فصل 31

Chapter 31: Backup Plan Two

The next morning, 9:17 a.m.

Chief Davis was sitting next to his wife at his kitchen table, drinking a coffee and reading the morning paper, when his phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number but answered anyway.

“Davis here.”

“We seem to have a problem, Chief,” a voice said.

“Who is this?”

“This is Captain Marsden.”

Davis was shocked. “Captain. It’s an honor.” “No, it’s a problem. It would seem that Officer Ridley has decided to post bail.” The news caught Davis off guard. “What? But he said . . .” “I don’t care what he said, Chief. He intends to post bail.” “That’s no problem. It will take him at least an hour to do the paperwork and get to the jail. We’ll arrest him on the way.” “He’s already at the jail,” Marsden said. “In fact, he’s about to leave with his wife.” “That’s not possible,” Davis said.

“It’s reality, Chief. Either you take care of this or we will.” “I’m on it,” Davis said. “We’ll initiate backup plan two. We have two men on Ridley’s street, and we’ll arrest Ridley the minute he pulls out of the jail.” “I suggest you hurry, Chief. Because, by my calculations, that’s in about twelve minutes.” “I’ll be right there. And don’t worry. She’s going to be wearing a GPS ankle bracelet, so they can’t elude us, even if they try.” He hung up, then set down his coffee. “I’ve got to run,” he said to his wife.

“Something wrong?”

“Nothing I can’t fix,” he said.

Davis sped to the jail. As he pulled into the jail’s parking lot, he saw Ridley’s car parked up against the north retaining wall. He pulled his car into the lot opposite Ridley’s, about forty yards from the jail’s front door. As he put his car into park, his phone rang.

“Davis.”

“Glad you could make it,” Marsden said.

“Where are you?” Davis asked.

“That’s not important. The paperwork is done. Ridley’s wife has been released into his custody. She’s changing her clothes. They’re about to come out.” “We’re ready,” Davis said. “His home has been taken care of. I’ve got two officers on their way now. We’ll arrest him as he pulls out.” “I’ll be watching,” Marsden said. “If you miss him, we’ll blow up his car.” “Don’t do that,” Davis said. “You can’t imagine the bureaucratic mess that will be.” “Then don’t screw this up.”

“Wait, I think that’s them. Hold on.” The jail door opened, and Officer Ridley stepped out with his wife. Charles quickly glanced around, then walked toward his car.

“That’s him,” Davis said, slightly slumping down in his seat.

“We have eyes on him too,” Marsden said.

When Officer Ridley reached his car, he and his wife hugged and kissed. He opened the passenger door and waited for her to get in; then he walked around to the other side of the vehicle.

Just then a white police van drove up behind the car and stopped, temporarily blocking Ridley’s car from view.

“I’ve lost visual,” Marsden said.

“Doesn’t matter,” Davis said. “He can’t pull out with that van behind him.” As the van pulled ahead, Ridley’s reverse lights illuminated; then the car started to back out of the parking place.

“Okay, I’m on him,” Davis said.

That’s when the car exploded.

Almost every car alarm in the parking lot sounded off as the fire raged white-hot.

“What did you do?” Davis shouted at Marsden. “I said to give me a chance to arrest him.” “We didn’t do that,” Marsden said.

“Well, we sure didn’t,” Davis said. “If you didn’t do it, who did?” “Perhaps the resistance wanted them silenced.” “I thought you said the resistance was destroyed.” “Not everyone. Not the Electroclan.” “They’re the parents of one of the Electroclan. The Electroclan aren’t going to kill their own parents. Holy crap, how much explosive did they use?”