Three Months Ago
'Ok, listen up' Jack shouted above the hustle that was the bullpen in the morning. Lucy shuffled away from Tara's desk to tap Sue on the shoulder to bring her attention to Jack. Myles turned away from the coffee machine, sipping a fresh cup whilst Bobby looked up from his desk and leaned back into his high backed leather chair. Phones rang in the background on other teams desks as Jack handed out information sheets before taking his place before the notice board.
'This is our new target. Mohammed Ali Kahn.' He began.
'As in the Boxer?' Sue quirked an eyebrow, making sure she had read his lips correctly.
Jack nodded. 'We shall call him "The Boxer'" he said 'He is the leader of a terrorist group with a deep hatred for the independence of America' Jack pointed to a mugshot of "the Boxer" on the board with a marker pen. 'We have it on good authority he is planning something for Independence Day'
Tara's eyes snapped up from the mugshot in her hand. 'Next week is Independence day' she said, almost in a questioning tone.
Jack nodded. 'That's why were want to find a follower or two and see what he has planned'
'Why not go straight to the source of the problem?' Myles added into his coffee, taking a sip when he was done speaking. 'Surely that would solve the entire pest problem' he shrugged looking between his colleagues for back up.
'If we do that we have no guarantee we have stopped anything" Tara pointed out.
'Or they could change the date when they notice leader boy gone' Bobby added.
'Exactly. So we want to get surveillance on the Boxer. At his home, his works, everywhere. If he sneezes I want to know why.'
'I'll work on getting a phone tap warrant' Tara busily tapped away at her keyboard, eyes fixed on the screen.
'Great' Jack turned towards the coffee machine and the desk to the side of it. 'Bobby, Myles, I want you guys to find a list of known associates and business partners'. Bobby grabbed his jacket and Myles hurriedly slurped the last drop of coffee from his cup before catching up with Bobby leaving the bullpen.
'What about previous attacks?' Sue asked Jack with a bark from Levi.
'They should be on file somewhere' he paused with a look of fear on his face, glancing quickly at Lucy.
'Relax' Lucy told him with a smile touching Sue lightly on the shoulder. 'I'll help her. Wouldn't dream of sending anyone down to the vault alone' she chuckled. Jack blushed a little, remembering the first time he had gone down there…for 4 hours. Sue looked puzzled for a moment before realising the joke was on Jack and smiling at him reassuringly.
'Don't worry' she winked. 'We wont tell'. Levi barked again, tail wagging.
The elevator ride down to the vault was slow and creaky. The temperature dropped around Sue and Lucy as they descended 4 storeys below the FBI headquarters. Levi let out a groan and looked up at Lucy as the metal cage came to a halt.
'Don't worry boy' she reassured him with a quick head scratch 'we wont be long'.
As Sue stepped out of the elevator she was amazed at the amount of files there where. Rows and rows of shelving stacked from floor to ceiling went on as far as the eye could see. A small dimly lit desk sat just outside the elevator surrounded by even smaller filing cabinets.
'Where do we begin?' She asked Lucy. Lucy shrugged and exhaled hard.
'A' she said simply and headed down the first aisle.
Bobby and Myles rounded the corner and entered the office, approaching Jack at his desk. He stopped and looked up from his computer. 'What ya got?' he asked with an expectant kid-at-Christmas tone.
'Kahn is known everywhere. And by everywhere I mean by everyone. He's a big player in the Anti-America movement' Bobby paced to his desk and leant casually on his desk corner, armed folder across his chest.
'And turns out he lets all the nice young ladies do his bidding' Myles added, placing his well used coffee cup under the faithful old machine and pressing his usual button. Jack looked at him puzzled.
'He recruits sheilas to be bombers. No one suspects them and they have all kinds of alibis available to them' Bobby confirmed for him, reaching out to a folder lying across his desk.
'Children…feminine things' Myles said matter of factly, motioning with his now full coffee cup. 'That and good old home grown terrorists would never be women' he took a sip of his coffee.
'But your average American suspect is a far more advanced species' Jack finished. 'So we are looking for women. Tara, any kind of indication as to where?'
Tara stood from her desk and began her findings just as Sue and Lucy re entered the bullpen. 'Nothing from his telephone tap, or his daily workings. Turns out the Boxer is a well oiled engine when it comes to work. Very little change to his routine. He works in an abattoir. Pretty low profile' she told the group, sifting through papers here and there, scattering them across her desk. Jack looked at her intently, sensing she had more. Noticing his glare, Tara continued. 'I did however find some emails on his computer that raised some suspicions. Here are some copies' she passed them around.
Jack skimmed over the emails, trying to pick out important phrases and words. He was lost. This was Tara's expertise, as was suspense, so he waited for her to continue.
'Several of the emails mention a party, which we are assuming is Independence Day celebrations, with a few names' Her eyes fell onto the page in her hand and she recited a few sentences of interest. 'Eleanor can't wait for her gifts to arrive…Frank's heart shall be lonely no more…The Smiths are excited to be meeting you…' she looked up from her paper, giving everyone an "any ideas?" look.
The whole group looked between each other, frowning at the pages they held in their hands. Bobby was the first to speak up. 'If we are talking landmarks with mass crowds, the Smiths could be the Smithsonian's museum by National Mall. There will be lots of people there celebrating next week'. Jack's eyes widened as he noted possible locations on the whiteboard behind him.
'Very touristy' Myles added, stating the obvious loss of life that could be incurred.
'Tara, find out where the smiths email went to. It could have been sent directly to the bomber' Jack ordered her.
'Already have. It was bounced half way around the world from DC only to come right back here' she flicked through some more paperwork littering her desk. 'To a Jesse James. I have an address' she held it up in the air. Jack grabbed the page as he fled the bullpen, Bobby and Myles in tow.
Sue looked at Lucy, a little disorientated from the fast paced conversation that had just happened. 'They have an address' Lucy signed to her, and Sue nodded.