Honorable Enemies (1994) by Joe Weber

checkered histories." She let her gaze linger on Steve. "Why they're still flying is beyond me."
    Wickham started to ask a question, then decided it was best to hear her out.
    "They both have DUI convictions," she continued evenly, "along with a string of violations and reprimands from the FAA. One of them even has a record of drug smuggling when he lived in Miami. He plea-bargained his way out of one charge, then got caught again and turned state's evidence against his co-conspirators."
    "Have they been questioned?" Callaway asked, shifting into his role as a professional Bureau agent.
    "Yes. One of them has an alibi for his whereabouts when the attack took place."
    Susan sat on the edge of one of the desks. "We're checking his story, but the other pilot--the drug smuggler--says that he was on an overnight fishing and camping trip."
    "By himself?" Steve asked, distracted by the glimpse of her legs.
    "That's right," she answered serenely. "He's divorced and lives by himself. He's dual rated in helos and airplanes, but says that he hasn't flown helicopters in over a year. He makes a living as an interisland cargo pilot."
    Steve looked at the phone. "I need to call Langley." "Before you call, I'd like to add one other thing." Callaway and Wickham gave her their attention.
    "The pilot of the helicopter from the television station returned my call late last night and left a message. I just happened to walk in this morning when they were replaying the tape."
    Steve's instincts told him the pilot's call was a positive aspect in the investigation. "What'd she have to say?"
    "She was very guarded. I'm familiar with her personality--her on-the-air personality--since I occasionally watch her."
    Susan placed her palms on the edge of the desk. "This side of Theresa Garney was very subdued. She started to explain something, then suddenly stopped. She left her home and business phone numbers and said it was urgent."
    Marcus looked puzzled. "When was her initial interview?"
    "I don't know, but she's been interrogated four or five times. I want to talk to her as soon as possible, so let's give her a call. She's probably at work."
    While Susan placed the call to the television studio, Callaway and Wickham lowered their voices and stepped across the tiny room.
    "I'm going to call Langley," Steve suggested, "and have a military helicopter assigned to us. I want to talk to everyone who watched the helo depart after the attack, then trace the exact route."
    "You're convinced the chopper is still on the island?"
    "Not completely," Steve admitted while he caught one side of the telephone conversation. "This was a well-planned, well-executed attack and disappearing act. Susan talked to me about her theory in San Francisco, and I think her reasoning has merit."
    Steve lowered his voice to a whisper when Susan glanced at him. "The key to getting away with something like this is reducing the amount of time you spend in the air after the attack. The more time in the air, the higher the risk of being intercepted or seen."
    "You don't think the pilot flew to another island or landed on a boat offshore? That seems probable to me."
    Steve gave the options a moment of thought. "We have t o a ssume the pilot's highest priorities--after the strafing attack--revolved around not crashing and not getting caught."
    Callaway wrinkled his brow. "I'd say that's a valid assumption, especially when the guy knows there's a boatful of people who wouldn't hesitate to kill him."
    Wickham paused and studied his friend for a long moment. "You're convinced the pilot was a male?"
    "No," Marcus responded smoothly, "but you know as well as I do that the probability of the pilot being female is almost nil. Besides, every witness has confirmed that he--the pilot--was a Caucasian male."
    Wickham hesitated while Susan placed the phone receiver in its cradle. "For the moment let's just say that we don't know who was piloting the helo."
    "Fair enough," Callaway replied evenly.
    "She's