V
Raleigh, North Carolina – Six months later – Having spent the summer working in her Aunt's antique store, Former Lt. Sara Sage decides to begin pursuing her interests in the Secret Service. As she puts her affairs in order and begins preparing her resume she comes across the card given to her by Admiral James Grant, which she met in Norfolk. She disregards it for a moment until her mind begins to remember Grant's proposal. After another day or two of thinking over her options she decides to call the number on the card.
Expecting to be connected directly to Grant she is surprised when an automated response answers instead.
"The extension requested in no longer in service, would you like to be routed to the current extension?"
"Yes." Sage replies now wondering if the entire setup is legitimate.
"Deputy Director Stone here." Says the live voice on the other end of the line.
"Oh hello. An Admiral Grant gave me this number some months ago after I got out of the Navy. When I arrived home he tried to recruit me for your agency; I know it's been awhile but I was wondering if the offer still stands?" Sage asks.
"He gave you a business card, correct?" Stone asks.
"That's right."
"Look on the back of the card at the bottom right for me, there's a number there can you read it to me please." Stone asks as he prepares to enter the digits into his computer.
Sage reads off the numbers as instructed as Stone punches them in, a moment later a file opens for a Lieutenant Sara Sage U.S. Navy.
The pilot!
"Lt. Sara Sage?" Stone asks.
"Yes, that's right."
"I'm so glad you called Lieutenant, we weren't sure if we were going to hear from you again." Stone replies.
"You mean the offer is still on the table, even after all this time?" Sage asks.
"We're always in need of good people Lieutenant."
"Please cease with the Lieutenant, I'm not in the Navy anymore. And what happened to Admiral Grant, he said this number was a direct line to his office."
"Of course Ms. Sage, unfortunately Director Grant passed away not long after his recruiting trip six months ago." Stone explains.
"Oh my goodness, I'm sorry to hear that."
"Thank you, after his passing all his recruiting files were forwarded to me by his successor. And to be quite frank Ms. Sage, you were at the top of his list. I take it you're interested?"
"Yes sir, what's the next step from here?" Sage asks.
"Secondary interviews, a polygraph then if all goes well orientation training. If you graduate then the job is yours." Stone explains.
"How long does training last?" Sage asks.
"Four weeks, when can you be ready to start?"
"A couple days."
"Let's make it three, give me your address and phone number and I'll make the arrangements for you."
After a few more minutes of discussing details Stone informs her that a plane ticket will be waiting for her to pick up at the airport. He advises her only to pack what's essential for the next four weeks and that orientation is reminiscent of military basic training only it expands upon what most candidates have already learned and mastered throughout their careers.
"Once you graduate you'll be given a few days to fly back home and collect the rest of your things. Do you have any last questions?" Stone says.
"Will you be there at orientation sir?"
"Negative, but I will be receiving progress reports throughout the duration. If all goes well, and I don't foresee that you'll have any issues completing orientation, I will see you in roughly one month."
"Thank you for the opportunity Deputy Director." Sage replies.
"We look forward to having you aboard Ms Sage."
After four weeks of intense training Sara Sage is flown to Washington to report for duty. She spends nearly an hour in personnel as they finish up the paperwork before she's escorted in to an office where she meets Deputy Director Stone. After shaking hands Stone offers her a seat and begins reviewing her file, informing her that she scored some of the highest marks ever during orientation. Once he's reviewed her entire file he realizes exactly where she should be assigned.
"Well Agent Sage, I think I know the best place for you." Stone says.
"And that is sir?" Sage asks.
"Right at the top, best field team in the agency."
"Sir?" Sage asks as they hear a knock at his door.
"Speak of the devil." Stone says waving Hudson in. "William perfect timing, I'd like you to meet Agent Sara Sage, fresh out of orientation, graduated with the highest marks and she's just been assigned to Shadow team. Sage, this is William Hudson, Commander of Shadow team."
"Congratulations, glad to have you with us." Hudson says extending his hand.
"Thank you sir, I look forward to working with you." Sage rises and takes his hand in a firm grip.
"Will I'm done with her if you'd like to show her around and introduce her to the rest of the team."
"Uh sure, I need to have a word with you first please." Hudson says.
Sensing his friend is stalling for some unknown reason Stone asks Sage to wait outside.
Hudson closes the door behind her then turns back to Stone. "Wow, she's . . . . . uh . . . . . . . attractive."
Stone exhales a short giggle. "Yeah, I would have to agree with you. This is what you wanted to see me about?"
"Uh no." Hudson says realizing his brief lapse in professionalism. Putting his mind back on track he hands Stone the file he brought in with him. "Case report. So you think she's the best fit for Shadow?"
"She's a former Navy pilot, the one who shot down those Mig-29's over Greece." Stone says reviewing the case file he was just handed.
"You mean Flight 467, that was her?" Hudson asks.
Stone simply nods his head without taking his attention away from the file.
"Wow."
"She's full of surprises Will, believe me I think she'll do just fine with Shadow. Now don't keep her waiting out there, go introduce her to the guys." Stone says.
"You got it, initiation as usual?" Hudson asks.
Stone looks up from the file seeing Sage sitting across the hall facing the interior window of his office. Knowing exactly what his friend is referring to as well as Sage's background inside and out his face forms a sly grin as he directs his attention to Hudson, unknowingly to Hudson for completely different reasons. "You bet."
Sage rises from her seat as Hudson leaves the office.
"Sorry about that, so let's go meet the rest of the team." Hudson says pointing the way.
"Sounds good and don't worry sir, I don't bite . . . . hard."
"Uh . . . what?" Hudson says confused by her comment as she walks ahead of him in the direction he gestured. He turns back to look at Stone through the door with a look of puzzlement on his face.
"She can read lips." Stone says struggling to contain his amusement at his friend's expense. "You might think about reading her file when you find the time."
"You could have told me that ahead of time."
"I wouldn't have had to if you hadn't put your foot in your mouth." Stone replies. "Read her file."
Hudson catches up with Sage and escorts her to the team pod first.
"Where's the rest of the team?" Sage asks noticing not a single desk is occupied at the moment.
"Shadow Ops room, we were just wrapping up a debriefing when I left to hand in the report to Stone. Uh you can stash your stuff there, that'll be your desk. Last one in the pod." Hudson says still a little embarrassed from earlier.
"You guys have been shorthanded?" Sage asks putting her duffel bag on the desk. She retrieves her issued sidearm and clips the holster to her right hip and a magazine pouch on her left.
"Off and on for quite some time actually, it's a long story."
"I'd like to hear it sometime, if we're to be working together I need to know who's watching my back." Sage replies as she loads a magazine into the sidearm and shoves it in the holster. "And vice versa I would hope."
"Of course, follow me." Hudson says leading her to Shadow Ops. Given that they just finished an assignment he's neither surprised nor upset that his team is taking a leisurely break sitting around the room discussing the case. "Guys listen up, I'd like you all to meet our newest team member, Agent Sara Sage."
Anderson is the first to greet Sage as he rises from his chair and extends his hand. "Good to meet you, Gage Anderson former Air Force Search and Rescue."
"Thank you."
"So Agent Sage, what's your background? Military, local police, FBI, CIA, DOD?"
"Navy actually, pilot." Sage replies.
"Sage here is the only female pilot that's ever been in combat." Hudson interjects. "She and her flight leader defended Flight 467 in Greece some months back."
"You're kidding!" McCabe says rising from his chair.
Sage's attention is drawn to the young man as he approaches her.
"That was you, I don't believe this. I was the FBI agent on board 467." McCabe says.
Having briefly forgotten McCabe's involvement in the hijacking Hudson suddenly realizes why Director Grant recruited both of them. Not to mention the fact that now he realizes why Stone assigned her to Shadow team.
"I remember you now, Commander Hughes was in contact with the cockpit but I was on the same channel and remember hearing your voice after you took out the hijackers." Sage says extending her hand. "It's a pleasure Agent?"
"Andrew McCabe." He says taking the offering. "And the pleasure is all mine, you saved my life, as well as everyone on board."
"Thank you, so you were recruited by Omega too. How come I didn't see you in orientation with the other candidates?" Sage asks.
"While McCabe is our newest addition to the team, until now, he's been with us for the last seven months." Hudson explains.
"That makes sense, I'm assuming you met Director Grant too?"
"Yeah, right after I got home from Greece." McCabe replies. "Well I'm really excited to begin working with you. It's good to have you aboard."
"Alright next we've got Agent Patrick O'Bryan, former FBI bomb squad. He serves as team demolitionist." Hudson explains as O'Bryan exchanges greetings with Sage. "Then we have."
"Kyle Watts." Watts says interrupting Hudson. "Former NSA, team Tech Ops. Welcome to the club."
"What about you sir, what's your background?" Sage asks turning to Hudson.
"Army Rangers."
"Diversity, I like it. So what's the usual initiation you mentioned to Deputy Director Stone earlier? Some kind of practical joke, hazing of the new meat, what?" Sage asks.
"No we like something a little more physical." Anderson puts in.
"Sparring practice." Hudson says. "Before you can watch our backs we need to see how well you watch your own."
They escort Sage downstairs to the gymnasium and after a change of clothes they all begin warming up. Expecting a pilot to have only the martial arts knowledge taught to them during basic training, Hudson and the others soon find themselves very impressed with Sage's hand to hand combat skills.
"Nine years of kung fu and tai chi since age seven." Says Sage.
After a half hour of one on one sparring Sage defeats everyone on the team, except Hudson who has yet to participate so he can observe her skills. Thus far only McCabe, who is a three star black belt, stands as her toughest opposition but eventually she takes him down as well.
"Impressed yet sir?" Sage says eyeing Hudson.
"Getting there but let's see how you do against multiple opponents." Hudson replies snapping his fingers.
Like a moth to a flame all four guys advance towards Sage! She quickly springs into action dispensing one target at a time. O'Bryan and Watts fall first but are back on their feet and re-engaging within seconds. As they do Anderson is knocked off his feet and sent tumbling into O'Bryan, which floors them both. As Sage defends a barrage of attacks from the well experienced McCabe she executes a backwards kick into Watts' chest sending him back to the mat. She defends another volley of attacks from all four guys as Hudson picks up the phone and dials the extension for Stone's office.
"Michael you've gotta get down here and see this."
"She wiping the floor with you guys?" Stone says.
Hudson detects a grin in his tone. "Everyone but McCabe, so far."
"Okay I'll be down in a minute." Stone replies.
The brawl continues for another few minutes when McCabe is the last one left standing with enough energy to go on. Having already lost once to Sage, McCabe is determined to be victorious this time around. He receives a sharp kick to the left temple that almost sends him to the ground. However he uses his momentum to spin around until he comes up behind Sage! He grabs her right arm and begins to deliver a fierce chop the base of skull that would knock any opponent unconscious. However he pulls the strike at the last moment leaving the blade of his hand resting on her neck. Realizing she's been beaten Sage looks over her right shoulder with a smile. McCabe lets go of her arm and bows respectfully as she faces him; Sage does the same in return.
"You're good." He comments.
"Thanks, want to go again?"
"Thanks but another time perhaps."
"Anyone else have any energy left, I'm just getting warmed up." Sage says as her attention is drawn to Hudson whom she's has not seen spar yet. "How about you sir?"
"I'm game." Hudson says with that usual cool of his.
Just as Hudson steps onto the mat Stone arrives to observe. The rest of the guys back away and take a seat outside the mat. Knowing Hudson is a former Army Ranger Special Forces operative they expect it will be a one sided fight. Hudson attacks slowly at first expending very little energy. Sage follows suit until she realizes she'll never get anywhere unless she steps up her game. The match progresses for five minutes with neither fighter having any advantage over the other. A moment later Hudson finally presses his attack; Sage takes a few hits but holds her ground as she blocks or dodges the incoming strikes.
"I take it this is the true initiation? Wait until the rookie is tired out then pit 'em against the team leader who has yet to throw a punch." Sage says circling Hudson.
"There may be times in the field when you have to engage a fresh opponent when you're near exhaustion. Besides I thought you were just warming up?" Hudson explains.
"Maybe that was a lure to see how overconfident you might be."
"Nice try, this is the moment when you show us what you're really made of Sage."
"Alright let's do it!" Sage says immediately launching herself at Hudson.
Hudson is surprised at how quick she re-engages as he nearly misses a blow to the face that could've sent him reeling. He blocks the next volley of attack she launches but doesn't fail to notice that they are coming with increasing speed and strength. Usually a common mistake but as he continues to dodge and deflect her blows he notices her stamina enduring. He's taken by surprise as he fails to dodge a foot sweep, using the momentum of his fall he rolls out of the path of her next kick.
Meanwhile unimpressed with what he is witnessing Stone halts the match. "I thought I came down here to see a fight. Sage, you ever trained with a Bo staff?"
"Of course." Sage replies keeping her eyes trained on Hudson.
Stone walks over to the wall mount and grabs two of the wooden staffs. He tosses one to her and Hudson. "Engage."
The match continues this time with the sounds of the Bo staffs cracking with each hit or block. As the fight continues Hudson becomes increasingly impatient as he goes ballistic trying to take Sage down. Sage blocks a few fast swings from Hudson's staff, notices him fall back briefly just before he re-engages. She ducks under a high swipe from his weapon then executes a series of back flips and cartwheels across the mat as Hudson pursues still swinging his staff. When she reaches the end of the mat she plants her feet firmly then somersaults forward under another attempted strike from Hudson. She comes up on her feet, hits him in the lower back with enough force to stun him then uses the opposite end of her staff to sweep his left leg out from under him! Once flat on the mat she lunges the end of her staff towards his face stopping just inches before hitting him.
Hudson now breathing heavily simply smiles and says. "Now . . . I'm impressed."
Sage smiles as she offers her hand to help Hudson to his feet. "Thank you sir."
"Just one thing, dial down the sir stuff a bit. Will, William, Hudson. I'm sure you'll know the time and place when to pull out the sir." Hudson explains.
"Understood sir . . . um Hudson."
She then hears Stone clapping his hands as the other guys join in.
"Welcome to Shadow team Agent Sage." Stone says.
Tehran, Iran – After months of searching Samon Khalid is finally able to find a trace of the Jackhammer online. Still under the assumption that the Jackhammer is the one responsible for his brother's capture, as well as the disappearance of his subordinate Taliq Aziri; Khalid is adamant to get to the bottom of the mysterious arms dealer. For the last seven months any attempt to send messages to the Jackhammer have been futile, being blocked or routed through some unknown ghost server. However today using a new algorithm Khalid hits jackpot as he notices his message going through.
London, England – In a five star hotel nestled along the banks of the Thames river the femme fatale known only to one as the Jackhammer is getting some much needed pampering. Having spent the last two hours in the spa downstairs she now lays face down on a massage table in her suite as a muscular German works any remaining stress from her naked body. With her eyes closed she tunes out everything else around her except for the soothing sounds of the music playing softly on the stereo; a moment later though her tranquility is interrupted.
"Fraulein, you're computer is beeping." Says the masseuse as he continues to rub her lower back.
Part of her tries to pretend that she didn't hear the interruption but the German calls her attention to it again. She groans lifting her face out of the cushioned face hole on the massage table and asks him in fluent German to hand her the laptop. He raises the towel covering her buttocks up to her back as she sits up. She wraps the towel around her bosom and walks over to the armchair next to the room service cart that brought in champagne, strawberries, caviar and an assortment of other delectable treats. "Excuse me for a moment please." She says still in German as he hands her the computer.
The masseuse steps outside the suite as she opens the laptop, expecting the live chat message coming from someone else she's shocked to find it is Khalid.
I've been looking for you for over six months, what have you done with Aziri?
I've been occupied. She lies. And I could ask you the same question, your man never showed up!
Don't play dumb with me; I know he requested to meet you in person. You changed the location of the meet then killed him didn't you!? Khalid responds.
The Jackhammer sits back in the armchair and grabs her glass of champagne taking a long drink as she decides how best to respond to the accusation. I don't have time for these pointless accusations from you or Aziri, which frankly I don't think you've got the evidence to back up. Have you ever considered that you've got a mole inside your organization, maybe the Americans got to him like they did you brother.
Then how come they didn't get you?
Maybe I'm just better at sniffing out a trap than he was. Until seven months ago I didn't make public appearances.
Then why did you agree to meet Aziri, it's because you planned to end your business arrangements with him. Khalid responds.
He was going to welch on a very profitable deal, normally I would never make exceptions but the money was spoken for. She lies again.
I demand that we meet, face to face. When I look into your eyes I will know whether you're telling the truth. If you are telling the truth then there's no reason not to agree to the meet.
Like hell there is.
Let me sweeten the deal then, if you agree to meet and I believe your story then I'll pay you in full what you lost in the deal with Aziri. Khalid responds.
The Jackhammer hesitates another moment thinking about the proposition, she takes another drink of the champagne then responds. Fine but either way after this our association is through. I'm not responsible for keeping track of your little pawns. I'll be in Washington D.C. in two days, contact me when you get there.
The United States, are you mad, do you know how difficult it will be for me to get into the country being from Iran?
A man with your resources should be able to get through a simple obstacle like customs. Besides if you want to meet it's on my terms or not at all.
Fine, I'll contact you when I arrive. Khalid replies before signing off.
The Jackhammer closes her laptop, drinks down the last of the champagne and grabs her cell phone. As she dials she scoops up a bite of caviar on a cracker from a platter resting on the coffee table. A moment later she hears someone answer her call.
"Brother, a unique opportunity has just arisen that I think will interest you."
A few moments later she disconnects the call, tops off her champagne glass then calls for the masseuse.
"Herr Franz."
As the German reenters the suite the Jackhammer takes another sip of her champagne then removes her towel as she hops back on the massage table.
"My shoulders need some more attention please." She says still in fluent German.
"Ja Fraulein." Responds the masseuse as he covers her backside with the towel.
Meanwhile at Samon Khalid's estate in Tehran, one of his subordinates is shocked at the thought of him going to the United States.
"Sir, you can't seriously be considering meeting this man in the United States. How will you even get into the country?"
"Don't be a fool Yusef, I have no intention of going myself. I'm going to send someone to take my place; neither the Jackhammer nor myself knows what each other looks like. When we meet I'll simply give a description of my decoy then during the meet we'll grab him." Khalid says brandishing his fist in the air. "Then before I kill him we'll find out what happened to Aziri and what he knows about my brother's capture. What active cells do we have near Washington?"
Two days later Khalid makes contact with the Jackhammer to inform him that he's arrived in the D.C. area. He receives instructions to meet at a small bistro in Georgetown the next day at noon.
There's a pay phone just outside the restaurant, a few yards to the east. I will call at noon sharp to tell you what name the reservation is under. You don't answer the phone I don't show up, you get me?
Yes I understand. Replies Khalid.
Make sure to have the cash on you, once I prove to you I had no involvement with your brother's capture then we're done.
Before Khalid can respond the Jackhammer signs off the chat line. He immediately contacts his team in D.C. and informs the decoy of the date, time and instructions sent from the arms dealer for the rendezvous.
The next day at 11.30 the Jackhammer begins preparations for the meet with Khalid. Within twelve hours after speaking to her brother she boarded a plane out of London bound for New York; arriving in D.C. early yesterday under the guise of a student home for the summer from abroad.
She opens her window slightly to let in the breeze but keeps the curtains relatively open as she notices several patrons beginning to arrive for the lunch hour. She keeps her eyes peeled for anyone of Middle Eastern decent that approaches the restaurant or the pay phone located along its outer wall to the east. When her watch reads 11.50 she puts on a pair of gloves and opens a travel case and which conceals a collapsible sniper rifle. She begins assembling the Barrett M107 as she begins going over the escape plan in her head.
After arriving in town yesterday morning the Jackhammer picked up the "care package" from the locker at the train station which was left by her brother. Along with the Barrett she received an encrypted message with instructions to inquire about an ad in the paper for a small, furnished room for rent above an elderly lady's town house. Luckily no one else had been interested and she informed the lady that she would take the room for the next month. Once she settled in she reported to her brother who directed her attention to the small bistro located directly across the street. From there they agreed to take out the target and discussed her escape strategy once she executes the hit.
The Jackhammer finishes assembling the Barrett and screws on a suppressor before loading a magazine and chambering a round. She takes her position on the bed keeping the muzzle of the gun out of sight from anyone who might look towards her window, before or after the shot is taken. She looks through the optics and lines up the pay phone in her sights. She steals a glance at her watch now reading 11.52 and retrieves the prepaid cell phone with a voice alteration device that was also found in the case. She attaches the alternator device to the headset and secures it on her head and retakes her position on the Barrett. Finally at 11.56 she spots a man whom she assumes is Khalid approach the pay phone carrying a briefcase. At noon sharp she dials the number for the payphone and sees the man pick up the receiver.
"This is Khalid." Says the decoy.
"You have the money?" Says the Jackhammer as the alternator device makes her voice sound male.
"In my hand."
"Good, the reservation is under Bellafont. Have a seat and I'll be there in five minutes."
Before arriving at the restaurant the decoy received orders from Khalid instructing him to discreetly escort the arms dealer out the side entrance once he shows himself. Once outside the backup team would be waiting with a vehicle to abduct the arms dealer and escape the scene. The decoy hangs up the phone and walks inside giving the name Bellafont to the hostess.
Meanwhile the Jackhammer is following the target through the scope mounted on the Barrett as he is seated. She glances at her watch reading 12.01 then sights up the target just as a waitress walks over to the table. As instructed she waits until 12.05 to take the shot, giving the waitress time to return with Khalid's drink order and clear the immediate area. She watches Khalid take a drink of the iced tea just as another patron approaches the table! She continues to observe Khalid and the unknown male that is speaking with him as her watch ticks over to 12.03. Realizing it's unlikely that some stranger has just happened strike up a conversation with Khalid she prepares to take her shot early when a bomb goes off inside the restaurant!
Several miles away at Omega Sector headquarters Stone hears the delayed report of the explosion. He looks out his office window to see the smoke coming from the Georgetown area just as a secondary explosion is heard. Seconds later Hudson bursts into his office.
"What was that?" he says.
Before answering Stone picks up the phone and hits the extension for communications. Agent Dyson answers already assuming the reason for the call as she explains that she's monitoring several calls already being placed to 911.
"Looks like emergency services have already been notified sir."
"Aright thanks Sarah." Stone says hanging up the phone. He looks back out the window towards the smoke then quickly turns to Hudson. "Get your team down there and find out what happened."
"I'm on it! Hudson says running from the office to muster Shadow team.
After the initial blast the Jackhammer emerges from the side of the bed having not even remembered diving for cover. It is then that she realizes she unintentionally fired a single round from the rifle as she finds the spent shell casing lying on the bed. Assuming it was a reflex from the resounding explosion, which blew out her window and well as several others around the neighborhood, she immediately calls her brother on an encrypted line. Before she can say anything he tells her to abort the predetermined escape plan.
"What the hell happened?"
"Not now, just get out of there. Walk out the front door to see what's going on, all your neighbors will be doing exactly the same thing. Then just discreetly exit the area and get out of town as soon as possible."
"Are you kidding?"
"If you try to leave out the back and are seen it might raise suspicion. Wipe down the rifle and leave it there."
"Alright, where am I headed?" she replies.
"Anywhere just use varying modes of transportation and contact me again in twelve hours." Instructs her brother.
"Understood." She hangs up the phone and immediately begins disassembling the Barrett. Once concealed back in the travel case she slides it under the bed and begins packing her necessities in her backpack as she notices several fire and rescue vehicles appearing on the scene from her window.
The first of probably many police squad cars arrive and two cops emerge. One of the pair of officers begins checking nearby pedestrians for injuries as the other keeps onlookers clear of the scene so firefighters and paramedics can do their jobs. Just as other squad cars begin arriving one of the officers notices the firefighters pulling out survivors. He goes to assist them as they help out the third survivor; a man with a dark skin tone with lacerations to his face. The officer suddenly notices a firearm tucked into man's belt on his left hip. The officer draws his own weapon and orders the man to his knees as he calls to his partner to back him up. His partner removes the weapon off the injured man as the first officer places him under arrest and cuffs him. They search him finding no identification of any kind then escort him to an ambulance where an EMT can treat his injuries.
The Jackhammer meanwhile watches from her window above as the event unfolds.
"Perfect." She says sarcastically.
With so many law enforcement officers now on the scene she decides to leave the backpack behind as well seeing as it also might raise suspicion if she tries to leave the area from the street below. She takes only what she can carry on her, money to travel with, an assortment of fake ID's, two forged credit cards, all of which she brought with her. She stuffs the items in her pockets, puts a baseball cap on backwards and a windbreaker then heads out the door. Attempting to blend in she asks some of the onlookers nearby if they know what happened. She continues moving through the crowd interacting with people here and there as she works her way towards the intersection. Once there she walks down the street at a casual pace.
A few moments later two unmarked cars arrive carrying Shadow team. They identify themselves as federal agents to the police officers on scene and ask for a sitrep as Hudson informs them they're taking over the investigation.
"Anderson, see if you can lend the paramedics a hand." Hudson orders. "O'Bryan you're with me, Watts set me up with comms to headquarters then the rest of you fan out and start asking questions."
Watts opens the trunk of the car and retrieves a bluetooth device out of an equipment case. Once synced to an encrypted O.S. cell phone he hands the earpiece to Hudson.
"Michael, you copy?" Hudson says fitting the piece on his right ear.
"I copy Will." Stone says as he hears Hudson's voice over the speakerphone. "Hayes is listening too." He says just as she walks into his office and takes a seat to listen in. "What do we got?"
"Looks like most of the injured were outside the restaurant when it happened. Watts observes.
"It's too early to determine the cause of the explosion however I'm told by the police that there are some survivors from inside." Hudson explains as he circulates the area.
"What about the source of the secondary explosion we heard?" Stone asks.
"Wait one." Hudson says asking the senior police officer on duty. "Still unknown, I've got my people checking the area now. We'll let you know."
"I can get you more men if you need backup." Stone offers.
"I don't think that's necessary at the moment, we'll continue utilizing local police for now."
"Okay, keep me updated." Stone says.
Within moments the fires are put out allowing Hudson and O'Bryan to examine the scene more closely.
"What do you think, aerial bomb?" Hudson asks testing O'Bryan.
"Oh c'mon give me a hard one." O'Bryan says.
"C4?" Hudson says seriously wanting his demolitions specialist's opinion this time.
"Too powerful, I'm thinking shape charge. Maybe dynamite."
As they work their way around to the back of the building Hudson notices a black ford van parked in the alley apparently blown to bits by the explosion. He steps closer noticing four corpses inside the van charred to a crisp.
"What did you find boss?"
Hudson pulls on a pair of plastic gloves as he picks up the remains of a submachine gun!
"Whoa." O'Bryan exclaims.
"Something was going on here, that's for sure." Hudson says as O'Bryan begins taking pictures of the weapon and the corresponding scene. "Patrick, have the police cordon off the area. No one leaves until we get a statement from everyone here, pedestrians, business owners, local tenants, survivors the works."
"You got it."
"Also if there are eyes in this neighborhood I want the video, traffic cams, ATM's whatever, put Kyle on it."
"Copy that." O'Bryan replies.
"Michael, I think we'll take that backup now."
Meanwhile as Agent McCabe is taking statements from a group of people nearby he picks a familiar face out of the crowd. He excuses himself from the civilians as he walks over to the young woman walking down the street.
"Talk about a small world, its Rosalind right?" he says.
The Jackhammer freezes at hearing someone call her by name! Worried that she's just been made The Jackhammer keeps calm. She turns around shocked to see the young FBI agent she met in Greece after the hijacking of Flight 467.
"Do you remember me, we met in Athens. Andrew McCabe." McCabe says finally catching up to her.
The Jackhammer puts on her best smile and says. "Oh yes, Agent McCabe, how are you doing?"
"I'm okay, you sure do redefine the phrase wrong place, wrong time don't you."
She casually looks over his shoulder to see if anyone else is approaching. "Yeah I guess so. So what are you doing here?"
"Working the scene, you're not hurt are you?" McCabe asks.
"Uh no I'm fine. I was in my room across the street when it happened. I was just on my way out to meet some friends for lunch when I heard the explosion. It blew out my window but I wasn't hurt." She explains realizing she gave away too much. "I'm surprised the FBI got out here so quickly."
"Oh well, actually I'm with another agency now but we heard the explosion and were dispatched out right away."
"I see well I hope you find out who's responsible for all this." She replies trying to give him an out of the conversation.
"Yeah me too." McCabe replies as she turns to leave. "Hey uh I dunno if you're interested but would you like to have dinner with me sometime. I feel like it's just an unbelievable chance that we met again."
For a moment she toys with the idea of accepting his offer, after all dating a federal agent could prove to be a good source of Intel for her. But the more she thinks about it she realizes that would be like playing with dynamite. "Oh thank you but I'm actually going to be heading back to Europe soon. I'm just in town to visit some friends." Rosalind replies.
"It doesn't have to be anything serious, I hear there's a new art exhibit at the Smithsonian opening this weekend. We just could just go and have a good time, I'm sure you could teach me a thing or two about art." McCabe says with a smile.
"Thank you but I'm gonna have to pass." Rosalind replies itching to put some distance between her and the scene behind him.
"Okay well take care of yourself." McCabe says as he starts walking backwards towards the restaurant. "Do me a favor at least. Take a long vacation, somewhere in the tropics. Anyone could use it after what you've been through."
"I might just do that." She says resuming her pace down the street.
As McCabe walks back to the scene he notices several police officers setting up police tape around the wreckage of a van parked in the back alley. He walks towards the van as he spots Hudson coming towards him.
"What do we got sir?"
"Four crispy critters with various illegal weapons stashed in the back. It was in such close proximity to the restaurant that it was destroyed as a result. Looks like it was that secondary explosion we heard." Hudson explains.
"Whoa."
"That's exactly what Patrick said, I've got the police cordoning off the area I need you and Sage to continue collecting statements from as many people as possible. I'm gonna have Watts run these plates on the van and see what we come up with."
"Understood." McCabe replies.
As Hudson walks back over to their unmarked vehicles he finds Watts sitting in the passenger seat working on his computer that is mounted to the dashboard.
"Kyle, run these plates for me. Did you get me video of the area yet?"
"Working on that now." He says taking the slip of paper with the plate number on it.
As Watts punches in the plate number Hudson scans the area around him. As he watches the police, fire and paramedics doing their various jobs he suddenly spots a man of Middle Eastern decent handcuffed to the inside of an ambulance! In the background he hears Watts reading of a profile of the plate number but for the moment his attention is focused on the man in custody.
"Kyle stop."
"What?" Watts says confused.
"Officer, what's the situation with his man in the back of the ambulance?" Hudson says pointing straight to the prisoner.
"He's one of the survivors but when we pulled him out of the restaurant he had a gun on him."
Hudson turns to his left hearing another officer responding to his query.
"Did he have any identification on him."
"None whatsoever." The officer responds.
"Will what's going on?"
Hudson hears Stone through the bluetooth and explains the situation.
"You think he planted the bomb?" Stone asks.
"Not sure but I'd bet he'll know more about the guys in the van. Kyle do we have a fingerprint scanner with us?"
"You bet." Watts says running back to the trunk to retrieve the requested item.
"Hold tight Michael, we're gonna try to ID this guy." Hudson says.
"Copy that."
"You got it?" Hudson says to Watts.
"Yup, just need my computer." Watts says as he hops back in the car momentarily to connect the scanner to his laptop. He removes the laptop from its mount and follows Hudson over to the ambulance.
When Hudson approaches he shows his ID to the officer standing watch. As he steps into the back of the ambulance he notices the suspect has sustained several lacerations to his face just as a paramedic has finished dressing the wound.
"Could you excuse us for a moment please." Hudson says.
"Sure thing." The paramedic says stepping out the side door.
"Go to it Kyle."
"I need your right index finger please." Watts says to the suspect.
The decoy instinctively withdraws his hand knowing if they take his prints he will easily be identified.
"Play nice or we'll make this difficult." Hudson says flashing his most serious look at the suspect.
Realizing he doesn't have much choice the decoy allows Watts to scan his finger.
"Now your thumb." Watts adds.
Once the scan is complete they exit the ambulance and assign a second officer to stand watch. They walk back to their vehicle as Watts' computer continues to process the fingerprints. He puts the computer back in its mount on the dash just as the scan registers a match. A moment later the suspect's picture and profile appear on the screen as Watts begins to read through it. He skips through the vital statistics and then begins to read it aloud to Hudson when he reaches the good part.
"Abu Hadid, Iranian national. Known member for five years of Iranian military splinter faction Fear the Wrath; allegedly headed by Major Samon Khalid of the Iranian army."
"You've got to be kidding me!" Hudson says remembering that Shadow team captured an Ali Khalid nearly seven months ago. A weapons smuggling case that went unsolved. "Do we have a picture of Samon Khalid?"
A moment later Watts displays the image of Samon Khalid, which bears a striking, albeit older, resemblance to the one in custody.
"Michael, I think we just hit the jackpot!"