- We got a new case at last – D stepped into the bullpen soon after getting back from the restaurant, and Jack suddenly became really excited. At last… my first case…
- Bank robbery, in a bit strange way… People disguised as cartoon figures robbed several banks in Washington in the past few days. There is always four of them; we don't know whether they are always the same people, just that they always use different fancy dresses.
- Jack, just the case for you… - Myles remarked. – As a small child at the FBI…
- And for you as well, since as my training agent, you have to come with me – Jack smiled contentedly, and Myles gave him a „did I need this?" – look.
- Well Jack, you didn't have to wait for your first case for too long… - Sarah smiled. – Looks interesting.
- I would have never thought that one day I would have to chase Mickey Mouse… It's a huge disappointment after him being my favourite childhood cartoon figure… - Jack shook his head.
- Then be prepared, because beside Myles you'll have even more astounding experiences… - Bianca warned him.
- Now you can experience what real investigation is like – Myles told the rookie. – Good that you can already see what our real work consists of – he added. – Where would you start investigation? – he turned towards the young man.
- I would find out from which company were fancy dresses borrowed in greater amounts in the past few days – Jack replied without thinking.
- Great! – his training agent replied. – You can start – he added, and Jack turned towards his computer.
- You'll see that you have to do all the work, you have to interrogate the witnesses… He did the same with me, it was a real experience – Bobby said.
- At least you learnt something… If you had a different training agent, you would be nowhere near this level… - Myles grumbled. – You should be glad I'm this concerned about your life…
- I am, Myles, continuously ever since… - Bobby shook his head. – I'm grateful for this ever since; I don't know how I could live without that… - he said, not convincingly at all.
- Manning, why do I feel you don't say what you are thinking… - Myles sighed.
- Perhaps because you understand one's behaviour at last? It was about time… We've been waiting for this for a long time… - Bobby grinned.
- I don't have time for such unnecessary chatting… If you do, just tell me and D will surely take care of you spending the evening here – Myles grumbled among his laughing colleagues. – But we have to go; you know, some people are here to work – he shook his head, then looked at Jack. – Are you ready? Great. Let's go… now you can see how a real professional works… - he said.
- I fear just that… and he'll feel the same way soon… - Bobby said silently, but the remark didn't avoid Myles' attention. He still managed to control himself and didn't retort… He knew that he would have a chance for his throughout the day. – Let's go, we'll have to catch a few bad guys – he told the rookie, and they left the bullpen.
- Then let's go to the leasing company – Myles said, while they were heading towards the parking garage. – Great opportunity to learn how to ask and experience how the bits of information lead to the solving of a case.
- This is what I have wanted the most for years… - Jack said, enthusiastic from the thought that he can investigate a real case at last.
- Then you can be really happy, because now you can experience on your own how the investigation and the solving of a case goes – his training agent said.
– I am… And I'm really happy I got to such a great team, where I can learn a lot – he turned towards Myles.
- All right, let's leave this overjoyed state for later – the agent said -, now we have something important to do – he added, while they got into the car. – And now learn from the professional – he looked at the rookie, then started the engine… or would have done that, but the car refused to start.
Jack could hardly hold laughter back, while Myles angrily tried to realize the source of trouble.
– What's the matter with this? – the agent broke out. – Doors locked, security belts fastened… Oh no… - realization suddenly struck him.
- What happened? – Jack asked.
- Aahh… - Myles hit the steering wheel, ignoring the rookie's question. And then Jack realized what the problem was. His new training agent left the car with the headlights on at his arrival, as a result of which it stayed so for hours and the battery went flat.
- I believe it's time to use my first FBI-car, which I have to get a little sooner this way… - Jack remarked, and Myles had to admit that there was no other solution.
- Wonderful car, I love it! – Jack said enthusiastically, while Myles sat morosely beside him. His first day as a training agent, and his prestige is already seriously damaged. – Now we can really go to the hiring company – the rookie added, happy that he can take his training agent to the scene of his first interrogation right on the first day.
The place wasn't too far, they got there soon. Myles' not too happy face became even more bored when they entered the small building. Just let it end soon… Let's interrogate the employee quickly and then go. A few minutes and I'll surely feel bad. A middle-aged, short man went over to them.
- Can I help you? – he asked. – We have a great fancy dress for you – he looked at Myles, pointing to a Martian fancy dress. Myles showed a morose face, and Jack could hardly hold laughter back.
- You don't need a fancy dress, you are special by yourself – Jack grinned, and Myles would have loved nothing more than to hit him. After all, he is just a rookie who has just got to the FBI. How can he even imagine that he already thinks he is cleverer… - he grumbled.
- We aren't here to borrow a fancy dress – he said at last, overcoming his sulkiness, while showing his badge. – FBI, we are investigating in a bank robbery case. Have fancy dresses of cartoon figures been borrowed in a greater number in the past days?
- Yes, a few days ago… I was wondering why they would need them, that time of the year is long over; but I was happy, I haven't lent so many fancy dresses at once for a long time. The man said they needed them for a fancy dress party.
- Was it one person who borrowed the fancy dresses or there were several of them? – Jack asked.
- It was just one person… he chose the fancy dresses, paid for them and left.
- Do you remember how he looked like?
- He was a middle-aged, short, blond man – the employee remembered.
- Did he have a clear idea which fancy dresses he wanted to borrow or he was just picking them by chance? – Jack continued with the questions.
- He chose the fancy dresses quickly, but it seemed to me he knew exactly which ones he would like to borrow – the man replied.
- Did he visit this place earlier?
- No, I haven't seen him before.
- Do you work here alone? Isn't there anyone else? – the rookie asked.
- I usually work here alone… but sometimes there is another employee when I'm not here.
- In this case, we have to ask him too… It's possible that that man was here at that time – Myles said. – When can we talk to him?
- You are lucky, he is here now. I'll tell him you want to talk to him – the man replied, and Jack smiled to thank him.
- No, I don't remember him from the description… - the other employee shook his head, after he joined them.
- Are you absolutely sure? – Jack asked. – Are you sure too that you only saw him once? – he continued, turning towards the first man, after the other one nodded. – Do many people come here? Because in this case you may not remember everyone who enters this place.
- Yes, but I would certainly remember such a person – the man replied.
- Did he pay by cash or card? – Jack asked.
- Cash – the man replied. – I found it strange that he used cash at such a huge quantity, but I didn't ask any questions… As I have already said, I was happy to lend so many fancy dresses at once.
- Our man is clever – Jack said. – He pays by cash, to make it impossible for us to locate his whereabouts. But no matter what he does, we'll catch him in no time – he said with an enthusiasm of a rookie.
- When does the deadline of the lending of the fancy dresses expire? – Myles asked.
- In two days.
- I believe we'll have enough to do on this day… - Jack said. My life at the FBI starts eventfully… I have always wanted such a job.
- Would you come to the FBI to give a description of the man again and help us make an identikit picture? – Myles asked.
- Of course. Is it Ok if I go in tomorrow morning?
- Perfect – the agent replied. - That's all for now. Thank you for your cooperation, you helped a lot. If it is necessary for the case, we'll come back for further information – he added.
- OK. I hope you'll find the culprits soon – the man replied.
- We'll do just that – Jack said. – We'll do everything to put them behind bars as soon as possible.
- Hudson, you are a rookie, you have just got to the FBI, and as such, you will never put either me or any other senior FBI employee to embarrassing situations in the future, am I understood? You only express your opinion when asked, and you try not to hinder investigation, we have enough trouble without young agents as well. Was I clear enough, or you are too young to get this for the first time?
Jack nodded, indicating he understood perfectly what he was told. He has no sense of humour… And of course, only I can be that lucky to be blessed with him by fate. If I survive the next week, it will be a real miracle, and everyone can admire me as the rookie who survived the trials of the Stupid Morose Agent.
- Hudson, leave daydreaming in working time, you already have too much free time anyway; you can daydream as much as you want then, but now you are working – his training agent pulled him back to reality. – Rather deal with the case, so that your being at the FBI has some use as well. Next step?
- We should wait until the identikit picture is ready, publish it in the media and when we have found the man, we'll interrogate him – Jack replied. – Hopefully he will tell us who his accomplices are.
- Good idea, but do you think we just sit and wait until then? The work of an FBI-agent is much harder.
- We have to interrogate the eyewitnesses… - Jack continued. - And Tara may also have found something out when looking at the videos from the bank.
- This is better – Myles nodded. – This afternoon, find out the names of the clients who were in the banks at the time of the robberies, and tomorrow we'll start by visiting and talking to them.
Jack sighed. He had never thought working for the FBI is easy. And he could experience that right on his first day.
