In Plain Sight by Aime Austin

Author:Aime Austin [Austin, Aime]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-940811-12-3
Publisher: Penner Publishing

Twenty

Miles

August 29, 2004

“There’s a second container,” was all I heard before I hit the button disconnecting the call. I was running down the hallway toward the elevators when I nearly knocked Chas over.

“Where are you—”

“There’s a second container,” I answered, jabbing frantically at the elevator button. Forget this. I ran past Chas and his open mouth.

I pushed open the exit door and started the run down the sterile staircase. We were only on the fourth floor of the twenty-three story building. For some, low floor meant low status. For me, today, it meant I could get out of here quickly and possibly solve this case. It was the break we’d all been praying for.

Valdespino was downstairs waiting, red and blue lights pulsing from the grill of the hulking SUV and at the top of the windshield. I jumped in and the agent sped off before I could latch my seat belt.

“Let me warn you, this may be a shit show. Call came in and I asked for SWAT. The higher ups got alerted, the media got involved, and who all knows who else. There will probably be a thousand cops, agents, politicians, and reporters down there.”

There was the Sunrise Motel on Warrensville Center Road. Something about it looked familiar, but it was hard to place with all the activity going on. Valdespino had not exaggerated. You’d have thought we had the 9/11 terrorists in the container with the number of loaded guns, gleaming badges, and flashing lights.

Lou must have had nuts the size of soccer balls. Didn’t let squat intimidate him. He grabbed the bullhorn, and control.

“This is Special Agent Lou Valdespino. We are here to help you. In a moment, an agent is going to cut open the lock. Please back away from the door and come out with your hands up.”

There were enough hand gestures from Valdespino and the others to make any baseball umpire proud. But everyone moved back as a cordoned area surrounding the blue container was enlarged. He beckoned me forward and I went, only one of two people standing without a bullet-proof vest. The other was Chas, who’d somehow made it down here in record time. This must be big if the deputy chief was willing to leave his office.

Expectation hushed the crowd. A SWAT officer brandishing a lethal-looking bolt cutter approached the container. He banged loudly on the door twice. Satisfied, he opened and closed the cutters. The lock came apart like a hot knife had sliced through butter. Handing off the heavy tool, the SWAT team member pulled a dark shield over his eyes. The crowd took a collective breath as he lifted the squeaking lever and threw the bolt.

I could practically hear the whirr of camera lenses as they focused on those doors. Two SWAT team agents, flashlights poised, stormed through the metal doors. The clomp of their boots rang out as they stomped across the thin flooring.

I held my breath, waiting for women to stream from the container. Nothing. Were they as hesitant as the last bunch, I wondered.

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