Episode 36 - Bomb Scare
They said hello to Nan and while Chloe chatted with the old lady, Sara decided to open her parcel. She stripped off the label and peeled away the adhesive tape that held the lids closed tight. Inside was a mobile phone surrounded by dozens of nails.
'Eh?' she grunted.
'Cool! A Nokia.' Chloe exclaimed, peeking into the box.
'What's with the nails?' Sara muttered and attempted to take out the phone. She found it was taped to a bundle, connected by a small wire attached from the ear jack. 'Did you see who delivered this, Chloe? This is weird.'
'Yeah, was a short chick. She looked familiar but I can't remember where from.'
Nan looked at the device and frowned,
'You know, if I didn't know any better I'd say it looks a bit like a bomb without the dynamite and clock.' She took a step back. Sara held it away from her, a look of unease broke out on her face.
'Don't be silly, Nan.' Chloe berated, 'Hey, see if the phone works, Sara.' she chirped. Sara shook her head. She trusted Nan's instincts and her own. Whatever this was, it was no good.
'I think we should see if Midge is home.' Nan suggested.
'She's a desk cop,' Chloe protested, 'What would she know?'
Sara agreed with Nan and they went to Midge’s apartment with Chloe straggling behind.. Nan knocked on the door and was grateful to hear Midge's voice yell that she was coming. When Midge answered the door, Nan noticed Jez standing behind her in the living room, looking rather morose.
'Hi guys. If I had of known I was hosting a party I would have baked a cake.' Midge quipped.
Sara tentatively offered her the package. Midge took one look and immediately went grey.
'Is this a joke?' she croaked.
'What is it?' Sara whimpered. ‘Someone left it on my doorstep.'
Midge grabbed the parcel and ran around the back to the pool. With all her strength she hurled it into the water and hit the dirt, covering her head with her hands.
Nothing happened.
'What a show pony,' Chloe grumbled, picking up her helmet. 'That phone's got to be fucked now. I'm off for my ride. When Jean Claude Van Damme finishes her commando routine, tell her to wash the grass stains off her pants .'
Midge peeked through her fingers and watched as the package sank to the bottom of the pool. She jumped to her feet and ran back upstairs to her apartment, shoving past Chloe in the stair well. She raced to her phone and punched in her precinct’s number on the dial pad. The others huddled in her living room. Jez was trying to make sense of what was going on. Midge hung up and gathered her breath.
'The bomb squad will be here soon. We've got to keep everyone away from the pool.'
'Bomb squad?' Sara shrieked. 'Was it really a bomb? Are you sure?'
'I've seen that design before. A friend of mine sent me an email at work with photos of homemade terrorist devices that you can find on the Web. That looked pretty familiar. Mobile phones are used as a popular detonator now. That's why you see the signs at fuel stops telling you to turn off phones. The electrical current is enough to set off an explosion.'
Sara was shaking uncontrollably and Nan consoled her. Midge went outside and looked over the balcony. Paulie, barely clothed in a g-string, was heading towards the pool with a towel draped over his shoulder.
'Paulie!!!' she screamed. 'Get away!!!' Paulie looked up and frowned. He was still pissed at Midge and ignored her cries.
He shed his towel and dove into the water.
to be continued... |
