Chapter 2 – Even The Best Fall Down
Thoughts raced in Jack's mind as he raced to his feet. Jack could see two men in the distance. They were firing off shots and Jack quickly ducked. They appeared to his cell and Jack was scared.
"Don't be afraid. We're here to free you," said one man. The man opened the cell and Jack stepped out. He kept looking back as the men just stood there. Finally, he ran out of the jail building, which was burning down second by second and ran as far as he could. He stopped at the corner of the street and sat down on the curb, trying to replay the night, but he couldn't. He felt a piece of paper pressed against his chest and discovered there was a note in his pocket. Jack read the note word for word.
I let you escape Jack. I know you're innocent, however, you know too much to be a free man. You won't know who I am Jack. I know your every move, as far as I'm concerned, you could be in another state, but I'll know where you are Jack, if you were next to me, I know also. Fucking scary eh? If you promise you won't say anything at all about the case you were working on, I'll make sure you are free, but until then, I'll be watching your every move. All odds are against you Jack, tick tock, tick tock.
Jack tried to let the harsh words of the note fall away, but they kept repeating, this one person, knowing his every move? He had to think smart, but who would be on his side? He had to go to Tony Almeida's house.
Michael Cambry hated the early calls. The early calls, such as at 4 in the morning was painful enough. Apparently, some police station burned down with a big federal suspect escaping in the process. He thought to himself of "The Fugitive," the movie with Harrison Ford and scoffed. Was he to be the Tommy Lee Jones? He got out of his car.
"Agent Cambry?" asked the big man in front of the remains of the police station.
"That's me. What's the problem?" asked Michael.
"You've been enlisted to help us find Jack Bauer. It all started here with the burning of the police station and from then on, he could be anywhere," said the officer. Michael thought for a moment.
"Brief me on the current situation," said Michael.
"Well Agent Cambry, we think that Mr. Bauer, a CTU Field Ops Agent, killed Bryan Martin and Ibn Farrah. Now, he's escaped and he probably burned down the police station along with it."
"Is anyone hurt?"
"Yeah, practically everyone working the night shift is dead. Bullet shots we can see."
"Bullet shots you say? I don't think Bauer did the shooting. Someone else might have gotten him out."
"Exactly! But who would?"
"Do you mind taking me to the scene of the crime?"
Jack knew he had one chance, and one chance was the most he'll get. He got up to the door and knocked, a soft tap. Footsteps approached the door. The door swung open and Tony stared at Jack for a moment.
"What do you want Jack?" asked Tony.
"I just need to talk to you for a moment Tony, please," said Jack. Tony stepped out of the way.
"Tony, someone is setting me up," said Jack, trying to keep calm. "Who else knows the mission I was on?"
"The regulars Jack. You, me, Michelle, Ryan. That's it, maybe some heads at Divison, but that's it," said Tony.
"Someone outside knows. I was close. Bryan Martin was a huge clue. He knew what he was going to tell me was big. Tony, I don't know what to do, someone wants me dead for sure, but I don't know anything."
"Jack, I hate to say this to you, but I feel that the only way you can prove your innocence is if you go undercover, but with no backup. It's dangerous Jack, but I see this as the only solution."
"I do too." Jack gave a big sigh. "Promise me that you'll take care of Kim for me okay? Tell her that I'm fine and I'll be back before she knows it."
"Yeah Jack."
"Thank you Tony." Jack headed out for the door. He looked out and felt something vibrating on him. A phone! He had a phone, but how could he not notice that earlier? He slowly picked the phone up.
"Hello?" said Jack.
"Good. Now, being at Almeida's house? Isn't that a pinch too obvious? However, I understand. Now, what you need to know is that the person who wants you dead, is the farthest however closest to you," said the man, his voice highly distorted.
"What the fuck does that mean?" asked Jack.
"It means everything." That was the reply Jack got, and the line went dead. Jack had no idea what the phrase meant. Someone close, but far. That made no sense. He had to find the investigation files and figure out who was involved. Jack walked to the train station. There was a train that was going to leave first thing in the morning. He decided to sit in the men's bathroom until morning. He sat down, and locked the door. It was dirty, but he was on the run. He slowly stooped down, feeling a surge of sadness. His gun fell out of his pocket. It was a big temptation. He picked it up, slowly raised it to his temple and kept his finger on the trigger. His finger trembling, but suddenly, he put it down, and threw it across the room.