Chapter 29 [Van Yarrells' Warehouse—Just before Dawn]
Hidden deep in the far corner of the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the Van Yarrells' Warehouse aged without grace. Boards covered the nearly century-old structure's windows. Mortar chipped from between the bricks allowing for occasional representatives of the latter to fall earthward. The steel beams supporting the ancient building rusted and cracked.
It was unstable but it allowed a place for the rats to hide and flourish…..
On the structure's ground floor, a dozen operatives worked away at various tasks. A tall and attractive blonde woman typed away on a laptop. A half dozen folks tinkered with new destructive devices for various other targets around the New York area. Two men of African origin stirred a pot of explosive liquid gently. Another poured the liquid into molds to form into bars or whatever the group needed.
Overseeing the others' actions, a tall and dignified man with Nordic features processed every facet of the process. He walked with calm between each station inspecting the byproducts of his planning and organization. He anticipated that the bombing of Jo's car would keep the NYPD scrambling after their own tails long enough for him to send the next wave of attacks across the tri-state area. "Report, Mathers?"
The woman at the computer screen replied, "The police are still tasking their resources to the antique shop. Situation seems normal, Michael."
"And we should get this stuff out before they get any wiser, Gustavssen," the molder pointed out.
Gustavsssen nodded without allowing an inch of concern. While Henry and Jo had proved more difficult to eliminate than he'd anticipated, his man in the field still had accomplished the designated task. "I say we still have time, Richards. Patience."
Then Mathers stared at a red light on her screen. "Michael, the proximity alarm! We have company!" She pressed a button on her keyboard activating the feed from the recently-installed cameras.
Unfortunately the displays were blank.
Then her feed stopped.
Just then a loud speaker's distortion jarred them all. Then Reece announced, "ATTENTION! THIS IS THE NYPD! YOU ARE SURROUNDED! DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND COME OUT PEACEFULLY! WE ARE PREPARED TO STORM YOUR LOCATION AND TAKE YOU IF NEEDED! YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS!"
Gustavssen frowned. "Destroy everything! We will not be taken. You know what you must do." He grabbed the back-up hard drive. "Base Plan Theta. Do not give these stupid cops anything!"
Mathers shut her computer down. She placed it on the floor before producing a revolver and shooting it several times. "The acid! Now!"
"Here, my Dear. Do it," Gustavssen directed while handing her a brown colored bottle.
Mathers smiled coldly. She hated to destroy a laptop like that but better that than her cause. She poured the acid all over the computer's keyboard and watched as it disintegrated before her eyes.
Meantime the others prepared the still-liquified C-4.
"Do it!" Gustavssen ordered while taking the last brick from the preparation table and sticking a detonator into it.
"It is ready," one of the Africans advised. "It has been an honor, Gustavssen."
At that moment, several vials spewing tear gas broke through the windows and landed nearby. They began belching their vile payload throughout the facility.
"Then it is time," Gustavssen indicated while placing the C-4 brick on the lip of the vat. "For our sacrifice!" Then he stepped back and grabbed the remote from the same table.
From the far side of the building, they could hear the beating against the door.
"Good bye, my friends!" Gustavssen bade them while pressing the button.
About five hundred yards back, Jo watched as the task force worked at breaking the door down. After losing her car and the changes from the previous two days, she wanted these bastards' hides on her wall. She burned with anger over the entire violation. "I should be there with them."
"What is that you tell me about having a death wish?" Henry queried as a reminder to her.
"Not to go charging in. Yeah I know that. I just want to beat something up," she assured him. She admittedly wanted to lean up against him for support and guidance.
"That is exactly why I have you back here, Detective," Reece noted as she approached. She'd been watching the duo from her previous position and knew something had changed over the previous couple of days. "That's why our armored division is handling things. With luck, they won't know what hit them and…."
At that moment, the warehouse imploded in a rain of fiery debris and dust. It collapsed to the ground with a loud bang causing everyone's ears to ring in pain.
"What the Hell?" Reece queried. She spoke into her walkie talkie. "Fifth unit! Report! This is Reece! Report!"
"Henderson here, Lieutenant. The terrorists detonated the remaining C-4 to keep from being taken by us. We are maintaining a perimeter until the fire department gets here. Copy?"
"Henderson, what is the unit's status?" Reece asked pointedly.
"Alston and Samford will require an ambulance. No other casualties," Henderson reported.
"Thankfully so. Radio for those ambulances. Thank you, Henderson. Reece, out," Reece turned to Henry and Jo. "Now I'm glad I erred on the side of caution, Detective Martinez. It seems it is over."
"Let us hope so, Lieutenant," Henry noted ruefully. In his long life, he'd seen other such groups apparently taken out only to surface again at the most inconvenient time. Once more I shall have to be vigilant for both of our sakes.
"We will make sure the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed this time. Count on that. Now let's get back to the precinct. I have this area surrounded in case anyone survived that blast. We could all use some coffee and perhaps some rest," Reece insisted. "Come on, you two. I'll drive you back."
"That sounds like a plan," Jo agreed. She glanced at Henry who stood and watched the blazing rubble. Now what? "Henry?"
"Hmm?" He turned to face her. "Yes?"
"You can tell me later. Right now our ride's leaving," Jo reminded him.
"Ah yes. I've spent more time here already than I care to. Lead the way if you would?" he agreed while offering her a helpful smile and a slight hand squeeze to buoy her spirits.
She blushed slightly but didn't allow any other reaction than that. As they walked toward the car, she knew she still had a lot to think about concerning everything.
That scared her…but then again Henry was there….
And that made her feel a whole lot better about the developing situation as a whole….
