Briggs ignored the threatening comment. “It’s okay, Sean, just get up there and get your missus.”
Despite the rocking motion, he finally made it to the top of the ladder. Gardener didn’t figure he would have any chance of being able to stand on the podium with Laura but the ladder was almost as high and Reilly was slightly taller than his wife.
But it was a tense few seconds whilst he managed to loosen the noose.
Gardener heard a sigh of relief as he unhooked Laura’s neck.
But then they heard a scraping sound from the box to the left.
Gardener turned.
“Good effort, Mr Reilly, but not good enough.”
Chapter Sixty-one
In his left hand, Corndell held a small oblong box, about the size of a TV remote. His face was bloody from a cut to his mouth and Gardener could see his right hand.
“What’s he holding?” asked Briggs.
“I’d hate to think,” said Gardener, aware of how precarious their situation was. Reilly was still at the top of the ladder with Laura slumped over his shoulder. He and his senior officer were stuck in mud.
“It’s all over, Mr Gardener, you’re out of time.”
Corndell screeched with laughter as he raised his left hand.
Gardener was suddenly reminded of the mad scientists in the old horror films, those who went down screaming, taking everyone else with them.
There was no further time for a reply or a thought.
Corndell pressed the button on the oblong pad and the first explosion rocked the place.
Gardener had no idea where it came from but the force was enough the blow them all sideways. The ladder came down on top of him, cracking his forehead and scraping his face. Thankfully for him, Briggs disappeared in the opposite direction and not on top of him. Reilly and Laura punched the earth next to him. He heard his partner exhale loudly.
Another explosion to their left rang through Gardener’s ears, nearly deafening him. Flames shot toward the box in which Corndell was standing.
The Phantom screamed and fell backwards.
Reilly jumped up and started to make his way to the left-hand side of the theatre.
Corndell was shouting something but Gardener couldn’t hear it clearly enough.
Gardener grabbed Reilly’s arm. “What are you doing?”
“I want that bastard up there,” shouted Reilly.
“You’ll never make it, Sean.”
Popping and crackling sounds flashed around their ears. The flames grew higher and as Gardener peered at the box, he could not see Corndell.
“Trust me, Sean, you’ll never make it.”
He could tell that Reilly would not be satisfied until he had Corndell’s throat between his hands.
“He’s right, Sean,” shouted Briggs, “that scum isn’t worth it.”
Laura had managed to make it to her feet. “For God’s sake, look at this place.” She pointed upwards as another mini explosion sounded above them.
In the blink of an eye the roof beams were aflame, and in no time at all the building was set to become a raging inferno.