The Big Thaw - Donald Harstad [117]
Alpha Chase consisted of two unmarked cars inside the Frieberg Fire Department. They were in a vehicle bay vacated by a pumper that we had persuaded the fire chief to park outside. We hid them because we felt that Gabriel was likely to pick up on them before they were aware of his presence. Four TAC officers were assigned here.
Last, but not least, was Alpha Foot. One male and one female TAC officer, plainclothes, were available to stroll by any location we wanted, to double-check and get a ground view of any situation. They were currently upstairs in the Frieberg Public Library, which was a full block removed from the bank, and where they’d be able to enter and leave without being observed by anyone in or around the bank.
We all had diagrams on a Xeroxed sheet. The bank was in the middle. Alpha 1 was to the right of the bank, close to the edge. Alpha 2 was below the bank, but close. Alpha 3 was in the upper left corner. Alpha Mobile was about halfway up the page, on the left edge. The boat was on the lower right corner, Hester’s office was opposite that, and the chase cars were way over on the lower left corner. The river was indicated on the extreme right edge. The two north-south streets that formed Frieberg proper were parallel lines about three inches apart. The east-west streets were indicated by three parallel lines evenly spaced down the page.
The tension was high for about the first hour. Nobody said much, and everybody was grabbing a look out the windows of the darkened office every few minutes.
By 0230, we were making trips to the adjacent office, and grabbing coffee. By 0345, some of us were staying in the coffee room for as much as half an hour at a stretch.
At 0351, we all watched a train go by on the tracks between the Beauregard and the pavilion. A slow train.
I was in Hester’s office about 0400, and saw Nancy and Shamrock walking across the parking lot, and heading toward the General Beauregard. Not a bad vantage point. I silently wished them luck with the photos. It had occurred to me that a good set through a telephoto lens could do us wondrous good in court.
About 0412, our radios crackled to life.
“CP, Alpha Two has suspicious movement.”
“Alpha Two?” It was as though Sally had been waiting for just that call. “CP, we’ve got a brown Toyota four-door with Illinois plates, who’s just started his third pass by the bank in five minutes.”
“Alpha Two, Alpha One, is he eastbound? All we have is headlights.”
“Ten-four, eastbound.”
Silence. The tension was back.
“Uhh, Alpha Mobil hasn’t seen any Toyotas.”
“And Alpha Two has the suspect vehicle back on the street facing west… and they seem to be stopping to speak with a female subject walking east… on the north side of the street…” There was a silence of maybe ten seconds. “And she’s in the car, and I think she should go for about twenty-five bucks…”
“A hooker?” I couldn’t believe it. “Right here in River City?” I started to laugh.
“We’ve had rumors a couple of them are trying to work around the boat,” said Hester.
“Well, I think you can mark those ‘confirmed,’” said Art.
A flurry of activity like that, and now everybody was pumped with nothing to do. You don’t want to leave the area, in case you miss something. So you just hang in there and fidget. And think.
I tried watching TV. My favorite, the Weather Channel, showed the blue and pink worm arching almost above us. Fantastic. Warmth, and on schedule.
By 0540, we were no longer pumped. Hester called down to the buffet, and ordered a bunch of rolls and orange juice.
By 0630, it was getting light, and Alpha 1 was stood down for a thirty-minute break.
I think we’d all reached that scratchy stage, when the sun comes up and you haven’t slept, and you’ve had so much coffee that nothing would feel better than to brush your teeth and take a long, hot shower. And then pull the shades, and get into bed.
“Hey,” said George, brightly, “only seventeen and