"How ... how is Skip?" she asked through her sobs.
Josh shook his head. He had found the officer dead in the upstairs hall with his throat cut. "He didn't make it, Mare, but don't think about it, just think how lucky you and the boys are. These officers called in a warning to other precincts, and they're getting the word out to all the families to take precautions. Mary, I have to go now. I have to go downtown and make out a statement. You know the routine. I'll come by your mom's later and check on you." He gave her one more hug and called the boys over. "Okay, you guys get in and take care of your mom."
He closed the door and nodded to the officer behind the wheel, who pulled away from the curb.
A detective motioned him over to the cruiser where he and the two FBI agents were standing. The detective shook his head as Josh approached. "We turned off the radio in the roller Mary is in so as not to disturb her any more. Hawk, the city is so full of code-four emergencies, we can't track them all. There's been a hotel bombing and four or five Metro train bombings in the past couple of minutes, plus it looks like at least two families have been hit."
Josh's face paled and his knees almost buckled. "What stations?" he yelled. "My daughter takes the Metro!"
One of the FBI agents took Josh's arm, seeing he was about to lose it. "She's probably already back at the Front.
Go on and we'll follow you. These guys have got to roll to the code fours. They've agreed that we can fill out statements later."
Josh climbed into his Jeep, gunned the engine, backed up, and threw it into first gear. Shifting to second, he saw the white BMW parked next to the curb a block away and floored the accelerator. Screeching to a halt beside the car, h startled the two passengers by jumping out of the Jeep holding his pistol. "Get the fuck out. Now!" he screamed.
Both men opened their doors and stood up with their hands in the air. He lowered the pistol and fired a bullet into the right front tire, took a step, and fired again at the right rear tire. Walking toward the two men, he waved the pistol.
"On your faces!"
Neither man moved. Josh slugged one in the stomach and pointed his pistol in the face of the other. "Down!"
As the man began to squat Josh brought the pistol butt down on his head, knocking him to the ground. Leaning over the bleeding man, he jammed the pistol barrel into his forehead. "You tell the fucker who hired you I'm going to kill him. Tell him that!"
Josh backed up, keeping both men covered, then turned and fired into their radiator. The FBI car pulled up behind him and the driver jumped out. "Jesus, Hawkins! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I'm fucking tired of this! I'm going, so get back in."
Josh climbed back into his Jeep and pulled away. He drove with tears in his eyes and glanced at the empty space where the radio should be. He'd taken it out a year earlier to fix it, and it was still on the boat where he'd left it. He couldn't even listen to the news. "Shit!" He shifted to second gear and floored the accelerator.
Josh sped into the Channel Inn underground parking lot and jumped out of the Jeep at a dead run for the back exit.
The FBI car pulled in and the driver yelled out his window, "We're gonna pick up the other tails!"
Josh ran through the beating rain to the marina gate. As soon as the metal door opened he yelled, "STEFNE!
STEFNE!"
He saw a woman on deck and felt a wave of relief but then heard Meg yelling, "She's not here! Oh God, where is she?" Meg ran toward him, her wet hair plastered to her face.
"Oh God, Josh! Where is she?"
She ran into his open arms, nearly knocking him over. She was as pale as a sheet and soaking wet. Her body was shaking so hard he could barely hold her. "Jo ... Josh, I heard it on the ra ... radio.... I've been wait ... ing on you ... both."
He hugged her tighter and turned toward Wind song. "Did you hear what stations were bombed?" he asked, trying to be calm for both of them.
"N ... n ... no. I came ... up on deck ... t ... to wait."
"We're gonna get you out of these wet clothes and warm you up. We'll watch TV and listen to the radio and find out.
Think positive-we have to think positive."
Josh shut his watering eyes and hugged Meg, who had collapsed against him when they heard the update over the radio. They were in her cabin, watching the television and listening to the radio for reports. There had been three, not five, Metro stations destroyed by explosions-the Blue Line's Pentagon station, the Orange Line's West Falls Church station in Fairfax County, and the Red Line's Bethesda station.
All were outside of midtown, and none were the lines Stefne would have taken from school.
Josh hugged Meg again and opened his eyes to look at the screen. A newswoman from a local station was standing in front of the Hilton. Behind her were fire trucks and ambulances. He pressed the Sound button on the remote control just as the camera panned to the newswoman's right to show a grassy area that was lined with covered bodies.
"... and due to the shortage of emergency equipment the bodies of those taken from the conference room have been placed here. Many of the injured are reportedly still in the lobby awaiting ambulances, and-"
"They bombed a hotel too?" Meg asked, still trembling.
Joshua was staring at the screen, his face stricken.
Meg was about to ask what was wrong when she heard a familiar voice outside. Josh got to his feet first and ran out of the cabin yelling, "Stefne!"
Stefne watched her father walk out the cabin door. She looked back at Meg and saw tears running down the woman's cheeks. She reached over the table and took Meg's hand. "He'll be fine. He has to find out."
Meg nodded and wiped her eyes. "I know, I know ...
God, I hope she's okay. I told him just yesterday he needed to hold on to the lady colonel."
Seeing a traffic jam ahead, Josh pulled off the road and parked on the grassy center median. Getting out of his Jeep, he began a slow jog, knowing it would be the only way to get there. It took him ten minutes to reach the sprawling grounds of the hotel complex that now looked like a war zone. He made his way forward through the crowd of anxious people who had come searching for a loved one or a friend. He skirted the crowd that had gathered at the main entrance, which was blocked by a wooden police barrier and a single MPD officer. Josh approached the officer and flashed the old temporary badge Kelly had given him when he worked for the department.
"Crime scene D-one," he said as he walked by. The officer, busy trying to calm the crowd, only nodded.
Josh saw why they had only the one officer at the barrier as soon as he passed the screen of fire trucks. Every available person was tending to the injured or carrying bodies. He saw that even the TV news crews had been pressed into service.
Walking along the sidewalk, he saw every imaginable wound within twenty feet, and he knew some would never make it unless they got medical attention quickly. An older man covered in what looked like black soot leaned against the hotel wall, staring blankly up at the grumbling sky. Blood trickled down from an ugly scalp wound and puddled in his lap.
Josh knelt down, took a handkerchief from the man's pocket, and held it against the wound. "You're going to have to keep this in place until you get help," Josh said calmly.
The man's eyes slowly rolled to Josh. "What happened?
Do you know what happened?"
Josh lifted the man's hand to the already blood-soaked handkerchief. "There was an explosion. The important thing is that you're alive. Hold that in place and put some pressure on it. You're going to be fine."
Josh got up and walked inside the lobby. The smell hit him first, followed by the silence. It was a living hell-blackened people, lying and sitting against the walls and furniture.
Those with their eyes open seemed dazed. Despite horrible gashes and tears in their limbs or bodies, none spoke or made a sound. The marble floor was slick with coagulated blood and mud and covered with shattered glass. The smell of the blood and burnt flesh was over
powering. He gagged, fought back the bile, and continued to search. Paramedics from the ambulances dashed about from one blackened body to the next, moving those with lesser injuries outside. He heard a helicopter landing outside and knew they'd soon be getting them out to be attended to. A minute passed, then five, and he still had not found her. He was about to give up and go out to check the dead when he saw her. She was sitting against a wall in the lobby, and she was rocking back and forth. Beside her a man was writhing on the floor, holding his hands over his face.
Josh kneeled down and lifted Grant's chin. "You ready to go home?" he asked softly. It took a moment for her eyes to focus, then tears began welling. She tried to speak but nothing came out. He gently ran his hands over her body, feeling for wounds or broken bones before cautiously lifting her to her feet. She was like a rag doll, unable to stand on her own.
He picked her up and walked out the door.
The Waterfront bars and restaurants were packed full of customers, but not the usual tourists. The people who sat silently at the tables or on the floor were stranded commuters.
They watched the televisions or huddled around radios brought out by the staff. The Metro trains and buses had stopped running after the first explosions, leaving midtown office workers with no way home. Although they were safe, there was no way to get in contact with their waiting families at home to tell them they were okay. The phone lines in and out of the city were overloaded with desperate callers seeking word of their loved ones. The restaurant staffs were dead on their feet, since most of the evening shift had not showed up for work. Outside it was a ghost town. People were staying indoors, afraid to leave the safety of homes, apartments, offices, or bars. The city was in shock.
Josh walked into the lobby of Hogate's and spotted Bob talking to a long line of people in front of the phones. "Folks, you're wasting your time standing here. The lines are all overloaded and the news reported their having to dedicate lines for emergency use only. I'm sorry, but everyone is in the same boat. Please clear a passage in the lobby so others can come in. The management will let you know when the phones are working again."
Josh took Bob's arm and steered him toward the door.
"We're probably going to be the entire shift tonight, since our people will probably be called out to help in the city."
Bob nodded with resignation and asked, "How is Glenn?"
Josh nodded. "Okay. Stef and Meg are with her at her apartment. They have her soaking in the tub. She's bruised real bad, but she'll be fine. She was lucky."
The voices of the crowd inside the bar suddenly got loud and angry. Josh and Bob strode into the bar to investigate as the television news announcer said, "... and I repeat, this is just in from sources at the Washington Post. A group calling itself the Islamic Revolution Jihad Committee has claimed responsibility for today's bombings. The cassette tape delivered to the Post this evening claims the bombings are retaliation for the Islamic brothers slain by U. S. troops during Desert Storm in 1991. The tape promises more killing until America is brought to its knees...."
Josh abruptly spun around and walked back out into the lobby, knowing it was a lie. Bob joined him seconds later, shaking his head. "It was bound to happen sooner or later, but I don't think any of us really believed it would."
Josh's jaw muscles twitched as he stared out the window into the darkness.
Stephen sat in a Quantico motel bar watching the news along with packed tables of hushed customers who were, like himself, unable to get into Washington. Hours before, he'd pulled off 1-95 when he saw the backup of traffic. He had been one of the lucky ones and got a room before the rush began. The news later reported that traffic on 1-95 had come to a virtual standstill. There were no police available to clear the accidents and those that were available were trying to keep the left lanes open for emergency vehicles coming in from other towns to help with the large number of casualties.
The traffic was reported to be backed up as far as Fredericksburg to the south and Frederick, Maryland, to the north.
Stephen sat in a corner booth of the dark room with people he didn't know, nursing a gin and tonic and watching the news updates. The people around him were past mad; they wanted blood. Tears trickled down his cheeks-he knew how they felt. During the past days, realization had set in. Mya and his son would not have been able to take more than a few days in prison. Time had run out. The stories from Dinto were never spoken except in whispers among the people. To be taken them meant unspeakable tortures and certain death.
His hands trembled with hatred and guilt.
An older woman sitting beside him leaned over and patted his shaking hand. "I'm scared too. My son works at the Pentagon. I don't know what to do."
Stephen took her hand in his. "We can pray."
Chapter 20.
Josh awoke when Glenn stirred against him. She patted his cheek and slowly got up, testing her mobility. He reached for her hand to coax her back to the bed but she stepped out of reach. "I've got to go in to work and report what happened.
They don't know if I'm alive or dead."
Josh, still fully dressed, nodded. "I'll drive you."
She saw his concern and gave him a smile. "I'd better drive myself. I don't know when I'll be back and I can't call or take the Metro. You take care of Stef and check on your police friend. I'm fine. Really."
He saw in her eyes that she wasn't but also saw she needed him to let her go. He nodded again and got up to kiss her cheek. "Take it easy today," he murmured.
Josh walked into Lil' Darlin's bedroom and abruptly stopped. Bob was curled around Stef on the bed that they had not turned down. It was good to see that she had been protected. He stepped back into the galley and called, "Anybody for coffee?"
Bob came out first, looking embarrassed. He began to speak but Josh motioned to the stove. "Thanks for staying with her. Put some water on, will ya?"
Stefne walked into the tiny kitchen and sat down as if in a trance. "Dad, this is all a nightmare. Bob and I stayed at Meg's most of the night watching TV. It's so horrible."
Josh reached over and took his daughter's hand. "Be thankful we're all okay."
Stefne looked at her father. "Where's Glenn? Is she all right?"
"She had to get to work and report in. Look, the city is going to be turned upside down for the next few days. Don't take any public transportation and don't hang around in one place any longer than you have to. Tell the agents where you're going, because they're going to be following you too.
Stephen should be showing up any day now if he's coming.
Glenn said that you can stay with her for the next couple of days so I won't have to worry about you. You scared me yesterday ... really scared me."
Stefne pushed her coffee cup away and stood up to give him a hug. "I love you, Dad. I'm going to take your Jeep and run back to the apartment to get a few things. I'll see ya later."
Josh waited till she left before shifting his eyes to Bob.
"Keep an eye on her for me, will ya?"
Bob nodded in silence.
Dorba nodded at Qui. "Very well done. I believe we have gotten the desired point across. There will be a few who persist in trying to find us. Locate them and take action. Within a month we should have no problems."
Qui raised an eyebrow. "We still have the problem of this Stephen Kang. He has not showed up as of yet. The American, a man called Hawkins, attacked several members of our surveillance team, and the FBI arrested three other team members."
Dorba's look grew concerned. "Are you saying we have no eyes on him?"
Qui smiled. "No, San Chu. We have others. Now that we know the FBI is protecting him, I placed our best on him last night. It's almost humorous. They reported this morning that the FBI has a team in a room in the inn overlooking the small boat harbor. Our people have already identified the frequency they are using to monitor the conversations on his boat, so we can listen in. Our people no longer have to watch the American but just the FBI team. When
they get ready to move in for Kang, we will move first. I am saying this to warn you we will have to take out this FBI team to get to Kang when the time comes. Are you certain you want this?"
Dorba leaned back in his chair and looked at the arrangement of flowers on the table. "They are beautiful, aren't they? Such delicate creations ... but their beauty only lasts for days. We enjoy them until they wilt, then replace them with others and think nothing of the dead. A shame." He nodded slowly to Qui. "Do whatever is necessary. I leave it in your hands."
Qui bowed. "I will take care of it. You have business now with the San from New York. It seems a lesson is needed there as well."
Dorba looked back at the flowers and sighed. "These Americans are so stubborn. Send him in."
Phone calls started coming through after noon. Stefne and Bob answered them all and checked the names against the shift list. Finally the last cop called in to say he was fine and would be back to work that night.
Forged in Honor (1995) Page 33
