“Now what happens?” I asked Marino when he returned.
“He’ll be charged with following too close and be released on a Virginia Uniform Summons.” He buckled up and seemed pleased.
“That’s it”” -Yup. Except court. The good news is, I ruined his day.
The better news is now we got something to investigate that may eventually send his ass to Mecklenburg where, as sweet-looking as he is, he’ll have lots of friends.”
“Did you know it was him before he hit us?” I asked.
“Nope. I had no idea.” We pulled back out into traffic.
“And what did he say when he was questioned?”
“What you’d expect. I stopped suddenly.”
“Well, you did.”
“And by law it’s all right to do that.”
“What about following us? Did he have an explanation?”
“He’s been out all day running errands and sightseeing.
He doesn’t know what we’re talking about.”
“I see. If you’re going to run errands, you need to bring along at least two guns.”
“You want to tell me how the hell he can afford a car like that?” Marino glanced over at me. “He probably doesn’t make half what I do, and that Lexus he’s got probably cost close to fifty grand.”
“The Colt he was carrying isn’t cheap, either,” I said.
“He’s getting money from somewhere.”
“Snitches always do.”
“That’s all you think he is?”
“Yeah, for the most part. I think he’s been doing shit work, probably for Green.”
The radio suddenly interrupted us with the loud blare of an alert tone, and then we were given answers that were even worse than any we might have feared.
“All units be advised that we have just received a teletype from state police that gives the following information, a dispatcher repeated. “The nuclear power plant at Old Point has been taken over by terrorists. Shots have been fired and there are fatalities.”
I was shocked speechless as the message went on and on.
“The chief of police has ordered that the department move to emergency plan A. Until further notice all day shift units will remain on their posts. Updates will follow. All division commanders will report to the command post at the police academy immediately.”
“Hell no,” Marino said as he slammed the accelerator to the floor. “We’re going to your office.”
CHAPTER 11
HE INVASION OF THE OLD POINT NUCLEAR POWER Tplant had happened swiftly and horrifically, and in disbelief we listened to the news while Marino sped through town. We did not utter a sound as an almost hysterical reporter at the scene rambled in a voice several octaves above what it usually was.
“Old Point nuclear power plant has been seized by terrorists,” he repeated. “This happened about forty-five minutes ago when a bus carrying at least twenty men posing as CP&L employees stormed the main administration building. It is believed that at least three civilians are dead.” His voice was shaking, and we could hear helicopters overhead. “I can see police vehicles and fire trucks everywhere, but they can’t get close. Oh my God, this is awful . . .”
Marino parked on the side of the street by my building.
For a while we could not move as we listened to the same information again and again. It did not seem real, for less than a hundred miles from Old Point, here in Richmond, the afternoon was bright. Traffic was normal and people walked along sidewalks as if nothing had happened. My eyes stared without focusing, my thoughts flying through lists of what I must do.
“Come on, Doc.” Marino cut the engine off. “Let’s go inside. I got to use the phone and get hold of one of my lieutenants. I’ve got to get things mobilized in case the lights go out in Richmond, or worse.”
I had my own mobilizing to do and started with assembling everyone in the conference room, where I declared a statewide emergency.
“Each district must be on standby and ready to implement its part of the disaster plan,” I announced to everyone in the room. “A nuclear disaster could affect all districts.
Obviously, Tidewater is the most imperiled and the least covered. Dr. Fielding,” I said to my deputy chief, “I’d like to put you in charge of Tidewater and make you acting chief when I can’t be there.”