Chapter 26

"Visiting the Pan Am Frankfurt Staff"

Having been given our assignments, Minnie May and I accompanied Tommy Dome to the Pan Am Station in Frankfurt once we cleared passport control. Stepping into the Pan Am Frankfurt station, we both immediately began to get flashbacks to when we helped find those responsible for the Air India 182 bombing a couple of years earlier.

Sure it was Christmas Eve, but the staff was operating as if it were another day at the office. Almost immediately, we were about to be greeted by a staff that looked like they got caught with their pants down. Tommy carefully inspected the staff and turned his attention particularly towards the X-Ray machines themselves and the staff operating them. He made his way towards a young staff member in his 20's monitoring an employee overseeing the machine.

"Mr. Koch," said Tommy, tapping him on the shoulder. "Nice to see you again."

"Mr. Dome," the young staff member said nervously in a German accent. "We…we weren't expecting you today being it's Christmas Eve and all."

"Well, given what happened in Lockerbie, this inspection is warranted. This is Irene Vincent and Minnie May Hopkins, they are some of the people investigating the Pan Am 103 bombing."

The staff member became slightly nervous.

"Oh, um, nice to meet you," he chuckled.

"Are you still matching bags to passengers transferring from other airlines?" he asked.

"Yes, we are trying to follow your recommendations," Koch answered nervously, but Tommy was not convinced.

"Right," Tommy muttered, writing down on a clipboard.

As Tommy continued his inspections, I carefully looked around to see if there were any staff members looking suspicious, seemingly acting out of the ordinary. I then looked at the x-ray machines as well and the people manning the machines. One in particular had caught my attention just as a bag coming from another airline was going through the machine. He was seemingly younger and had a look on his face that gave his identity away. But of course, I didn't say anything.

I also kept my eye on the baggage handlers as they drove onto the tarmac. Mostly on the handlers loading the bags onto the carts: their behaviors, their actions, etc., anything out of the ordinary.

…

"Miss Vincent?" Tommy asked, catching my attention. "We're looking at cabin security next."

No sooner did my back turn did the sounds of clattering were heard and the Pan Am staff member running the x-ray machine started running out of the inspection area.

"Hey! Stop!" I shouted, running after the suspect and drawing my weapon as the Pan Am staff member threw the baggage handler out of the cart and attempted to drive off onto the tarmac. "Freeze!"

The staff member sped off and I managed to climb onto the back of one of the carts, trying to hold on without falling off. He saw me on the carts and tried to shake me off, but I held on for dear life. At that moment, another baggage handler was just about to drive off from loading a Boeing 727 and we were coming towards them. The agent turned sharply in an attempt to avoid the baggage cart and as a result, the cart turned over, knocking me off and onto the tarmac. Drawing my gun, I aimed it at the cab.

"Get your hands up!" I yelled in a commanding voice. "GET YOUR HANDS UP!"

Minnie May raced over as the suspect climbed from the vehicle with his hands up. He attempted to reach into his jacket, but I caught him in the act.

"KEEP YOUR HANDS UP!" I ordered, running over to place handcuffs on the suspect as Frankfurt Airport police came over. "You're under arrest."

"Rally, what happened?" asked Minnie May.

"This guy tried to run," answered Rally, sticking my gun back in my holster as I gave an order to the airport police officers. "Take him to the police station!"

The staff member looked angrily back at me with a death glare as he was led away in handcuffs. Just then, a young man in his early 30's in a white shirt came out with Tommy to see what the commotion was about.

"Tommy, what's going on?" he asked in a German accent.

"One of your staff members tried to run, Ulrich," he replied, his eyes locked on the suspect.

"Why aren't I surprised?"

As the suspect was carried away, it was apparent that he was more than just a Pan Am Frankfurt employee and there was no doubt in any of our minds that Team Rocket had planted agents in the Frankfurt Airport. Could this individual have attempted to move the bomb onto Pan Am 103?

Only time would tell, but what a way to start Christmas Eve 1988…

…

…