"Well?"Josh demanded as soon as McGarry hung up the phone.
"Fitzwallace is on his way."Leo replied as he walked around the desk.
"And?"Josh asked anxiously.
Leo shook his head sadly. "Still no sign of the plane."
"Did Moss eject?"Lyman asked quietly.
"We think so."Fitzwallace replied grimly as he entered Leo's
office."But there's been no sign of the shute."
"That was quick."Leo stated as he greeted the black man.
"Cell phones can be a pain but they can also save one precious
time."Fitzwallace replied as he handed Leo several eight by ten black
and white photos.
"What are these?"Josh asked as he took half the pile from Leo.
"Surveillance pictures from the carrier."The Admiral replied.
"I thought you hadn't found the plane."Lyman stated as he held up one
of the photos to the sunlight to get a better look. "This looks like
an f-16 to me."
"I just got these after I hung up the phone with Mr.
McGarry."Fitzwallace replied. "They found the f-16 about two hundred
miles from the Kennedy's current position."
"You're positive Moss ejected before the crash?"Leo asked quietly.
Fitzwallace nodded. "The pilot seat was gone. Plus what was left of
the plane's canopy was crushed and off kilter."
"How long can he survive in the water?"Josh asked with concern as he
flipped through the rest of the pictures.
Fitzwallace exchanged a glance with Leo that Josh didn't miss.
"It's been too long already, hasn't it?"Lyman replied as he handed the
pictures back to Leo.
"He has better odds since he landed in the Pacific and not the
Atlantic.But this time of year the water doesn't get above fifty
degrees."Fitzwallace stated quietly.
"So there's still a chance?"Josh queried as he stepped forward.
The older man nodded. "Yes. You two will be my first call as soon as
we hear anything."
Josh walked around them and headed toward the door. "I'll fill Donna
in."
"Want me to tell her?"Leo offered.
Josh shook his head. "No, she's expecting this from me. Be easier for
her to hear it from me."
********
Donna turned away from the window as soon as the door opened. Josh
paused briefly in the doorway seeing the fresh tears. He wished he
could tell her what she wanted, needed to hear.
"They haven't found him have they?"Donna asked quietly as she turned
her attention back to the window.
Josh closed the door behind him and walked over to her placing a
gentle arm around her shoulders.
"They found his plane."Lyman replied softly as he drew her close.
"Fitzwallace is sure that he ejected before the crash."
"They should've found him by now, Josh."Donna whispered hoarsely as
she rested her head against his chest.
Josh tightened his hold. "They'll find him, Donnatella. And when they
do I'll make sure the first person he speaks to is you."
end of part 3 TBC