Collateral Damage - Marc Cerasini [78]
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1:45:03 A.M. EDT The BeresfieId Apartments
Central Park West
New York, New York
Jack Bauer had given Erno Tobias's residence a thoroughly professional toss. He'd upended furniture, yanked the pillows off couches and chairs, and gashed the upholstery to check the stuffing.
Jack had moved from room to room systematically, pulling out drawers, peeking behind pictures, checking behind curtains and under throw rugs. In the bathroom, Jack had found a miniature pharmacy composed of exotic drugs and elixirs.
Jack had wanted to search the balcony, but the sliding glass door was locked, and he hadn't yet located the keys, so he'd headed for the bedroom next.
He'd searched the dead man's dresser, his walk-in closet, his nightstand. He'd even stripped the bed and turned over the mattress.
Jack's biggest discovery, however, had been hidden inside the Albino's ornate armoire. The arsenal included a Remington M870 shotgun, an M9 Beretta with a Knight Armament sound suppressor, two Glocks, and a G36 Commando short carbine.
"Considering New York City's tough gun laws, I'd say Tobias was in violation," Jack muttered.
Along with plenty of ammunition, Jack found a long length of nylon rope, a pair of Gerber Guardian double-edged knives, and an M9 bayonet. He tucked the three knives into the Hawk's utility vest, which he still wore. Jack was considering taking the Beretta and silencer attachment, too, when the phone on the nightstand rang.
Jack froze for a moment, startled into a single second of paralysis. By the second ring, however, he'd already made the decision to answer. "Hello," he said, imitating the Albino's dry rasp.
"It's nama, Dubic" a man said in Serbian.
"Jest, Dubic" Jack replied.
"We are back on track," Dubic continued, still speaking Serbian. "Ungar has secured a second dispensing unit from the NATO arsenal, along with an expert to install the device. I'm on my way to Newark Airport to bring them both back to the lab."
"Vrlo dobar," Jack rasped.
"I understand that Montel Tanner is on his way to you. He's going to pick you up and bring you back to Newark personally."
"Da. I will be ready," said Jack.
"Be careful. The mood is ugly with these men. When Dr. Kabbibi discovered the engineers had installed the first dispenser improperly, and damaged it beyond repair, the two men responsible were beheaded. I saw the whole thing. These cultists are savage animals. Worse than the Bosnians."
"Da" Jack rasped in agreement.
Dubic sighed. "I will say goodbye now. If all goes according to plan, I'll meet you in front of the big bull tomorrow morning. Good luck."
"You, too," Jack rasped.
Dubic hung up, and Jack dropped the phone into its cradle. He snatched his own cell from his pocket, punched the buttons.
"O'Brian here," said Morris, at CTU's Operations Center.
"Is Tony Almeida still in Newark?"
"Hello, Jack. Yes, he is. I was just about to call you..."
"Connect me with Tony and stay on the line. I want you aware of some new intel."
Tony answered on the first ring.
Inside of ten minutes, Jack and Tony had devised a plan to intercept the "package" coming from Newark Airport and infiltrate the Thirteen Gang's Crampton Street headquarters.
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1:56:59 A.M. EDT
The BeresfieId Apartments
Central Park West
New York, New York
The doorman admitted the trio into the marble-appointed lobby. As they passed him, he eyed the men with curiosity.
The shortest was a good-looking African-American man with a muscular build, a shaved head, and a polished demeanor — his deep blue, tailored pinstriped suit appeared to be worth more than the doorman's monthly salary. The others were built like linebackers and looked like members of a gangsta rapper's posse.
The black man in the suit approached the desk. "Montel Tanner to see Mr. Tobias."
The desk clerk smiled. "Yes, Mr. Tobias left word that he was expecting you. Take the elevator to the eighth floor. Suite 801."
"Thank you, my