Because Sky Harbor had been one of the airports on UAS's list for equipment upgrades they had also been sent samples of the new system. Last night when they arrived at the airport, Nick had contacted UAS's manager on-site. The man had been taken off guard by the surprise visit but impressed with Nick's credentials. That he had the Deputy Director of Homeland Security along with him had probably helped. Nick obtained the sample equipment and the two technicians with only the explanation that they would be conducting a test. Then he set out to install the wireless cameras in the areas he and Charlie Wurth had selected. Areas that up until now didn't have cameras.
These new models were small but if the Project Manager was the professional they all expected him to be, Nick didn't want to take any chances that he'd notice them. His technicians took on the challenge with enthusiasm, looking for ways to hide or obscure the cameras while allowing them to have full functionality. Nick was pleased with the results, though none of the cameras would matter if he wasn't able to identify the Project Manager from the police artist's sketch. Just the thought made his heart pound and his palms sweat.
Wurth was being selective as to who he alerted and he'd convinced Nick that no one else under the employment of UAS should be included. Other than Henry Lee, they had no evidence that anyone at UAS was involved in the attack, but Wurth insisted they take the extra precaution. He didn't want to risk word trickling through the ranks and getting to the Project Manager. Nick agreed.
Wurth did, however, warn TSA. He had air marshals on-site. He had arranged for a bomb squad and sniper unit from Quantico to arrive last night. In the early morning hours while Nick and Wurth roamed around the airport, Wurth pointed out team coordinators for the bomb squad. They were dressed as housekeeping, busy securing their stations. Their carts were identical to the airport housekeeping staff, onlyaccording to Wurththese carts contained what Wurth called "safe containers" instead of bathroom cleaner.
Wurth had also pointed out a hallway that now was blocked off with UNDER CONSTRUCTION signs and sawhorses.
"There's an exit and armored vehicle stationed and ready to take the bomb to a vacant airstrip."
Nick liked how Charlie Wurth made it all sound so organized and simple. Like maybe it could really work, they could actually prevent this attack.
"We'll have all three terminals covered," Nick told Wurth as they finished their final pass-through. "We'll have limited views of the ticketing areas. Once he leaves those areas I won't be able to follow him."
"Understood."
"Here in Terminal 4 there are ticket kiosks on the second level." Nick pointed up the escalators. "The one to the right of the escalator is sort of hidden out of view. It'd be easy to leave a bag there and not have anyone notice for a short while."
"I'll get someone stationed to watch."
The two stood in front of the long line of US Airways counters. Both of them had their arms crossed over their chests, feet spread apart, standing tall and straight as they took one last look around. Staff had started to come in, opening doors, turning on computers. But it was still quiet compared to what it would be like an hour from now.
"We're ready," Wurth said without moving from his stance and sounding confident.
Nick simply nodded. He wondered if Charlie Wurth had problems with his heart banging against his rib cage.
CHAPTER 75
Terminal 4a
Sky Harbor International Airport
Maggie watched Patrick from above the ticket area. She stayed on the second floor, close to the rail, but away from the escalators. Looking down on him in his blue jeans and gray hooded sweatshirt, she couldn't shake the feeling of how much he looked like those college boys at Mall of America.
Wurth had equipped all of them with wireless headsets that slipped on over the ear and allowed them to communicate with each other while looking like ordinary passengers, talking on their cell phones. They agreed to keep conversation to a minimum but Maggie insisted Patrick do checkins at fifteen-minute intervals.
"If I can't see you, I want to hear you," she told him earlier as she helped him into his Kevlar vest.
They had been wandering around for a couple of hours now, disguised as passengers, carry-on cases over their shoulders. Patrick had a worn duffel bag and a smartphone. He stopped periodically to look like he was reading or sending text messages. An ordinary kid going back home or back to college after a Thanksgiving holiday. Maggie was impressed. He looked convincing despite his eyes wandering around the entire area, not stopping on any one face long enough to be suspicious. He was better at this than she expected.
Somewhere Nick was watching monitors that corresponded with the new wireless cameras he had installed, several in each terminal's ticket areas. He'd studied the sketch of the Project Manager. They'd all studied the sketch, but only Patrick seemed totally convinced that he'd recognize the man.
New passengers came up the escalators. The first flights of the morning had already left. Maggie felt certain it was to be another morning attack but it could end up being a long day.
She opened a paperback novel and leaned on the rail. It looked like she was reading but her eyes were still looking down below, watching the entrances, scanning the figures in the checkin lines and examining any of the men lingering off to the sides. She also kept checking the faces coming up on the escalator.
"At the newspaper stand," she said, suddenly noticing a man stopped there, wearing a navy blue jacket, trousers, sunglasses and dragging a large, black Pullman.
She glanced down at Patrick and saw him casually wander closer, pretending to be interested in the headlines of the newspaper through the glass on the machine.
"Nope, I don't think so," he said, this time holding up the phone to his ear so anyone who might not see the wireless headset would know he was on the cell phone. "I'm gonna stop off at the restroom. Talk to you later."
The ticket area quickly got crowded again. Bodies and luggage pressed tight, waiting to check in, lined up at self-serve kiosks. She noticed A.D. Kunze down below talking to a woman in a housekeeping uniform. She certainly didn't look like a sniper or a member of the bomb squad, but then that was the whole idea, wasn't it.
When Maggie glanced back she didn't see Patrick. Her breath caught as she searched, straining to keep from looking like she was searching. Where had he gone?
"Patrick?"
In answer, she heard a toilet flush. She saw Kunze look up at her but he didn't smile until he turned away.
Okay, so she was being an overprotective big sister. A few minutes later she noticed Patrick come out of the restroom but he disappeared out of her sight again, just behind the down escalator.
Relax, she told herself. She needed to relax.
CHAPTER 76
Patrick followed the guy from the restroom. He tried to maintain his laid-back, casual pace despite wanting to hurry. He didn't want to lose him in the crowd.
From the back he thought he recognized the Project Manager's walk. Something about the shoulders, thrown back, chest out, almost like a soldier. Yeah, that was it. He kinda walked like a soldier, at attention, alert to everything and everyone around him. Even his head went from side to side, observing without stopping.
He wanted to be sure. He knew there were snipers, air marshals and agents, waiting. One word from him and they'd be swarming the place. He couldn't say anything until he was absolutely sure. He didn't want to screw up. Maggie was counting on him.
The guy went around the corner like he was getting on the escalator. Patrick waited a step or two, pretending to check his phone. He didn't want to follow so close especially if they both got on the escalator. He'd backtrack around the other way. Maybe he could get a better look from the other side.