After the police showed up, it only took a few minutes to confirm that a federal agent was the only other person inside the store, who could hold his own for a few more minutes, and then to gear up for the assault.
The Los Angeles Police Department brought out Plexiglas riot shields and stormed the building. They first went over to Jack to make sure he wasn't the suspect, but Jack laid down his gun and flashed his CTU badge and the police promptly moved on to the man behind the counter.
Jack could tell that the man was scared and he quickly surrendered without a fight. The police quickly placed the man in handcuffs and were about to lead the man out of the store when Jack grabbed the shoulder of one of the police officers.
"Who is the officer in charge?" Jack demanded.
"Captain Stevenson," the officer replied pointing to a tough looking cop who looked like a man who held much authority.
Jack jogged over to the captain.
"Captain Stevenson," Jack said. "I was hoping that you wouldn't mind if I interrogate the suspect here."
Stevenson contemplated this for a moment and then said, "Why does CTU have an interest with the suspect Mr…?
"Bauer," Jack said. "Jack Bauer. I believe that the suspect is involved with a terrorist organization."
"What makes you say that, Mr. Bauer?"
"Earlier," Jack replied. "The man told one of his accomplices to 'check for witnesses because their mission could not be compromised.' Also, when I mentioned that I worked for CTU, he told the other man that 'they're on to us.'"
Stevenson thought about it some more, but eventually said that it would be alright.
"Jones," he said to the officer leading the suspect away. "Mr. Bauer here is now your supervisor. Just give him anything he needs. He is going to interrogate the man here."
"Okay," Officer Jones said. "But he hasn't been searched yet."
"That's fine," Jack replied. "Just place him over here."
Jack went behind the counter and, while being careful to avoid the cashier's dead body, retrieved a small chair. He then told Jones to handcuff both of the man's wrists to the arms of the chair.
Jack slowly paced around in front of the man for a few seconds. He could tell that he was mostly just scared.
Jack finally broke the silence.
"Tell me your name," he said.
"You can call me Eagle," the man replied.
"Your real name!" Jack demanded.
"B-Bill," he stuttered. "Bill Frank."
"Okay, Bill. I want to know why you think that the Counter Terrorist Unit would be on to you."
"I'm not telling you anything!"
Jack backhanded Bill across the side of his face. The man uttered a soft scream as the smack resonated throughout the store. Blood dripped out of his mouth as Bill slouched in the chair, but Jack forcefully grabbed his collar and pulled him close to his face.
"You listen to me," Jack hissed. "If you don't talk, I can take you back to CTU where we will force the information out of you. Now tell me! Are you involved with a terrorist organization?!?!"
"No," Bill replied, but Jack saw his eyes get wide and he was looking at his chest. Jack knew something was wrong, but he decided to unzip the man's gray sweatshirt.
As he reached for the metal zipper, he looked up and realized that that Bill was mouthing the word 'slowly.'
Jack nodded and pulled open the zipper. When it was only halfway opened, Jack's eyes grew wide and he jumped away from the suspect.
"Get me the bomb squad in here now!" Jack yelled outside where Stevenson was waiting.
"No, don't!" Bill screamed. "They'll trigger the-"
Bill was cut off as a red light started to flash on the front of the front of the C4 explosives strapped to his chest. A soft beeping pierced the silence.
"Listen to me!" Bill yelled. "They have our families! We were being used as a side operation! They needed money for something bigger! Please, save my family!"
"Get your people out of here!" Jack yelled to Officer Jones. He then turned back to Bill and said, "Bill! Who is doing this?!?!"
"They're outside in the black van."
As a green light flipped on in place of the red one, tears started to come to Bill's eyes.
His last words were, "Save my family."
Jack was thrown backward from the force of the small explosion. He took refuge behind the second aisle as a second and third explosion from the other dead men's chests ripped through the store.
Jack was up on his feet and running toward the exit before the dust could clear. He had to apprehend the men in the van that Bill had told him about. Jack guessed that they planted C4 and listening devices on their hostages and threatened to blown them up if they didn't rob the store. They must have blown the C4 when Bill started to tell Jack about them. Luckily, they were too late.
Jack yelled to a nearby officer, "The suspects are in a black van somewhere in the vicinity!"
The police officer never had a chance to reply as a hail of bullets ripped through his body. The man fell in a cloud of blood.
Jack took cover behind a police car as the tires on a black van across the street squealed. The passenger's side window was rolled down and bullets were spewing forth from the dark interior onto the mass of police officers.