Shadow-Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Police Headquarters,
273 Pacific Highway,
North Sydney

     Kade placed the finished report on the cluttered desk. “Ah, there we are, all done.” He stood up and stretched his cramped limbs. Ever since the disconcerting night before, he had been busy working on a report of the happenings for that night.
     “Kade, you better have that report finished!” Kade waved his hand casually in the direction of the commissioner.
     “I’ve already completed it” He called back.
     “Okay, put it on my desk before you go home in the evening.” And with that the commissioner humfed back into his office. Crystal strolled into the stuffy room.
     “It’s quite hot today, isn’t it?” She said to Kade. She walked over and leaned against his messy desk.
     “Typical Sydney weather” Kade replied.
     “Well, how about we go out and get ourselves a nice, cold, icy drink?” Crystal motioned out the open window to the small café situated across the busy road, on the corner of the highway and Crowes Nest Road.
     “Sounds good to me.”


****

The explosives clicked easily into place under the policeman’s desk. It had been easy to infiltrate the Police Headquarters, his nick name wasn’t shadow for nothing. He thrust his hands into the depths of his pockets and casually, but inconspicuously, walked over to the stairs. As he was about to proceed down the first step when, two young officers, a male and a female, started in his direction. Did I make a mistake? Did they see me place the explosive? What if…? No be calm. They are probably heading out for lunch. It was lunch time after all. He breathed out slowly, and continued down the steps, the two officers faltered, then turned towards the elevator instead. See, they want nothing to do with me, I am invisible. As he angled around the corner of the stairs he heard the faint Ding of the elevator as its doors opened, and then again as it closed. Within a minute he had traversed from the third floor of the building to the first. He sauntered across the polished lobby floor to the translucent glass door at the front of the station. He removed one hand from his pocket, pushed the door open, and strolled through it, letting the door swing and click shut behind him. He crossed the busy street and once he reached the other side, turned around and faced the Police Headquarters. He chuckled. Another job complete.  With the hand that was still concealed in his pocket, he lets his thumb remove the cap of the remote-controlled device and press the button.

****

There was a thunderous boom as the Police headquarters violently exploded. The earth rumbled, glass shattered, falling debris smacking down on top of cars, road, and pedestrian alike.  Kade jumped up off his chair, knocking it over and spilling his drink on the table. “Did you hear tha..!?” He turned around and stood still in horror. He saw the exploded building, flames were pluming out of the shattered windows, peoples cries from inside could be heard far around. Beside him Crystal gasped as she too took in the sight across the road.
     “Oh god.” He gasped. He started running towards the fiery building, Crystal also got up and started across the road behind him. Half way across the road he was buffeted by a strong blast of heat, slowing his progress. He covered his eyes and said “We have to save them!”
     “But what can we do?” Shouted crystal behind him, her words partially lost to the deafening roar of the inferno.
     “I don’t know! But we have to do something!” He thought he felt tears well up in his eyes, but they were quickly devoured by the dry heat. He pushed forward, but Crystal pulled him back.
     “There’s nothing we can do to save them now, they are lost.” Crystal said softly in his ear.
     “But I can…we could…” Kade collapsed to his knees. He placed his hands on the ground in front of him and lowered his head.
     “All we can do now is wait for the emergency services to arrive. Come on lets head back over to the café.” She gently helped him to his feet and turned him around towards the café. The patrons of the café all stood on the side of the road looking in dismay at the building consumed by the blazing inferno, one of them with a mobile phone pressed to his ear, presumably talking to the emergency services. Kade slid drearily into a chair and closed his eyes. Crystal stood next to him, the starting of tears forming in her eyes.
     “I will destroy those bastards, even if it’s the last thing I do on this sorry planet.” In the distance he heard the drone of approaching sirens as the fire brigade and ambulances rushed to the burning building, but as fast as they could get there, there was no way anyone could survive and explosion of that intensity.