates that Thaddeus could of come into contact with had the appropriate knowledge and skill. The Superintendent was off down the hall putting the request in for the bomb unit. Eric was showing Jack rather cautiously all the signs that pointed to the package being rigged that you could see on the outside. Jane realised as she looked around that Ian had pulled Amy into a small alcove further up the hall as Jane stepped a few feet closer to them she realised they were having a rather intense and personal conversation. From the part that Jane overheard was Ian telling Amy that it wasn’t safe for her to be in the field and that the first thing an active police woman should do when she finds out is take herself out of the field. From that one statement Jane thought she had guessed their situation and why their relationship had been a tad more fraught lately. Jane came up with an idea that would hopefully help them both out without it causing too much notice before they were ready to announce their news. And to great timing her Superintendent had made it off the phone.

              “Bomb squad five minutes out.”

“Ok Sir you should probably head back to the station the Chief warden will be arriving soon for the press conference.”

              “Oh dam I forgot about that.”

“I was thinking Ian and Amy why don’t you head back to the station with him. I’m pretty certain that Thaddeus didn’t have the knowledge or skill to pull off something like this before he went to prison. So if you two could look back into the logs perhaps maybe mention to the chief warden about it see if he knows of anyone that could have taught him. Plus bomb squad is going to want the least amount of people in here possible.”

              “Ok Jane good idea are you sure you have everything covered here? The two escorting police cars will still be here as well as Eric and Jack.”

“Yeah not a problem just sends a few more unit cops to help start banging on the doors and get a perimeter set up.”

              “Sure thing ring us with any updates.”

“Yes sir.”

As Ian, Amy and the Superintendent walked off Amy looked back at Jane with an expression of gratitude and I’ll explain later. Jane thought to herself that she had figured the situation between Ian and Amy but she would wait until Amy was ready to give her that explanation before making any comments. The look of gratitude showed Jane that she had probably just saved Amy from more of an ear bashing. Jane, Eric and Jack started to bang on as many doors as they could get too without leaving the package unattended too much. Jane wanted to get the vicinity closed up as much as possible. Jane sent Jack down to start co-ordinating with the new units that were pulling up to help and to liaise with bomb squad as soon as that turns up to discuss protocol and how far the perimeter should be back. The bomb unit was there faster than their five-minute call out and they were even quicker to get the ball rolling. They wanted at least a five street block out perimeter and they wanted that pushed out as quickly as possible. The young man that they sent up to do the initial investigation of the package was a young man of thirty-two Tony Hill. He seemed very quick and efficient as he worked over assessing the package while conversing with Eric, as he was the one that made the initial discovery.

              “Ok the trigger bomb is very simple and will be easy to disarm so one bomb down no need to worry. The pressure plate bomb underneath is going to be a little trickier but I do have the right equipment to do that. What do we think is in the package?”

“Human remains of a murder victim that we really need in tact for obvious reasons.”

              “Ok that’s a first. How much do you estimate the package at weighing?”

“She was approximately five feet five say 135 pounds so what’s that nine stone five.”

              “Ok that’s great I can work with that. Now I know you are concerned about getting to what is in this box and making sure I don’t compromise any evidence. But I need you to push out to the perimeter. I promise you I will get you what you need safely but you need to clear the area first.”

“Ok if we must but be careful and good luck.”

Jane reluctantly left the scene as much as her heart was racing from the adrenaline of being in such a situation, it was the first time Jane had ever been in the vicinity of a bomb, and Jane still wanted to be there.

             
“First time around a bomb Mam?”

“Yeah Eric how did you guess?”

              “You got that look. Don’t worry I was talking to that young guy he knew what he was doing. Were gets to our evidence and everything will be fine. Any ideas where Jack is?”

“No he should be along here somewhere.”

It felt like forever that Jane and Eric were pacing the perimeter line, with no sightings of Jack and no help to Jane’s level of patience. Jane wanted to be up at her apartment so she could learn the outcome fast and first hand. Her patience wasn’t being helped much by the fact that she had developed three extra shadows
. Every move Jane made Eric and the two escorting officers moved with her. Jane respected the fact that it was risky being out in the open like this. I mean Thaddeus could of set the whole bomb thing up as a distraction so that he could get to her. But Jane’s patience or tolerance was not built for the apprehension of the bomb and feeling like a child under watch. It felt like a lifetime had passed while Jane was pacing when finally the bomb tech radioed through that the scene was clear and the bombs were disarmed. Jane pretty much ran dragging Eric and her two escorting police officers with her. She made it back outside her apartment within record time.

“How did it go? All well and the evidence is fine?”

              “More than fine all the bombs have been deactivated now for safety. I did have to open the package to remove the rest of the trigger bomb device and to check that it was clear of all others. We will take these away with us and carry out an investigation into how these were made, components, ingredients and signature with the bombs and such and we will get in touch with that information. I have scanned the contents of the box and its clear and free. No more incendiary devices so your coroner and crime scene technicians are free to start their work. Before I cut into the box I did remove this from the front as I didn’t want to ruin it but it has your name on it Detective.”

Jane placed on crime scene gloves and took the envelope of the bomb disposal technician and thanked him with as much gratitude as she could muster. Jane couldn’t believe that he was only thirty-two. He didn’t seem fazed by that experience, he did not bat an eyelid at the situation and handled it all with such care and grace it amazed Jane. Jane held the envelope in her hands for a few moments dubious and cautious about opening it knowing full well it was probably a communication from Thaddeus. To no surprise it was another letter reminding Jane of the first one he had ever sent her.

“Ah Jane, Jane, Jane why must we

Dance like this.

I once created you art. Eight

Beautiful pieces, two in your

Hometown. But you did not

Appreciate what they were. So

This time until we can be

Together I thought I must be more

Direct. Say hello to dear

Helen Moore. My sweet little love

Note to you. I am coming for

You Jane but until we meet again and

Spend the rest of days as though it

Was foretold in the stars I will send

You my love notes.

Each with a ticking time bomb to show you how urgent my need for you and

My want for your blood is.

I will have you.

Take care now Jane.”

“Well it seems as if he has stepped up his level of obsession with me a tad. It’s escalated to a whole new level of creepy. Before it was just about beating me and showing me he was better. But now he seems to be under the delusion that it was written in the stars that we should be together.”

              “That is a tad delusional and if you don’t mind me saying hilarious when Perry finds out.”

Jane couldn’t help but smile at that thought. The way Perry had gone off before when she told him that Thaddeus had escaped to come after her in the first place was endearing and a bit frightening. This was going to cost Thaddeus.

“Wont it just. Good call on the bomb earlier Eric you helped save a lot of lives and our evidence.”

              “Thank you army training comes in handy. We should get going back to the station Detective the coroner and crime scene techs can handle it from here.”

“Ok if you just go give the bomb unit the heads up we may be expecting more packages that are rigged in
the same fashion. And see if any of them know where Jack is? I’m just going to check in with the coroner and I’ll meet you at the car.”

              “Ok I’ll let them know. I’ll try Jack’s mobile as well.”

Eric gave Jane a nod of the head as he walked off out of respect Jane figured. He went of to discuss future preparations with the bomb unit and to chase up PC Jack Collins. Jane still had her escorting police officers with her but she could admit the fact she felt a little more exposed without any members of her team around her. Especially now that Thaddeus had written his level of lust for her down. Although the building was still surrounded with more than enough police officials and as far as Jane knew the perimeter hadn’t been opened yet so rationally Jane knew she was more than safe.

“Dave how long will it take you to get this poor woman back to your office and do your initial post-mortem?”

              “Give me till morning Detective. I heard the creep gave you a name can I take it? I will confirm her identity still through dentals and DNA if we have any in the system for her but I prefer it when they come back to the office with a name rather than being a Jane Doe.”

“Of course we have been informed the name of the victim is Helen Moore. And thanks Doc. Speak to you in the morning.”