Under Suspicion - The Legend of D.B. Cooper

“Come on, Chet, we don’t have all day!” The producer yelled as the crew closed up the van.

  Chet leaned towards Alan. “At least you’re off the hook, case closed, right?” He whispered.

  “Yeah, I guess so, but I really wanted to nail these smugglers…” Alan started to say when his body was jolted violently to the side. Jim tackled him at a full sprint. Both men fell forward slammed against the van then to the ground. Jim had Alan pinned below him. Chet raced to the aid of his friend and tried to pull Jim off of him.

  “You son of a bitch! Two men are dead because of you! I’m not going to rest until you pay for it!” Jim exclaimed angrily.

  Chet tried to pull the two men apart, but his efforts were futile. Running for their cameras, the crew tried to get the fight on video.

  Milhouse grabbed Jim and wrenched the two men apart. “Don’t do it, Sheriff. Its not worth it.” Chet held Alan back from retaliating.

  “You’re responsible!” Jim yelled.

  “No! You are!” Alan barked as Chet held him back. “If you wouldn’t have interfered, Schaffer would still be alive!”

  “His blood is on your hands!” Jim yelled back.

  “Get over it, Sheriff! Nobody cares what happens to drug smugglers!”

  “You have no proof of that!”

  “They had identical packages of opium! That’s proof enough for me!” Alan replied.

  Milhouse pulled Jim farther away. “Take it easy, Sheriff. Calm down.” He said as he walked him over to the Blazer. The camera crew looked disappointed that they didn’t get it on tape, then began to load the van again.

  Jim tried to gain his composure. Pulling away from Milhouse, he opened the door of the Blazer and got in. Taking one last look at the trail of black smoke leaching into the air from the crash site, he started the vehicle and hit the gas. Chet helped Alan brush himself off as they watched Jim’s Blazer race out of the parking lot and down the road. Milhouse’s Blazer followed close behind.

  Chet pulled Alan to the side so that no one could hear them. “Did you hear what he said? Two men are dead because of you. Do you think he knows what happened to Henderson?” He asked worriedly.

  “No, he couldn’t. Even if he suspected it, he has no proof.” Alan replied.

  “Let’s go, Chet!” The producer yelled impatiently.

  Chet turned to leave then stopped and looked back at Alan suspiciously.

  “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Alan asked.

  “You said identical packages. You didn’t by any chance…” Alan didn’t have to answer, Chet saw it on his face. “Awe, damn it, Alan!” He tried to control himself.

  “I had to Chet,” Alan defended. “I needed something to make Schaffer talk.”

  “Chet!” The producer yelled.

  “We’ll talk about this later,” Chet said. “I’ll meet you back at the motel when I’m through. In the mean time, I suggest you try to find out what the Sheriff does know.” Chet turned, ran to the van, and got in. Alan watched the van speed away. He’s right. I’d better go to the station and see what they’ve got, he thought. Walking to his car, he took one last look at the ribbon of black smoke in the air, then he got in and drove away.