Chapter 8

Chaos at Kennedy Airport

Now before we see what goes on with how Madame Boss would react to the bombing, it's important to remember that there was a human reaction back in the United States. It is here that I will now turn things over to the two ladies that would assist me and Tim in this investigation and let them have their say in this story.

December 21st, 1988 was a day that me nor my partner, Minnie May Hopkins, would never forget. This was the beginning of the next great journey of my career as a bounty hunter and gun shop owner. For the past few months, we had been looking to expand our business "Gunsmith Cats" to beyond Chicago. But while we may not have had the money, it didn't stop us from scouting possible locations.

"Okay May, here is what I am looking at for a possible location," I said to Minnie as our Pan Am flight from Chicago neared New York. "I'm looking at locations within the World Trade Center."

"Do you really want to go that route, Rally?" May asked as I showed her the map of the World Trade Center plaza. "I mean, what kind of customers would want a gunshop in the World Trade Center?"

"Look at it this way, May," I said confidently. "New York is a town that has plenty of criminals that need to be taken off the streets. The NYPD needs help and they are willing to pay handsomely for our services. Wouldn't you agree? Besides, these criminals are no different than what we have experienced in Chicago."

"Let's not just focus on the NYPD. What if there is anyone else like the FBI that would need two bounty hunters like us?"

I playfully nudged May in the side upon that remark.

"I'm the bounty hunter, you are the bomb specialist."

Of course, this led to us having a small chuckle with one another.

As our plane descended, neither May nor I had any idea that the criminals we would be tracking were nothing like any criminals we tracked in the past. In fact, I was still recovering from the stab wounds I had sustained in my fight against that mad Ukranian woman…whatever her name is. My arm had gotten some of its feeling back, but it wasn't exactly at 100%. All I could wonder is, would my arm's injury come back to haunt me in the end?

By 9:00pm, we landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport near New York City as a light mist fell on the city that never slept. All the both of us were thinking of was getting a good night's sleep and being fully charged for scouting locations in the morning. Upon arrival at the Pan Am Worldport, we deplaned and made our way to baggage claim to get our bags.

But just as we got to baggage claim, I couldn't help but hear the sounds of screaming and crying.

"Hey, what's going on?" I wondered to May as I saw a woman lying on the ground, her legs spread out and screaming at the top of her lungs while a man laid on top of her.

"MY BABY!" she screamed and sobbed.

My detective instinct kicking in, I made my way over to what was going on. Right away, I knew that something was wrong.

"Excuse me, coming through!" I cried only to be stopped by a policeman. "I'm a law enforcer!"

Showing my credentials, I continued to make my way towards a Pan Am employee as he consoled a middle aged couple.

"Excuse me, sir," I asked. "Rally Vincent, bounty hunter. What's going on?"

"One of our planes went down," he answered, directing me to look at the flight information monitors. "Flight 103."

All I could do was look up at the monitor and there it was: Flight 103 from Frankfurt and London was listed as "see agent."

"Rally!" May called, pushing a carriage containing our suitcases. "What's going on?"

"A plane went down," I answered. "Flight 103."

For several minutes, I continued focusing my attention on the notice and then I decided for us to leave the baggage claim area.

Very soon, the next great journey for May and I was about to commence in the deadliest attack against America…

Of course, it wasn't just JFK Airport that distraught relatives were being told of the disaster. At Syracuse's Hancock Airport, the family of Nancy Conn were waiting to pick her and her cousin Charlotte up. They had not been told of the crash, but they were soon about to find out.

"Where's mom?" asked Nancy's younger daughter, Alissa. "I don't see her."

"Funny, did she and Charlotte make the flight in New York?" Gary wondered as he went to the counter. "Let me find out."

But Gary didn't stay up for long as at that moment, a Pan Am employee came up to them in the gate area.

"Are you Nancy Conn's next of kin?" she asked.

"Yeah, what's going on?" asked her father, rising to his feet. "Where is she and her cousin? They were supposed to be on this flight after connecting in New York"

The Pan Am agent lowered her head and gestured for Nancy's father to sit down, much to his confusion. Then, they all braced themselves for what they heard next.

"I'm sorry to inform you all that your loved one is dead," she bluntly said, causing shocked glances on the faces of her distraught family. "Pan Am 103 crashed in Scotland tonight on it's way to JFK Airport."

"No…no…there must be a mistake," Gary cried, rising to the agent with tears forming in his eyes. "Are you certain?"

Gary couldn't believe it…none of his family could believe it. His mother was dead…his first cousin was dead.

"No…NO!" screamed Alissa, burying herself in her grandfather's chest. Gary continued pacing back and forth.

"If there's anything we can do to help…" the agent offered as Gary took a deep breath. "Get you to Scotland to reclaim your loved ones."

"Do it," Gary said firmly, much to his family's shock. "We want to be with them."

"Of course," replied the agent.

"Gary, we don't have the money," said Nancy's mother.

"There's a charter flight going to Carlisle from JFK tomorrow night for families and friends of the victims," the agent said. "That's the nearest airport close to Lockerbie, Scotland. How many should I book on it?"

"Hold on a second here," said Nancy's father, quickly getting up to his feet and over to his eldest grandson. "Gary, why should you go? It's too much."

"Grandpa, we don't have a choice!" Gary cried. "Mom needs to be brought home and so does Charlotte."

Nancy's father considered the risk, but he also commended Gary for growing up so fast in front of him.

"Listen, I'll go with you."

"And we will too," added Nancy's mother, clutching a crying Alissa.

"No, it's too much for you dear," said Nancy's father. "Besides, it would be best to see our daughter and niece when they are back home."

"But, Gerald…"

"I mean it, Sylvia and besides…"

It was also apparent that the trip would be too much for Alissa, the loss of her mother causing her emotional instability. In Gary's mind, she was only 14 and he was 18. Approaching them, he bent down towards his grandmother.

"Take care of Alissa," Gary whispered. "Don't worry…we'll be back soon."

"Oh, Gary…"

This caused Nancy's mother to embrace her strong willed grandson, knowing that what he was doing was possibly even more life changing.

At the same time, Raymond Alden was at the Pan Am building awaiting for his daughter and his top editor-in-chief to return via Pan Am's private helicopter service from Kennedy Airport. But when the helicopter returned, neither Laura nor Will Randall were on it.

"Mr. Alden?" said a male Pan Am employee, calling out to him as the motor on the helicopter came to a stop. This made Raymond walk over to him.

"Sir, I'm sorry to inform you that…your…your…"

"She's dead, isn't she?" he asked, seemingly getting an understanding of the situation. "My daughter and her lover?"

"Yes, sir. Pan Am 103 is down over Scotland."

Sighing deeply, Raymond paced back and forth knowing that both his personal life and his professional life were turned completely upside down.

"How did it go down?" he asked.

"We don't know, sir. But if there is anything we can do…"

"Do you have any flights that leave in the morning?" he asked the employee.

"Well, there is a flight leaving for Carlisle tomorrow night from JFK and…"

"Put me on it," he barked in an emotional voice. "Put me on it."

And Raymond left the helipad in both a mixture of sadness and anger, not wanting to believe that another of his children and the top editor of his publishing business was gone. Even the elevator ride down to the bottom floor seemed like an eternity.

"Marie, Ray," he said, looking up at the ceiling of the elevator. "Please comfort me and our family tonight. Laura's coming to you sooner than you think."

There were 270 souls on their way to the afterlife tonight and the news of their demise would reach a disgusted Madame Boss…as for how she would react, you'll have to wait until the next chapter.