Two hours later, Julian arrived back in Kingsward City.

By noon, the rain had started, pelting down on the catastrophic scene of the explosion. The area was in chaos—shattered debris strewn everywhere. Over a hundred rescue workers swarmed the site alongside ten search-and-rescue dogs, but the acrid stench in the air was so overpowering it hindered the dogs’ ability to track.

The moment Julian stepped out of the car, his eyes landed on Jeremy—hands shackled in ...