of innocent bystanders at least, thought Sam.
If they landed at JFK, he was dead. He had a gun but Johnson would ensure a very large welcoming committee and he knew there would be no qualms when it came to collateral. As long as Johnson got his target, collateral was exactly that, collateral.
Sam lifted the intercom again and pleaded with the Captain. He could hear the co-pilot in the background being given the instructions for final approach. On hearing the two-feet call, he gave up.
“These things I do, so that others may live,” he muttered in acceptance of his fate.
“Sorry?” said the Captain.
“Nothing, just an old motto,” said Sam, not wanting to repeat it. He hadn’t even realized he had said it out loud.
“Just hold on a second, Mark.” The captain stopped the co-pilot responding to the last call.
“Were you a PJ?”
“Yes, Sir,” responded Sam automatically on hearing the Captain refer to his old unit.
“Well why in the hell didn’t you say, Son? You guys pulled me out of a very tricky situation in Iraq many years ago. A slight detour is the least I could do. Take your seat, Son, this may get a little bumpy.”
“JFK this is American Heavy 45, we have a problem. We cannot make the turn as requested, believe we have a fault with the rudder.”
“Roger that American 45, can you maneuver at all?”
“JFK, yes, can turn to right. Repeat we can move to the right.”
As Johnson wondered what was going on, the tower were pulling charts and looking at options. The Air Traffic Control Director pointed wildly at the chart as the controller calmly relayed his suggestion.
“American Heavy 45, a slight right turn could land you at LaGuardia, do you think that is possible?”
“Confirm possible, as long as we get a direct landing, we will not be able to maneuver once on course.”
“Of course. We’re contacting LaGuardia now and informing them of the emergency.”
“Thank you.”
Johnson was apoplectic and was furious at himself for only having only one-way comms. He had been screaming at the tower until he realized they couldn’t hear him.
“Shit! How long to get to LaGuardia?!”
“Thirty minutes by car and probably ten by helicopter but they’ll shut the airport down with an emergency,” responded one of the CIA hit squad.
“Mother fucker!! Let’s go! They can’t shoot
“American 45, I have LaGuardia, they’ve cleared the runway and will have you down in 5 minutes.”
“Hurry!” screamed Johnson as they tore through the terminal. While one of his men briefed the helicopter pilot, he called the control tower.
The Air Traffic Director answered the call immediately.
“What gate at LaGuardia?!!!” screamed Johnson as he ran.
The Air Traffic Control Director didn’t have a clue. He worked at JFK, although he did know American used the Central Terminal D Concourse. “I know American use the Central Terminal Concourse D…” Johnson cut him off, not letting the Air Traffic Control Director finish his sentence. Rude prick, he thought before turning his attention to the screen full of blips that had just been delayed due to American 45.
As the flight landed perfectly the fire trucks and ambulances chased after the ‘damaged’ plane. As they came to a stop, the Captain instructed the crew to abandon the aircraft. The doors swung open and the slide chutes exploded into action. The Captain exited the cockpit and shook Sam’s hand.
“Best not fly American for a little while, Son,” he offered as advice.
The Captain grabbed the Sky Marshall’s arm as he ran to catch up with Rebecca and Sam as they jumped onto the slide.
“Son, you really don’t want to piss him off. Pararescue Jumpers are the kindest men you’ll ever meet, if you’re on their side. But if you’re not, trust me, those guys are the meanest and most vicious sons of bitches alive!”
Johnson’s pilot had made excellent time and they arrived at LaGuardia Central Terminal just three minutes after the flight had landed. Johnson could smell them. It would have taken more than three minutes for the plane to taxi to a gate. However, after ten minutes, he began to consider there may have been a problem. He called the tower and was informed of the emergency evacuation on the runway and how, in emergency situations, it was fairly standard to get the passengers off the plane.
Had Johnson waited and listened to the Air Traffic Control Director from JFK, he would have said the same thing. Johnson was incandescent. Sam Baker had gone. With a fifteen-minute head-start, it wasn’t even worth trying. Johnson rounded up his men and left. He’d have to explain another failure to the President.
Had Johnson had it his way, he’d have just shot the plane down. It was the President who had insisted on doing it that way.
Chapter 64
Sam directed Rebecca towards the subway. Forty-five minutes later and lost to the world, they walked up and out into the afternoon sunshine in Midtown Manhattan. Sam looked around. The streets were packed and there was absolutely no chance they had been followed.
“So what next?” asked Rebecca.
“Walter Koch, John Mellon, Lawrence Harkness and William Hathaway. Take your pick.”
“And the other two?” she asked, surprised he had not included Russell and Johnson.
“Saving them for last.”
“Oh, OK. So where to, Genius? You warned them you were coming.”
“Hmm yes, beginning to regret that a little. Heat of the moment and all that,” mused Sam.
“Shall we grab a bite and have a think?” offered Rebecca.
As they stepped into the diner, her cell phone rang.
“It’s Ben,” she said, looking at the screen on her phone.
Sam wanted to answer and tell whoever the hell this Ben was what he thought of him but Rebecca seemed to be very close to him and had promised Ben would not have sold them out.
“Go on then, see what he’s got to say!” said Sam, unable to disguise his anger.
“Hello?” She put an iciness into her voice, partly to make Sam feel better.
“Why didn’t you call when you landed?” he asked sincerely.
“We were too busy running from the men with guns that were waiting for us!” she said angrily.
“What?” asked Ben, genuinely confused. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t you?” The accusation was loud and clear.
“I only spoke to the Transportation Secretary and he’s got nothing to do with any of this, I’d vouch for him personally. Whether he’s mentioned to somebody else I don’t know. On your parents lives, I did not do this Rebecca.” It was perhaps the most sincere she had ever heard Ben and certainly the first time he had used her parents graves to emphasize he was being truthful.
She relented and gave a thumbs-up to Sam. Ben was clear.
“I believe you Ben, how are you?”
“Rebecca I couldn’t even begin to tell you how bad I am but that is not your concern, I assume you wish to find the rest of the men?”
“I think that’s a no-brainer. Sam warned them he was coming.”
Ben laughed, the more he heard about Sam, the more he liked him. He’d have to check his background for any Jewish ancestry, he thought. He could certainly use a man as useful as Sam Baker.
