Chapter 2.1

Douglas Arizona

Cindel stepped off the plane into the morning heat of the Bisbee Douglas International Airport. Around her the heat rolled off the tarmac under the mid morning sun causing the air around her to shimmer. Ground crews raced in to collect her baggage and secure the jet until it was time for her to leave. In front of here was the black government Suburban ready to take her away from the heat of the airport and transport her to an equally hot area in the middle of the desert. Standing in front of the vehicle was a man in a black suit despite the sun and heat. He was taller then her and with dark hair and athletic build hidden under the standard agent suit all in the FBI seemed to wear.

“Officer Drake?” he asked as she approached the vehicle. The standard issue sunglasses made it difficult to see his eyes. She nodded to him in acknowledgement. “Agent McCormick” he said as he reached out his hand. Cindel ignored it as she walked past him and opened the door to get in. The cold air stored inside rushed out immediately like an artic breeze and was replaced with the heat of a oven in the few seconds it took her to get in and close the door. She reached forward to shift the vent to blow directly on her as McCormick moved around the vehicle climbed into the driver’s seat. The rear of the vehicle briefly opened again sucking out what little of the cool air had built up in the vehicle as her bags were tossed in back and the door closed. McCormick put on his seat belt and started to shift the vehicle into gear then stopped and turned to face Cindel.

“Look, I know this may seem like the ass end of the country, but it will not be any better if we cant be civil in any way to each other.” He said.

“I am here to do a job.” She snapped with out looking at him. “Unless you have not been paying attention we have terrorist running loose through the countryside. Civil is not a luxury we have right now!” McCormick sat there for a second looking at her, his eyes and reaction hidden by the dark glasses. Finally he turned forward and shifted the vehicle into gear and started to pull away.

“You know I was warned you were not the friendliest of people to work with.” He said nonchalantly. “Hopefully this will not prevent us from being able to do our jobs!”

“I will do my job!” she retorted, her face getting redder. “You make sure you do yours!”

“I plan to.” He fired back a slight grin coming to his face. “Its not my boss threatening to pull my assignment if I cant play nicely!” Cindel opened her mouth to explode on the agent then stopped. She reminded herself that this was her opportunity and like it or not she could not lose it to something so stupid as her temper.

She kept her mouth shut the ten-minute drive down the highway to Douglas. She did not bother to look at the landscape as it rolled by. Instead she just thought about focusing on the job while mulling over the subtle threat she had just been handed. She did not doubt what he had said. The meeting with Allen left no doubt that she was a last minute choice and that if the opportunity rose to put a more stable and experienced officer into the lead of the investigation, that he would do it no questions asked.

She was still mulling it over when the vehicle turned into the circle in front of the police station. It was not till they came to a stop that she snapped out of it and looked out the window. Most of the front of the building was missing while the ruins of the rest still had smoke in spots. She got out of the vehicle and made her way to the yellow tape that indicated the edge of the crime scene and stepped under it. Almost immediately a police officer rushed towards her with a hand on his holstered gun. Before he could even open his mouth she had removed her badge and flashed it in his direction with out even looking at him. The officer slowed and relaxed as she passed him looking at the ground. Concrete, rebar, stucco and bricks were scattered across the ground for some distance.

“Bricks?” she muttered to herself.

The police station used to be the towns train depot.” McCormick replied. “The building is over one hundred years old and considered a landmark of sorts. Instead of tearing it down, they just built over it to suit the needs for the station.” Cindel gave him no indication she had heard him and continued looking at the ground.

“The truck that attacked the Port of Entry was parked here when they attacked the station.” She said as a matter of fact.

“We are still working on determining that.” McCormick answered her.

“No, this is where the truck was parked.” She looked at him for the first time since their meeting at the airport. “Look at the debris field. It is scattered all over the place except at this point there does not appear to be much debris. Seeing as it is directly in front of station and the initial clear zone is about the length of a semi and trailer, this is where the truck was parked. The semi must have blocked the path of the projectiles from the explosions.” McCormick looked at the ground and saw she spoke the truth.

Both walked carefully towards the building where a group of individuals wearing the blue windbreakers with the yellow lettered ATF logos on the back were milling about. Off to their left were several more men wearing the same jackets only this time FBI in white was emblazoned. All seemed to be too busy taking pictures, making measurements, and collecting evidence to notice the new arrivals. McCormick broke away and moved towards his peers leaving Cindel to stand and look around at the scene.

“First time at a bombing scene?” came the male voice next to her. Cindel jumped and turned to find an ATF agent standing next to her. “Sorry didn’t mean to startle you. Agent Jackson ATF.” Next to her was an African American that stood about her height.

“Officer Drake CBP.” She responded.

“Nice to meet you.” He said with a smile. “You’re the lead Homeland Security sent for this I take it. Don’t worry, me and the other agents are working as fast as we can and hope to have as much as you need by the noon briefing.”

“Make it eleven Agent Jackson!” she said with authority in her voice. She noted the man seemed to bristle next to her. Thoughts of McCormick’s earlier comments at the airport raced through her mind causing her to mentally sigh. “Please. Washington needs as much information as fast as possible, especially before the bureaucrats need to go home for dinner.” Jackson seemed to relax and a smile appeared on his face at the inside joke.

“No problem ma’am.” He said. “Will have as much information from both sites ready for you.”

“Thank You Agent Jackson.” She said with a forced smile. As he turned away from her, she noticed McCormick approaching.

“Ready to head to the next site?” he asked.

“Not yet she said thoughtfully.” She replied somewhat in thought. “Take me to the hotel so we can get ready for the agency briefings and conference call with D.C. Lets let the experts do their job collecting the information and us do ours in coordinating.” She turned and carefully picked her way back to the vehicle. McCormick looked at her walk away for a moment perplexed, then followed after her.