Thanks for all the reviews.
Note: I've never been to Toronto so what I use here is what I can find online about its streets and neighbourhoods. All mistakes are mine.
The surname Thornberry is just randomly chosen. I mean no offence to anyone, especially real life politicians, with that surname.
The corner of Brown's Line Road and Lake Shore Boulevard
Ed screeched the van to a halt and they rest of Team One hoped out. "You two alright?" he asked.
"Yeah," Jules replied, continuing to flick dust from the exploded vehicle off her uniform.
"Just a scratch," Kira added, though there was more than one abrasion on her cheek.
"Thank goodness. Break, Winnie, status?" he radioed.
"No terror chatter or raised threat level Sarge," Winnie replied. "No other similar incidents reported so far."
"Thanks Winnie. Ok team, this could highly likely an assault or even an attempted murder on this lady...Actually what is her name?"
"Kathryn Thornberry," Kira read off her driver's license which she extracted before the EMS personnel had attended to her. "She has a residence in Rosedale."
"Oooh wow, wealthy," Leah commented.
"Well, we'll find out if that's a reason behind this explosion," Ed gave her a serious look. "How's the lady?" He asked the EMS personnel.
"She's out, possibly much more than just from bruising to her neck. We have to take her to A&E to examine."
"Oh right. Spike, look's like it's your ground over here. Jules, head over to Ms Thornberry's home to find out more about here. Leah, both of us will do our own research into the subject's history and monitor her condition. Kira..."
"Kira can join me at that house," Jules completed Ed's orders.
"Alright people, let's roll."
"And I'm all alone," Spike muttered as the team split up. Oh actually not, he glanced at the van. Babycakes, I've got good ol' Babycakes with me. After quickly suiting in his anti-IED suit, Spike conducted a fast survey of the exploded car and slowly examined the debris. "Babycakes," he guided his pet robot forward through the debris, "what's that over there?" Enhancing the picture quality, he spied an object amidst the wreckage that did not look like it was part of the car. Suddenly, a danger signal appeared on the screen. "An active timmer eh? Well, you're no match for good o1' Spike and Babycakes..."
On the way to the Thornberry Residence
Rosedale, Toronto
"...and there's lots of other fragments that we picked up Boss," Spiked radioed Ed and Jules. "It'll take time to go into fine detail about its manufacturer but you know me..."
"Good work Spike," Jules congratulated him and turned into the small lane.
"Uh, Jules, thanks for choosing me," Kira blurted.
"Choosing?"
"Choosing me for this investigation. If not I'll be Spike going through the remains of the car or sitting in a hospital."
"Kira, I thought I could use your help. But Team One isn't about hiding away from tasks you dislike. One moment you could be also working on EOD issues, the next moment you could be watch over suspects for hours. I didn't immediately jump into sniper and profiling one when I joined the SRU. Understand your own strengths, but also get to know the duties of others."
Kira absorbed this advice for a few seconds then asked, "So what do you expect of me at this interview?"
"I'll lead the questioning and you can mentally take note. You can join in but don't interrupt or change the line of though. Most of all, remember the SRU motto..."
"Connect, Respect Protect." Minutes later, the two female SRU officers found themselves in a house filled with boxes and a man with his tie undone supervising the packing. "No, I don't really know who would do that to Kathy," George Thornberry told them. "But she herself worked for a defence company, so she probably built stuff like that bomb."
"Any recent problems lately? Like changes to her behaviour any sudden calls?"
"You see all this?" He waved he hands across the room. "We've just divorced. I have to move out of this great place I called home for many years. Don't even know where I'll be next. Anything else?"
"Was...was her work a factor for your...split?" Kira asked.
"Look officer, it's all personal. Now, if you excuse, there's more to be done here."
"Sorry for that last question," Kira apologised as they walked back to their car.
"No apologies needed. So what do you gather?"
"Well, yes divorce is a messy topic and we know she's in the defence field. But while he didn't express any sorrow of that news, he was well, shifting his feet a bit. That's the odd part I could gather."
"Me too," Jules concluded and radioed ahead to Winnie and the team about their progress. It's affirmative, Kathryn Thornberry is a senior manager in TechSpecs," Winnie confirmed. "It's a leading firm specialising in counter-IED technology to the Canadian Armed Forces and NATO member states."
"Well, this looks like more than just an IED to me but counter-IED stuff is still related," Spike added.
"Ms Thornberry is still unconscious," Ed radioed. "Head over to TechSpecs," Ed added. "Find out exactly what she was working on."
"What about the Mr. Thornberry?" Kira wondered.
"His case does sound odd, but you two have seen him. I'll get some plain clothes and unmarked cars to check on him. Any luck with his occupation?" Winnie gave a negative. "Ok Team, good work so far."
It took Jules and Kira another half hour before they reached the headquarters of the firm. Just as they parked, the familiar high pitched noise of a fire alarm rang and dozens of office workers streamed out of the building, many colliding against the two SRU officers. Navigating through the swarm of people, they found security personnel at the doorway. "System indicates fire on twentieth story," the guard shouted. "But it also shows a fault in the water sprinkler system."
"Fire Service and EMS are on their way," Kira confirmed, pressing her ear piece. Suddenly, yet another person collided into Jules. "Ma'am, you can't go back in," the guard instructed. "you have to wait out in the assembly area."
"I have to!" The Lady screamed. "There's a device up there that I need to shut down or it'll explode!"
To be Continued