Page 41 of Last Chance

“They do. Don’t know how good they are. We could call Logan.” Logan was their team’s explosive ordinance expert and would step in to examine and disarm a bomb if necessary.

Sawyer considered that option a moment, then shook his head. “Call the Hartman PD. We’ll let them look first. If there’s an explosive device inside the box that they can’t handle, we’ll call Logan.”

A nod from Jesse. “I know the head of the bomb squad. I’ll call him and report a suspicious package.”

“Do we need to lock our weapons in the SUVs?”

“I’ll tell Harmon we’re on the job and armed. If he has a problem with it, he won’t be shy about telling me. He’ll pass the word to his team so they’re prepared.”

“Good enough. I’ll escort Janie and her workers to my SUV and drive them farther away from the building.”

“Good idea. They’re too close if a bomb detonates at the front of the shop.” Jesse grabbed his phone and made the call. When he ended it a moment later, he said, “Harmon will be here in ten minutes with his crew.”

“Let’s clear out and make sure no civilians get close to the building while we wait for the bomb squad.”

Jesse snorted. “At this time of morning? Most people are rushing to work, not waiting to get into their favorite soap store.”

“We’ll have looky-loos soon. Any time they see first-responder lights, they slow down or stop to see what’s going on.” He jogged around the side of the building to the back, where Janie and the other two women waited. “Come with me.”

“Where are we going?” Janie asked.

“To the SUV. I’m going to move the vehicle away from the building, just in case.”

“Is it a bomb?” Chelsea asked, her eyes wide.

“We don’t know. The bomb squad is on the way to examine it. If anything threatening is inside, they’ll take care of it.”

“This is terrifying,” Jada said as the women followed Sawyer to the vehicle.

“We’re taking every precaution. This may be a box of supplies for all we know, but we want you to be safe in case this is a threat.”

“Who would want to hurt us or put the store out of business?”

Janie sighed. “The people who hijacked my plane from Chile come to mind.”

Chelsea shivered. “I hope you’re wrong, and this is all an embarrassing incident the bomb squad will chalk up to overly anxious people.”

Sawyer hoped so, too, but he didn’t like the timing. Once the women settled in the vehicle, he drove around the building to the front of the shop and parked a suitable distance away. He opened the driver’s side door. “Stay inside the SUV. You’ll be safe in here.”

“What about you?” Janie asked.

“I’ll be close.”

She blew out a breath. “I don’t like you being exposed to danger, Sawyer.”

That made him pause for a moment. “I’ll be careful. Don’t worry.” He closed the door and whistled, motioning for Jesse to join them.

The medic jogged toward him. Less than a minute later, he was beside Sawyer and stood watch with him. “Bomb squad is one minute out. They’re running lights without sirens. Don’t want to attract a lot of attention.”

The bomb squad arrived right on schedule and parked a short distance from the operatives. The leader of the squad approached Jesse. “What can you tell me?”

“Not much,” Jesse said. “This is my teammate, Sawyer. We’re protecting Janie Moran, the owner of Natural Bliss. One of her employees arrived for work about fifteen minutes ago, discovered the box at the front of the shop and reported it to us. We checked the outside of the box without disturbing it. No labels. Moran isn’t expecting any deliveries today.”

“Why do you suspect a threat?”

“Ms. Moran was the only survivor of the Chilean plane hijacking two days ago,” Sawyer said.

Harmon whistled. “Ugly situation.”

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