Chapter 38
“Carmine and Chen, can I see you both?” Agent Steele said as the others left.
He waved to indicate Carmine should close the door.
“Okay, I want your opinions on our asset,” he said.
“Rose, you’re easily the closest to her,” Chen said. “What’s your take?”
“On which part? The incident itself, the grief reaction, or the upcoming investigation?”
“All three,” Steele said.
“Okay. She reacted instantly to the shooting. She was moving before I was certain what happened. She got to the copilot before the crew chief could get out of harness. Both pilots were aware of her training at Benning on a simulator, so it wasn’t a shock when she took the empty seat.
I helped with Agent Frank’s wound, and I did see that Simon was wounded too.
Her hands shook. And that was a very smooth landing.
“As to the grief, she cries herself to sleep most nights that I’ve been around her. When she says she hears his voice, she is being literal. She says it’s a blessing and a curse.
“Now, as to the investigation, she is more aware of bureaucratic bullshit than most. Again, a product of a military father and grandfather. And Simon trusted her to do the job. Our Cassie is a quick judge of character and absolutely fierce to protect someone she likes. The IA and NTSB people are going to get a mountain of detail from her. She’ll bury them with everything.
Instrument readings, nav details, conversations, observations, and every bit of it will be concrete and verifiable by the black box, onboard computers, recorded comm lines, and the condition of the aircraft. ”
“Okay. Good summary. Doctor?” Steele asked.
“I wasn’t on the aircraft, but I’m learning Cassie’s tells. She is compartmentalizing grief, but if she allows herself to cry, that’s good. That display was likely long overdue, and the adrenaline of the situation may have helped precipitate it.
“And I think Rose is right. She was very concerned about the pilots and as she said, the lead pilot trusted her. Called upon her in a life-and-death situation. That’s a huge thing for a girl raised at the feet of duty and service.
Cassie will fight tooth and nail to protect Simon’s decision.
I don’t know what that looks like, but we might get a glimpse of Hellcat. ”
“Okay. NTSB is arriving within the hour. The inspector general is sending a team, and I expect them by early afternoon. I don’t know who it will be, but hopefully not a complete jackass. Let’s keep an eye on her.”
He led the way out of the room and back to the team action area, where they found Red reviewing the Metropolitan police prelim reports. “NTSB is here and inspecting the helicopter,” she said. “The IG informed us that Carlos Synch is leading the IG team.”
“Shit,” Steele said.
“Yeah, that’s the consensus,” Red said. “Sorry, Rose.”
Agent Carmine grinned. “Oh, that’s fine. I just have to tell the truth. But I’m not sure the IG reps are ready to dance with Cassie.”
The elevator opened and three people in NTSB jackets were escorted off by HRT agents. They looked around the vast space, blinking but faces carefully blank. Steele met them halfway across the space.
“Special Agent Steele, I’m Alice Kennedy, lead investigator, this is Brian Osterman, and Irene Roscov.”
“What do you need?”
“Space to set up, lists of who was on board the aircraft, and contact information for all of them. Other team members are pulling the Cockpit Voice Recorder and the Flight Data Recorder and will have them at our lab within the hour.”
“Agent Rao will show you the space we have set aside,” Steele said. “Please don’t stray from that area without escort. This entire facility is classified and most of our work is sensitive and potentially top secret.”
The elevator opened again and a group of three suited agents exited, the leader a bald-headed man with dark, intense eyes. He locked eyes with Steele and headed forward aggressively.
“Steele,” he said in a deep voice.
“Synch,” Steele responded.
“So this is the big hoorah, huh?” he asked, looking around with an unimpressed expression. “Oh, Ivan Peterman and Thomas Sissen.” He introduced his companions.
“We have offices set aside for you,” Steele said.
“Yeah, here’s a list of people we need to see. Starting with this kid, Cassandra Blake,” he said.
“Let’s get your recording equipment set up, then, and get at it,” Steele said with calm satisfaction that left Agent Synch frowning.
“And this special asset? The kid that landed the aircraft? Where is she?”
“She’s on the phone with Taylor Coors,” Red said.
“Taylor Coors?” Agent Sissen asked.
“Yeah, her attorney. Didn’t anyone tell you?” Steele said, brows up. “Did they brief you?”
“Who would brief me? No one knows what this kid is about? The IG doesn’t know and the director hasn’t even briefed him.”
“Ah. But you’ve seen news coverage?” Steele asked.
“Stop. I don’t want you influencing me or my team. Just stop.”
“Here’s your space, next to NTSB, and here are two interview rooms. I’ll get Cassie for you,” Steele said, his mouth twitching slightly before evening out.
“Cassandra Blake?” Alice Kennedy asked, clearly overhearing the name. “We need to see her too.”
“Hi, Alice. Long time,” Synch greeted her.
“Yeah, three years,” the senior investigator said with a blank expression and monotone voice.
“Oh, here she is now,” Steele said, as Agent Carmine led the young woman into the work area.
“Ah. The big dogs are here,” Cassie said, looking steadily at the six investigators.
“You’re Alice Kennedy, lead on the fast reaction team.
Saw your work on the United Airlines thing last fall.
No idea who the rest of you are, but I bet you’re the IG’s lead here,” she said to Synch.
Then she hefted a sling bag and a metal water bottle.
“Got my all-nighter supplies, so let’s get to it.
Oh, Agent Steele, can I get a ream of copier paper and a couple of pencils, ’cause they’re going to want sketches of the cockpit readouts to compare to their data recorder stuff? ”
Rose Carmine coughed as she moved to the in-room copier and dug under the cabinet. “Here, Cassie. Pace yourself with these poor folks,” she said.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” the teen said, turning confident eyes on the two teams of investigators. “Only six? Where my Blackhawk experts at… oh, you and you,” she said, pointing to Brian Osterman and Irene Roscov. “You both look ex-military.”
Surprised, the two just nodded. All six individuals were clearly taken aback by the teen’s behavior. Cassie looked at all their expressions and then turned to the interview rooms. “This one’s bigger. Gonna need a few chairs,” she said, disappearing inside.
Steele leaned over to Synch, who just stood frowning at the doorway.
“That feeling you have right now? That sinking feeling that you just stepped into a human-sized glue trap? I’d advise you to pay attention to it,” he said.
The others heard him, all wearing varying degrees of surprise.
“Pay close attention,” he said to Alice Kennedy, not unkindly.