Time Bomb(49)

And she was sure no one ever would.





1:09 p.m.





Tad





— Chapter 38 —


HELPLESS, TAD WATCHED Rashid kneeling on the desk, looming above Kaitlin and breathing hard. Sweating. As if he’d been on the field, running wind sprints. But instead of dashing up and down a field, Rashid had saved a life.

He hadn’t freaked out. He’d just taken charge and done what needed to be done.

The guy had saved a life after Tad had basically accused him of causing the bombing.

All because of a shaved beard and the 911 call Rashid lied about.

“. . . communication with authorities has threatened additional explosions if demands aren’t met. Meanwhile, police dogs and a bomb robot are currently sweeping the areas around the entrance points for explosive devices while firefighters continue to battle the blaze on the east and south sides of the school. Of the three firefighters caught in the fourth explosion, two are in critical but stable condition while the other—”

“Thanks.” Z put a hand on Rashid’s shoulder. “I owe you.”

Rashid shook his head and tried to step away from Z, but Z held on to his shoulder as Rashid insisted, “You owe me nothing. I only did what anyone would do.”

“I couldn’t do what you did.” Frankie stepped in between Rashid and Z. “You’re a serious hero, man. Where did you learn to do that? Because it didn’t look anything like what they do on TV.”

“My father.” Rashid reached for a bottle of water and poured a little on a paper towel. He wiped his face with it as he looked past Frankie to where Kaitlin was breathing—not strong, but breathing. “My father is a doctor.”

“Well, that explains it.” Frankie slapped Rashid on the arm and added, “It’s good we have someone who knows what to do if something bad happens.”

Tad rolled his eyes and laughed. Leave it to Frankie to make people laugh even when there was nothing to laugh about. The bad just kept getting worse. Frankie not talking to him. The explosions. The fire. Being trapped in here with everyone hoping they didn’t die. And if it weren’t for Rashid spotting the bomb in the locker and telling Tad to run in the other direction, Tad might not be around to experience the bad at all.

“. . . seven students are known to be trapped on the second floor. Of those, one is the daughter of Senator Sanford, who was in his office working on gaining additional support for his Safety Through Education bill when he learned of today’s events. The senator, his wife, and several of his staff members are currently holding vigil outside with members of the other families who have loved ones trapped inside the school.”

Frankie walked toward Diana. “Do you think the senator will be able to light a fire under them and get people in here to save us?”

“He’ll try to make people pay attention.” Diana looked away, toward the corner of the room.

“Is that the best you can do?” Z asked. “Your father is going to try?”

“What do you want me to say?” Diana shot back. “Yes. If the FBI and police insist on keeping the firefighters back, he’ll talk to reporters and put pressure on them that way. The media has power. They don’t just report news. The issues they select to put on the air shape how people think. Perception is everything in this world. And now that the news stations have our names, they’ll be flashing photographs of all of us and talking to our families to add the human element to the story. The media will make people care. And when people care, action is actually taken.”

“Which is good,” Frankie said.

Tad coughed and glanced down. Wisps of smoke were coming under the door. They all had to get out of here soon.

“Is it good for us, or for her father and his career?” Z asked. “He’s the one who’s talking to the cameras right now, acting all humane and probably telling everyone that if his law was passed, this kind of thing wouldn’t happen. Pretty great deal for him. Don’t you think, Princess? If you died, you’d probably guarantee his election to the White House.”

“Screw you,” Diana spat.

“Screw me? Why don’t you—”

“Hey, everyone,” Tad interrupted. “It’s time to get a grip. Yes, this sucks, and I think we can all agree that Diana’s father’s law sucks too, but we need to focus. Until they let the firefighters come in, we’re on our own. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not be in this place if another bomb goes off. So maybe we should try to figure out how to escape instead of pointing fingers and screaming at each other.”

Although how they were going to do that with the things Tad was looking at was beyond him. There were several eight-foot extension cords like the one in his hands, along with a small stepladder, several sizes of PVC pipes, twine, some small rolls of wire, a box of Bunsen burners, another box with rags, and a whole lot of other long sticks, glass tubes, laminated posters, and various odds and ends.

“Tad’s right,” Rashid said quietly. “Kaitlin needs a doctor. We have to find a way to build a stretcher or something that can lower her to the ground.”

“We could break apart one of these tables,” Z said, getting down on his hands and knees and looking underneath one of the black high-top desks.