Dianne White, journalist and former outspoken police inspector, enjoys dinner with her former partner David Parker, unaware of what the evening will bring.

The aftermath sees her joining Parker’s task force, investigating an attack on several major police complexes.
But it’s also personal… After the attack left a close friend and colleague dead.

Back in familiar territory, the investigation proceeds and Dianne joins with some old friends, a secretive Army Major and a new constable with some interesting skills. Only to find herself  in love and extreme danger, as the protagonists identity is uncovered.

Dianne must rely on her inner strength, training, wits, and ingenuity to survive.
Will Parker and her colleagues reach her in time after she learns the full extent of what is being planned?

And… Prevent the fate that awaits her and David if the plan succeeds.

A few excerpts to wet your whistle…

“I reckon she’d remove them herself and make you watch as you bled out.” She paused then unzipped the overalls further, exposing just enough cleavage to taunt them. “So bring it on, boys!”

Dianne’s bravado struck a nerve. The pair hesitated before leaving the room. As they exited the large man spoke, “By the way, I suggest you get some sleep. Plans have changed. They’ll be back for you in five or six hours.”

Dianne heard them talking as they closed and locked the door. “That bitch is right, you know. If we went near her we’d be dead.”   

***************** 

“See you next week, Greg. ‘Bye!’” Peter Jacks hung up the phone, refocusing his attention on the alarm panel, before being jolted in his chair as the building shuddered. Even in the secure room, he felt the severity of the first rocket’s impact.

“What the…,” were Jack’s last words.

The control room imploded as the second rocket detonated, engulfing him in fire and fragments as the explosion enveloped the control room, tearing it and the unfortunate man to pieces.

The building’s third floor erupted into a massive ball of orange and yellow flame. Shock waves from both explosions ripped through the reinforced walls with the concussive blast wave, reaching the three men in the building opposite.

The man running the crew looked away from the carnage and turned to his team.

“Well done, gentlemen. I think that’s achieved the required result.”

The others nodded in agreement. “Now just to make sure they don’t find any evidence, we need some added security.”

“Boss, we’re out of explosives. There’s not much more we can do.”

“Don’t be so sure.” Reaching into his jacket, he produced a mobile phone.

“Plan B,” and dialled a number, letting it ring several times.

Moments later, a massive blast emanated from within the CPMU’s basement carpark, spewing flame, debris and dust from the carpark entrance and the vents in the building walls.

The entire structure shuddered as the front and left side of the complex caved in. The cascading steel and cement pancaked the floors down onto each other. Somehow the northern corner remained intact, standing resolute like an ageing rampart tapering up to a narrow tip pointing skywards.

*****************

Parker moved to the injured officer, knelt by his side and cradled his head. It was obvious from the blood loss that he wouldn’t make it. Parker heard him mumble something around the gurgling caused by the blood filling his mouth.

“Day code. Had the bloody day code!”

He spoke again, this time as if nothing else mattered.

“No – day and lockup code! Knew them, he kn…”

His body went limp before he could finish. Parker eased the man’s head to the floor and shook his head at Dianne. “He’s gone.”

Trying to keep his mind off the young man, he entered the lockup. He scanned the shelves that should hold millions in seized drugs and cash but were now empty. Then he saw it. There on the barren shelves, a digital timer. It was not the timer that concerned Parker; it was the two large blocks of explosives connected to it.

He looked back at the timer. He counted.

“Twenty-five, twenty-four.”

Still counting out loud, Parker moved back into the office, surprising Di as he grabbed her arm.

“Twenty, nineteen… Bomb! Run!”

“Seventeen.”

Parker pushed her ahead of him through the sliding door, along the corridor, turning at the stairs.

“Fourteen, thirteen.”

They sprinted up the stairs and into the foyer, with David still counting.

“Ten, nine.”

They ran out of the building, Dianne turning towards the car.

“Five, four.”

Parker pulled her back past the side of the boat shed to the far side of a smaller outbuilding.

“Two, one.”

*****************

“This craft,” pointing to the prototype, “travels to and remains on station, hibernating until needed. You better get all hands on deck. 3.25 seconds was the burst time for this vehicle to communicate that it’s awake and awaiting instructions! The older models could only do this on the surface, using their more powerful main comms systems. Their signal is only 2.75 seconds long.” He swept his hand across the prototype beside them. “If I’m not mistaken, we have two of these devices a stone’s throw from the Houses of Parliament, and no idea what they’re targeting.”

*****************