Final justice - W.E.B. Griffin [200]
Outside the restaurant, just inside the airport property-- where a four-engine B-24 Liberator stood permanently parked as a memorial to Captain Bill Benn, USAAC, Mr. Hagen's uncle, who had gone down flying a B-24 in World War II--a small coterie of more junior white shirts and their cars was also waiting for Mr. Daniels.
Captain Henry Quaire and Lieutenant Jason Washington of Homicide stood beside Captain David Pekach of Highway Patrol and the captains commanding the Eighth Police District and Northeast Detectives between the B-24 and the tarmac in front of the Nesfoods International Aviation Department hangar where the Citation would park.
Twenty or so uniforms--and their cars--waited in front of the hangar itself.
About three quarters of them, Deputy Commissioner Coughlin thought privately, had no real business being here. All that had to be done was to get Daniels off the airplane and into a patrol car and haul him off to the detention room in the Roundhouse basement. Sending a car-- or even two--to go with the car with Daniels in it--there was a slight but real possibility of a flat tire, or a vehicular accident--would seem justified, but this was more like a circus than it should be. Homer C. Daniels was not the first--by a long shot--accused murderer to require transportation.
But Coughlin knew there was nothing he could do about it, even if he had the authority to order them all to go away. He understood their curiosity, their sense of proprietorship. This was a homicide, thus Quaire and Washington. Northeast Philadelphia Airport was in the area of responsibility of both the Eighth Police District and the Northeast Detectives Division, thus the presence of both of those captains commanding. And Highway Patrol had citywide authority, which is why Dave Pekach had felt free to come and watch Homer C. Daniels be returned to Philadelphia.
Mr. Michael J. O'Hara, who had gotten out of his seat the moment the Citation's wheels had touched ground to take a final shot of Daniels in his seat--and had nearly lost his footing when it decelerated rapidly--was the first person off the plane.
He took up a position to get a shot of Daniels getting off the plane very much as Eddie, Colt's "personal photographer, " had taken when Colt had landed at the Northeast Airport.
Mr. Steven Cohen got off next, followed by Detective D'Amata, then Daniels, again wearing handcuffs, and finally Sergeant Payne.
The Eighth District commander and the Highway Patrol commander walked up to the airplane and a Highway car, an Eighth District car, and then another Highway car drove up.
Detective D'Amata put Daniels in the Eighth District car, then got in beside him. The three cars then drove off, leaving Mr. Cohen, Sergeant Payne, Mr. O'Hara, and the two captains standing beside the airplane.
"They want you over there," Captain Pekach said, indicating the grouped VIPs.
Sergeant Payne looked carefully around the field. He did not see Detective Lassiter.
There had not been much for the press to record for posterity. It had taken less than a minute to get Daniels off the plane and into the Eighth District car. Having nothing else to do -- something the mayor had counted on--the press turned their attention to him.
The mayor smiled first at Steven Cohen, Esq., and shook his hand, and then smiled at Sergeant Payne and shook his hand. District Attorney Solomon, also an elected official, was photographed shaking Mr. Cohen's hand.
The mayor waved Mr. Nesbitt III to his side.
"I have a brief statement to make," the mayor began. "A terrible tragedy took place in our city, and nothing can ever make that right. But I want to take this opportunity to say how proud I am not only of our police department and the office of the district attorney but of our concerned, involved citizens as well.