Her pulse continued to thump loudly as she approached the person she believed was Layla. There was more debris on top of her, including a beam of wood that had probably come down from the ceiling. Izzy started to remove the debris and saw that Layla’s eyes were shut. Bright blood was streaked through her long black hair. Her olive skin had lost a lot of its color. Checking for a pulse, Izzy let out a huge breath when she found one. Layla was unconscious, but she was alive.

Viv squatted beside her. “Oh no.”

“She’s alive. But we shouldn’t move her until the paramedics get here. I don’t know if she’s suffered any head or neck trauma.” Izzy turned toward Viv and saw that her eyes were dilated and she was shaking. “Just stay put, Viv. You don’t need to be moving either.”

Thankfully, the sound of sirens filled the air. After another minute, police and paramedics flooded the area. “We need help over here,” Izzy yelled.

A few paramedics jogged over.

“She’s not conscious. Possible head trauma, but I’m not sure.” Izzy turned toward another EMT. “And please check her out too. I think she’s in shock.”

Viv was now sitting on the ground with her legs hugged tightly to her chest as she shivered.

Izzy took a step back to give them room to work and realized she was shaking. A stocky young officer from Alexandria PD approached her.

“Ma’am, I’m Officer Baker. Can I ask you some questions?”

She nodded. “I’m Special Agent Cole, NCIS.”

“I didn’t realize NCIS was working this.”

“We’re not. I was coming here to meet my friends for lunch.” She pointed toward Layla and Viv.

“Ah. Can you tell me what you saw?”

“I was walking toward the restaurant and was about a block away when the explosion happened. I knew my friends were here, so I started running toward the scene. I helped a few people before I got back to this area.”

“Did you see anyone fleeing the scene? Anything suspicious?”

Izzy shook her head. “No, sir. Nothing like that. I assume you’re going to have the bomb squad come and take a look?”

“They’re en route now. Anything else you saw that you think could be relevant?”

“No. You should know that both of those women are federal workers for the State Department.”

Officer Baker jotted down a note. “Thank you. Appreciate your help here.”

“Of course.” Izzy took a deep breath and turned her attention back to her friends.

EMTs were helping Viv onto a gurney. Her face had lost all of its color.

“We’re transporting them both to Alexandria Hospital,” an EMT said.

“Can I ride with you?”

“No, but you can follow,” he answered.

She flashed her credentials. “Please.”

“Why didn’t you say you were a Fed?” The EMT smiled.