Complications, chapter 4

Kim pulled around the corner just in time to see Kate forced into the backseat of the car. The initial shock of the situation froze her and she sat, half a block away, and watched the car pull away. Finally, her instincts kicked in, and she slid into traffic, keeping behind to avoid being spotted. Keeping her focus on the silver sedan ahead of her, she dug in her purse for her cell phone.

"Bauer."

"Dad, it's Kim."

Jack detected the fear and urgency in her voice. "What's wrong, Kim?"

"It's Kate. Someone has her."

"What do you mean someone has her?" Jack was struggling to not yell at his daughter.

"I was driving and I saw this guy shove her in the backseat of a car. They took off and I'm following them right now."

Jack dropped into his chair, heart hammering in his chest, blood pounding in his head. "Wait a minute, Kim. You were with her. Why did you leave her?"

"I just went to get the car, Dad. I didn't think anything would happen."

"Sorry sweetheart. I know you didn't. I didn't think so either. Did you say that you're following them?"

"Yeah, they're about a half a block ahead of me."

Jack looked skyward, as if asking for divine intervention. "Please, Kim, be careful. You need to drop back a bit. They might spot you. Where are you now?"

Kim glanced at the street signs as she drove through the intersection. "Um, we just turned on West Beverly, heading west."

"Okay, hold on." Putting Kim on hold, Jack rang Tony's extension.

"Almeida."

"Tony, it's Jack. We've got a problem."

Tony was surprised at the seriousness of Jack's tone. As far as he knew, there wasn't much going on at CTU, and if there was something brewing, he hoped that, as director he would at least have an inkling of what was coming. "What's going on, Jack."

"It's complicated. Come to my office and bring Chloe with you if you see her."

"She's not in today, Jack."

Exasperated, he yelled in response: "Well, bring someone who's half-competent with the satellite." Taking a deep breath, he picked Kim's line up. "Kim honey, are you still on West Beverly?"

"Yeah, Dad."

"Okay, good. What kind of car are they driving?"

"It's a silver BMW. I didn't get close enough to make out the plates, or what type, but I think it's a five series."

"Alright. Now what's the most recent intersection you've passed?"

"Um, Doheny."

"Okay, you're doing great. Just keep far enough awayso they can't see you, but you can see them. Tony's here, just hold on while I get him up to date."

Tony walked in at the end of their conversation, Adam Kauffman trailing behind. "What's going on, Jack?"

"I think the Salazars have started their retaliation. Kim just saw someone grab Kate and shove her in the back of a silver BMW 5 series. She's tailing them on West Beverly. Adam, I need you to get satellite up so we can track them. Tony, can you stay on the line with Kim?"

"Yeah, sure. Where are you going?"

"Where do you think?" Jack turned his attention back to the phone he was holding, putting it in the cradle, activating the speaker. "Kim, I'm coming now. Just keep talking to Tony and he'll relay your position to me, okay? Adam's going to get satellite up and running to back you up."

"Okay, Dad. Shit! They just turned on Oakhurst. I'm too far over. Wait, okay, I made it."

"Kim, it's Tony. What direction did you turn on Oakhurst?"

"Right. Left on Alden."

"Don't get too close. Adam, do you have them on satellite yet?"

"Not yet, Tony. But, it's getting there."

"Right on Palm," Kim yelled over their voices.

Jack stopped at the doorway. He didn't like the way the chase was sounding. "Kim, I think they might have spotted you. Keep back. Don't get caught."

"Left on Third St."

"Adam, do you have them on satellite yet?" Jack yelled, his instincts telling him they were in trouble.

"I've got the area, but there are a lot of cars. Do you know how hard it is to find a silver car in that sea of cars?"

"Adam," Kim yelled. "Do you know how hard it is to follow one? Find her." Kim paused as she drove past the third intersection, accelerating slightly. "I can't see them. Dad, I can't see them any more. They didn't turn, but they're not up ahead."

Jack leaned against the door frame. "Are you sure, Kim?"

Kim pushed the sedan harder, quickly weaving through the traffic. After several minutes, she admitted defeat. "I'm sorry Dad. They're not here."

"Alright Kim," Tony interrupted the silence. "Come in to CTU."

"No, Tony. I'm going to keep driving around to see if I can spot them."

"Adam will find them with the satellite imagery quicker than you can by just driving around randomly. Besides, if they spotted you earlier, they'll be watching for you now."

"Tony's right, Kim," Jack interjected. "Come back here. You can help us more here than out there."

Kate was shoved forcibly into a windowless room. She shook the hair from her face, her eyes adjusting to the sudden light after having had the hood removed. She struggled uselessly against the restraints binding her hands behind her back. Giving up after a minute, she took in her surroundings. The room she was standing in looked like an old office. There was a desk in one corner and two rusty filing cabinets in another, a worn chair next to them. Otherwise, the room was empty and the layer of dust covering everything indicated that it hadn't been in use for some time.

She moved to the wall facing the door. The 'slight' pain in her lower back had increased and she eyed the chair, wondering if it would help ease the pain. She quickly dismissed it. The chair might be more comfortable, but she would never be able to get up from it unassisted without her hands freed. 'I'm not even sure I could sit in it without the use of my hands.' Shifting her weight, she rested her upper back against the wall, trying to find some comfort in her uncomfortable position.

She murmured aloud: "Okay, Jack. We're ready when you are."