Got a busy weekend ahead but I promise to try and update as time allows.
They'd seen the black smoke billowing into the clear sky several blocks away from Claire Gifford's apartment, their frantic race against time shared by several fire trucks heading into the same direction.
The waling of sirens had done little to part the dense rush hour traffic on that early morning, turning their trip to the southside of town into gut-wrenching agony, their hasty pace down crowded main streets a cacophony of beeping horns, irate drivers and a tense silence inside the Galaxie filled with nothing but bits and pieces of radio communication on what was actually going on.
Even when Steve finally managed to find a spot to park the large sedan just down the road from the blaze, most of the street was blocked off by various first responders, making for an equally heart-breaking hike through a maze of fire trucks, hose line, empty stretchers and caution tape.
As the winds picked up, giving the fire more power, the noxious black smoke was blown through the narrow side street, making them cough as their lungs began to burn.
A group of six fire fighters had surrounded the burning patrol car, their hoses stretched around the perimeter like loose yarn, the leader in the red helmet screaming commands at his men Mike couldn't understand from his distance.
Flashing his badge at a couple officers securing the scene, he scanned the area for Staff Sergeant Morris, squinting his eyes when the intense heat from the flames moved into their direction, growing uncomfortable even from several hundred feet away.
"Over there!", Steve yelled and pointed to the west, where a clearly distraught Morris was talking to another officer, barking orders much like the fire fighters did.
The wind shifted again, carrying the heat and fumes away from the two San Francisco Homicide detectives, allowing for a clear view of what was left of the burning vehicle sitting in a pool of its melted tires, the trunk blown open and weaving back and forth as the water hit it.
Mike felt his heart break when he recognized the outline of two bodies inside, the charred remains still in their respective spots, silent witnesses of the incredible human tragedy that had occurred.
Swallowing hard, he turned toward Morris, hesitating when he realized that Steve had seen them too, his eyes glued to the bodies, his features turned to stone.
"Come on…", Mike nudged and reached for the young Inspector's shoulder, urging him to follow along, preparing to offer damage control when there was nothing left to do.
They arrived at the Staff Sergeant's position in time to see him excuse another officer, then turn toward the wreck, his red-rimmed brown eyes wide in shock at the loss of two of his men, a superior torn between his duty and his humanity.
"Victor…", Mike began, drawing Morris' attention, seeing the other man try to contain his emotions between a forced nod to acknowledge the two detectives.
"Victor, we just heard what happened. I am so sorry about your loss.", he began, having to talk over the noise of the blaze when winds picked up again, "Are there any leads on what happened?"
Running a shaking hand across his face, the Staff Sergeant watched fire fighters attacking the wreckage from two angles now, slowly managing to subdue the tall flames.
"We're still trying to piece things together ourselves, Mike. I've got a couple men out there talking to the neighbors. Word has it they heard a huge explosion half an hour ago. Nobody saw anyone at the scene. Oh, and your…your reporter lady has gone missing."