Savannah before the attack. We have to follow every possible lead and take precautions. You don’t want a repeat of Savannah, do you?” Quinton’s steely voice drove home the point. “To be accused of negligence or the press to reveal that you were warned but did nothing?”
The detective shifted and rubbed at the top of his shiny head. “Of course not.”
“Let’s take a look at a map of the city,” the chief said.
The detective nodded, then rolled down a wall map that they all began to scrutinize.
“Charleston is one of the most historic cities in the States,” Barbaris said. “Although it’s a fairly small city, a walking one, the Battery could be a target. There’s also over a hundred restaurants, carriage tours, the shopping district, Market Hall, the churches, the famous houses…”
Frustration lined Barbaris’s face. “Without knowing where this person is going to attack, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
“Since the bomber chose the waterfront area in Savannah, perhaps that’s where he’ll attack here,” Agent McLaughlin suggested.
“It’s possible,” the chief said. “But maybe too predictable.”
“Any special activities planned tonight in the town?” Quinton asked. “A parade? Political function? Celebration?”
“It is Saturday night,” Detective Barbaris said. “The downtown will be alive with activity. That is, if those damn vultures don’t scare people away.”
Annabelle booted up her computer and googled a list of the city’s events.
“Maybe you should consider shutting down the town,” one of the local officers suggested.
“We can’t ask business owners to do that,” Detective Barbaris said. “We’re talking about their livelihood.”
“Paralyzing the town, its businesses, and creating fear and panic are other forms of terrorist attack—more subtle, but something the perpetrator may be aiming for,” Annabelle pointed out.
“I’ll call neighboring counties for backup,” Detective Barbaris said. “Have local and plainclothes officers stationed all over the city. Maybe someone will see something suspicious.”
“Let’s look at major events again,” Quinton said. “Something that would draw hundreds of people together at once.”
Detective Barbaris snapped his fingers. “Two things I can think of. That preacher, Reverend Narius, is in town. He’ll be at the First Baptist Church tonight. I’ll put men there.”
“And there’s a football game at the Citadel,” Annabelle added.
Quinton glanced at her with a nod. “The stadium could be a viable target. It definitely has to be covered.”
“I’ll get some agents to search the stadium,” Chief Tarrington said. “And extra security will be posted tonight.”
Barbaris scraped his hand over his jaw. “This is a nightmare.”
“That’s what we’re trying to prevent,” Quinton said.
Annabelle cleared her throat. “There’s also a concert at the North Charleston Coliseum tonight. The venue is sold out. Thousands of teenagers and young adults will be flooding it to party.”
“Let’s get to it,” Quinton ordered. “Midnight is only a few hours away.”
Quinton cornered Annabelle while Barbaris debriefed the local officers and coordinated with other precincts for extra security.
“Thanks for the help in there,” Quinton said.
“You really think we can stop this attack?” Annabelle asked.
Quinton clenched his jaw at the daunting task. It was difficult to safeguard and predict a crime like this, especially when they hadn’t ID’d the unsub yet, but if a demon was involved… “We’ll do our best.”
Then his mother’s words echoed in his head:
The Death Angel has the power to possess the body of a human. Find him in that form, and you can kill him more easily. You must use your power to destroy him.
But what if he shape-shifted into another form? And if he was a vulture—hell, there were vultures everywhere.
“I keep thinking about that homeless man,
The detective shifted and rubbed at the top of his shiny head. “Of course not.”
“Let’s take a look at a map of the city,” the chief said.
The detective nodded, then rolled down a wall map that they all began to scrutinize.
“Charleston is one of the most historic cities in the States,” Barbaris said. “Although it’s a fairly small city, a walking one, the Battery could be a target. There’s also over a hundred restaurants, carriage tours, the shopping district, Market Hall, the churches, the famous houses…”
Frustration lined Barbaris’s face. “Without knowing where this person is going to attack, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
“Since the bomber chose the waterfront area in Savannah, perhaps that’s where he’ll attack here,” Agent McLaughlin suggested.
“It’s possible,” the chief said. “But maybe too predictable.”
“Any special activities planned tonight in the town?” Quinton asked. “A parade? Political function? Celebration?”
“It is Saturday night,” Detective Barbaris said. “The downtown will be alive with activity. That is, if those damn vultures don’t scare people away.”
Annabelle booted up her computer and googled a list of the city’s events.
“Maybe you should consider shutting down the town,” one of the local officers suggested.
“We can’t ask business owners to do that,” Detective Barbaris said. “We’re talking about their livelihood.”
“Paralyzing the town, its businesses, and creating fear and panic are other forms of terrorist attack—more subtle, but something the perpetrator may be aiming for,” Annabelle pointed out.
“I’ll call neighboring counties for backup,” Detective Barbaris said. “Have local and plainclothes officers stationed all over the city. Maybe someone will see something suspicious.”
“Let’s look at major events again,” Quinton said. “Something that would draw hundreds of people together at once.”
Detective Barbaris snapped his fingers. “Two things I can think of. That preacher, Reverend Narius, is in town. He’ll be at the First Baptist Church tonight. I’ll put men there.”
“And there’s a football game at the Citadel,” Annabelle added.
Quinton glanced at her with a nod. “The stadium could be a viable target. It definitely has to be covered.”
“I’ll get some agents to search the stadium,” Chief Tarrington said. “And extra security will be posted tonight.”
Barbaris scraped his hand over his jaw. “This is a nightmare.”
“That’s what we’re trying to prevent,” Quinton said.
Annabelle cleared her throat. “There’s also a concert at the North Charleston Coliseum tonight. The venue is sold out. Thousands of teenagers and young adults will be flooding it to party.”
“Let’s get to it,” Quinton ordered. “Midnight is only a few hours away.”
Quinton cornered Annabelle while Barbaris debriefed the local officers and coordinated with other precincts for extra security.
“Thanks for the help in there,” Quinton said.
“You really think we can stop this attack?” Annabelle asked.
Quinton clenched his jaw at the daunting task. It was difficult to safeguard and predict a crime like this, especially when they hadn’t ID’d the unsub yet, but if a demon was involved… “We’ll do our best.”
Then his mother’s words echoed in his head:
The Death Angel has the power to possess the body of a human. Find him in that form, and you can kill him more easily. You must use your power to destroy him.
But what if he shape-shifted into another form? And if he was a vulture—hell, there were vultures everywhere.
“I keep thinking about that homeless man,
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