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He had no choice. He would have to wait a while longer. At the rate Harper was going, he doubted he would be around for long anyway. Fitzpatrick’s wife was not helping his situation either. She kept reminding him he should have gotten the Administrator position months ago. He agreed, but he didn’t have control over the situation. He was at the highest position he had ever been in with FEMA. The next natural step was the Administrator position. Someday, he would get the position. First, he had to prove his worth.

It is just a matter of time, he thought, as he looked at his schedule on the computer. It was a light schedule, which was all right, because he had to concentrate on what he needed to do over the weekend. He had to make sure he did everything right and make sure everyone knows it.

Things will go well this weekend, he thought. He would make sure of that. Harper wasn’t going to like it though. That brought a smile to his face.

CHAPTER FOUR

Six hours later, Patty knocked on Fitzpatrick’s door, opened it and walked in, then closed the door behind her and approached his desk.

“
Sorry to interrupt, sir. Mr. Harper is here to see you. I thought you might want to get prepared for him.”

“
Thanks Patty. I’m not sure anyone can be prepared for him.”

Patty stifled a giggle and nodded. Fitzpatrick knew Patty had to know what was going on. While he had never talked to her about it, he was sure she had heard Harper yelling on occasion. Him too sometimes. He was also sure all the secretaries compared notes on what was going on in each of their departments. Maybe he should talk to her. She could probably fill him in on things he didn’t know about. Still, he appreciated her giving him more time to prepare for what he knew was coming. Finally, he nodded.

“
You can go ahead and tell him to come in.”

Patty nodded, walked back to the door and then opened it. She stood to the side of the door while Glen Harper entered the room and then quietly closed the door behind her as she walked out.

Fitzpatrick watched as Glen Harper approached his desk. The man was a real pain to deal with and it was going to be all he could do to get through the next few minutes. He had to keep reminding himself that no matter what happens now, Monday is going to bring a change. Harper was going to get what he deserved. And he was going to enjoy watching it.

Glen Harper was in his early fifties, about five eight and slim. He was wearing a dark grey Armani suit, which set off his silver hair. Fitzpatrick wasn’t sure where Harper had originally come from, but he did know that he did have experience in emergency management when he lived in New Hampshire. Whether it was good enough to be Administrator, he didn’t know. Harper was a more of a politician than anything else. Being the Administrator of FEMA wasn’t just a job to Harper, he wanted the status. He flaunted it as often as he could. The circles Fitzpatrick traveled in were the same as the rest of the Assistant Administrator’s. Harper, on the other hand, rubbed elbows with Congressmen and Senators, those high in the political ring. He had gotten himself appointed to the job, but only because it was a stepping-stone to a higher position. Fitzpatrick knew this was true because Harper bragged about it. Harper didn’t waste time telling those same people what he was doing during a natural disaster, or rather what Fitzpatrick was actually doing. As a result, his bragging was gaining Harper status. Soon enough, everyone would know the truth, Fitzpatrick thought as he watched Harper sit down in one of the low back leather chairs in front of his desk. Fitzpatrick folded his arms on his desk and waited for the inevitable.

“
How is it going, Jim?”

Fitzpatrick nodded. “It is going very well, sir.”

He wasn’t about to guess what Harper was up to. He was being too nice and that made him suspicious. The look on Harper’s face told him something more was coming.

“
What’s the situation down in Texas?”

“
I called the district office this morning and everything is going well. They are still cleaning up, but more people have now come back and are checking on their homes. He said it looks like most will be staying.”

“
Are resources still needed?”

“
Yes. Several of the businesses in the northern area are back up and running, so they are helping supply the area. Other businesses further south will take a while longer to get back in business again.”

“
It’s been a month. Why are the businesses taking so long to open again?”

Fitzpatrick couldn’t believe the man. Harper may be the head of FEMA, but it was obvious he had no clue about the realities of life for the normal people. When Marco hit, Harper didn’t go down to Texas, he stayed safely in Washington. While he may have watched coverage of the destruction, he had no idea the conditions people were now facing.

“
The insurances companies are down there and have been since two days after the hurricane hit. They are working as fast as they can filing claims, but it takes time for people to get their checks. Until then, the business owners cannot get the repairs done and get set back up. Some of the smaller businesses I doubt will come back.”

“
Why haven’t you told me this before?”

“
I have. Plus I’ve given you detailed written reports.” If Harper pushed him, he would get out the copies Patty had copied for him. When it came to Harper, he had learned quickly to have proof of everything he sent the man.

Harper was quiet a few moments. Fitzpatrick figured whatever the real reason for this visit was going to present itself. Soon.

“
What are you going to do now?”

“
About what?”

“
About the hurricane damage, the fires in California, and the flooding in Georgia.”

Fitzpatrick thought for a moment. He knew that no matter what he said, Harper would be on the news today with the information, crediting himself. Someday, I am going to get the credit for what I have done, he thought. Someday. Soon.

“
I’m going to Texas tomorrow. I am going to follow-up and make sure they have the supplies and services they need. I have already talked to my field supervisors, and the Texas Emergency Preparedness, and they assure me everything is under control. However, I want to go and see for myself. The fires are under control and the State of California is taking care of any remaining needs. The field office in Georgia says the damage isn’t as bad as they thought it was going to be. They are working with the state agencies and everything is under control.”

Harper nodded. “Alright. I want a report on Monday morning. I’ll need to notify the council what is going on.”

“
Yes, sir.”

Yes, he knew Harper would run to the council with any news, but more than likely today instead of Monday. Harper would be glorifying himself to the council and make himself look good. Only, Harper wasn’t going to like Monday. With any luck, Harper will be gone soon after that. Probably the same day. At least he hoped so.

Fitzpatrick waited to see what else Harper wanted. Finally, Harper stood up, and walked out the door. Not even a goodbye. He leaned back in his chair. Well, that is over with. It was pretty much what he had expected would happen. He also had no doubt Harper will be holding a news conference soon, telling them what he was instructing his staff to do. Fitzpatrick was surprised Harper hadn’t told him to take a team again.

Suddenly, his blackberry buzzed with an incoming message. He unclipped it from his slacks and looked at it. He smiled when he saw the message. He blew out his breath. It is all set. Then he looked at his watch. It wasn’t quite quitting time, but he had nothing else going on. Besides, it is time for a celebration. Things are beginning to look up.

CHAPTER FIVE

3:00 FRIDAY AFTERNOON

NEW YORK CITY - FBI OFFICE

Special Agents Mathew Palmer and Colin McWilliams walked into their commander’s office.

“
You wanted to see us, sir?” Palmer asked.

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jason Abernathy looked up at them, nodded, and then pointed to the chairs in front of his desk.

“
Sit down, gentlemen. I’ve got a job for the two of you.”

“
Yes, sir.” They both sat down.

Matt looked at his boss’s face, but didn’t like what he was seeing. Whatever was coming, it wasn’t good. Abernathy was in his mid forties, was wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie. He was about six feet tall, dark hair and a complexion that matched his Italian-American heritage. The name Abernathy was from his father’s American side. He was born and raised in New York City. He had been with the FBI for twenty years and had gotten himself promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge a year ago. Matt had no doubt he would be the SAC in a few years.

Leaning his arms on his desk, Abernathy looked at both of them.

“
What I’m about to tell you is just between us, for the moment. I need you two to do some legwork. See what you can find out.”

“
Okay. What’s the problem?” Matt asked.

Abernathy took a deep breath. “I got a report a few minutes ago about a missing DAC flight.”

Matt glanced at Colin, who shrugged, and then he looked back at Abernathy.

“
A plane went down? We didn’t hear anything about it. When did it happen?”

“
Well, that’s the problem. They don’t know if it went down at all.” He paused a moment. “The flight left London this morning at nine thirty. Four thirty our time. The plane should have gotten here around noon, but it never arrived. At the time the plane took off, there was an incoming storm and the plane left just prior to the storm hitting landfall. They said the radar told them they saw the plane fly into the storm, but the plane should have been almost above it when it hit. The plane was over the Channel and had just gotten over the Atlantic when the signal dropped off. At first, they thought it was just a glitch, but when they tried contacting the plane, they got no response. They got no distress signal from the plane either. No indication they had any kind of problem.”

“
Did they search for the plane?”

He nodded. “Yes. Once the worst of the storm was over, the British sent out planes to the last known area where the plane was. But, they found nothing. No oil slick, no debris, nothing. They don’t know what to make of it. Everyone on board is American.”

“
There’s been nothing on the news about it.”

Abernathy nodded. “Yeah, I know. Most times something like this happens; it is all over the news. Since they haven’t found anything from the plane, the airline wants to put a lid on this. At least until they find out what happened to the plane.”

Matt nodded. “Okay. What would you like us to do?”

“
Follow up. I am putting you two in charge of this case. Get a list of who was on-board. Find out whatever you can on them. Find out what else they have done to find the plane. For the time being, because they can’t find the plane, they don’t want the media to know what happened. Seems even the airline management is confused over this. All they know is that the plane just disappeared.”

“
Okay. Is there someone in particular at the airlines we need to see?”

Abernathy wrote a note on a small notepad, tore it off and handed it to Matt.

“
Your contact is Conrad Boyer. He is the public relations man with DAC Airlines. He has promised to cooperate.”

“
Are they thinking this is terrorism?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so. There were only six passengers on the plane. With the crew that comes to only thirteen people. Not a true terrorist act. The airline doesn’t know what to think. Usually, a downed plane shows itself. It has already been eight hours since the plane disappeared and they have found nothing.”

“
There were only six passengers? Isn’t that unusual?”

Abernathy nodded. “I thought so too. They didn’t say why, but you can find out.”

Matt knew they had their work cut out for them. “Okay. Anything else?”

Abernathy shook his head. “No. Just see what you can find out and keep me posted.”

“
Yes, sir.”

Matt and Colin stood up, said goodbye, and then walked out of the office. Silently, they walked back to their desks, picked up their suit coats from the backs of their chairs and left the office.

“
What do you think?” Colin asked, once they had gotten in the elevator, heading down to the parking garage.

Matt shook his head. “I don’t know. It just seems odd that there is no sign of the plane.”

“
It doesn’t bother you about the American passengers?”

“
Not really, but we can’t rule it out, even if there was only thirteen people on the plane.”

“
Maybe it is just a freak accident.”

“
Maybe.” Matt was getting a gut feeling this wasn’t just a freak accident. Since they hadn’t found the plane or any of its parts, then there had to be more to it. Had the plane simply gotten off course? Even that didn’t seem right with all of the equipment a plane has. Why the plane had not answered was what concerned him. He hoped Boyer had more information for them by the time they get there.

Matt looked at Colin’s reflection on the silver lining of the elevator. They were almost the same size, but Matt was five years older. Colin was twenty-eight years old, dark haired and stood five ten, and he was a rookie. Matt became Colin’s partner three months ago. Since then he had come to appreciate Colin’s work. Colin is methodical in what he does and very analytical, which sometimes bugged him. Matt, on the other hand, tended to work more by instinct, which most of the time worked, but sometimes it didn’t. Colin was a good balance for him.