Operation Hell Gate - Marc Cerasini [88]
They did, and the call ended.
"So now what?" Caitlin demanded. "Are you going to dump me on somebody else?"
"I don't want you to get hurt," Jack replied.
"I'm a big girl, Jack Bauer. I can take care of myself."
Jack stared intensely at Caitlin. Uncomfortable, she looked away. "What's the matter?"
"Is your last name O'Connor?"
Caitlin blinked. "Yes. What about it?"
Jack frowned. "How did Agent Ferrer know your last name, when I didn't?"
19
THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 3 P.M. AND 4 P.M. EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME
3:03:21 P.M. EDT
CTU Headquarters, Los Angeles
Doris Soo Min's neck itched. She hated it when someone stood behind her. Now three people hovered there — Milo and Jamey and that creepy Ryan Chappelle.
The intercom buzzed. "That's the call," said Jamey.
Doris hit the button. "Hello," she said tremulously.
"Good afternoon. My name is Georgi Timko. Our mutual friend Jack Bauer tells me you have information I require to play my role in today's drama."
"Ohmygodohmygod... ls that a Russian accent?"
"Ukrainian," Timko replied, "but I speak Russian like a Muscovite, thanks to a wonderful KGB education."
Doris tapped her keyboard. "I'm about to send you the data we have on the JFK strike. Are you ready to receive?"
"Ready... Yes, the data is here. Now let us discuss this mission CTU wants me to perform."
Doris did. Excitedly. In Russian.
* * *
3:05:45 P.M. EDT
Green Dragon Computers
Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills
Griffin and Shamus watched the tiny screen, currently displaying a map of Queens. On a street not too far from the store, a blip flashed intermittently.
Griff frowned. "Someone has the attache case, that's for certain."
"It's close," said Shamus. "Less than a mile away and moving. Maybe Liam's bringing it back to us like I told him to."
"No, it's moving in the opposite direction, toward Queens Center Mall."
Griffin handed the tracer to Shamus. "Take the Mercedes and finish this. I'll use the van to pick up the package at the airport and deliver it to Taj."
Shamus slipped a 9mm into his jacket. Griff faced him. "This is it, brother. You'll never see this place again. By midnight we're on a plane to the Cayman Islands. One more job and we leave America behind forever."
Shamus nodded, face grim. Griffin squeezed his arm. "Take care of the boy. We'll meet at the bridge tonight."
* * *
3:33:58 P.M. EDT
CTU Headquarters, Los Angeles
Nina Myers burst into Ryan Chappelle's office without knocking.
"I just heard from the National Transportation Safety Board."
Ryan looked up from his computer screen. "What did they say?"
"There is not sufficient evidence to ground air traffic around these crucial airport hubs. Quote, unquote."
"Christ. How much evidence do they need?"
"More than we gave them, apparently. The head administrator cited the economic damage such a grounding could cause; the public's reaction might send ripples through the travel and air shipping industries."
Ryan scowled. "They're not seeing the bigger picture. What kind of public relations disaster will they be facing if the terrorists succeed in just one of today's attacks!"
Nina shrugged. The point was moot. The NTSB had made their decision. "What are you going to do?"
"What choice is there? I have to go with the tactical solution."
"That's your call, Ryan. The other administrators will back you up, but this operation is under your command."
Nina knew that Ryan Chappelle was in middle-management hell. If he made the right choice, he might get a pat on the back, or perhaps even a departmental citation — mainly he would get to keep his job. If he made the wrong choice, his career would effectively be over.
Ryan slapped his palms on the desk and stood.
"We're going. Activate all tactical teams. Red Alert nationwide. I want both Crisis Management Teams to assemble in the situation room in five minutes."
* * *
3:47:18 P.M. EDT
Prolix Security, Fifth Avenue
Prolix Security was