“Yeah, but she doesn’t know that,” Freaks says.
“So what do we know?” Haddad asks.
McDowd flips back through his notes. “Background information, but nothing jumps out,” he says.
“Going back to school….balloons,” Kate’s voice echoes in his mind.
“Wait…” He flips back through his notes from his interrogation of Michael, not really knowing what for.
Haddad comes over. “What’s up?”
“Don’t know yet…” Then suddenly, he sees it. “Meteorology?”
Freaks comes over too. “Weather?”
“She took metrology in school, in college, the University of Maryland.”
Freaks starts putting it together. “Weather balloons.”
“You string the package up, the balloon lifts it,” Mayo guesses.
“Clever! A low-altitude electromagnetic pulse weapon,” Freaks says grabbing a map. “See what the wind is doing on Weather Underground.”
It takes a minute to find the info on McDowd’s iPhone. “From the southwest.”
Freaks finds the school and traces his finger northeast on the map. “Here, Fort Meade, home of the NSA, America’s ears. If you are plotting an attack, thats a good place to start.”
“I’d think the place would be hardened from the EMP,” Haddad says.
“Yeah, you’d think they would know that.” Edwards says darkly.
“It will fry the civilian electrical grid for a hundred miles, and give off a shit load of heat. Anybody outside will get toasted,” Mayo says.
“Try around fifty thousand, right out in the open,” Freaks adds.
“What do you mean, Freaks?” Edwards asks.
“Good football team, Maryland. I got them by seven and a half over UVA.”
“That much?” Haddad is surprised.
Freaks looks at them both, then back to the map. “Maryland is at home.”
Chapter 10
I-95 South, Jessup, MD
The twilight has given way to a crisp fall morning. Watching Elayna drive, Katrina is feeling pretty good. The first buzz of the day is always the best. She marvels at how easily it washes away all one’s trouble, those pesky things like family, responsibility and dignity. She is not completely in alcohol’s grip yet. It never comes on too strong, too heavy handed, lest it scare off the apprehensive. It comes on softly and gently, as if one were slipping into a perfectly drawn bath. Only later does one realize that you’re in the process of being cooked.
“So, Katrina, what’s the plan?”
“The Earth Sciences building. All we have to do is park the camper, bring the case in, set up and inflate a balloon, set the device, and up it goes. That’s it.”
Elayna looks at her. “That’s it?”
Katrina giggles. “It will be enough, depending on the altitude we set. It could destroy every unprotected electrical component from Baltimore to Washington if we want it to. It could even take out the NSA.”
“What about escape?” Elayna asks.
“We have a safe house just steps away. Stani rents it out to college students. In the garage there is a jeep we’ve protected. It will get us out of the area.”
“Good, and I’ll get us the rest of the way. We’ll find one of those storage places, stash the second device, and by Sunday night we’ll be sipping champagne in first class on our way to Rio. Have you ever been?”
“No, no exotic vacations for me.” She can’t help imagining the scene, the beach, cool drinks, and hot bodies. It sounds like fun. “But they’ll be looking for us. They probably already are.”
Elayna reaches over and lightly touches Katrina’s hair. “You let me worry about that. You’ll make a cute brunette.”
Katrina smiles at the thought, but it quickly fades.
“Poor Katrina! It must have been torture, living that life, but you must have found some diversion, some way to let the bad girl come out and play?”
Katrina sighs. “No, I was a good girl. We could not risk the mission.”
Elayna falls silent, thinking. “It’s strange, the rules we choose to live by and the rules we choose to ignore. You used to break many rules.”
“That was the alcohol. I was so out of control…” Her thoughts drift back to where once again she finds the guilt and remorse she had put behind her, the phantom pain of a missing limb that can never be soothed.
Elayna can see her slipping. “And you gave it up for the mission. Well, you no longer have to make that concession.”
“Maybe,” Katrina says in reflection.
Kate has made many concessions, all at Katrina’s expense. “But what did you get in return, Katrina?” Kate Wilson’s life may have been a fake, but the gifts are real.
“You know, Katrina? I admire you. I couldn’t have suffered the way you have, deprived yourself of life’s simple pleasures. What duty, what sense of honor.”
Elayna moves her shoulder, groaning. It isn’t easy driving the big camper with her wound.
“What’s wrong?” Katrina asks.
“I ran into a little problem with Eddy.”
“That’s too bad,” Katrina says with a smirk. “He always was a prick,”
remembering how he degraded her at the meeting in the woods.
“I was just in time, too. I know he had it in for you and your kids, “ Elayna tells her, working her arm out of her jacket and top.
Katrina pulls Elayna’s hair gently to the side. The bandage has a wide dark red stain in its center, and as carefully as possible, Katrina peels it off, making Elayna wince.
“Yikes!” Katrina cringes. “Did you put something on this?”
“Not a very good job, huh?”
“No, and it could have used a stitch or two. You’ll have a nice scar.”
“I saw a first-aid kit back there,” Elayna tells her.
Katrina goes looking, seeing the vodka first.
“More.” It’s impulse; the old obsession she had begged God to remove from her is back. She picks up the bottle and takes a good pull from it, careful to prevent Elayna from seeing her, just as she had done with her kids, or her husband. Just like the old days.
Katrina returns with the medical kit. “How much further is it?” Elayna asks.
“Not far, fifteen minutes.”
Katrina gently goes to work, gently cleaning the wound.
“Such a delicate touch,” Elayna tells her.
“With two boys, I have a lot of practice.”
“You know, I was a little worried when I saw you with the young agent.”
Katrina freezes for a moment. How close she had come to the flame she never realized was there. “Dan McDowd, FBI. It figures.”
“So why did you send in that guy to try and kill me?”
“I’ll be honest, I needed to see if you were still up for the job. Call it an audition, and when you ran with the kids instead of running to him, I knew I didn’t have to. I knew I couldn’t—” Elayna stops in mid-sentence, starting to well up, fighting to keep her composure. “It would have been like killing myself.”
Katrina pauses at her work, taken aback by this stranger’s admiration.
“I didn’t know what I would do once I met you. We place our heroes on high, but are often so disappointed when we face them in person.”
“And now?” Katrina asks in a low voice.
“I admire you even more. You gave everything, and asked for nothing,” Elayna says with a sniffle. “I’m sorry. I’m usually a tough little girl,” Elayna half laughs, regaining her composure.
“Nobody’s perfect,” Katrina says, stroking her hair, feeling slightly sorry for her.
“So that’s why, Katrina. You have to help me because you’ll be helping yourself. I want to get you everything you deserve. It’s why we have to finish what’s been started. The only way we can get Kurtsin is if that bomb goes off. Someone will have to answer for it, and it will be him,
with his life!”
“You’ve put my sons at risk. I should fucking kill you for that,” Katrina says flatly.
“But you won’t because you love them too much. I’m sorry I have to do this. I don’t want to, but it’s the only way I can bring you into the fold. I’m sorry. This is my only chance, our only chance, to make things right. Justice, Katrina…for you…and me.”
Katrina can hear the anger and desperation in her voice. Elayna nervously watches Katrina out the corner of her eye, feeling a sudden vulnerability sitting behind the wheel, in control of the camper, but less so of her emotions.
“I am sorry, Katrina,” Elayna says, trying to fight back tears. “Can you ever forgive me?”
“How can I forgive you, Elayna, if I can’t forgive myself?”
Chapter 12
Newscenter 7
It is Saturday morning in America. Soccer moms drag their little warriors to the fields of battle. High school cheerleaders pretty themselves in the mirror. Fathers give their sons a fortifying pep talk before the big game. Munchkins sit cross-legged in pajamas, eating cereal while watching cartoons. Party animals climb into bed, or wake up next to someone new.
“She’s outside Baltimore!” Linda shouts across the room.
“North or south of the city?” McDowd asks
“North. Last seen headed south. Maryland State Police found Haddad’s phone in a rest stop bathroom. Wilson used her credit card there to by gas.”
“How long ago?” Bob asks over the conference call, on his way back to Washington in one of the company planes.
They’ve moved out of the newsroom to a conference room at the station, using it as a staging point for whatever came next.
“Less than two hours. Brown RoadMaster RV, South Dakota plates,” she relays.
Hearing this, NEST aircraft are now directed into the area in the hope of getting a radiation signature.
“We’ve got to put every cop on the street between Baltimore and Washington,” the FBI director says.
“UAVs are going up. The College Park scenario, where does that come from?” the DHS chief asks.
“It’s a hunch, but an educated one,” Edwards tells him.
“How many people does that stadium hold?” Tillman asks.
“It’s got to be around at least twenty thousand,” Haddad guesses.
“Try fifity,” Freaks corrects.
“So what do we do, tell them all to run for their lives?” Bob blurts into the phone.
“What time is the game?” Edwards turns to Freaks.
“One o’clock.”
Hunches are tough sell anyone working with a narrow margin of error, but the FBI director buys it anyway. “Alert Maryland State Police, check every car heading into that school. I’ll send HRT with Deputy Director Sullivan to be in charge, and let’s get NEST into the area.”
McDowd balks, but before he can say anything Haddad shoots him a look. He turns to Freaks, leaning against the wall.
“I’ve got to get down there, Tommy. I can get through to her.”
“Oh yea?” He knows the kid is right. He shrugs, “Then let’s go.”
While the conference call continues, Haddad sees they’re leaving and catches them before they get out the door.
“Where are you going?”
“We’re getting some air,” McDowd says.
“Bullshit.”
“I’m taking the kid down there,” Freaks confesses.
Haddad rolls his eyes. “How you going to do that?”
Freaks pats him on the shoulder, and in his best wise guy says “Fageddabout it.”
“Please don’t do anything stupid,” Haddad warns.
“Like you?” McDowd says, marching off down the hallway and leaving Haddad wondering.
“So, what’s the idea?” McDowd asks, catching up to Freaks.
“You’re going to be a fine Fed, kid. Already you’re asking too many questions,” he says laughingly. McDowd follows him out a pair of double doors, and as soon as they get outside, McDowd figures it out.
Across the parking lot sits SkyEye 7, a Bell Jet Ranger 270B, the Cadillac of news choppers that only the top markets can afford.
“You’re going to steal the chopper?” McDowd says.
Freaks smiles. “Not me, you are. I’m not supposed to be here, remember?”
“Dang,” McDowd groans.
“Just tell him it’s a matter of national security,” Freaks laughs.
“How about marshal law?”
The pilot is sitting halfway out the open door, doing paperwork. He sees the two men approaching, one carrying an AR-15 machine gun in his arms, the other with an FBI jacket. McDowd holds out his ID. “FBI.”
The pilot isn’t impressed. McDowd looks at Freaks, who goads him on with a nod. “We’re commandeering the aircraft.”
“Well, that’s a first. You got a pilot?”
“Ummmm.”
“Yes,” Freaks interjects with a wink.
He starts to make himself at home, opening the rear door and placing his weapon inside. “Any gripes on this thing?” he asks the pilot.
“Nope, only thirty hours out of the shop. It’s been clean,” The pilot looks at Freaks narrowly. “You look familiar.”
“Yeah, you too, I think you gave me and my buddies a ride a few years back to Tikrit.”
“Yeah, that’s it, you’re one of those Delta boys.”
The two have a little reunion while they go over the controls. Looking around, McDowd sees Haddad sprinting over to them as the turbines click to life and the rotors lazily begin to move.
“I’m coming along to keep an eye on you.” Then he sees Freaks at the stick, stopping him dead in his tracks. “Oh shit! Don’t tell me he’s driving.”
“He showed me his license.” McDowd shrugs.
“Merciful God,” Haddad whispers.
“Get in!” Freaks yells. McDowd runs around to get in front, as Haddad climbs into the back. They all put on headsets.
“So, you’ve flown one of the things before?” McDowd confirms.
“Kinda.”
“Kinda?” Haddad says from the back.
“Fly one you’ve flown them all. They all work the same, just like a bicycle.” Freaks nods.
Haddad, having second thoughts, starts reaching for the door, but a blast of power lifts SkyEye7 off the helipad and Haddad back in his seat. It’s a wobbly start, and the chopper begins drifting toward an office building.
“Big fucker!” Freaks comments with surprise.
“Tommy, you see that building right?” McDowd lightly warns. It’s impossible for him not, but wants to make sure anyway.
Haddad crosses himself as Freaks adjusts the tail rotor, changing the direction and McDowd’s view. Now instead of the building, he sees the chopper pilot running for cover.
“Tommy, we want to rethink this?” McDowd offers.
“You got a problem with my flying?”
“Me? Naw, but I think you’re scaring Haddad, he looks a little pale.”
“Just getting a feel for her boys, here we go.” The chopper’s nose tilts down, the rotors dig into the air and the chopper leaps forward. Freaks gets on the radio to let air traffic control know who they are.
“City Center, SkyEye7, squawking 161.5. Proceeding South on VFR to 5 thousand. Law enforcement on board.” The flight controller repeats it all back, advising them about airport traffic ahead.
“How long will it take us to get down there?” McDowd asks.
“Just over an hour. We’ve got three hours of fuel.”
It is a pretty day to fly. The cobalt blue sky, a sprinkling of puffy white clouds above are a perfect complements to the sparkling bay to the right and the orange carpet of changing leaves flowing beneath them. “September 11 was a beautiful day too,” he reminds himself, hoping this one will end differently.
Just as they are getting comfortable, Freaks offers up a thought.
“You guys know what auto-rotation is?”
“Sure, is something wrong?” McDowd asked.
“Wrong, what do you mean wrong? What’s auto-rotation?” Haddad says nervously, thinking a joke is coming. At first McDowd thinks Freaks is just fucking with Haddad, so he smiles. Freaks explains, “It’s when a chopper loses power and we use the wind for lift so we can crash land.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Haddad asks.
“If we get hit with EMP, at least we’ll have a chance.” Freaks says, with a wink to McDowd.
“Thank God for small favors,” but the new FBI agent is no longer smiling.
Chapter 13
College Park, MD
“Shit,” Elayna says as they creep down Route 1, seeing the flashing lights of police cars ahead.
“I see them,” Katrina tells her.
“They’d better not look in here. They’ll be in for a big surprise,” Elayna says, placing her gun on her lap.
“Wait! They’re campus cops, they’re not searching vehicles,” Katrina smiles, figuring it out. “They’re directing traffic! There must be a game!”
“Game?” Elayna asked.
“American football, the school has a big stadium for home games,” Katrina explains.
The cops wave them by and Elayna waves right back. “How big is big?”
“Fifty-five thousand…” Katrina’s voice trails off.
This changes everything. That many people out in the open… “Now you can add mass murder to your I never list, Katrina.”
She can see the trepidation on Katrina’s face. “What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet now?”
“We can find someplace else to do this,” Katrina tells her.
“Really? How long do you think we’ll be able to drive around with these things? We’re lucky we’ve got this far. We stick to the plan.”
“There are too many people…”
“Since when do you give a fuck about other people? Back in Kabul you used to shove hot curling irons into women,” Elayna spits. “You did shit nobody else could do. You’re a killer, Katrina, a cold-blooded, merciless murderer. You’d better think real hard about this, especially if you ever want to see your kids alive again.”
The dejection is clear on Katrina’s face.
“We’ll set the trigger for a higher altitude, alright?”
Elayna smiles inwardly. “Do us both a favor, Katrina. Go have another drink.”