In contrast, Agent Tucker exhibited no discernable break in confidence. His voice didn’t quake, didn’t waver. His own complexion showed little sign of flushing and his demeanor seemed blanketed in an unshakeable iciness. Images of a benign-looking hijacker Mohamed Atta boarding Flight 11 filled Alex’s mind. Policeman Alex had been taught never to profile a person by race or gender. As political correctness had begun to police the police, cops were encouraged to squelch the very thing that allows cops to solve crimes—their instincts.
With that red tape removed, Alex’s instincts were firing on all cylinders and his mental alarms were sounding an all too clear warning. Something was amiss. Racist, judgmental or simply dead on, Alex didn’t like it. Something was off and he sure wasn’t going to question his gut at the expense of his wife’s security.
“Mr. Mendez, you can either move or we can have you removed. You are interfering with a government investigation.”
“And you,” Alex said, trying not to raise his voice in a hospital hallway, “are interfering with my family. And I know my rights. More importantly I know my wife’s rights. She has the right to remain silent and as her caretaker, I am authorized to exercise that right in her name.
I am henceforth exercising that right so you can feel free to be moving along before I haveyouremoved.”
Agent Tucker regarded his companion. “Call security, and have Mr. Mendez removed.”
“Tell you what,” Alex said. “You call your security. Then you call Captain Danny Peterson at the Longview Police Department. Then you call Chief Steelman. Then you call the Mayor and tell each of them who you are trying to have removed. We’ll see who gets removed.”
“We are federal employees, Mr. Mendez,” Agent Tucker said, matter-of-factly. “Your popularity among the local hierarchy is of no consequence to me. I know your reputation. I know your record probably better than you do. And I know that you are a civilian who has far overstepped his authority.”
“And I know that you are an ignorant unfeeling robot with absolutely no ability to listen. I have told you three times now my wife has amnesia. Even if she didn’t, she just gave birth and she’s sleeping.
If you want to talk to her doctor, fine. Talk to her doctor. But you are not going in there! She doesn’t even recognize me! What makes you think she can possibly do you any good? Have you ever heard of amnesia or should I pause long enough for you to get a dictionary?”
“This is an official investigation, Mr. Mendez. Your wife is a witness to a crime and…”
“A crime she can’t even remember, you idiot!”
A nurse approached them. “Gentlemen? This is a hospital…”
With the flick of his wrist, Agent Tucker reached into his breast pocket, removed his wallet and flashed his CIA credentials at the nurse.
“We apologize, Ma’am,” he said. “The situation is under control.”
“It most certainly is not under control!” Alex said, turning to the nurse. “Get the doctor for me, will you? Somebody that can explain my wife’s condition to these idiots in terms that even a government official can understand.” Turning toward Agent Tucker, Alex continued “I have a little girl at home if you need her to explain it to you.”
“We’d like to see the doctor,” Agent Tucker said, speaking to the nurse. “And if you’d be so kind as to call security.”
“You’re not just going to dismiss me,” Alex said. “If you think
you’re going to get rid of me, you have another thing coming. It’ll take the police, the FBI, The CIA, the fire department and every janitor willing to die to move me from this door. We’re in a hospital, Jack!
And if you don’t tread carefully you’re going toneedit! You can walk away or be carried away. And the same goes for Junior here. Now which is it?”
Scowling, Agent Tucker turned toward Alex. “Threatening a
Federal officer?” he said. “Would you like to be placed under arrest, civilian?” The venom with which he attached to the word “civilian” slithered through Alex’s veins.
“Try me,” Alex said.
Turning to his partner, Agent Tucker leaned and whispered something inaudible.
Nodding, Agent Morgan looked at Alex. “Mr. Mendez, we are placing you under arrest… .”
“Then I want a lawyer…”
“We’re not cops,” Agent Tucker whispered, grinning maniacally at Alex. “You get a lawyer when we say.”
Suddenly Alex was nervous. Angry but nervous. He was dealing with real pros. They knew the job. They knew just how far they could stretch the law and obviously Agent Tucker wasn’t above pushing the limits of legality. Alex couldn’t protect Lisa if he was locked away in some CIA icebox.
“Someone looking for a cop?”
Alex could have kissed Chief Steelman.
“Chief,” Alex said, “This is…”
“Agent Tucker,” The robot pointed to his partner. “And this is
Agent Morgan.”
“The pleasure’s yours,” Chief Steelman offered smugly. Chief Steelman wasn’t a rude man. But he was protective of one of his own. And Alex was one of Chief Steelman’s most powerfully protected. Retirement had not diminished that fact.
“I’m glad to see you, Chief.”
“Good to see you, Alex. How’s Lisa doing?”
“Not good,” he said, deflating. “She has amnesia.”
The Chief sighed, frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that, Alex. If there’s anything you need…”
“Well,” Alex said. “As a matter of fact…” He gazed at the agents.
“Chief Steelman, it would not be in your best interests to hinder this investigation.”
“I have no intention of hindering anything,” Chief Steelman said. “What I do have is the intention to protect one of my officers from harassment. This is a local investigation, boys. If you’re here, you’re here to assist. As far as I’m concerned, you left your jurisdiction at the county line. In order to speak with Officer Mendez you will need to clear it with the Mayor and he has assured me that you will not be allowed clearance until such time as Lieutenant Lisa Mendez is in acceptable physical condition.”
“We have jurisdiction…”
“What you have is an order from the Mayor which can be pursued to higher levels of the government if you insist on harassing innocent citizens recovering from life-threatening wounds. And I’ve already given you my thoughts on your jurisdiction.”
Nearly nose-to-nose with Captain Steelman, Agent Tucker’s jaw tightened. “Do you really want to fight me on this?”
“Do you really want to solve this case?” Chief Steelman said, matching the Agent’s intensity scowl for scowl. “We’ve been attacked. The last thing we need is some hotshot bureaucrat coming in here grand standing while we’re trying to lick our wounds. I’ve got more dead officers than most towns around here have officers, so personally you can take your jurisdiction and ram it up your…” Captain Steelman broke off suddenly. He paused, met Alex’s eye for a split second then turned his gaze back to Agent Tucker. “You will respect this town, its people and its rules or you will leave this town wishing you had. You are not in charge of this investigation yet, Agent Tucker and until God himself orders my men off this case you will not bein charge of it. So I suggest you take your attitude and shove it in your ear. Down here, that’s about all it’s good for.”
Alex beamed, as a child might beam in the presence of a great, strong father. Daddy Steelman had saved the day.
“Chief Steelman, do you enjoy your job?” Agent Tucker asked.
“Certain parts of it,” Captain Steelman offered. “Do you enjoy yours?”
“If you’d like to keep your job,” Agent Tucker hissed, “I strongly suggest you learn your place.” He turned to Alex. “We will be back, Mr. Mendez. This investigation will proceed with or without your cooperation and with or without the cooperation of the Longview Police Department.”
“This investigation will proceed thanks to the valiant
combined efforts of local law enforcement in five counties, with or without the interference of wannabe federal agent with a God complex. And when we do solve this case, in spite of your desire to hinder the investigation, I expect a full apology from you and your superiors. And if that’s not good enough for you, two on two is a fair fight.”
Alex had never known the chief to throw down such a direct challenge. He really was ticked. But Alex was ready to back him up one hundred percent. Two on two was a fair fight. If these idiots wanted in Lisa’s room bad enough, let them see how two federal bureaucrats matched up against two bubbas from the sticks.
Agent Tucker nudged his partner and stormed off, leaving his less than confident companion trailing behind like a confused, scared puppy dog.
“I guess they didn’t like their chances,” Chief Steelman laughed.
“Thank you so much, Sir,” Alex said, overwhelmed by the sea of gratitude.
“Don’t thank me,” Chief Steelman said “Thank Nurse Griffith who called me the moment those two morons showed up. I’m just sorry I couldn’t get here sooner.”
“They’ll be back,” Alex said. “I’m guessing that’s not the last we’ve seen of Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber.”
“Yes, and they’ll meet with a guard posted at this door twenty-four hours a day. If I have to guard this room myself they will not harass Lisa. You have my word on that, Alex.”
“I’ll be standing guard,” Alex nearly hissed. “I’ll be waiting.”
“You have a child, Alex, one that needs his Daddy. We’ll take care of Lisa. Don’t you worry about that.”
“This would be a whole lot easier if I had my badge back,” Alex said, his heart sinking into his gut.
“Anytime, Alex. Just say the word! In the meantime, you’ve got something better,” Chief Steelman said. “You’ve got my badge behind you, Danny’s badge and every badge in Longview. They’re not going to come down here thinking they can throw their weight around and just walk all over Gomer Pyle, Texas.”
The chief put a hand on Alex’s shoulder. Instinctively, Alex grabbed it. An odd sensation entered him. All at once, a longing for a father long dead mixed with a sense of reassurance provided by the unique fatherly concern of Chief Tom Steelman. Chief Steelman was nothing like the man Alex had once called father. Tom Steelman, while a strong, confident man, was not above expressing compassion, generosity and—there was no other word for it—love.
“What’s the latest?” Alex asked. Cop instinct was a hard habit to break. He felt as if he was asking his commander for a briefing. In reality, that’s what he was doing. Cop instinct. Not even retirement could kill it.
“Everything you’ve seen on the news is what’s new,” The chief said.
“What aren’t they telling?” Alex pressed.
Steelman’s face hesitated. His skin paled noticeably. And there it was. Civilian. Without even saying it, Steelman had reminded Alex of his true station in life.
Civilian.
The sting was no less great than when he’d been confronted by it at the vile hands of Agents Morgan and Tucker.
“Sorry, Chief,” Alex said, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had suddenly descended. “Old habits die hard.”
The chief sighed. “Alex, I wouldn’t do this for anyone else. But there is more to the story. Not a lot more, but more. You’re important. And you’re trustworthy. You don’t have a badge, but you’re mine. You’re a cop. Let’s go grab some coffee. You can fill me in on Lisa and I’ll fill you in on everything else.”
“Chief, you don’t…”
“Consider it an order then,” The chief said, winking.
A slight smile trailed across Alex’s face. The chief was throwing him a bone and Alex was full ready to bite.
“Yes sir,” Alex smiled a grateful smile. “Lead the way.”
CHAPTER 14
Pawn
Alex fought mental and physical fatigue as he did his best to listen as the chief spoke of videotapes sent to the media and audiotapes sent to various organizations, groups and individuals.
“We found another suit and a vest laden with explosives. My guess is there was a second bomber who chickened out,” The chief said.
“Or maybe just decided one bomb was enough and he’d be better off blowing up somewhere else…”
“So why stash the suit on site?” Chief Steelman asked.
“Needed a quick exit? Thought he could pick it up later?”
“What? With all those cops swarming?”
“Overestimated the carnage? By his thought, he could pick up the suit safely because 10 times as many people would be dead.”
It was the best Alex had to offer. It had been a while since he’d been forced to put his police instincts to such good use. Maybe his gut was soft after all, in the policeman sense if not the physical sense.
“Maybe he thought the initial explosion would ignite his vest too?”
“Only his partner was out of position and the explosion missed.
Maybe he thought the carnage would provide the cover he needed to escape unnoticed.”
“It’s feasible,” The Chief agreed.
“Feasible yeah, but it’s not how these guys think. They are walking bombs for a reason. They’re nuts. They don’t rationalize. They do a job. They want to please Allah and get their seventy virgins. They sign up knowing what is expected of them.”
“So we’re back to he chickened out.”
“Chickened out or bided his time?” Alex asked.
“I thought you said these guys don’t rationalize.”
“Where’s the rationality in wanting to spread the carnage? Maybe the guy wanted to be the lone bomber? Take all the glory for himself.
Maybe the greedy sucker didn’t want to share his seventy virgins with anybody.”
“If there’s any justice in the world, Robin Williams will be right.”
“Huh?” Alex asked.
“These idiots will be met at the gates of Heaven by George Washington and the founding fathers screaming ‘No that’s seventy Virginiansyou jerkweeds!’”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Alex couldn’t help but laugh. True justice, Alex thought to himself, found in the routine of a stand-up comedian.
“I will never understand these guys,” Alex said. “I just don’t get it. What did any of us do to them besides worship a different deity? Why do they have to take everything so personal?”
“It’s not personal against anyone,” The chief lamented. “Well, not personal against any individual. As usual with these morons it’s personal against America. Personal against Abraham. They’re still mad because he chose Isaac over Ishmael. That’s about as far as it goes.
Tom Steelman, Alex Mendez, Lisa Mendez. The names mean nothing to them. The blood that flows through our veins is red, white and blue.
Theirs is desert yellow like that yellow streak running down their spines. That’s all these idiots care about.”
“That’s about as far as it needs to go if you ask me,” Alex said, frustration and anger burning inside him. His mind held fast to Lisa’s voice, scared, unsure, and confused.
Broken.
They had broken something inside her—something that wouldn’t be fixed by the harassment of some bureaucratic idiots named Morgan and Tucker.
He held loosely to the 20 oz Dr Pepper bottle the chief had bought him from the vending machines. It was about half gone. Alex spun the plastic bottle gently in his hand, just enough to agitate the liquid inside. A nervous habit Alex had picked up in the recent days of hospital duty.
“Alex, when was the last time you slept?” The chief asked, stealing a glimpse toward the nervously spinning bottle in Alex’s hand.
Most of the time, he’d sit watching the tar-colored liquid as it spun inside the clear plastic bottle. Today, he was too focused on the chief to even notice himself continuing the impulsive ritual.
The truth? He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept.
“You need to get some rest. Some honest to goodness sleep. You’re no good to Lisa if you end up in a bed beside her.”
“I’m no good to Lisa period, right now,” Alex said, almost hissing in frustration. He let go a heavy sigh. “So what’s the answer, Chief?
Where’s the resolution here? How the heck do we beat them?”
“Beating them is someone else’s job,” The chief said, almost dismissively. “We just have to make sure they don’t pick another fight on this battle ground. And how we do that is anyone’s guess, Alex. We’re all still reeling. I’m working with the mayor, trying to coordinate cops from Tyler, Dallas, Longview, Gilmer, you name it. Not to mention Sheriff’s deputies, and I don’t even know who else. I’ve had calls from Chicago, Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Jacksonville, Florida with cops wanting to volunteer to fill in any gaps or help in any way they can. Just yesterday, I had some kid in a wheelchair roll right in to the front lobby and slap a piece of paper down on the desk. It had his name and number on it. And he told the girl on duty to have someone call him if we could figure out a way he could help us get these guys. That’s a direct quote. People are pissed! They mayor’s asking everyone not to riot or pass unnecessary judgments on people but you know it’s just a matter of time before we have chaos on our hands. Then we’ll be too busy fighting the good guys to put up a front against the bad guys.”
“That’s how they’re going to beat us,” Alex said.
“What do you mean?”
“How do you win a battle? You make your enemy fight themselves. Keep them so busy fighting each other they don’t even see you sneaking in to finish them off. And by the time you do sneak in, the enemy is too exhausted, their morale low, and their numbers skeletal. Say what you want about these morons, they’re smart.”
“Yeah and it frustrates the mess outta me. We’re playing right into their hands.” Chief Steelman slammed his hand down on the table.
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