Page 6 of Chain Reaction

Jake turned and surveyed the people on the scene.

Cassidy stood near her car talking to Officer Leggott. They appeared to be deep in conversation, so Jake decided not to interrupt them.

A woman with long, black hair pulled into a ponytail caught his attention. She squatted in the debris as she studied something on the ground.

Jake watched the woman, something about her vaguely familiar. She must be an investigator. Had the state sent someone? Jake thought Cassidy had said the local PD would handle this scene first.

He’d ask her about it later.

Since the chief was occupied, Jake decided to walk the scene again.

He stepped onto the collapsed structure, wooden boards creaking and moaning under his feet. The ruins still smelled of smoke.

He glanced at the rubble and frowned. The medical examiner had been by this morning collecting any remains left of Eleanor.

The poor woman.

Certainly, she’d never envisioned this happening.

Jake wanted to figure out what exactly had caused this. An old ordnance that hadn’t detonated for decades? Or was there more to this story?

As he stepped farther onto the scene, a new sound caught his ear.

He paused as he listened, tension crawling through his muscles.

Was that what he thought it was?

Muscles still rigid, he followed the sound, each step cautious. He needed confirmation before he became the boy who cried wolf.

Because he thought he’d heard a ticking sound—as in a ticking time bomb.

Except, in real life, bombs didn’t usually tick . . . unless the creator wanted to use the sound to draw attention or be dramatic.

As the noise became louder, Jake used his foot to move aside some boards.

That was when he saw it.

A bomb.

With glaring red numbers displaying a countdown.

In twelve seconds, this beast was going to blow—taking down anyone and anything nearby.

He raised his head and yelled, “Everybody, get back! Now!”

CHAPTER 3

Jake ran toward the woman. She’d just started to rise after he yelled.

But she wasn’t moving fast enough.

Without thinking, he grabbed her by the waist.

Lifted her in the air.

Ran toward the sand dune.

Behind it.