X
At that very moment, Jo was about a mile away from the corner of Liberty Street and Broadway where she had been patrolling. The roiling debris hadn't quite made to where she currently was and was starting to come to a stop.
Other people were out of breath, crying, shaking and near hysterics. Jo couldn't blame them, as she was just holding on herself. There was police car heading toward her on Broadway, and she flagged them down. The officer inside rolled the window down.
"You need a lift, officer?" His voice was tight and tense.
"Yeah, but I wouldn't keep goin' down Broadway like this. One, you can't see, and two, I bet it looks like a war zone. If I were you, I'd head off toward the North Tower. There ain't much we can do around the South Tower right now."
The officer nodded. "You been there, obviously, so that sounds good enough to get in. Hop in."
Jo was in and seated moments later in the car, which jolted forward, turned west onto North Moore Street. They would soon make a turn south, back toward the lone remaining tower.
In Los Angeles, the group, now moving between the two suites, were gathered around the TV's in both places, silent as they continued to watch in horror as the events in New York and Washington continued to unfold. Blair and Steve had ordered up room service of some snacks and drinks, just to make sure everyone ate and drank and didn't just curl up inside themselves.
By 10am, CNN was reporting that Air Traffic Controllers were searching for at least one more plane that was believed to be hijacked. Just minutes later, that airplane would crash in rural Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh. Even before that The Federal Aviation Administration had taken the unprecedented step of grounding every plane wanting take off, and ordering all planes in the air to land at the nearest airport. It would take a herculean effort by the FAA and Nav Canada to land five-thousand aircraft safely over the next few hours.
All of them had tried at least a few times, to call loved ones at home in New York. No one could get through on either cell phones or land lines. It was probably the most nerve-racking thing of all-not knowing if their loved ones were safe or not.
Steve walked from his suite over to Blair's just before 10:30am, Blair not knowing he had entered until he put a soft hand on her shoulder, crouching down in front of his deputy. "Have you tried to get through to Jo."
Blair shook her head. "I haven't, knowing we really can't get through. Maybe I'll try later tonight."
Steve nodded. "If I get in touch with anyone, I'll try to see if I can find out any more, although like you, I doubt I'll get through any time soon. Just make sure that if you need it, you lean on us, Blair. There's no corporate rank today. We're all friends, and we all love both you and Jo. Just remember that."
Blair couldn't help the few tears that began. "Thank you, Steve. I appreciate and will remember it."
Both had been turned away from the TV for a few moment, and they heard another loud exclamation from one of their group. They turned toward the TV...
_
Jo and the two officers that picked her up on Broadway, heading back toward the North Tower. The right-seater had called to find out If the Command Still at the baseball fields. They were advised that it had been moved farther north to Pier 25 Park after the South Tower collapsed. Seeing a few dozen NYPD officers gathered on arrival, they knew they were in the right area. They quickly recognized the Chief of the NYPD as the commander on sight. The three officers went up to them.
After the three had introduced themselves, and told the Chief where they had been, he spoke rapidly to them.
"Okay, you two", he pointed to the two officers who had picked up Jo, "I need you to drive quickly over to Chambers and Broadway, and relieve a few of the officers there. I don't want either of you going any closer to the tower than Warren, you understand?"
"Yessir!", they both replied.
Jo spoke up. "They're thinkin' the North Tower is comin' down, am I right, Chief?"
The man nodded grimly. "Yeah, and it won't be long. I know the FDNY is tryin' like hell to get their people outta that building, but it's gonna come down." He looked directly at Jo. "Sounds like you've been in the thick of it, Officer Polniaczek", he said matter-of-factly. "For the next ten to fifteen minutes, you're on break. You're gonna get a quick bite to eat", he informed her, pointing northeast to Pier 26, "and get some water in you, and when you come back, I'll have orders for you."
"But, Chief..."
The man gently cut her off. "That's an order, Officer. There isn't much that any of us can do right now, and you definitely need the break."
Jo saluted him. "Yes, Chief, I'll be back in a few minutes."
While Jo was on her break, she witnessed the North Tower vanishing in dust and smoke, the Chief immediately calling for his command post to be moved north.
With the news of yet a fourth hijackedairplane crashing southeast of Pittsburgh, Blair, like millions of other Americans, was at her wits end. She went over to Stephen's room, and pulled him aside.
"Steve", she said, the shock still present on her face from the morning's events, her Boss on this mission not in any better shape, "I have to get home. It could be days before I can get through to Jo, and that's assuming she has her cell phone with her. Sometimes she leaves it in the cruiser while working."
"I understand, Blair", Steve said with a sigh, "but I honestly don't know how you can get back to New York. I'd bet my bottom dollar that it's gonna be at lest a few days before any flights are resumed. This thing showed how inadequate our airport security is."
"Damn it!" Blair wasn't mad at Stephen, but this was the worst time to be a whole continent away from her girlfriend, who, Blair was certain, was in the area of the attacks in New York. She took a deep breath for a moment, closed her eyes and calmed herself. When she opened them again, she had an idea.
"Steve, how about a company car?"
Steve didn't get it at first. "A company car for what?"
"So I can drive from L.A to New York. I can get home in about four days. I don't think I would want to fly right now after today anyway, at least for a while."
"I hear you, Blair", Stephen said sympathetically. "Let me call over to our L.A headquarters and see if they can spare one. But", he said, a serious look coming over his face, "I don't want you driving alone, if you do this. Take someone with you."
Blair understood her Boss's concern. He first didn't like the idea of Blair trying to race from the Pacific to the Atlantic in record time, and he didn't think it was a good idea for Blair to be alone for that much time.
"What if I can take two people with me? That way we can each take eight hour shifts in driving, while the other two rest? We'll get there a lot faster."
Stephen Blackmon smiled, knowing Blair was taking this seriously. "That sound even better. First, let me call the L.A Headquarters, and secure a car, then I'll ask for volunteers, fair enough?"
Blair nodded, turning without another word and going back to her suite to watch the latest news.
Blackmon was able to appropriate a car without any trouble, the L.A Vice-President wanting to help any way she could. It would be a new 2001 Chevy Suburban, plenty big for three people, and with room to lie down on the two rows of rear seats.
Steve called everyone together and explained that Blair wanted to head back to New York, and that an SUV had been loaned to them. He asked for two volunteers to go with Blair. Fortunately for the New York Group, two of their members were married-James and Karen Condon instantly raised their hands. Both knew Blair quite well, and Blair gave the first real smile of the day when they raised there hands.
"Okay", Stephen advised them, "the SUV will be over here in about half an hour. I want you three to pack, and to figure out your driving shifts. And don't try to be heroes on this drive-if you get tired, pull over, get some coffee, or a bite to eat. Got it?"
All three nodded meekly at Stephen, who rarely liked to pull Seniority, but he didn't want them being unsafe.