Rick Mofina - Whirlwind

But when Grogan and Quinn showed photos of the ex-convict to motel manager Shelby Nix, he said the man was definitely familiar and definitely resembled the suspect in the sketches.

Based on these factors, and intel supplied by other law enforcement agencies, the FBI had obtained a warrant less than an hour ago on the subject’s most recent address, setting in motion the procedure for arrest of a dangerous suspect.

Now, after FBI SWAT commander Steve Elling pulled his binoculars from his face, he made a number of whispered radio checks.

Everyone was ready. He nodded to agent Andre Kuper, the SWAT negotiator.

“Make the call, Andre.”

Kuper called the landline number for the address and after four rings, a woman answered. Only after Kuper pressed her did she identify herself as Monica Jefferies.

“This is Special Agent Andre Kuper of the FBI. We have a warrant for the arrest of Samuel James Laster.”

“My brother? What? No, no, this is all wrong.”

Muffled anguish passed between them.

“Why are you doing this? Is this some kind of joke?”

“Ma’am, that will be explained to Mr. Laster. Right now, we request that Mr. Laster immediately come to the front door with his hands raised, palms forward, and proceed to the front lawn.”

The request was met by a long silence, then sniffles.

“My brother’s dead, asshole,” Jefferies said.

Sometimes family members say that, or lie in other ways to protect wanted relatives, Kuper thought. He repeated his request.

“Ma’am, please confirm that you will respond.”

“This is crazy! Please, just go away!”

“How many people are in the house, ma’am?”

“Leave me alone!” she sobbed.

“Ma’am, I want you to take a deep breath,” Kuper said. “For your safety, could you please exit now through the front door with your hands outstretched, palms facing forward, and we can talk.”

Monica Jefferies took a long moment to find a measure of composure, then she cooperated. The FBI took her to the command post while the SWAT team did a tactical room-by-room search of her home.

Distraught and trembling in the command-post truck, she angrily told investigators that her brother had died from lung cancer three weeks ago, six months after he’d been paroled.

“He was just getting his life on the right track.”

Based on her new, unverified information, Grogan and Quinn, aided by the Dallas PD, made several urgent enquiries to various government offices and agencies. As they awaited responses, Monica Jefferies explained how her brother had lived in the Tumbleweed motel for about a week after he got a short-term job at a warehouse in the area.

Radios crackled with an update from the FBI SWAT team leader in the home.

“The residence, garage and yard are clear. No one else here.”

Not long after that, Quinn showed Grogan a text, confirming that Samuel James Laster was deceased. His death was not listed due to a computer malfunction, but it happened well before the storms hit Dallas and Caleb Cooper vanished.

Before apologizing to Monica Jefferies and releasing her, the two agents exchanged glances. They were back to square one.

Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas

That morning as Kate walked from the Marriott City Center to the bureau in Bryan Tower, her phone vibrated with a text from Tommy Koop.

Something’s up on scanners with FBI SWAT on suspects. Where R U?

Her heart skipped.

Be there in 5. More details pls!

Danson near there now. Says it could be arrest. Stand by for address.

Kate’s thoughts raced.

Last night Dorothea had told her to report to the bureau about midmorning for her assignment. The President’s visit was today, and the bureau was going big on it. Faced with a breaking story and her urge to jump on it, Kate texted Chuck and Dorothea.

Possible arrest in baby case. Will head to scene now, OK?

The address from Tommy popped up on her screen with a map highlighting directions. As Kate jogged to the elevator to get to the parking garage and her car, a voice in the back of her mind sounded a reminder.

Jenna Cooper.

Kate had promised her that she would alert her to any breaks in the case. She broke that promise to her once, and she sure as hell was not going to make that mistake again. Not after everything Jenna’s suffered.

She deserves to know. I gave her my word.

Kate immediately texted Jenna and her sister.

May have development happening now. More when I know it.

Before she got on the elevator she was stopped in her tracks by a text from Dorothea.

Kate, please report to the bureau now.

Kate’s heart sank.

What’s going on? Why are we ignoring breaking news? She started a text to Dorothea but stopped when she’d received one from Tommy.

Stand down. It’s over.

Then one came from Mark Danson.

On site. Cop told me they had wrong intel. Disregard the call. I’m going to Arlington.

Kate let out a breath.

A dead end. All part of the news business, she thought, and alerted Jenna Cooper and her sister that the call was a false alarm.

Then she stepped into the elevator.

On the ride up she reviewed what she had to do. She needed to reach agent Grogan or Quinn on the status of the investigation, the evidence, other leads, number of tips called in, anything, she thought as she arrived at the bureau. The newsroom was nearly empty. All the TVs were locked onto live coverage in advance of the President’s visit. She waved to Tommy and went to her workstation. Less than a minute after she’d logged in, a familiar-looking man stood at her desk.

“Hello, Kate, Burt Wilson from the Houston bureau,” he said. “Soon as you’re clear, please come see me in Chuck’s office.”

“Okay, sure.”

In his wake Kate shot a questioning look to Tommy, who came over to her desk with a coffee.

“Wilson’s running the bureau today. Everyone else is on the President’s visit,” he said before leaving to take a call.

After checking her messages and scanning the wires, Kate collected her notebook and pen to meet with Wilson. That’s when Jenna Cooper called.

“Did you find out anything more on the false alarm?” Jenna asked.

“I think they had weak information. I’ll be looking into it.”

A few seconds of silence passed between them.

“Thank you for thinking of us and calling,” Jenna said. “I want to share something. Something confidential for now, okay?”

“Okay.”

“The governor’s office invited us to join the group of storm survivors who’ll be meeting the President at today’s memorial service for the victims at Cowboys Stadium.”

“That’s quite an honor.”

“And they told us that the President might mention Caleb in his speech at the memorial service.”

“Jenna, that kind of attention’s going to help.”

“We’re praying it does.”

“Will you talk to me afterward for a story?”

“Yes, I’ll text with where we can meet in the stadium.”

“Thank you.”

Upon ending the call, Kate went to see Wilson, who updated her. He told her that the President’s visit was the top story in the country, that Newslead was putting extra staff, reporters and photographers at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington to cover the memorial, and at the devastated sites and other areas that the President was going to visit.

“Where do you need me?”

“We need you here.”

“Here? I don’t understand. I thought I was going to the stadium.”

“No, we need you to help the editors assemble the raw copy as it flows in from our people before we go through it and send it to New York.”