The Last Second Read Online Free PDF Page B

his gaze moved to the shed where the jamming device was probably located, far enough away to prevent injury if the explosives were detonated, and close enough for him or Sydney to shoot, if the men approached. But they hadn’t approached. And Griffin was certain it had nothing to do with them thinking that he or Sydney was armed, or they’d be taking better cover than they were. Undoubtedly they still considered the two of them as reporters. And yet, had any of the officers wanted to, they could still move closer, probably shoot right through the walls . . .
    “They can’t switch off the jamming device until right before they detonate,” Griffin said. “Or they risk us calling for help. That means they’re waiting.”
    “We’ve established that,” Sydney replied.
    “But not what they’re waiting for.”
    Calvin extricated himself from his sister’s arms, then joined them at the window, looking out. “The chief’s not there. They won’t make a move without him.”
    “Maybe he really did have a meeting,” Sydney said. “That’s what he told us when we left his office.”
    “Town council?” Calvin asked.
    “That’s what he said.”
    Calvin actually laughed as he peered through the curtains. “No wonder. After the meeting, Parks usually heads to the massage parlor for the chief’s special. I understand it involves handcuffs, leather, and a safety word, and he turns his police radio off.”
    “This wouldn’t constitute an emergency?” Griffin asked. “Wouldn’t they call him on his cell phone?”
    “Trust me. You do not want to be the guy who interrupts that . See the officer in the middle? He did that once. Lucky to still have a job. Probably wouldn’t, except it’s hard to find good sheep in cops’ uniforms these days.”
    Griffin parted the curtain slightly, surveying the area. “So how long does Parks’s little interlude last?”
    Calvin looked at his watch. “He keeps a pretty regular schedule, which means he’s probably on his way here.”
    “Sydney?”
    “God knows there’s enough explosives down there. Can’t we use that to blow the cops up?”
    “No way to get a bomb from here to there, without them sweeping us with gunfire.”
    “So how do we draw them closer without making us targets? At least then we could shoot them.”
    “Just a thought,” Calvin said. “But couldn’t we let them blow up the house, then let them think we’re dead?”
    “How?” Griffin asked.
    “Use fewer explosives than they had wired up. We hide in the tunnel, the house goes down, they leave. We emerge unscathed.”
    “Too risky. The blast will carry into the tunnel.” He peered out the window, his gaze following the length of the wall to the end, where he’d first seen the dog waiting . . . “What we need to do is get closer.”
    “How?” Sydney asked.
    “The tunnel. We use the ladder you found to climb out.”
    “Will the ladder reach?”
    Two eight-­foot extensions . . . Unfortunately he hadn’t paid too much attention to the height of the tunnel, but he didn’t think it was much more than fifteen feet. “I think so.”
    They agreed. Sydney stood guard at the front door, while the three of them and the dog retreated below.
    Griffin carried the ladder, but it wasn’t until he slid it into the tunnel that it occurred to him the thing might be too long to get around the curve near the air shaft. One way to find out. He grabbed one end, Calvin the other, both trying not to let it hit the ground or make noise. When they reached the curve, Griffin turned, pulling the ladder with him.
    It fit. Barely.
    Extending it, however, was another issue altogether. The ratchet mechanism rattled the aluminum and the sound echoed up the chamber.
    “Slow,” Griffin said. “One click at a time, then wait.”
    Calvin nodded. The dog wagged his tail.
    “I’m going to get Sydney.”
    He left Calvin and his sister to finish extending the ladder, then crawled out the tunnel, through the basement,