Sunday August 4^th 1996 0100

Bond and Mac sat in the bar still talking, their conversation was diverse and varied. Putting down his drink Bond picked up his mobile phone that was ringing from the low table in front of them. ‘Bond.’ It was Sheriff Coloradas. ‘We’ll be there right away.’

Mac looked quizzical and was already picking up is mobile phone from the table. ‘Where we going?’ He asked optimistically.

‘Sheriff’s office, he has a bit of a situation down there. I’ll get the car, you tell one of the others where we are going.’ Bond caught the keys Mac pulled from his pocket and threw to Bond as he left.

Waiting in the car outside the foyer, Bond saw Mac and Hammond approaching. Mac rolled his eyes towards Hammond and they both got into the wagon. ‘Dex was still awake and insisted on accompanying us. Mac said. ‘Lee didn’t look to happy about being woken up, but I gave him the message anyway.'

The three agents drove off towards the Sheriff’s office. It was a short journey and the three agents said little to each other. Pulling up to the Sheriff’s office, there seemed to be a lot of people milling round. All three stepped out of the wagon and walked towards Coloradas who Bond had spotted just outside his office.

‘Sheriff what’s happening here?’ The scene was confusing people were everywhere.

‘You’d better take a look inside for yourself.’ He said solemnly.

Looking at Mac and Hammond, Bond jerked his head for them to follow him. Inside everything seemed to be normal and Bond was not sure what he was supposed to be looking for. He stepped up to the counter and lifted the hatch, holding it in mid air he stopped suddenly and let the hatch down slowly so it rested on the counter. He had never seen a scene like it in all his time at the FBI. Before him, were two deputies, one laid on the floor next to the counter, the other slumped behind his desk. Both with a knife wound to the chest, however that was not what disturbed Bond, both bodies were missing their scalps. It was the first time he had ever seen it outside of a textbook.

Mac stepped forward and knelt beside the first deputy, ‘Clean, one knife wound straight to the heart.’ He stated unemotional. Pulling on protective gloves, he lifted the body slightly onto its side. ‘Either he knew the attacker or the attacker got the jump on him, his gun hasn’t been removed from its holster.’ He paused, as he looked closer. ‘The holsters safety strap is still in place.’

Hammond moved through the front office and along a corridor towards the cells, ‘There are two more back here.’ He shouted. ‘They’ve been scalped as well.’

‘What do reckon Mac, looking from the positioning he would have to move unnaturally fast to get the jump on four deputies.’ He said emphasising the unnatural. He knew he could air these thoughts with Mac now and it was looking more likely that a supernatural was at work here.

‘It ain’t looking good.’ Walking over to the other deputy whose eyes were wide open in horror. ‘He wasn’t asleep either.’

Bond walked through to the back, just as Hammond turned from the back door. ‘There’s no sign of a break in this end, the windows are locked from the inside as well as this door.'’

He could see the another of the deputies about ten feet from the back door, ‘I suppose he could have let the killer in if he knew him, locked the door, started walking back here and then the killer struck.’ It was an idea and seemed plausible but he would still have had to take down four, trained enforcement officers within twenty, maybe twenty-five feet of one another.

‘Boss, look here.’ Hammond called from an adjoining room.

Holding a large red book in one hand, with the other Hammond flicked through several bags in a large floor standing cabinet. ‘The globe’s gone from the evidence locker.’ Shutting the book and laying it the table, he swung the door so Bond could see it for himself. The cabinet door was forced. ‘It’s the only thing missing from here.’

‘What could be so important about a metallic ball that someone would be willing to risk assaulting a sheriff’s office with four armed officers on duty?’ He said aloud but more to himself.

‘Hammond call the rest of the team and get them out here, I think we are going to need all the resources we can get.’ Bond ordered as he walked out the office. Sheriff Coloradas was leaning against one of the patrol cars on his own, his arms folded across his chest and he was looking at the floor in front of him.

‘I can’t believe it, I’m shocked. How could anyone scalp them. He said without looking up as Bond approached.

‘Sheriff, we have to start searching the area. Those boys in there are still warm so the perpetrator can’t be that far away.’ Bond needed the Sheriff to focus on the tasks at hand.

His head slowly lifted and he gazed directly at Bond. ‘Those boy’s didn’t even get a shot off, John was a Nam Veteran.’ Shock and disbelief registering in his voice. Sighing deeply, Coloradas pushed himself off the bonnet he was leaning on. ‘My boys are getting in the hounds and others are checking the local houses.’ Was all he said before wandering back to the office.

Hammond walked up behind Bond, ‘I managed to get hold of Lee, they should all be here soon.’ Even Hammond, who appeared hardened by his experiences from his days as a beat cop, seemed hollowed.

All necessary agencies have been informed that Santana has been spotted.

Amidst the chaos, Bond heard his mobile ringing, ‘Bond speaking.’ He answered loudly to se sure the caller would hear him above the background noise.

‘I know what’s happening down there Bond, this is FBI jurisdiction now. Take over.’ Matthews said forcefully. ‘The U.S Marshals and ten Agents from Phoenix are already on route, as are the CIA and CIC. Don’t let me down.’

Putting the mobile phone away Bond looked around him, Garrett was addressing three of his men, who promptly disappeared out side the hall Garret turned to Bond and waited. ‘Mac, find Sheriff Coloradas. We’re taking over.’

Mac looked sceptical at Bond’s statement. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Orders from on high, I’ll tell Garrett you can break the news to the Sheriff.’ Seeing Carter standing idle, Bond waved him over. ‘We’re taking over the case and leading the manhunt for Santana. Get everybody together, I need input and figures for available resources.’

‘About time too.’ Carter added energetically, as he caught the tail end of the conversation.

Turning he saw Mac was already approaching Coloradas, seeing Garrett on his own he walked briskly towards him. ‘Major Garrett, I’ve been informed that this is to continue under FBI jurisdiction.’ He said calmly but firmly expecting resistance.

‘I thought so.’ He said nonchalantly. ‘I have forty men at your disposal, what do you want me to do.’

‘We need to have a briefing, get numbers but we need to be organised.’ Bond was delaying from giving outright orders, he had never before been involved in a manhunt as was unsure what to do. He hoped the rest of the team would be able to shed some light on the matter. ‘I’m waiting for Mac to finish telling Coloradas and then we can get started.’

Garrett cocked one eyebrow, and a smile flashed across his face. ‘This should be interesting to watch.’ He said turning to see Mac and Coloradas talking.

Bond watched, much to Garret’s disappointment, Mac and Coloradas marching back to the table. Joining them at the table, Bond looked at the expectant faces looking back at him.

‘So what are we doing Bond.’ Knight asked.

‘Sheriff, how many men you got?’ He tried to get Mac’s attention and succeeded. He hoped Mac would see his discomfort and offer some support.

‘I’ve already got 50 tribal police and 180 Apache volunteers, where do you want us to go.’ He looked to Bond for leadership.

‘Apache Volunteers?’ Carter asked.

‘Yeah, they are keen to nail Santana or he will bring misfortune upon their tribe.’ Sheriff Coloradas replied.

Bond did not really care now for the tribal superstition, if he did not do anything quick the only misfortune around here was going to be Bond’s.

Knight had already lost interest and was talking with Holly, looking down at the map the area around here was either plains or foothills. Santana had been in the area for twenty years so he would know the terrain well.

‘Major Garrett, can your men put road blocks up here, here, here, here, here and here.’ stabbing at the map each time with his index finger.

Mac interjected, ‘We have 230 men available now, divide them into 10 posses, with at least two of the Sheriff’s good men in each group.’ He drew a circle, centred about the sheriff’s office and then divided it into ten equal slices. ‘One group per slice.’ He said looking at Coloradas. ‘Each group start’s from here and works their way out.’

‘Make sure each group has hounds.’ Lee added.

A mountain of gear was beginning to form already, night sights, a radio transmitter, and jackets were just some to name.

‘Sir, some of Jake’s boys have just headed out of town in a pick up.’ One of the deputies said running up to the table.

‘You are bound to get this happening, they just needed the excuse to get themselves an apache.’ The Sheriff said apathetically.

‘There’s not a lot we can do about them, we can’t pull resources from this manhunt, which way did they go deputy?’ They were an unnecessary complication that they would have to work around.

The deputy thought for a second and replied. ‘North east, sir.’

‘Ok, whoever is covering that region make sure they are aware of them.’ Bond said. ‘I think that’s it for now, my team will remain here, we’ll allocate ourselves as the hunt progresses.’

‘I’ll see if I can refreshments in here.’ Mac seemed to have forgotten the incident’s of the day and was again in full motion.

‘Carter can you and Lee get the radio set up and start co-ordinating the field.’ Bond saw Agent Hobson from the corner of his eye and had already decided what he wanted his agents to be doing.

Holly interrupted her conversation with Knight and nodded her head towards the door. Agent Hobson walked towards Bond. He was unremarkable to look at, but highly regarded within the Phoenix office. ‘Bond.’ He said offering his hand in welcoming gesture that Bond accepted. ‘I’ve got nine other agents with me and we bought some gear we thought you might need.’

Bond could see the other agents carrying large shoulder sports bags marked F.B.I. ‘Put them down over there.’ He said pointing towards a corner. ‘We need to get a house to house search started, can your men cover that?’ He nodded in agreement, but still showed his disappointment. At what he was disappointed, Bond did not know.

Returning his attention towards his team at the table, Bond hoped that he had not forgotten anything or anyone. He did not enjoy being the centre of attention or the voice everyone listened too. Knight had stopped talking, as Holly was about to take her leave with McIntire.

‘So what’s happening then?’ Knight asked abruptly. Everyone around the table stopped and looked at him. ‘Bond, what are we doing?’ He repeated, taking everyone’s silence as confusion.

Bond could see the confusion in everyone’s faces, had he not been clear or were they waiting for more directions. The confusion spread like a disease to Bond, he felt his throat tighten and his mouth dry up. ‘Ok, everyone listen up, Bond’s got something to say.’ Bond saw Knight going in for the kill, an opportunistic attack. He was rooted to the ground, they were all looking down at him, hungry

Bond found deep within him the will to grow tall again, ‘If you had been listening instead of talking, then you would know what you’re doing.’ He stated rather shakily. ‘Groups have been dispatched to search the indicated areas, door to door searches and we will wait here until anything concrete turns up.’

‘Yeah.’ Carter said reaffirming Bond rather annoyed.

Knight looked startled, but before he could continue the rest of the team dispersed to their assigned tasks. A huge wave of relief swept through Bond, his stomach started its descent back from his throat. Knight had put him on the spot, made him feel belittled in front of his own team, members of other agencies and the local enforcement officers.

In Quantico, they played scenarios based on real life scenes in the classroom. Bond did not enjoy them then and definitely did not enjoy them now. He knew his leadership skills lacked refinement and his confidence ebbed when he was in the spotlight, but he did not need the shrink playing games with him and highlighting his weaknesses to everyone and their dog.

The night started to move on, Carter kept in contact with the various groups via the radio. Outside a commotion had started. Bond walked to the doorway and looking outside saw four men dressed in bland dark suits, exiting a helicopter. The helicopter was barely visible amongst the dust and dirt the rotating blades threw up. Bond could see it was of military design. The four men immediately headed for the building and the helicopter took straight off.

Inside one of the men shouted. ‘Agent Bond?’

Lee assisted them and pointed Bond out, who was back at the table again. ‘Agent Bond, I’m Special Agent Rothman, CIA.’ He announced formally, showing his Identity badge briefly, but long enough for Bond to see it.

‘So what does the CIA want with our man, Agent Rothman.’ Bond enquired, it is a rare occasion when the CIA operate openly on home ground.

‘Firstly, Santana deserted the army in 1971 and is considered a threat to national security. Secondly, we believe he is in possession of equipment stolen from a satellite that crashed in the area. We have been searching for it for a while in this area and today we got a signal from it at 17:06.’ He reeled off, he did not seem to care if anyone believed what he was saying.

‘Is this a small, metal ball, about so big that reflects light rather well?’ Bond said remembering the object they found in the sacred cave.

‘That would be it, where is it.’ His eyes lit up.

‘We found it this afternoon in a cave outside of town.’ Bond relayed to him. ‘It was being held in the sheriff’s office as evidence.’

‘Was? So where is now?’ He said almost desperately.

‘We assume Santana has it again, after the sheriff’s office was broken into earlier. That was the only thing missing.’ Rothman’s smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. ‘And that was probably us who triggered the signal off at around 1700 when we located it originally.’ Bond added.

Rothman turned and walked away towards his men you stood casually by the door. ‘Knight call the CIA and check the identity of our guests over there, Rothman’s badge number is G458699.’ He said curtly, he was still enraged with Knight’s performance earlier. He knew two other agencies were still unidentified and they may try to get in on the operation.

His attention distracted again by the sound of helicopters outside, he noted that Mac was talking with Rothman in the corner of the room. Two men and a woman burst in through the door, their bulky blue jackets had ‘U.S Marshal’ emblazoned across them.

‘Agent Bond?’ The lead man asked, throwing the question to anyone.

At least now, he knew the manhunt would be in professional hands, the U.S Marshal’s Service. This was their area of expertise, hunting Federal Fugitives. ‘Here.’ He answered.

‘U.S Deputy Marshal Oxford.’ He said offering his hand.

Bond took his hand and shook, ‘Glad you’re here Marshal.’ Bond offered genuinely. He debriefed Oxford on the operation so far, Oxford was burley, his face tanned and weathered. Oxford listened intently, prompting little for additional information. When Bond thought he had finished Oxford seemed happy with the arrangements so far.