Shouts erupted. Workers scrambled away from the trench, some diving behind vehicles, others sprinting for the access road. Walter stumbled onto the porch, gripping the railing. His first thought was disbelief. He’d made sure they were harmless, just brass, nothing else. His second thought was panic. What if I missed one?
Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder. The first fire trucks appeared minutes later, followed by county emergency vans. Yellow tape went up fast, the area sealed off. Walter stayed frozen where he stood, his mind racing through every detail; the gloves, the shovel, the holes. He hadn’t left a trace. But still, his gut twisted like he had.