Double Jeopardy chapter 7 (standard:mystery, 4108 words) [7/13] show all parts
Author: Sarah Spenser	Added: Jul 23 2005	Views/Reads: 2582/1837	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
See the aftermath as the courthouse explodes!

7. The Explosion 

Chaos reigned as the building began to burn. Thick caustic smoke filled
the air, as the bomb exploded. Allison tried to help people as they 
frantically fled for their lives. Judge Carla Pringle was pinned 
beneath the ceiling which had already started to collapse. She screamed 
for help, Allison drew closer and cautiously lifted the debris off of 
Carla. She tried to stand, but was unable. “My legs are pinned too! 
Allison, you shouldn't be doing this! You're pregnant!” “I'm going to 
get you out of here and help as many people as I can.” Suddenly, the 
building began to implode, glass and metal crunched as the windows were 
blown out, Allison heard the building groan, as pieces of the ceiling 
and the floors above began to cave in. Her last thought was of Connor 
and their baby as falling debris struck her, knocking her unconscious. 

Connor was trying to concentrate on what Charlie was saying, but it was
impossible. His mind kept flashing back to Allison's face, contorted in 
pain as she was on the witness stand. Potter had been merciless, 
accusing her of everything from being an unfit mother, to aiding and 
abetting Chad. He wished he could've stayed with her, damn Charlie. He 
had  to call, Charlie called his name which brought Connor back to the 
present. “Connor?” “Hmm?” “What do you think?” “I'm sorry, Chief. I 
wasn't listening.” “Listen to me, damn it! I'm telling you we can get 
the goods on Chad's associate, Barnie Knocksville and you're just 
staring at me? What's wrong with this picture?” “What's wrong is that I 
should be with my wife! She's going through a very hard time right now. 
Potter Bridgeman practically tore her apart today, Allie collapsed! All 
this stress isn't good for her or the baby.” “All this stress isn't 
good for me either, Cassidy! Either you get your ass in here and work 
or there's the door!” “I'm  a good cop! You need me on this Batano 
case!” “Why? Because your wife was a tramp and slept with him? Because 
she somehow has the goods on him?” Connor reeled with anger. He stood 
and reached across the desk. Charlie never saw it coming, he slapped 
him hard across the face. He came around the desk and stood squarely in 
front of Charlie. “Listen to me! You never talk like that again about 
Allie! She is a good woman who just got mixed up with a bad guy. She is 
not a tramp! She is ...” he abruptly stopped when he heard the scanner 
click on. For most of the afternoon, the police scanner had been quiet, 
but the break in static meant something was happening. “Explosion at 
166 Sunny Meddo Lane, all units dispatch to Sunny Meddo Lane. There are 
fatalities and people with multiple injuries.” Connor's heart stopped, 
the courthouse. “Allie's in there!” Connor grabbed his car keys and ran 
out of the office. He sprinted to his car, praying that Allie would be 
all right. “Please, Allie, be all right. Please.” He prayed for her 
safe return as he drove the mile and a half to the courthouse. 

Normally, the journey would've only taken a few minutes, but it seemed
like an eternity to him. When he arrived, police and fire trucks were 
everywhere. More than a dozen ambulances were lined up in the driveway, 
and people were being wheeled out on stretchers. But none of them were 
Allison. Connor's heart was thudding a mile a minute as he went up to 
talk to a stately looking police officer. “Excuse me, do you know where 
Allison Cassidy is?” Bryan took off his hat and sunglasses and looked 
at Connor curiously. “Oh, Bryan hi! Have you heard any news about 
Allie?” “Was she in the courthouse?” “Yes, I'm going in there!” Connor 
ran towards the blazing inferno but was stopped by Bryan's strong arm. 
“Hold it! There are no survivors.” He said as calmly as he could. “What 
do you mean?” “Listen to me, it's not public knowledge but Potter 
Bridgeman and Rob Coleman are dead. We're still looking for Judge 
Pringle, Allison and a custodian named Ethan Sayers.” “Are you saying 
they're all dead?” “From what we could gather, the building went up in 
flames. Debris was everywhere, Batano definitely set off a bomb, we're 
looking for him right now. Everyone panicked and fled, some got pinned 
underneath debris and falling boards. Others were burned or died from 
smoke inhalation.” “No, Bryan! I won't believe this! Allie can't be 
dead! She just can't be!” Connor shouted as he headed for the building. 
“You're going to die in there, Connor!” Bryan shouted attempting to 
stop him. “I don't give a damn! Allie is the most important thing right 
now!” Connor took a deep breath before he ran into the blazing inferno. 
Smoke and debris were everywhere, the building had been deemed unsafe 
and it was already starting to collapse. The main floors had all fallen 
on top of the basement, and anyone who was trapped didn't have a 
chance. Connor stood in the middle of what used to be the hallway and 
screamed her name. “Allison! Allison? Where are you, honey?” but there 
was no answer, slowly he began to make his way through the debris. He 


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