In less than two minutes, two dark sedans pulled over to the plane, blocking it fore and aft. By the time the pilot opened the split clamshell doors and stepped out, the plane was surrounded by agents in black fatigues emblazoned with “FBI” and “FEDERAL AGENT” front and back, all carrying M-16 assault rifles at the ready.

“General McLanahan?” one of the agents in a simple dark suit and tie announced.

“That’s me,” Patrick replied.

“Special Agent Norwalk, FBI, Memphis office. I’d like you to come with me. Anyone in the plane with you?” Instead of waiting for a response, another agent pushed past Patrick and shined a flashlight inside, then shook his head, indicating it was empty. Another agent checked the baggage compartment in the back—it, too, was empty. He even checked the wheel wells, but they were too small to hide anything bigger than a small dog.

“Something wrong?” Patrick asked.

“We’ll explain everything inside,” the FBI agent replied. “Your plane will be secured inside the hangar.”

“You guys ever move a plane like this before? The nose gear is sensitive.”

“We’ll be careful,” Norwalk responded, definitely sounding like he wasn’t planning on being careful at all. He spoke into a radio, and before long one of Sky Masters Inc.’s technicians came out riding an aircraft tug, accompanied by another agent. The tech scooped up the Aerostar’s nose wheel with the lifter. Meanwhile, the main hangar door opened. The plane was pushed back into the hangar beside one of the company’s DC-10 mission support/ launch/tanker aircraft.

Patrick was taken to his office in the headquarters facility. Special Agent Norwalk and another officer stayed inside with him. “Now, mind telling me what’s going on?” Patrick asked once they were seated inside.

“First, General, I advise you that you are hereby under arrest,” Norwalk began. “You have the right to remain silent; should you choose to give up the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney and to have the attorney present during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you at no charge. Do you understand these rights as I’ve explained them?”

“What am I being arrested for?”

“General, do you understand your Constitutional rights as I’ve explained them to you?”

“Yes. Now can you tell me—?”

“Do you waive your right to remain silent?”

“I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Are you willing to answer questions for me?”

“Yes. Now tell me what’s going on here.”

“Do you know where Dr. Jon Masters, Dr. Kelsey Duffield, and the Sky Masters Inc. crew members that were stationed at the Tonopah Test Range are right now, General?”

“I thought they were at Tonopah. Are they missing?”

“You’re telling me you have no idea where they are?”

“What’s going on, Norwalk? Has something happened? And why am I under arrest? Do you think I had something to do with it?”