The next morning, Chloe was distant and quiet, as Jack had expected. They ate breakfast in more or less silence, when Jack could take it no longer.
" Chloe, please can we…" Jack began, but before Chloe could open her mouth in protest, they heard a knock at the door.
Jack grabbed his gun from the table, and moved to look through the peephole. He saw it was Tariq, so he pocketed the gun, and opened the door smiling.
" Tariq. Wonderful party last night," Jack commented.
" Thank you, but now we have work to do," Tariq did not return the smile.
Jack understood there was business to be attended to, so he followed Tariq into his car, and they drove off. For about 10 minutes, they sped in silence, until they reached a small cottage at the foot of a forest.
Tariq explained to Jack they would be "home-making" several bombs, but he did not specify what exactly they would be used for. Jack didn't ask where or how he had gotten the materiel.
Once they began to work, the mood lightened, so Jack took the opportunity to rant about America and it's ludicrous government, just as he had practiced with Chloe before. Tariq seemed someone impressed at his devotion to destroying the country, but he didn't seem to share the beliefs most terrorists often did. At the end of the day, Tariq drove Jack home, where he found Chloe asleep already.
Weeks past, and Chloe remained cold and distant, while Tariq remained lively and energetic, eager to go on with his plan. He still rarely shared details, so the only thing Jack could gather was that his main objective was not loss of life, instead to send a message. The message was still unknown. It still interested Jack that Tariq didn't seem to hate America, so one day he brought it to his attention.
" Tariq, why are you so interested in attacking this shit country, when you seem indifferent about its wrong doings?"
" Hmm, I guess we have worked together long enough for me to tell you this. Jack, I don't give a crap about America. But my cousin," Tariq paused, seeming to remember something from his past. " Syeed was like my brother. We spent all of our time together. But my parents, they seemed to like Syeed more than me! More than their own son! He was always better than me in everything, from school, to any sorts of games we played. And when he took an interest in destroying America, so did my family. But he failed, and now I will succeed! For once, I will be the best!"
Jack stood, unsure of what to say. This was not in the least what he was expecting. He pondered the new development on the way home. He seemed to be on a roll with saying what needed to be said to people, so he decided to try his luck with Chloe.
" Hey Chloe, could I talk to you for a sec?" Jack asked.
" I'm sorta busy here Jack, so if it's not " America is under attack right now" I really don't have time," Chloe scowled, sitting at her computer.
Jack put on his best "hurt look", so Chloe, not meaning to snap at him, sat down next to him.
" Could you try to make it quick?" she asked.
" Sure," Jack smiled. " Um, well ever since… you know, you've been acting really distant and quiet, so…" Jack could see he wasn't hitting home, so he tried a different approach. " Look Chloe, what I'm doing is difficult, and you're my co-worker, and best friend, so I need you. Obviously we have a lot to talk about, but could we just put it aside until this is over?"
" Yeah," Chloe replied, almost at a whisper. " That's the best idea I've heard in a while.