AN: Here's the next chapter. Thanks to all who reviewed and put this story on story alert. It means a lot. Enjoy!
After driving to the main Portland Police Station to find out what had occurred at the previous holding building site, Cho and Rigsby were told the story of the Oblivion Bomber's death. Apparently a small explosion had been set off that had quickly started a small fire and all the guards except two ran towards the sound to investigate. The two guards watching the prisoner were supposed to follow the appropriate fire evacuation plan but for some unknown reason they never appeared outside. The firemen had arrived swiftly at the scene but could not extinguish the fire due to a chemical problem. When they added water, the flames grew higher, devouring even more of the building. The signature chemical component of the Oblivion Bomber had the same effect.
Lisbon, Jane, and Van Pelt got there as soon as they could, catching the next flight out of California. The head detective, Horew, greeted them and reunited the team.
"This explosion happened 5 hours ago and by then you guys were already on your way here. Sorry we didn't contact you right away at the airport, there were some interagency communication problems." Horew explained, apologetic.
Lisbon looked rather annoyed at the detective, but didn't say anything; sadly communication problems occurred more often then most noticed.
Horew continued, "We're searching the site now. Our arson team determined that it was too dangerous to enter before and since there was no chance of survivors we were not about to go rushing in there and get some of our men killed."
"How is it even possible that a bomb was even in the building without anyone noticing?" Van Pelt voiced the question everyone wanted to ask.
Horew shrugged, "No one knows, all the cameras have been destroyed so until we find the point of origin…"
Jane had been wandering slowly in a circle around the group, hands in his pockets, when he remarked, "Well, in the future don't make your holding places out of wood. They'll be less likely to burn."
Horew glared at him, about to say something about his smart comment, when Lisbon intervened quickly, "Thanks for your help, please let us know how many bodies are discovered. There should be three, right? Two guards and the Oblivion Bomber?"
"Yeah. Are you taking point in this investigation?" Horew asked a bit irritated that he was being dropped out of the investigation.
"Yes, we'll keep you in the loop. It was our prisoner and it is his signature bomb. We are most familiar with the case." Lisbon informed him, clearly telling him she had the final word.
Horew gave in without a fight; he had other cases to work on and left them alone in a conference room.
"Theories?" Lisbon inquired of her team.
"There was obviously an accomplice; someone had to set the bomb. The Oblivion Bomber was heavily under guard, there's no way he got a bomb into the building." Cho said.
"That means the Oblivion Bomber had an accomplice all along and we never even knew." Rigsby shook his head in disgust at the previous team's lack of success with the case.
"So why were there no guards outside that noticed the accomplice coming to plant the bomb?" Van Pelt asked, puzzled.
Lisbon responded, "Because of the threat risk from the public, we wanted to make sure he made it to his trial alive. There are already hordes of people demonstrating in front of the main jail. That means only a select few even knew that the Oblivion Bomber was being held there."
Lisbon turned around looking for Jane; there had been a scarcity of know-all statements in their conversation. Her eyes fell on the blond-headed consultant reclining in a chair, his eyes staring off into the distance and slowly closing.
"Jane! Sleep later; you'll just have to fight against the jet lag. Any comments to solve the case for us?" she joked, smirking.
Jane's eyes popped fully open and he immediately jumped to his feet, "Not yet, now we need to go to the scene of the crime."
He began to walk out of the room when Lisbon called him back, "It's too dangerous, we have to wait for the all clear from the arson team."
"Poppycock. Rigsby here is a fine arson investigator and if need be we'll don protection gear." he shouted over his retreating shoulder.
Lisbon sighed heavily as she and the rest of the team, hurried to catch up.
The yellow crime scene tape fluttered in the cool Maine breeze as several people in firemen suits were combing through the ashy, charred remains. A medical examiner's van was parked nearby along with a fire truck. Upon the team's arrival they had also been given suits. After donning the clunky safety gear, Rigsby left to talk to the arson team leader and to inspect the point of origin for himself.
"Should we join Rigsby?" Van Pelt asked worried, she had not worn digging shoes and trying to walk through burnt wood in high heels was not a good idea.
"Stay out of that mess. Only Rigsby has permission to go inspect. I don't want to have to explain to Minelli why one of you is injured. Okay Jane?" she asked looking for a confirmation that especially he would follow her orders.
"Jane?!" Lisbon called out looking around for him but Jane had already rapidly disappeared into the crowd of people examining the blast site.
"Urgg!" she groaned frustrated, pulled on gear and went to try and find him. She wished for once that Jane would listen to her. Not everything she said was unimportant.
Both Van Pelt and Cho just looked at each other; it was such a typical Jane move. A man approached them and as he pulled off his helmet, they realized that it was Rigsby.
"Van Pelt, do you have-" he began when she held up her hand to stop him and started rummaging through her bag.
"Ah-ha!" she announced triumphantly, holding a peanut snack bag. "It's left over from the plane flight. You were about to ask me if I had any food right?"
"Uh, yeah, thanks." Rigsby replied a bit startled that she knew him that well. "Where's Lisbon?" he asked opening the crinkly bag.
"Berating Jane." Cho pointed at Lisbon who had managed to find Jane amongst the others. His tell tale hair peeking out from underneath his helmet might have helped.
"Jane, why do you always wander off?! Don't you hear a word I say?" Lisbon yelled at him.
Jane just smiled in response, its radiance stopping Lisbon's tirade. "Relax, woman, this is just how my mind works. I have to be part of the crime scene to understand what happened."
She reluctantly ended her speech; she could only attempt to win against Jane's logic. Lisbon saw that Rigsby had rejoined Cho and Van Pelt. She grabbed Jane's arm, and physically dragged Jane over to them. Van Pelt and Rigsby suppressed smiles, seeing their small statured boss manhandle Jane was an amusing sight. Jane allowed himself to be pulled along; he figured he had annoyed his boss enough for ten minutes. Both of them removed their helmets and placed them on the ashy ground.
"What did you find out Rigsby?" Lisbon asked, slightly breathless, her dark hair falling out of her normally neat ponytail. Dragging Jane was hard work.
"Tom, the lead for the arson team, told me that the bomb was placed by the back exterior of the building. It was a secondary explosive; with a blasting cap containing a very small amount of lead azide. It was definitely set off remotely, part of a detonator was found nearby. The chemical that reacted so explosively with water was sodium; it was kept separate from the lead azide to stop it from making a new compound. At least that's what they have figured out here at the scene. Tom said they'll know more after more testing back at the lab." Rigsby updated team, sharing all his information.
"This accomplice certainly knew what he was doing. He planted the bomb outside-no guards, knew his chemicals and how to build a bomb that detonated properly." Van Pelt commented, slightly impressed by his talent.
Meanwhile Jane, after absorbing all this, had started to drift back towards the wreckage. Something had caught his attention out of the corner of his eye.
Lisbon noticed, followed him popping on her helmet, while muttering, "Oh, no you don't Jane."
"Lisbon!" he called anxious and completely solemn.
Now she was really worried and she rushed over to him. Jane was kneeling down, his gloved hand pointing at a bone fragment beneath some rubble.
Lisbon gave a shout to the arson team, as Jane said "This must be one of the victims." and made to prod the bone.
"Do not touch!" came an extremely stern and serious voice from somewhere above his head.
Jane peered up to meet the strong gaze of an auburn haired woman standing there in a blue protective suit, her hair in a bun, accenting her prominent cheekbones.