Olivia
I don't remember the time. But I do remember I had just collared a perp. I was in the process of reading him his rights and cuffing him when I heard a collective gasp go through those on the streets around me, followed by a loud noise then a massive crash. Both myself and the man I was cuffing looked up in time to see a plane, of all things, crash right into New York's affectionately named Twin North Tower immediately went up in a burning ball of fire and smoke. I stood there, mesmerized by the sight before me: Thick plumes of smoke rising from the burning,110 story building. Debris was flying from the burning hole left by the plane's impact.
What the hell?
The man in my hold jerked, causing me to release him as he yelled at me. "Hey! Get on the radio!" I blinked, looking at him for a moment before jumping into action. Fumbling with the radio attached to my belt, I thumbed the button and called dispatch. "4015 to dispatch. What appears to be a passenger jet just slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center! I repeat. A passenger jet just slammed into the north tower! Copy?" My voice shook with emotion.
Why would someone do this?
"Copy, 4015. We've been notified and we're responding. We've been asked to have all officers in the surrounding areas to clear the streets." I nodded, even though the dispatcher couldn't see it, and looked to the man I had been cuffing. "Hey, lady. Uncuff me. I'll help." He wiggled, turning slightly to show me his cuffed hands.
I frowned at him for a moment, my jaw jutting forward, before I reached for my keys. "Help me. Then when this is over, turn yourself in. I'll make sure you get a deal." The man paused slightly, considering his options, glancing from me to the burning tower then back to me, nodding.
"Deal."
Alex was going to be furious with me. But I couldn't just leave the man sitting in my cruiser while I cleared the streets or whatever else needed to be done until emergency crews arrived. I unlocked the cuffs and he immediately set about rounding up the tearful, scared people on the sidewalks, telling them they needed to clear the area. Amazing how a complete prick can change in a time of need.
I followed suit, jumping in my cruiser, hitting the siren and lights to let people know who I was. I pulled the vehicle closer to the burning tower, leaving the lights flashing. I climbed from the car, waving my hands, badge in hand. "People! I need the area cleared! Now!" One of the gathered people looked up at me. "What the hell is going on?" He yelled. Shaking my head, I motioned them back down the street as I clipped my badge on my belt once more. "I don't know, sir. But emergency crews are on their way. Please clear the area!" I raised my voice so those gathering could hear me over the murmur of the small crowd.
The murmur escalated but the crowd backed up, moving away from the burning wreckage that was the North Tower. My cruiser blocked off the street that led to the towers, blocking the traffic as well. I continued rerouting passersby away from the towers, while the man helped people along the sidewalks and streets, which had for all intents and purposes shut down.
I don't remember the time, or how long it had been since the plane had crashed into the tower. But my heart sped up as I heard a familiar rumble. My eyes drifted skyward in time see another plane crash headlong into the South Tower. Everyone in the immediate area froze, a collective gasp running through the crowd, followed by screams and moans of several people. I lunged for my radio resting atop my cruiser. "4015 to dispatch. Another plane just crashed into the South Tower." Now, like most everyone around me, I was being overwhelmed with emotion. This wasn't an accident. It was an attack of some kind.
"Copy, 4015. Emergency crews are still en-route from all over the city. Please keep the area under control and clear it as best you can until they arrive." I looked up to the criminal I had freed to help me. His face was white, eyes wide with fear. I'm sure I didn't look much better.
My hands shook as I thumbed the button on the radio once more. "Copy, dispatch. 4015 out." I resisted the urge to throw the radio through my car window and scream, my stomach flipped as I looked up at the burning Twin Towers.
Dispatch was going to be positively no help…..But in all the chaos, I didn't hear my phone ringing…..