VIII

The two officers parked on the sidewalk near the Silverstein Family Park, directed there by some of their fellow NYPD colleagues, and immediately exited their vehicle. The park was east and just north of the towers. There were more than a few Captains and Lieutenants in the area, Jo and Luke making a beeline for one.

"Where do you need us, sir?", Nathan Zidek said without preliminary.

The Captain had been on his radio and turned toward the new arrivals. "I need you two to head east on Barclay Street, then south on Broadway. We have a Captain at the corner Broadway and Liberty, with only one other person. Even though the South Tower hasn't been officially evacuated, people are streaming outta there and wandering around. We need to get them moving north, out of the area. The FDNY is sending everything they have up here, and we need every goddamned street cleared for them. Are you two on Guard frequency?" They both nodded. "Keep your ears open on those things. Right now, we're still tryin' to figure out what needs to be done. Got it?"

"Yes, sir!" The trotted toward the location they were given.

9:01am

'C'mon, folks", Jo urged those standing at the intersection of Liberty and Church Streets, with One Liberty Plaza looming over their heads. The South Tower was only about five hundred feet away to the northwest, while the North Tower was about three hundred feet beyond its sister. Many were walking aimlessly, in a state of shock, while others simply peered northwest at the smoke billowing from the North Tower. Jo understood the human instinct to watch, but the streets had to be cleared. She had grabbed the bullhorn from the trunk of their vehicle, so she could be heard over the noise of dozens of sirens blaring, and people talking loudly. "The FDNY and EMT's gotta have this street opened. Stay on the sidewalks, and proceed north. Thank you."

Nathan was one block east over on Broadway, with his own bullhorn. He had a commanding voice, but over the incessant noise, she couldn't hear him.

Fortunately, more than a few people heeded her instructions, and began dispersing north, east, and even west, opening up the roadways to some degree. A minute after her first announcement, several FDNY units screamed by, Jo and another officer in the area continuing to wave people off the street.

A woman came up next to Jo. "Officer, uh, excuse me, but do you have the first clue as to what is going on?"

Jo shrugged. "All I know, ma'am, is someone said an airplane hit the tower. I dunno if that's true", she continued, looking briefly at the gaping hole in the tower. "But the way that hole looks, it sure coulda been an airplane. That's all I know, ma'am, but please stay on the sidewalk and move outta the area, for your own safety?"

The lady nodded, looked with grim concern back at the two towers, then continued on.

Just as Jo was ready to use her bullhorn again, she heard a loud roar that was quickly getting closer and closer, easily heard above the commotion. He ears locked on the sound and she looked up toward the noise, which was just south of her, virtually over her head. What she saw froze her in place for a few moments.

It was another aircraft. She clearly saw the battleship gray aircraft color, and the words "United Airlines" in white along the fuselage. Following it's flight path, Jo looked in sheer horror as the aircraft slammed into the South Tower, a tremendous fireball and huge clap of the explosion occurring mere seconds later.

9:01am, Warner Headquarters

David Warner was holding a meeting in one of the large offices on the top floor of the Warner Tower, with a view of the billowing smoke rising from the iconic twin towers almost a mile away. He had fourteen of his top executives with him, the rest of the building having been cleared as a precaution. The Chief of Security, Rick Wilmore, had just finished a short synopsis of what he knew.

"Thanks, Rick. Obviously, there's a lot that we, or anyone else for that matter, doesn't know. I just can't imagine, however, that even the dumbest pilot in the world could fly into the towers on a clear day like this, but again, we don't know what's going on."

Rick Wilmore was on another phone as his Boss was talking, and he turned to David when he finished. "Boss, the Mayor's Office has just put the Archangel Operation into effect, so whatever is going on, they must think it isn't over." Archangel was a computer program to gather digital files of every potential in New York City, be it the Empire State Building, Gracie Mansion, Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, Madison Square Garden, the United Nations, and a host of other structures. It gave First Responders the ability to quickly ascertain the layout of such venues.

"I'm glad we got everyone out", David added, "because I don't like the sound of that, and..."

David was facing away from the window, and was interrupted by one of his lieutenants.

"Holy Christ!" A few others had gasped or shouted at the same time, with looks of sheer horror on their face. David turned, and could clearly see a low-flying jet aircraft headed directly for the twin towers. They all saw the impact.

"Son of a bitch", the normally very calm and cool CEO exclaimed. He turned to his subordinates, his voice calm and firm again. "I want anyone remaining in this building out of here, and I mean right now", he commanded. "I will be about two minutes behind you. I need to call Blair in Los Angeles."

The others didn't hesitate, and cleared out the rest of the building.

It was like a switch had been flipped, as people started to scream frantically at the ghastly sight before them. The other officer at the intersection made their way to Jo, the fellow female officer's eyes wide with fear.

"What the fuck is going on?", she said as loud as she could, but it barely registered with Jo. She continued to stare at the yawning hole that now pierced the North Tower.

"You got me, sister, but one plane hitting it, an accident, maybe? But two?" She turned to the other woman. "Someone's attackin' the country. It's gotta be a terrorist gig."

"Holy God", the other officer said. They locked eyes for a moment, nodded, and went back to work.

"C'mon everyone", Jo practically screamed into her bullhorn, "everyone get the hell outta here. Clear the area, goddammit!"

Not many needed to be told twice.