Part 3 (1/2)
”Anything I can do?” the cop asked.
The officer was young and white and earnest.
”I'll call when I need you,” Darnell replied. ”Now get out of the way and let me get this done before the Fire Department gets here and takes over.”
The policeman quickly gave Darnell s.p.a.ce.
That line always works, the paramedic mused. the paramedic mused. Cops and firemen got no love for each other. Cops and firemen got no love for each other.
He pulled a pair of disposable gloves out of his kit and slipped the white latex over his brown hands. Then he touched his fingers to the woman's throat.
The pulse was strong, but she was unconscious and probably in shock. He pushed the red hair away from her forehead and saw the b.l.o.o.d.y gouge where the rearview mirror had caught her. He slapped a pressure pad on the wound to stop the bleeding.
”How she doin'?” Luis called.
”Probably a concussion,” Darnell replied.
He thought for a second that he'd heard a tiny voice - the car's radio? Darnell inspected the Lexus interior, spied the woman's purse on the dashboard, the b.l.o.o.d.y cell phone in her hand. He gently slipped the device from her limp fingers and dropped the phone into the bag he'd retrieved. In the purse, Darnell spotted a digital camera.
”Yo! Luis!” he called, tossing the purse to his partner.
”Take her stuff so it can go with her.”
3.
THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9:00 A.M. AND 10:00 A.M. EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME.
9:02:11 A.M. EDT.
Secure Conference Room CTU Headquarters, NYC Jack Bauer checked his watch and tossed the file onto the conference table.
”I've heard enough about Kurmastan,” he said sharply.
”You still haven't told me why Director Holman and Deputy Director Foy are missing. Or why Holman's computer is locked so tight not even Morris...o...b..ian can break through.”
The woman lowered her eyes. ”I really don't know...”
”You're lying,” Jack said evenly. ”You're hiding something - maybe something your bosses did or are doing.”
Layla's dark eyes stared at the floor.
”You can't protect them, Agent Abernathy,” Jack said quietly. ”If you try, you'll only go down, too.”
The woman glanced away, tightly folded her arms. Then she met Jack's gaze.
”Well,” she began, ”I think maybe I'm the reason there are so many security protocols on Brice Holman's computer.”
Jack drummed his fingers on the tabletop. ”Go on.”
”Six weeks ago, I was a.s.signed to help open this office, but I found Holman's activities to be overly guarded.”
”What do you mean? Be specific.”
”He'd disappear without explanation - and then with with explanations that began to sound suspect. So two weeks ago, I got curious and cracked his files. I couldn't break the copy protection program or download anything, but I got a pretty good look. Brice believes a terror attack originating from Kurmastan is imminent. Whatever he's doing, he's doing it to protect the country.” explanations that began to sound suspect. So two weeks ago, I got curious and cracked his files. I couldn't break the copy protection program or download anything, but I got a pretty good look. Brice believes a terror attack originating from Kurmastan is imminent. Whatever he's doing, he's doing it to protect the country.”
”Why didn't he issue an alert?” Jack asked. ”Talk to Langley?”
”I told you before, Agent Bauer. Holman was ordered to halt all surveillance on Kurmastan. And because I violated his computer, I'm afraid I may be the reason Brice doesn't trust the staff a.s.signed to him now.”
”He figured out you broke into his system?”
Layla nodded. ”The next time I tried to gain access, he'd erected all kinds of new security barriers. I think my actions made him paranoid.”
The conference room's intercom buzzed. ”I'd better take this,” she said.
”Put it on speaker,” Jack commanded. He noticed her eyes flash with annoyance, but she did what Jack asked.
”Abernathy here.”
”This is Peter Randall in Communications. I just received a strange call from Deputy Director Foy's cell.”
Layla leaned forward. ”Where is...”
”This is Special Agent Jack Bauer from CTU Los Angeles,” Jack interrupted. ”What ”What did the Deputy Director say?” did the Deputy Director say?”
”That's what's strange, sir,” replied Pete Randall over the speakerphone. ”Agent Foy didn't say anything. There was silence, followed by the sound of a siren. Finally, I heard voices, then the line went dead.”
Jack and Layla exchanged looks.
”Did you trace the signal?” Jack asked.
”That's standard procedure,” the comm tech replied.
”But the call was so short we can't triangulate.”
”I'll be right down,” Jack replied, ending the call. Then he s.n.a.t.c.hed the receiver and dialed Brice Holman's office. On the eighth ring, O'Brian picked up.
”What do you b.l.o.o.d.y want?” O'Brian barked. ”Can't you see I'm busy?”
”It's Bauer.”
”Oh. h.e.l.lo, boss,” Morris said smoothly.
”I need you at the comm station. Now.”