As Tee waited to merge into the street traffic leaving the mall, he turned up his radio to hear ‘The Boss’ singing Born in the USA on KBIU 104, the rock of Baton Rouge. He smiled as he remembered seeing Bruce perform the song live years ago. He and Molly both loved Springsteen and his music. He could still see....
Then there was a vibration, a quake, more than a sound. Thinking back, Tee was sure he had to have heard the explosion. Not more than two hundred yards away, how could he not have? But even now, the moment that would haunt his dreams forever was still mute in his mind.
Stunned for a second, he turned to look back at the mall, still not understanding what had happened. The mall was very much intact, but then he could see smoke and dust rising from the mall’s roof and then people running in his direction.
Suddenly a sinking feeling began to build in his stomach. Throwing his truck into park, he jumped out, leaving the engine running and the door open. He sprinted towards the mall. As people ran towards him and away from the mall, they began to stop and look back to see what had happened. There were no flames, and there was very little smoke rising from the roof of the mall. What was the explosion?
Tee reached the front entryway but the doors were jammed closed. Employees in the mall were scrambling for the exits to the south as Tee turned to make his way to the rear of the building. As he rounded the corner, the rest of the day would be a blur for him for the rest of his life.
The rear door where he had dropped Kate and Lacy off moments before was gone, as were the surrounding walls. Debris from the explosion covered the parking lot and the tops of the cars near the building. Only a gaping hole remained where previously the communication office of the mall and other office spaces had been. Tee made his way quickly through the rubble and into what used to be his work area. The floor in a forty-foot circle was cleared of everything except some carpet and bloodstains. It was the center of the blast, no doubt. He screamed at the top of his lungs for Kate. There were no answers, only muffled cries toward the front of the stores.
His search continued as others entered the building to help search for survivors. The police and fire department began arriving within two or three minutes of the blast. At about two p.m., some police officers came to him and asked him to take a break and get some water so he could help later. He heard nothing and continued to move debris with the other volunteers. Nine bodies had been recovered by three, and five survivors had been pulled from the rubble. Neither Kate nor Lacy were in the latter group.
The gas and electricity to the mall had been cut off; a natural gas explosion was the most likely explanation. At 4:30 workers uncovered a child’s leg, Tee ran to help remove the last pieces of debris from the child, but an officer held him back, telling him that his friends would take it from here.
“Please, Mr. Taylor,” the black police officer’s voice cracked. “Your wife is out in the parking lot with other people waiting to find their kin. She has given us your daughter’s description.” Holding Terry back by his shoulders, tears began to run down the officer’s face. “It’s your daughter, I’mmm (swallowing quickly) sorry, there is nothing anyone can do for her. Please go to your wife, we will bring her out soon.” The officer’s plea fell on deaf ears.
Tee no longer tried to force his way past the policeman but waited until a fireman appeared carrying Kate’s body in his arms. Tee stepped in front of the fireman and with a stone cold expression said, “I’ll take her from here. Thank you for finding her.”
He took Kate into his arms. She was completely covered with a sheet, as most of her bones had been crushed. It felt more like he was carrying a sack of grain than his daughter. The police officer and fireman followed close behind Tee in case he collapsed. But he made it to the ambulance where Molly met them both.
The sheet covering Kate was soaked in blood as he laid her on the gurney. Molly, who had been crying throughout the day, was now quite somber. Tugging the sheet, she whispered, “Oh my sweet baby, what have we done to you?”
Paramedics loaded Kate’s body into the ambulance, and Molly stepped up to ride with her to the hospital. No words had been exchanged between Tee and Molly. They were both still in shock. Tee took Molly’s arm to help her into the ambulance. In one motion, she jerked her arm free and turned instantly to look Tee in the eyes. With an expression that could have killed, she said, “Don’t touch me, you son of a bitch!” speaking loud enough for only Tee and the paramedics to hear.
Tee stepped back from the ambulance as Molly entered and the doors closed behind her. Tee was beyond any rational thought as the ambulance, with its lights and siren going, sped from the parking lot.
People talked to him, but to this day he couldn’t remember what any of them had said. He then turned and went back to where Kate had been found. No one really seemed to notice as he began digging again. The other workers were only grateful for the help. Within the hour, Tee helped to free Lacy’s crushed body from the wreckage. He had no tears, only numbness as he watched Lacy’s parents cling to each other and weep for their dead child.
By morning, all persons were accounted for: fifty-three dead, more than ninety injured. Bill Gazer, Tee’s friend and partner, was also among the dead. A city and country mourned, and families questioned how to go on.
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