She stepped into the charred space. The blast had blown things apart, and the ensuing fire had worsened the damage. Charcoaled wood was strewn everywhere. Half the front door was blown into the yard, skirting boards were ripped up, and all the window frames had been blown out.
The kitchen was completely destroyed. May swallowed hard. The devastation was horrific. Had this been the lounge, she wondered, pacing into the blackened room.
The bomb squad had started work in the corner of the room. Two heavily suited men were busy, bent over a still-smoldering area. Glancing around, one of them saw May and Owen approach.
"This is where the blast occurred," he said. "Now that the body has been removed, we're going to be able to take a better look."
"Did you find anything yet?" May asked.
"So far, nothing much. I'm guessing it was a pipe bomb, which was triggered by a phone call."
May nodded. "Any idea of what type of explosives these were?"
"That will be determined when they are taken to the lab."
Owen was pacing around the room, stepping carefully over the debris.
"May," he said suddenly. There was a note of urgency in his voice.
"Yes?" She turned to him, anxiety flaring.
"What's this? Look here! It just started flashing now. I thought it was a signal enhancer or a wi-fi box or something. But then, I realized that there obviously is no electricity available in this place at the moment, after the blast. What do you think it’s connected to?"
May saw what had attracted his attention.
Half-buried in the fireplace she saw a tiny, flashing red light.
"I - I think that could be - "
May’s voice sounded squeaky. She didn't even want to voice the horrific realization that filled her.
"Another bomb?" Owen said, and the two bomb squad members whirled around in alarm.
"It must be another bomb! I think the killer wanted to blow up the first responders. We need to get out!" May shouted.
She had never felt such terror flood her as she did at that moment.
"The house is rigged for another explosion. Go! Now!" she urged, as the bomb squad team leaped to their feet.
Owen grabbed her arm and they raced for the broken hole where the door had been.
May felt as if the entire scene was playing out in slow motion. She felt as if every footstep she took was taking an eternity.
It felt impossible to move forward fast enough, to keep going. And the whole time, the flashing red light in the corner of the room, that now filled the area with its glow, was mesmerizing her.
It was a countdown. The light was getting brighter, faster.
"Go! There's no time! Go!" someone shouted. "It's about to blow!"
May sprinted for the blown-out doorway gap, her ankle slipping on a piece of discarded wood, but Owen grabbed her arm and stopped her from falling.
Would they reach it in time, and get far enough away? She didn't know. They were never going to make it; that was what she feared. But she had to try.
"Come on!" she screamed.
She felt Owen's hand grip hers tighter. Up ahead, she saw daylight with the crowds waiting beyond.
"Get back! Get back!" May screamed. "Everyone, get away from the house!"
And then, behind her, she heard a faint but audible sizzling sound from inside. The fuse was lit. There was no more time at all.
May threw her arms around Owen as the world exploded around her.