6:00 AM

15
6:00 AM

     Sheriff Donnelly gingerly walked towards the front door of the duplex and double checked the address, since both addresses looked exactly the same side by side.
     He nodded to Agent Danley standing beside him, and knocked firmly on the door. He went around to the side of the building, which was difficult because the walk sagged a bit on the side and was cut off by a fence.
    They couldn't see anybody stirring inside.
    The Sheriff knocked again.
    He walked back to the car, and radioed Margaret.
    "Hey, Margaret, come in."
    "What's happening, Sheriff?"
    "I need you to call Judge Thompson, see if he'll issue us a warrant over the phone to search the premises of a suspect."
    "Yeah, okay, Sheriff. I'll call him right now."
    The Sheriff went back over. He saw Agent Danley inspecting the door for a way to break in.
    "We're calling for a warrant."
    "Wise. But any reason you think he'll reject it?"
    "It's your investigation, agent."
    "I want in. Right now."
    "Now, listen here, Agent--" Captain Beaks started.
    "We're all on the same team," Lieutenant Cantroux started.
    "Yeah, the team of the Constitution. Now, Agent, I am absolutely sure that you have been in many situations where these tactics are warranted, but this this is a small town. I'm absolutely sure it can wait until you get a warrant to search this property."
    "It probably can, but I can't."
    They heard a honking horn in the distance, and a tan truck moving quickly towards them.
    They all found cover and drew their weapons, but the truck stopped short and a big, burly man got out.
    "Don't shoot me, for the love of God, and don't destroy my property!"
    He ran up out of breath, and it was readily apparent that he had rather recently been in bed, because he was wearing pajamas, a bathrobe, and some slippers.
    "Are you the owner of this property?" Sheriff Donnelly tried.
    "I sure am, but it's currently vacant."
    "Well, we want to ask you about that, because we're looking for the previous tenants."
    "You mean, where I can find them? Well, you let me know if you find them, because they owe me for this month's rent, and they got a whole apartment full of stuff they left behind I got to clear out myself before I can rent the place again."
    "How many tenants were there?"
    "Two boys. Seminary students, I think."
    "Both left."
    "Yeah."
    "Well, we're going to need to go through any records you have on either one, and we'd also like a look around inside if you don't mind."
    "Well, I'm not entirely sure about that, Sheriff, you see I still have to take some pictures of the inside of the property for my own records."
    "Maybe I should rephrase that..." Agent Danley started.
    "Dennis Dietrich."
    "Dennis Dietrich. I'm Agent Danley. I'm with the FBI. We're investigating a murder, a possible terror cell. We need to get inside now."
    "Well, I've got rights, Agent Danley, and I--"
    "This is a murder investigation. Some might say you are impeding it right now. Some might even say you are aiding and abetting them by delaying the inevitable, which is we are going to get inside one way or another. There's going to be a warrant issued for this property this morning or this afternoon or this evening but either way, we're going to get inside. Now, for the love of God, can you open up this door so we can have a look around?"
    The landlord look right at Agent Danley. "No."
    Agent Danley slapped cuffs on him and cuffed him to his car.
    "Hey!"
    "Sheriff Donnelly, if you would."
    Agent Danley went over and they took turns kicking down the door.
    Lieutenant Cantroux looked at Captain Beaks. The Captain shrugged and then went inside.
    Inside, a musty odor met them; the apartment of two bachelors.
    As advertised the apartment had seen a recent hasty escape, with things thrown about and left behind in a frantic rush. It was the scene of criminals running away from the law.
    Agent Danley breathed it in. "Fantastic," he said. "This is a treasure chest of information. I can't wait to go through it all."
    He picked up the phone, which was still live, and pressed *69. The phone rang, and it rang, and then, miraculously, someone picked up.
    "Hello?"
    "Yes, who is this?"
    "Well, who is this?"
    "Honey, I'm a police officer, and I wanted to know, do you know someone that just graduated from seminary?"
    "My brother."
    "Your brother. I see. Is he there?"
    "Uh, I don't know."
    "Can you go get him for me if he is?"
    "Okay."
    There was a pause, and then she came back to the phone.
    "No, he's not here."
    "Hey, what's your name, by the way?"
    "I don't think I'm allowed to tell strangers over the phone."
    "I'm a police officer, honey. It's okay."
    "Deirdre."
    "Deirdre. Is there an adult at home right now?"
    "No. Not right now."
    "You're home alone?"
    "Yes."
    "Okay. I want you to tell an adult to call me, and that it's urgent. Do you know what urgent means?"
    "Not really."
    "Very important. Very, very important. Can I leave a phone number with you and you'll make sure they call it for me? It's a matter of life and death. Can you do it for me?"
    "Yes."
    Agent Danley gave them the Sheriff's Department number and then hung up with little girl.
    "Wow!" Agent Danley said. "I got him. Get the call records for this number. Boy went home. He killed a man, he graduated, he went home."
    "I'll radio Margaret right now."
    Agent Danley looked over at Captain Beaks. "I know what you're going to say, and I'll readily admit I didn't follow all the rules. But this isn't an isolated incident, Captain. This is a campaign of terror and this is a terrorist."
    "I'm not arguing with you anymore, Mr. Danley. You got your way, and you don't care what happens afterward. I kind of respect it. Don't think it's going to end well for you, but I respect it. We got a whole big apartment full of clues as to these guy's whereabouts right here, though. Suggest we ought to start working through it all."