Mano had his forces on the ground.
He co-coordinated the efforts of both HPD and detectives alike. He was everywhere. Nothing escaped his eagle-eyed scrutiny. Credentials were checked, and then checked again. It didn't help that there were milling crowds. There were special events everywhere: screenings of the old black and white 'From here to Eternity', bands and special private events. The usual hotdog vendors were out and so too were the ice cream sellers. They stood to make a mint on a day like today.
The problem for Mano is that it wasn't just the Arizona memorial that had to be guarded: the USS Missouri was another attraction and the place where Japan had surrendered, the U.S. Bowfin a World War 11 submarine.
It meant his forces were spread thin on the ground.
He wasn't one hundred percent certain that the Arizonawas the target. It could be detonated at a hundred different sites.
But Mano had to cover all bases. Governor Watts'
orders. Not for the first time he wished politicians would leave matters like this in the hands of the experts. He was an expert but he was also a man who had to follow orders, and Kali had made sure that the governor's brief was carried out to the letter.
Chief Kali himself should have known better, but
like Mano his hands were tied. The irony lay in the fact that in trying to cover all bases, they'd left the most important target exposed.
Mano didn't realise that until later.
When it was all nearly too late.
YOU ARE READING
MANO
ActionThere's a new cop in Hawaii, and he doesn't take prisoners. The tale is a post 911 piece and concerns the hunt for an ISIS terrorist cell intent on carrying out a dirty bomb attack on the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbour. The group is led by...
