Read Under Suspicion - The Legend of D.B. Cooper Page 111
The blue pickup hadn’t come to a complete stop in front of the Sheriff’s station before Bradley jumped out carrying the bag under his arm. He quickly located and ran to the satellite truck. “Where is Chet?”
“I don’t know,” Stapleton said as she directed her crew to set up the equipment. “We just got here ourselves. Traffic was terrible!”
Bradley looked around. “I’ve got to find him and fill him in on what’s going on.”
“There’s no time!” she replied. “We go live in ten seconds.” She grabbed a microphone and stood next to Bradley. “What happened to you? You look awful.”
Bradley looked at his clothes and cringed. They were covered with dog hair and chicken feathers. “Help me get cleaned up!” He said as he tried to wipe himself off.
“There’s no time!”
“Damn!” Bradley suddenly realized that there was no time to plant the drugs, either. He’d have to improvise and do it on the fly.
“In five…four…three…two…one!” The technician pointed to Ms. Stapleton.
“Good evening,” Stapleton said into the microphone. “Were coming to you live from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Station, where what can only be described as a major break through in the D.B. Cooper drug cartel is about to take place. With me now is Special Agent Alan Bradley to give us the details. Agent Bradley, can you tell us what’s happening?” She placed the microphone in front of Alan.
Bradley smiled for the camera. “As you can recall, earlier today I stated that the Sheriff’s department has intentionally interfered with and slowed my investigation. I now know why. Ladies and gentlemen, tonight on this broadcast, I will show that the Sheriff’s department has been protecting this drug smuggling operation all along. I will also reveal who killed Henderson. The killer is known to you as D.B. Cooper, but has walked among the people of this small community under another name. Tonight, I will arrest D.B. Cooper and reveal his true identity.”
“That’s incredible!” Stapleton exclaimed, as she couldn’t believer her luck at being the one to break the story. “Please, tell us more!”
At that instant, the three agents approached Bradley from behind. Cranston grabbed the black bag from Bradley’s hand and Agents O’Leary and Anderson grabbed both arms and pulled them behind him.
“What the–?” Bradley exclaimed with astonishment as he struggled with his fellow agents.
“I suppose this is the rest of the opium?” Cranston said, then opened the bag in front of the camera and pulled out the package of drugs and showed it to everyone.
“What are you doing?!” Bradley yelled furiously as the two Agents held Alan’s arms behind his back. “You can’t do this to me!”
“Alan Bradley, you are under arrest for the wrongful death of Buck Henderson and, among other things, obstructing justice.” Cranston reached into Bradley’s coat and pulled out the Desert Eagle and DEA badge.
“You, idiot! You can’t do this to me!”
“Cuff’em and stuff’em, boys,” Cranston ordered. O’Leary and Anderson slapped cuffs on Alan’s wrists then pulled him away as he yelled in protest.
At that instant, Jim drove his battered Blazer to the exit of the station’s parking lot then stopped. Rolling down his window, he watched and listened with joy as Bradley was drug kicking and screaming to an unmarked car and put into the back seat. “City boy,” Jim said with a smile, then shook his head. He hoped Buck and Rick were watching from somewhere and smiling too. Jim slowly put his foot on the gas pedal and merged into traffic.