“Okay, one moment.”
T-Ball sat in the OIC’s chair and pulled the IED response binder from the bookshelf behind his desk.
“Okay dispatch, I have several questions for you, but I want to begin with some recommendations.”
“We have a copy of the standard recommendations.”
“Okay good. What have you done so far?”
“Both buildings are in the process of evacuation using doors not facing the device. Security is setting up a perimeter and is searching for secondary devices.”
“Okay. Could you send someone over to medical and send BM1 Ashland over?”
“I’m here!” came Ash’s voice from the hallway.
“Thanks dispatch, he is here already. Ash, we gotta IED at building one!”
Ash stepped into the office. “I know. I heard when I was at medical and came right back. I’m senior man, T, plus a Master Tech. Give me the phone and begin load out.”
“Roger. Security dispatch on the line.”
T-Ball handed Ash the phone and ran to the back of the shop to begin the equipment load out.
Ten minutes later Ash drove the detachment dually toward the medical building parking lot. T-Ball was dressed already to be the P-1. Ash briefed as they drove.
“Okay, listen up. Step one, go down and listen with the Marty Kaiser. If it is ticking, place the tool and we’ll shoot it.
“If it is not ticking, place the Mark-32, your film cassette, back out and take a picture. If it is too big, use two X-ray film carts. Place the dearmer, come to the CP, and we’ll look at what we got. It is probably a box some knuckle-head officer left sitting there by accident.”
“Probably.”
“If we got something, we’ll shoot and go from there. Questions?”
“None.”
Ash pulled in front of medical and parked the truck. Both men got out walked to the back and opened the tailgate.
Ash keyed a radio in his hand. “Test, one, two…”
A radio tucked into T-Ball’s vest answered. He keyed the mike clipped on a d-ring in the shoulder of the vest.
“One, two, three…”
His voice emanated from Ash’s radio. Ash helped T-Ball put the response pack on.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
“Go do it.”
T-Ball headed toward the headquarters building. Ash surveyed the surrounding area. It was clear. From training exercises with the base, Security knew to create a large perimeter to protect personnel and to ensure nobody could photograph or film an EOD procedure.
Ash set up the X-ray developer. Just as it was ready for use, T-Ball’s voice came over the radio.
“CP, P1, I see it. This is my last transmission for awhile, I’m approaching the device.”
Ash keyed the radio twice.
Thirty five seconds later there was a detonation. The blast wave echoed between the two sides of building breaking glass and lifting dust as it went. Car alarms in the main parking lot wailed and a small fire started on the clothing and flesh of what once was Theodore Ball.
Elena Cruz sat in her car doubled over. She rubbed her temples. She had actually seen them take T-Ball away. For four hours she coordinated ATF, Naval Investigative Service, and FBI forensics and tackled the scene.
It was definitely another SANPAT bomb.
Now her investigation was crumbling before her. It was an anti-government hit, not anti-tech. This time James J. Jascinski was not there.
She recalled the conversation with a stunned Johnny Ashland.
“Petty Officer Ashland, where’s the lieutenant?”
“He’s, uh… gone.”
“What do you mean gone?”
“He is on emergency leave, his father died.”
Cam called to say that he wanted to visit the scene. Elena expected him any minute. She had precious time to decide what, if any, new theory she had.
Certainly another member of Jascinski’s organization could have pulled this off. The fact that he was gone did not mean he was not involved. Was targeting Ingleside while he was gone a way to divert attention from himself?
Elena sat back in the driver’s seat and looked at the orchestrated mayhem between the two buildings.
“What the hell was he targeting? Didn’t he realize that one of his men could be killed?”
She became so agitated that she could not wait for Cam’s arrival. She picked up her cell phone and dialed her boss’s number.
“Cam here.”
“Cam, it is Elena. I think Jascinski just murdered Theodore Ball.”
“My God.”
“I’ve been told that he is at his father’s funeral in Maryland. We need to confirm that.”
“You think that someone could have acted for him?” inquired Cameron.
“Yes. We do think there is an organization here. I also think this one was command detonated.”
“Why?”
“Ashland said that Ball never began his procedure; it detonated just as he arrived.”
“Could be a clock that just ticked down as he came on it.”
“Statistically, what do you suppose the chances are that a device detonates just as the EOD Tech stands next to it?”
“Hmmm.”
Elena looked again at the scene before her. The forensics guys would be wrapped up soon.
“We do have some good news.”
“What?”
“The device did not work exactly right. We have components and explosives.”
“Tell the lab guys overtime is authorized.”
“I will.”
“Elena, I will be there in thirty minutes. Hold all the EOD guys there for me, will you?”
“Yes, sir, I will hold them. At the rate we are going, my scene may be cold by then.”
“I understand. I am coming more for the governor than for myself, Elena,” Cam paused for a moment. “Elena, hang tough kid, you are doing a good job.”
“Thanks, Cam.”
FORTY-TWO
Jazz walked around in a haze, first from his father’s death, and now T-Ball. Denke was waiting for him in the driveway when they returned from Annapolis. He told his lieutenant the news after Melanie and the kids were inside. As he did, Mel emerged from the house with tears streaming down her face.
“Jazz.”
“I know, hon, Senior just told me. How did you know?”
“We got a phone message.”
In the days following Theodore Ball’s funeral, Melanie could not stop crying. Jazz’s natural reaction each time was to put his arms around her and hold her. He found her sobbing in the kitchen over a pot of spaghetti. As he raised his arms she blocked him and moved away.
“No, Jazz, stop.”
“Hon, I want to help.”
“I don’t want your help?”
“What?”
“You’re the problem.”
“Mel, that is not fair. Look we have had a tough year okay? We’ve both been under a lot of stress. We had school, then the baby, then the deployment.”
“You don’t get it do you!” Melanie yelled. “You think this is going to get better? Wake up, James! Everyone around you is dying! Those Army Techs are dead! De Luca is dead! Koss is dead! And now Ted! You yourself have come near to death at least twice that I know about and probably more times that you haven’t told me of! On top of all this, something is going on that you are not telling me about. Those Army Techs did not die in an accident did they, Jazz? Did they?”
Jazz looked at her, unable to answer.
“Someone is coming after you guys,” Melanie continued. “T-Ball was murdered wasn’t he? Well, I’ve had it, Jazz. I’ve had it with this life, I’ve had it with the danger, and I’m not going to live with it anymore. I’m afraid, Jazz. I’m afraid for you, for the safety of our children.”
She went into a full sob. Jazz stood quietly and watched his wife hold her breath to try to gain control of her emotions. Melanie turned on her heel and began stirring the spaghetti. He looked at Mel’s back, not knowing what to say.