SIOC in the morning

- How did it go, Kurt? Spending the night taking care of a four year old? - Tasha speaks while they are in the meeting room earlier in the day.

- Look, it was difficult to find something that she agreed to eat, but after a few attempts I managed to convince her to have a vegetable soup. - Kurt answers victorious.

- I wonder that you managed to convince a child this size to eat vegetables. - Reade quips.

- Convincing is not the word I would use. - He said looking at the little girl playing in a swivel chair. - Say I had a chocolate bar and said it would only work if she had the soup. She cried, kicked, and when she saw that I would not give in she took the soup.

- Guys, I know all of you are pampering Jane Junior, but... wow, how cute she is. - Rich enters saying and is already lost.

- But what, Rich? - Tasha asks impatiently. - You rush in here and change out of nowhere!

- Calm down, Talia's poor project! You always seem to have PMS. Aff. - And rolled his eyes. - Anyway, you need to help me with Patty. She is more stressed than Tasha, she went to the laboratory and she is crazy doing calculations and applying formulas.

- Maybe she discovered some loose ends that we can use. Let's go over there and see if we can help. - Reade suggested.

- Okay, I'm going to ask Brianna to stay with Avery, - Kurt mobilizes.

Everyone went to the lab. Patty was really focused on what she was doing.

- Patty, did something happen? - Tasha questions more concerned with the emotional of the friend than with the case itself.

- Ah, you've arrived! I was going to call them. Something surprising happened. I woke up at dawn and couldn't sleep anymore. So, as soon as they delivered the newspaper, I took the crossword puzzle to fill in and try to distract myself. And look at that! - threw the newspaper on the table showing the challenge.

The friends looked at the crossword and then looked at each other. It looked absolutely normal.

- Didn't you see? - the blonde asked and before the silence, continued talking. - The first letters of the first five responses, if read backwards, form the beginning of my personal darkweb password. Someone was trying to send me a clue. But I already searched everything. I used vergenere figures and nothing!

- Friend, I think you need to rest. - Tasha pointed out.

- Wait, do you have accounts on the darkweb? We need to talk about this, Patty. - Reade was concerned.

- Guys, it may sound crazy, but this morning something strange happened to me too. I received a message on my cell phone stating the date of Taylor's annual memorial, but the day and month were reversed, as well as two letters of the surname that said Shwan and not Shawn.

- Maybe we should add these two letters and four numbers to the end of my password.

- I think you guys freaked out for good. - Tasha said laughing. - In this absurd theory, I would have to consider that the narrator of the radio program I listen to every morning had his script adulterated on purpose and that is why he passed two scores from yesterday's games in error and then had to apologize. In fact, when he apologized, he stressed that he did not know how it happened and that even the Lakers' name was written Lokers on paper.

- It can't be a coincidence, people! We have an O now and I need the wrong score numbers, Tasha. - Patty looked frantic. Even without believing the theory, Tasha passed. - Did anything else happen to anyone here today?

- Everything absolutely normal with me. I woke up, went to my favorite cafe and came over for my tea, without any change in the usual. - Reade said and raised his glass to show his friends. - Hey, wait a minute. - And looked carefully at the packaging label. - If we look vertically ... Jane Doe ... It's me ... 7Yx3 # 4%.

Even before he finished, Patty was already inputting numbers into his algorithm.

- Damn, nothing!

- It's because the numbers Edgar said are for me. This is part of a formula I developed with friends in college. - Rich said and took over the computer next to Patty - Crazy time those. I can't go into details, but if I could ... Ready! I have a result. Try this, Patty.

- No! Wait. If it's really Jane and Roman, they must have been careful. Let's test a vegenere cipher on top of the result. - Tasha suggested.

After a sequence of calculations the message appeared.

- Times Square and today's date. It must be the location of the attack. I'll let Nas know. - Kurt said.

- There is a coordinate to follow that is not even close to Times Square. In fact, it is a considerable distance from NYC. - Rich continued.

- It's probably Shepherd's HQ. - Reade concluded. - We will organize a double task force. Kurt leads the group that goes to Times Square. I'm going to go with some agents to go after Shepherd with me.

- I'll go with you. - Tasha said emphasizing the self.

- No, Tasha. What happened yesterday is enough. - Reade said categorically.

- Look, Edgar. If I'm not with you, I'm going with Kurt. - The girl protested.

- There will be no way, right? - He said discouragingly looking at the rest of the team.

They just nodded.

Shepherd HQ

- Everything is ready. I'll park two blocks from Times Square and set up the device. Then, Martin will drive to the location. The side door will guarantee a quick disposal of the case. As he walks away with the vehicle so as not to attract attention, I make the final adjustment and activate the diffusion pump. The system will guarantee me five minutes. It is enough time to get away and reach the van. And it will be done.

- Very well, Remi. I was sure I could count on you. A mother couldn't be more proud. - Ellen says taking her hand to her daughter's shoulder, but she dodges.

- I'll keep my part of the deal and perform Phase 1 for you. I hope you haven't forgotten your part, Ellen. As soon as I finish in Times Square, I run back here and want my daughter back.

- You will have it, Remi. Just trust. Go and do what must be done.

Remi says goodbye to Ellen and Roman. Get on the van with Martin Gero and leave for Times Square.

A few minutes later, Ellen receives a call and is visibly irritated.

- What happened? - Roman asks worried. - Something with Remi?

- No, everything goes well with the plan. They have already parked and she is assembling the device. Sophia Varna has always been useless. She let the FBI take the child.

- Seriously? I don't want to be in your skin when Remi returns.

- Don't worry, Roman. Your sister looks fierce, but she won't be a problem. Until the night, I will be taking command of that country and the FBI will no longer be a threat to us.

- I'm glad I'm on your side. And since you have everything under control, you could give me a few hours off to say goodbye to Kat. I confess that it will be great not to be here when Remi returns.

- Ah, my boy. Go have fun with your girlfriend. And trust your mother.

Roman tries to stay calm and act as if nothing is happening. Get the car and leave HQ. As soon as you move away, accelerate as fast as you can. He needs to get to Times Square and let Jane know that Avery is safe with Kurt.

Kurt

I left NYO for Times Square with an elite squad and accompanied by Nas. Thanks to the information Jane and Roman sent us, we have a real chance to stop Ellen's plan and put an end to it today.

It is so good to know that I can trust Jane again. But how to deal with that we will face in a few minutes. She's on the enemy line and doesn't know we're with Avery. All I want is to have a chance to say it to her before any of us get hurt.

What awaits us in Times Square? What kind of threat is Jane executing for that sociopath who is her foster mother?

"I hope you are like the great federal agent you've always been out there, Kurt." - Nas said. - Don't let your feelings cloud your judgment. If you fail, you will put thousands of lives at risk and I will not fail to mention the ethical dubiousness of your behavior in your report.

- My ethical principles have always guided all my actions in the field, Nas. Stay calm.

- I hope so. Remember: Jane is a terrorist and the order for agents is to shoot to kill.

- She may be doing the task for Sandstorm, Nas, but without her we wouldn't be here today. Jane and Roman gave us location and date. Neither you, me, nor the team had anything consistent before that.

- We have no proof that they sent the riddles that unlocked the message. I've been dealing with another Sandstorm member named Cade for some time. It could have been him too.

- The messages were sent to me and our team and not to you, Nas. I hope you don't forget that when you make your report.

I didn't like the look I saw on Nas's face at all. Apparently, Times Square would not be the last challenge we would face. We would have a long journey ahead of us.

Jane

I delayed the assembly of the device as long as I could. Martin had his eyes on me. Even if he smiled every time my eyes met his, I know he would be in contact with Ellen if it started to take too long.

I thought about Avery. At least she would hardly be in NYC. God, I'm not even sure how much disaster this will cause. I don't know what this ZIP is and how it will affect all these people.

My stomach churned in nausea that was difficult to control. Is that what I was? A murderous sociopath like Ellen? But if I don't, she'll be cruel to Avery, I know. I remembered Roman's rabbit dying days and days before he died beside our bed in the orphanage. No! I can't let this happen to my daughter. I swallowed and continued my task.

- It's all over here, Martin. You can go to Times Square. -I warned myself feeling the worst person in the world.

I slid out of the van at the point combined with the usual discretion. I put the suitcase on the floor and carefully prepared for the final arrangements. Only then did I realize that the van was still there. When I looked back, I was surprised:

- Hello, Sis. - Roman said with a smile that seemed a little scary due to the circumstances.

- Roman, what are you doing here? He promised to stay and take care of Avery if something happened to me! - she said distressed.

- Change of plans, sis. We better get that bag back in the van.

- Are you crazy, Roman? Are you conspiring with Ellen? And Martin?

- Martin is dead, Jane. I had no alternative. Now it's just the two of us. He wants to stop asking questions and put that suitcase back in the van so we can get out of here. The FBI must be coming.

- Roman, I'm not going. I can not! I can't let Avery suffer.

- Avery is with Kurt. That's why I'm here. Now we have to put that bomb back in the van. I will drive slowly while you disarm this thing. If the FBI arrives, Sis, we will spend the rest of our lives in prison.

- Why didn't you tell me soon! Jane snarled, rolling her eyes and carefully placing the suitcase back in the van.

At that moment, we heard the sounds of sirens and the street started to be evacuated.

In minutes, we were surrounded. Kurt and Nas were at the head of the elite squad:

- FBI. Stop! Descend with your hands up.

Roman raised his hands, but stayed in the van. I was crouched at the rear trying to defuse the bomb without success. The system seemed to be stuck.

- I will repeat: come down with your hands on your head or we will shoot. - Kurt seemed determined and full of hate.

Tasha

- Tasha, I wish you had stayed in the lab with Patty and Rich. - He's been driving for a few minutes and still hasn't said a word.

- Oh yes? And miss the opportunity to get my hands on Shepherd? - I pretend not to understand.

- You know, Tasha. After yesterday, I was very concerned and hoped you wouldn't take such a risk.

- I know, Ed. - She looks at him carefully. - I'm aware of the risks, okay? And you can be sure I'll be careful. I just want to be there to arrest you. If there is any greater danger, I withdraw. All right?

He just looks at me, but he doesn't smile. You must have agreed. I will not put my son's life at risk. I'm being cautious. There are other agents with us to reinforce.

We arrived at the indicated place and positioned ourselves. There are three more agents with us. We are very well armed. Andy manages to disable an alarm and unlocks a gate on the side of the complex. Ed signals each to go in one direction. I stand beside him. I feel more secure, and he would also want me around.

We moved carefully to a shed and came across some cabinets. We opened a few and found a large amount of heavy weapons and ammunition, the kind you only see in movies.

I hear a noise and head to the southern part of the shed where the sound came from. I run into Ellen who is hurrying out of the back of the place. I point my gun at her, disguising my panic.

- Drop the gun, Ellen! - I speak between teeth.

- Never! We are many in here and you don't have a chance with these little guns that the government makes available to the agents. - She speaks with disdain.

- The complex is surrounded. You can even get out of here, but you won't have a chance outside. - I speak trying to convince you to surrender.

- Even if I surrender you have already lost. - She smiles sarcastically. - My Remi is currently placing a bomb in Times Square. In fact it must be firing now.

I hear the sound of a gunshot and Ellen falls to the floor in agony. Edgar is beside me and I look at him with relief.

Edgar checks the woman's vital signs and finds that she is dead. We step into the place where Shepherd left and see Andy and another agent bring in handcuffed group members.

- Luke was shot. I already called for an ambulance. - Andy speaks showing his friend lying on the floor with a shirt wrapped around the hit shoulder.

- Right! Let's get out of here.

Back to Times Square

- Sis, please go quickly there. Your little boyfriend doesn't look like he's playing.

- I can't disarm, Roman. The system is counting down.

- They will shoot, Sis.

- I'm slowing down as I can, my finger is pressing on the clock. If I get him out of here, it's over. Activate the opening of the side door. I need to alert Kurt to stay away. Then you can run too.

- And leave you here? No way! - Roman said before opening the side door of the van.

Jane and Kurt's eyes met again.

- Hands on your head! - He said howling. - You have the right to remain silent ...

- Kurt, no, please. You need to get away. - Her eyes pleaded, lowering the canvas of the suitcase with one hand to show the device. - Get away quickly!

Upon seeing the bomb, Kurt gave an evacuation order and everyone started to walk away. He, however, walked towards the van.

- This van is armored. We can contain the gas in here. Activate the automatic closing and get out, Roman!

- You can only do it from here, Sis. I am with you until the end. - Roman said activating the sealing of the van doors.

At that point, the countdown ended and the ZIP gas started to spread inside the vehicle. Jane slipped into the front seat so she could see Kurt through the glass. Gesturing, he reaffirmed:

- Please run away!

- Jane, no! - He said in a panic.

- Take care of Avery. I'm so sorry. - And hit his chest - I love you.

Gas took over the vehicle. And Kurt walked away in shock. He didn't want to go, but she was right. Depending on the damage this substance would cause, he would be Avery's only family now.