" My friend, I am afraid someone might be working against us," Tariq began, after they entered his car.
" Then of course, he must be taken care of," Jack concluded, nodding his head.
Tariq nodded as well, but for the rest of the ride, he was silent. After 25 minutes of driving, Tariq stopped and got out. Jack followed suit, and looked around. It was a very large garbage dump. Tariq motioned for Jack to follow him, so he trailed behind him, noting where they were.
" You wanted to see me?" the UC came out from behind a pile of garbage.
Tariq drew his gun, and shot him in the arm. The man screamed, clutching his bloody arm. Jack gasped to himself, not believing what was happening. How could this have happened? How did Tariq figure out he was a mole? And what did this mean to Jack's operation? But Jack put his questions aside, for he needed his full focus to resolving the task ahead.
Tariq said something in Arabic that Jack did not understand, but he could tell it was not something pleasant by the look on the UC's face
" Michael, kill him!" Tariq ordered.
Shit, Jack thought, he was in a hole here. He decided to stall.
" But why?" Jack asked. But to show respect and acknowledgement of authority, he drew his gun.
" This man is a traitor! I saw him placing a wire on my jacket yesterday! I checked his back round, but I could not find anything. None the less, I know a traitor when I see one!" Tariq exclaimed.
Jack drew in a sharp breath, realizing he was trapped.
He remembered a while back, when he was working on the virus threat for CTU. The Salazar's had captured Chase, and they had forced Jack to shoot him. But luckily, it was just a test, and Chase lived. But this could be the time; this could be the real thing.
Jack moved closer to their captive, and pressed his gun to his temple. Jack tried not to meet his eyes, but failed. He saw the fear, even plea in his eyes, begging him not to do it.
" Please. Please don't!" he whispered shaking, probably both from fear and pain.
This man was already a hero for not giving away Jack's identity in a time of crisis. For that, he silently thanked him. Jack looked up to Tariq, who was staring at him expectantly.
" Michael. If you want to be in with us, you're going to have to do this. I have things to do, so just do it now!" Ali ordered.
Jack realized there was nothing else he could do. If he wanted this operation to succeed, which he by all means did, he would have to do it. So he closed his eyes, prayed it was just a test, and pulled the trigger.
To his horror, blood spilled from the UC's head, and he fell over with a thud. Jack acted as if it did not affect him, and calmly put his gun in his back pocket.
" Very good. Believe me, I had my doubts. You are a white man, and to think you were willing to help us," Tariq shook his head. " But I was wrong. You obviously are aware of what has to be done to this country. Thank you. Now you have seen how we treat our enemies. But you are family now, so you will see how we treat family. Tomorrow we are having a gathering at my house, and you and your wife are of course welcome."
Jack was sickened at how this man could go from killing someone to talking about parties. But he had dealt with so much of this before; he was almost numb to what had just happened. Just part of the job.
" We would be happy to attend," was all Jack could muster.
With that, Tariq shook his hand and hugged him. After disposing of the body, they entered the car, and Tariq drove Jack to where he was staying. Jack left, almost in a trance like state, and entered his small cabin.
Chloe was sitting at a small table, typing away on her laptop. She looked up when she heard someone come in, and new immediately something was wrong.
" Jack, what happened?" she asked, as they both sat down on the couch.
" I just killed the UC," Jack whispered. He retold the whole story. " I killed a good man. I could see it in his eyes, he was pleading with me to not do it!"
" Jack, you did the only thing you could!" Chloe reminded him.
" Yeah, it seems like killing is the only thing I can do," Jack shook his head. " I know it's part of my job; all of my job, and it's never really gotten to me, but I think all of my years are starting to catch up with me.
" Well for what it's worth Jack, what ever you do, I know you're a great guy," Chloe said in a small voice.
Jack took her in his arms and kissed her lightly on the head.
" That's why you're the best friend anyone could have," Jack tried a smile. " No matter how much of a cold blooded killer I am you're always there for me.