Chapter 14
It was precisely one week later when Akbar was jerked awake—shortly before dawn—by the massive thunderclap of a huge explosion. Laura’s bedroom was briefly lit by a light as bright as a lightning bolt. No lightning had been predicted, anywhere in the state.
He’d heard a sound like it once near the end of the New Tillamook Burn. A massive explosion had flattened a large circle of trees at the northern end of the fire. No one was talking about it; “abandoned propane tank” the newspapers had reported. Yeah, sure. A propane tank sitting out in the middle of the Tillamook State Forest. He hadn’t been able to figure out what it was. He could tell Jeannie knew, but she’d looked grim and gone tight-lipped when he’d asked.
This blast was close, loud. Moments later, a second one lit th
