“Holy shit,” he said, looking ahead. From them, to the lake over four hundred yards away, was a barren wasteland.
Buck grabbed the radio. “Units still in Nordman, we are a quarter mile from lake and need assistance with wounded.”
Dropping the radio, Buck grabbed the door. “Well partner, looks like a shitty day,” he said and opened the door as a tanker plane dumped south of them.
Several hours later from inside the hotel, Moore was directing pickup trucks loaded with wounded to head straight to Coeur d’Alene with a police escort. Helicopters were landing every few minutes as others took off, ferrying the wounded around the area. He had to admit, Sheriff Harper knew what the hell he was doing.
Seeing a deputy walk past, Moore waved him over. “Deputy, Sheriff Harper said to get someone to a county tax assessor’s office and pull the tax records from here so we know how many civilians we are looking for.”
“Yes sir,” the deputy said and moved to his car.
“Only the last three houses on Mandy Lane had people in them,” Griffey said walking up while hanging up his cellphone. “And they were to be out by ten hundred.”
“Come again?” Moore said turning around.
“I ordered all civilians within a mile of the command area vacated, under National Security Directive. With the civilians no longer working in the lodges, I could control who had access to the command area. I didn’t need to have the locals letting Mr. Anderson know what we were doing.”
Closing his eyes, Moore wanted to turn in his retirement papers on the spot. “Why wasn’t I told about this?”
“It was at the 0900 briefing,” Griffey snapped. “In case you didn’t know, it was postponed.”
“Agent Moore,” a deputy said running in. “We have a building in town now that we can start moving the deceased into.”
“Good, find box trucks to do it, so we aren’t driving truckloads of bodies in plain sight. Kids and families don’t need to see that.”
“Yes sir. I’ll call my buddy at the U-Haul place,” the deputy said pulling out his cellphone.
“You’re doing a good job Moore,” Griffey said looking around.
Shaking his head and grabbing a clipboard, “No, Sheriff Harper is doing a good job,” he corrected as a deputy handed him a sheet of paper. “Is this a list of ground or air wounded that have been taken out?” he asked the deputy.
“Air sir,” he said walking out and Moore turned to Griffey.
“Griffey, if you even attempt to act like we set up and controlled this rescue, I’ll burn you.”
“Not my concern,” Griffey said pulling out his phone. “But you are running this show.”
“No, I’m running one little side show. Sheriff Harper is at ground zero running it.”
“I’ve been called back to Washington, I need you to keep me up to date on wounded,” Griffey said tapping a message on his phone. “I cleared those people out so they couldn’t spy and this couldn’t happen Moore.”
Shaking his head, Moore stumbled back. “Huh?”
Putting his phone up, Griffey looked at Moore with a blank face. “This was a terrible accident Agent Moore. BATF has already reviewed drone footage from dawn and has concluded that somehow the tankers caught on fire and blew up.”
“We haven’t even been on the scene, so how could they?”
“That is what happened, Agent Moore,” Griffey said lowering his voice and stepping closer. “Even if it wasn’t, that’s what happened. We can’t acknowledge that we were attacked on this scale, if that’s what really happened, but I’ve been assured that by the time I get to Washington, the BATF will have a plausible explanation.”
Looking around and keeping his voice low. “My God, man. If we were attacked, you can’t sweep that under the rug. I truly doubt it, but you can’t bury the truth.”
Griffey smiled and Moore fought the urge to punch him. Smiling in the event of what had happened seemed beyond callous. “You know yourself that we hide the truth that would hurt. Need I remind you, Agent Moore? You’ve done it yourself.”
“Yeah, and over a decade later, they are still talking about the cover up,” he whispered.
“Talking doesn’t do anything, Agent Moore. The majority will always believe our version, even if it doesn’t make sense. If asked, you refer any questions about the explosion to BATF.”
“If proof comes out, we are finished.”
“It won’t. Now, keep your cellphone close and keep me updated,” Griffey said and walked out.
As Griffey left, Moore glanced at a clock seeing it was almost 1300. “Feels like I’ve been going a week,” he mumbled as another deputy walked in with another list.
“Ground,” he said, dropping it beside the clipboard.
Moore turned to see one of his agents walking in. “You, find a phone and call every hospital in two hundred miles and tell them to make a list of the wounded they have received, and call the FBI office in DC every two hours giving them the names. They can stop when they stop receiving wounded.”
The agent nodded and moved back outside, pulling his cellphone out as Buck walked in and saw Moore behind the counter. “Change of job?” Buck asked.
Moore looked up and Buck was covered in soot. He smelled of fire but by now, everywhere the wounded or the personnel had been smelled like it. “Not yet,” Moore said adding the new numbers. “Have we made it around the perimeter?”
“Nope, I don’t think we will have that done till tonight.”
Moore reached down and grabbed a bottle of water, holding it out to the sheriff. “You need it,” he said.
“You pay for this?” Buck asked ripping the top off.
Nodding, “Told the owner to give me a bill for everything on the property and I would have a check here by tomorrow,” Moore said as Buck leaned over the counter.
“Moore, one of my deputies just told me that the people around the lodge were evicted last night. The last three houses on Mandy Lane were all that was left, and they only had till ten hundred to vacate or be prosecuted for failure to follow a federal evacuation for national security.”
“I just found out,” Moore said holding up his hands. “But let’s face it, if we hadn’t done that, more would’ve been killed.”
“Oh, so you had this explosion and suddenly it’s justified, throwing people out of their homes?”
“Sheriff Harper,” Moore sighed. “It was a mistake that I didn’t know about. I was processing the crime scene of one of ‘my’ team. I’ve known Agent Kellogg for ten years and selected him myself, for my team.”
“I’m sorry,” Buck said sincerely. “Any leads?”
“We got good prints that weren’t his,” Moore said, looking up as another list was passed to him.
“My investigator is down at the scene doing preliminary work if you want to send someone down to join. I told Duane to be expecting someone.”
Glancing around, Moore leaned over the counter. “Sheriff, tell your man to stop. The BATF is ruling this explosion an accident.”
“Of course it is, but how would they know? They haven’t been down there.”
Straightening up, Moore looked at Buck with pleading eyes. “Sheriff, you’re doing an excellent job here but please, tell your man to stop and wait till the BATF gets here.”
Looking around and seeing that nobody was paying them any attention, Buck stepped around the counter. “Okay, no bullshit. You think this was sabotage?”
Shaking his head, Moore spoke in a low voice. “On and off the record, I’m saying no. But if it is, the government will not allow someone to claim responsibility for it.”
With a snort, Buck waved his hand. “Why? That would give you all the ammunition you needed to justify killing Joshua. Why not frame him?”
“Sheriff, this isn’t a building with kids. It was a command area with over a thousand active agents in a federal search for a wanted fugitive. Several reports have already been filed about the hostile nature of the population around h
ere. Homeland and Washington will not be seen as vulnerable.”
Buck stepped back and his mouth dropped open. “Homeland doesn’t want to be seen like they can be attacked. I mean, if this was sabotage.”
“Basically,” Moore nodded. “But like I said and you said, I don’t see this as sabotage. It would take a team of men who knew exactly what they were doing, just to infiltrate the command area. There were six different SWAT teams on site, along with a thousand plus agents, so just think of what that team would’ve had to do to pull this off.”
Stepping around the counter, “Agent Moore, I’m going to talk to those people you threw out and smooth this over but I can guarantee you, this will be the only time I allow you to throw people from their homes. The only reason I’m going to do it, is because it saved their lives from this accident. If they want to sue, I’m not stopping them.”
“That much would be greatly appreciated, sheriff.”
“I’m not kidding about throwing people from their homes. You must show me a valid warrant from a judge in this state for me to allow it and not order my men to stop it.”
Moore nodded as another list was passed over. “I will pass that along, but I’m sure you know by now, those of us left here aren’t calling the shots.”
Wishing he had lost the election and happy he’d won it at the same time, Buck walked out to find Cory waiting by the SUV. “Where to sheriff?” he asked opening his door.
“Head to Sonya’s. I want to check on them before we go back to hell,” he said walking around and climbing in.
Soon, they were on the side road that led up to Sonya’s, waiting for the massive dozer to move. When the dozer pulled back, Cory drove past the small collection of houses to the end of the street and stopped at Sonya’s. Buck climbed out to see Ben and Gene standing in the front yard with rifles over their shoulders and pistols on their hips.
“Now that’s a neighborhood watch,” he said, climbing out.
Gene and Ben shook their heads, looking at the soot-covered sheriff. “Looks like you pulled fire season sheriff,” Ben smiled.
“No, fire season doesn’t involve masses of bodies and wounded,” he said walking over. “Everyone here okay?”
“We’re good Buck,” Gene said as the door opened and Sonya and Mrs. Anderson stepped out onto the porch.
“What did those damn G-men do?” Mrs. Anderson shouted, waving her hand toward the smoke.
“They tell me it was an accident on one of the fuel tankers they’d had on site,” Buck said smiling at her.
“Dumbasses,” she mumbled and Sonya helped her down the front steps.
“Sheriff, sit down. Barbara and the boys are bringing you a plate,” Sonya said smiling.
“No Sonya. I just came by to check on you and William to make sure you’re alright.”
“Of course they are fine,” Mrs. Anderson snapped. “Now, you get your tail on that porch to that table and sit. I’m not in the mood for your sassiness today Buck,” she said waving a long finger in his face. “I spanked your bottom when you were twelve at the church social, and I’ll do it again.”
“I’m not in the mood for a spanking,” Buck sighed and headed for the porch.
Sonya turned to Cory who was talking to the deputy stationed at the house. “Cory, come and eat, Eddie’s already ate,” Sonya shouted.
“I’m fine ma’am,” Cory smiled.
“Cory, I will call your mother,” Sonya said putting her hands on her hips and Cory nodded, heading to the porch.
Gene looked over at Ben. “I hope you took notes,” he grinned. “See how they avoided a fight.”
“I’m going to check on Chris,” Ben huffed and headed around the house.
Gene walked up onto the porch as Barbara and the boys brought out plates and drinks. As Buck and Cory dug in, Gene stared at Sonya till she looked up at him. He looked from her to the boys, Mrs. Anderson and Barbara to the house and did it again.
“Nana, let’s go inside so you can show us how to make this cobbler,” Sonya said getting up. They all left, leaving only Gene with Buck and Cory. He sat down with them and pulled out a can of Copenhagen.
“Cory, I know your dad, so what you hear, don’t repeat,” Gene said thumping the can. “So, they aren’t going to try and blame this on Josh?”
Buck looked up with a full mouth shaking his head. “No, if by some chance it was sabotage, they don’t want to be seen as vulnerable.”
“Buck, on the major networks, they are already saying it was a tragic accident that wouldn’t have happened if the local law enforcement had assisted,” Gene said getting a dip.
Buck looked up but wasn’t surprised. “They found a way to blame it on all of us.” Cory dropped his fork and it hit his plate with a clank. “Cory, you don’t hear anything, so why are you dropping your utensils?” Cory quickly snatched up his fork and started eating again as Buck turned to Gene.
“You know when they first reported that?”
Leaning over and spitting off the porch, Gene nodded, “Eleven o’clock.”
“The agents here don’t even know that,” Buck said grabbing his glass.
“Are you sure?” Gene asked studying Buck.
“Yes, I know a liar when I see them,” Buck said setting his glass down. “I’ve watched over a hundred bodies get loaded out and I lost track of the wounded Gene. To use this accident as a rally call to hunt down Josh is evil.”
“Buck, evil came up on that job site, and I know they were going to kill Josh right there. I saw it in their eyes Buck, and no one will ever be able to tell me otherwise.”
Grabbing a napkin, Buck wiped his mouth. “Gene, I do believe Joshua’s story and I’m trying to get this to stay here, but I’m fighting a mountain that won’t budge.”
“I know Buck, but I wanted to talk to you about something else,” Gene said leaning over and spitting. “You need to talk with certain people in this county about this situation. We don’t need it getting out of hand more than it already is.”
“They are only talk Gene,” Buck said picking up his fork.
“I believe some are, but others aren’t and this group, is one that I know isn’t talk. And I know for a fact, you don’t know about them nor does the federal boys. I’m here to protect Josh’s family and I don’t want the hornets’ nest kicked, stirring them up more than they are.” Gene said pulling a folded paper from his shirt pocket. “This isn’t all of them and I won’t tell you who else, but these are the leaders you need to talk to. The first name on the list for sure.”
Emptying his mouth, Buck looked over at him. “You’re that sure?”
“Buck, there was talk last night about boys moving around the county to start, but then this happened. Will they continue? I don’t know and don’t want to find out. But I want you to know. If it gets out of hand, your life could become….. Difficult, if you know what I mean.” Gene watched as Buck opened the paper and read the names.
With his eyes getting big, Buck gasped. “Gene, you haven’t left here, how could you know this?”
Laughing, Gene spit off the porch, “Buck, I can find out more than you any day of the week, and twice as much on Sunday.”
“I’ll get some of my deputies to stop by and chat with them,” Buck said.
“No Buck. You need to do this for that first group,” Gene said nodding to the paper. “The other groups, it would be okay. After what you did yesterday, anyone in the county will do what you ask.”
Leaning back, Buck nodded. “Okay, but would you be offended if I asked you to call me and let me know when things like this are talked about?”
“No, but I’m not calling your phone,” Gene chuckled. “That William showed me how they are tracking our cellphones. I sent one of the boys down to get us some of those disposable ones that William recommended.”
“So, if I get a phone like that, you wouldn’t be offended?”
“Nope,” Gene said spitting.
“Cory,” Buck said clearing his throat. “Go
get my satchel from the SUV, please.”
Nodding, Cory got up and left as Gene leaned over. “You don’t think they will pin this on Joshua?”
“He didn’t do it,” Buck said snatching up his glass.
“Buck, you’re not the only one who can tell when someone’s lying.”
“God damn it Gene,” he whispered harshly. “He couldn’t have done it. You didn’t see the mass of bodies.” Leaning back, Gene spit and wiped his beard with his forearm still staring at Buck. “It doesn’t matter even if he admits it, they are whitewashing it. If they are reporting what you said, they will kill him. I’m praying he got a message telling him to lay low.”
“Buck, they kidnapped his boy. You really think Joshua is going to lay low over that?”
“I handled that,” Buck snapped.
“Yes, you did, and very nicely too,” Gene smiled. “But they still took his boy and they could do it again and this time, have a helicopter crash with William aboard.”
Staring at Gene’s eyes, Buck looked away, seeing Cory coming. “You think he did it,” Buck mumbled.
“I ain’t saying,” Gene replied as Cory came on the porch and handed Buck his satchel.
“Finish eating so we can go,” Buck said looking up at Cory. Throwing everything that was left on his plate onto a piece of bread, Cory started eating it while heading back to the SUV. Buck dug in his satchel and pulled out a flash drive.
Looking around, he laid it on the table. “Gene, if anything happens to me, make sure people see this. It’s not the only copy, but I need to make sure that more than one person has it,” Buck said leaving it on the table. “If I’m not around, it could be used as leverage.”
“Why me?”
“You’re not tied to me for one, they would never believe you had a copy. Second, I trust you,” Buck said standing up. “Whatever you do, don’t let William,” after stressing the name he paused, looking at Gene hard, “dig around in it because the information on there could get all of us killed if they knew. The feds just don’t know who has copies. I’m not worried about surveillance here now for obvious reasons. This is the only time I could hand it out, and they won’t know to whom.”
Bonner Incident Page 25
