Is that the direction of the DHS New York office? Jack's heart tightened, and he subconsciously called Hotchner, but there was only a busy tone. He then continued to call Joyner, but it was still busy. An ominous premonition rose in his heart.
"Call Joyner and Hotchner on the radio! Uh, and others, tell them to stay where they are and not go back to Federal Plaza yet, Garcia! Check all the surveillance cameras near the explosion site. 5 minutes, I want to know what happened there within 5 minutes!"
"Right away. Check right away." Garcia's face turned pale. She was not familiar with the real terrain of New York. If Jack hadn't spoken, she wouldn't even have realized that something might have happened with Hotchner.
The explosion site was too close to Federal Plaza. In addition, the BAU's previous profiling was conducted directly in the large office of the Operations Center. Many analysts and technicians saw and heard it with their own eyes.
The massive terrorist attack, the series of bombings, and the statements of several high-ranking officials had many people subconsciously imagining another 9/11. These staff members, like Alice Taylor, the single mother, were just ordinary people without their federal employment credentials.
Most people's first reaction was to pick up their phones and call their loved ones. In reality, not only was the operations center in chaos, but Jack was also feeling a sense of panic. Could their profile be completely wrong? The explosion location was far removed from the eight attack sites, and the timing was wrong.
Or was he overconfident, and the enemy was actually targeting the BAU? But why hadn't Justin's alarms been set off? Where had they gotten their information about the BAU?
No, no, no, Jack forced himself to remain calm. The explosion didn't seem large, at most a roadside bomb, intended to cause unrest, which fitted their previous profile.
Furthermore, everyone's itinerary today was impromptu, so the enemy couldn't have anticipated it, unless... Jack glanced around and immediately ruled out the possibility of a traitor.
If there really was a traitor intent on bombing, it wouldn't be Hotchner and Joyner. Wouldn't Dana Moger and Rossi be more valuable targets?
"Hey! Everyone! Calm down! This isn't the end of the world!" Jubal's loud voice came into play. He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers repeatedly, attracting the attention of everyone in the operations center.
"Put down your phones. It was just a roadside bomb. We expected this, didn't we? It just happened early.
Now, I need everyone to calm down. The mobile network is down. Put down your phones. Your families will be fine. Pick up the walkie-talkies on your desks and contact the agents out in the field to make sure they're safe.
Someone, contact the NYPD immediately. I need to know the situation as soon as possible!"
The brief chaos was swiftly ended. Jubal's prestige as commander in the operations center hadn't diminished even with his impending transfer. Everyone quickly returned to their seats and resumed their work, with calls ringing out one after another.
"Jack, I found the footage! It's Hotchner and Joyner," Garcia's voice tinged with tears.
Jack strode forward, placed a hand on her shoulder, and calmed her. "Don't worry, let's see what's going on first."
The camera was focused on a row of cars parked on the curb. The Suburban in the farthest corner was the one temporarily assigned to Hotchner by the New York office. Soon, two figures, a man and a woman, entered the frame.
Hotchner and Joyner were easily recognizable: one always in a suit and tie, the other in a business suit. They chatted as they approached the Suburban.
In Los Angeles, Jack had often worn T-shirts and jeans, hardly an FBI agent. After arriving in New York, he began dressing formally every day, even stocking a wardrobe full of black suits and white shirts.
Hotchner opened the Suburban door and climbed into the driver's seat. Joyner, on the other hand, had just opened the passenger door, but before she could get in, a black sedan parked in front of the Suburban exploded.
Flames instantly obscured the frame, and the two vanished from view, leaving the Suburban unclear.
"I have to see them. Change the angle." Garcia burst into tears, her hands shaking on the keyboard, and for a moment she even forgot how to operate.
"Calm down, this is a video, you can't change the angle." Jack held her hand and asked her to look directly into his eyes, "It wasn't their car that exploded. Switch to the real-time picture. Are there any other surveillance cameras from other angles nearby?"
"Yes, there should be several more. What should I do now? They, they..." Garcia was so panicked that she didn't know what to say.
"I'm going to the scene now. According to the plan, emergency personnel can only enter after eliminating the danger at the scene. I'm the only one who can help them now."
Jack was about to leave with his assault rifle on his back, when he suddenly thought of something and turned to Garcia and said, "Keep tracing the video. I want to know when the car that exploded was parked there. This is very important."
"Okay." Perhaps infected by Jack's calm attitude, Garcia swallowed hard and forced himself to concentrate.
"Take these." Jubal pressed a first aid kit and a portable jammer into Jack's hands, following him and whispering, "The explosion happened nearby. According to the plan, the entire building needs to be evacuated. Do you think it's necessary?"
Jack paused slightly and shook his head. "The likelihood of the federal building being the target of the attack is extremely low. They must have some other motive. The explosion just now was just to cause chaos. There must be a real target, and we're the only ones who can stop them now."
Jubal clearly shared his thoughts. "I'll evacuate the other federal agencies in the building. Stay safe at the scene and maintain communication."
The explosion site was just two blocks away. When Jack's Dodge Hellcat arrived with sirens blaring, he was even faster than the NYPD's emergency response unit, also not far from their headquarters. Helmeted ESU officers were blocking the intersection with a makeshift roadblock.
Seeing Jack exit his car like a suited thug, Noveske N4 assault rifle slung over his shoulder and a first aid kit in hand, several ESU officers instinctively raised their guns.
"Drop your gun, idiot! He's one of us!" an ESU commander who had worked with Jack before shouted.
"Captain Warner, my people are in there!" Jack pulled out his ID and waved it at the crowd. "I have to get in."
"According to orders, no traffic is allowed here until the scene is clear. Emergency personnel should be arriving soon, but the bomb disposal team will need some time. Once they arrive, they'll immediately investigate the explosion site," Captain Warner explained in a low voice.
"I know. We advised Director Reagan on this order, because the target of the attack could be the follow-up paramedics. Continue to follow your orders. I'll go in alone."
Jack didn't waste any more words. He simply pushed past the SWAT officers blocking the roadblock and, with a single push, scaled the barrier and rushed toward the scene of the flames.
He had already spotted Hotchner, crouched by the roadside, shouting for help. Beside him lay what appeared to be Joyner, but strangely, there seemed to be another civilian at the scene.
Just as he was running at full speed, Garcia's voice came through his headset, "Jack! Jack! Are you there?"
"Yes, I saw Hotchner. He should be okay." Jack slowed his pace slightly.
"Be careful of that bastard at the scene. He's the murderer. He parked the car with the bomb in front of Sabban and he's been watching all this!" Garcia warned loudly.
"Are you sure?" Jack had already run half the distance and was only forty or fifty meters away from them. He stopped immediately.
Garcia's voice was full of anger. "I'm 100% sure. I'm looking at you now. He just walked up to Hotchner like that, pretending to be an innocent passerby."
Jack suddenly stopped, reached into his pocket, pressed the signal jammer, and then squatted down. With a shake of his shoulder, the assault rifle was in his hand.
"Hotch!"
The two people squatting on the side of the road heard his roar and looked up at the same time. The next second, gunshots rang out.
(End of this chapter)