Manhattan Island is a long, north-south area. Avenues run north-south, and streets run east-west.
New Yorkers refer to the area south of 34th Street as Downtown, the area between 34th and 59th Streets as Midtown, and the area north of 59th Street as Uptown.
While the overall safety in Midtown and Downtown Manhattan isn't as good as Uptown, it's not absolute. It's still much better than Harlem, further north.
Jack said this simply to investigate Sarah's whereabouts, providing more clues for Alice's search for the vehicle and speeding up the process.
Since both Columbia University and Sarah's apartment are located in Upper Manhattan, Downtown should theoretically be outside of Sarah's daily travel range.
However, Hasim, the man tasked with protecting her, was struck and killed in a Downtown alley. Before dying, he had emptied his magazine.
Jack didn't comment on the special forces soldier's marksmanship, but he had to admit that the bodyguard assigned to covertly protect Sarah was incredibly dedicated, having fought to the very end, refusing to give up trying to prevent the kidnapper from leaving.
This also suggested that Sarah had been abducted nearby, which was somewhat unusual.
Kidnappings typically took place at night, or by simply breaking into an apartment. Why take such a risk in broad daylight?
At this point, Jack was actually looking forward to the start of "Person of Interest." While he didn't know how the original plot would unfold in this world, with an artificial intelligence, kidnappings like this wouldn't require a large team of people repeatedly checking traffic surveillance for visual identification. The
sound of footsteps echoed as Detective Beckett, despite her impressively long legs and a penchant for high heels, entered the lounge, cell phone in hand.
"Kevin and Esposito are at Columbia University right now. They've found Amber, Sarah's best friend and roommate. She knows nothing about the kidnapping, only that Sarah went out today to attend a science fair."
"Got it," Jack said, pushing his coffee cup aside. He stood up and walked to the large office in the operations center. He found Hannah busy at her computer and patted her shoulder.
"Search for science-related events held in Lower Manhattan this morning, including exhibitions, lectures, and all related types."
The keyboard clicked, and Hannah quickly picked up three relevant search results. "The first one is about a science fiction film marathon at an art theater eight blocks from where Hasim was murdered."
Cassel, who had joined in the fun, curled his lips in disdain. "But strictly speaking, science fiction films have nothing to do with science,"
Jack added. "Of course, that only applies to American science fiction films."
"Science Fiction Film, that does have the word science in it," Hannah, a cosplay enthusiast, said indignantly.
You have to know that so-called hard science fiction is practically extinct in America these days. Any sci-fi film is ultimately elevated to religious status, leaving only those superhero shows masquerading as sci-fi.
Castle's disdain morphed into contempt. "If you consider an evil Superman who loves breast milk a scientific setting, then I admit that science fiction has something to do with science."
"It could be considered sociological, and strictly speaking, that's not a movie, it's a comic book and TV show," Jack added coolly, knowing he was referring to Homelander from The Boys.
Beckett shuddered, not wanting to bother with the two guys at all. "What are the other two?"
"A lecture on constellations given by an astronomer, and a lecture by a scientist named Hayden Posner, will be held in the banquet hall of the Beaumont Hotel at noon today."
Before Hannah finished her introduction, Cassel seemed to have thought of something, "Wow, Dr. Posner, he's an expert on climate change. Alexis admires him very much and has recommended his works to me, but I haven't had the chance to read them yet."
The people present were already accustomed to his nonsensical speeches, and Jack ignored the meaningless nonsense and got straight to the point.
"Sarah majored in marine biology in college, right? That means she should be interested in climate change. Who's willing to go with me?"
Actually, he'd said something frivolous. Everyone was busy right now, so who else could be there besides Beckett?
As for the other henchman, they could simply ignore him. They were right on the cusp of evening rush hour, and even with Jack keeping the Hellcat's hidden lights on and the occasional siren blaring, the drive, which shouldn't have taken ten minutes, took a full fifteen.
Upon arriving at the hotel, a hotel steward in a black tuxedo and bow tie politely greeted the three of them.
Upon hearing the FBI and NYPD detectives' purpose, the hotel steward fetched a sign-in list. "I remember her, a very pretty young woman, Sarah Elmasri, right? I checked her in personally."
"Did you notice anything strange about her? Did anyone have a conflict with her, or perhaps a suspicious stalker?" Beckett asked.
The hotel steward looked puzzled, as the three had only been asking about a girl and hadn't mentioned any kidnapping.
"No, the presentation ended at noon, and she had eaten with her friends in the buffet before leaving."
"Her friends?" Cassel hit on the point.
"Yes, two equally young girls, probably even younger than her, probably under 18. I can't remember their names, but they should be on this list,"
the hotel manager said, handing the list to Castle.
"Could you describe the girls?" Jack asked, frowning, a sense of foreboding welling up in his chest.
"Uh, blonde, reddish-haired, white, both pretty, lovely types," the hotel manager stuttered.
"Both blonde?" Beckett had barely finished speaking when Castle, who was checking the list, smiled. "Ah, Alexis and Kim, they're both on the list."
"Call them!" Jack's heart skipped a beat, and Beckett, standing next to Castle, also had a scowl on his face.
Before Castle could react, he pulled out his phone, looking smug. "I didn't expect Alexis to be able to help us again this time. Maybe she knows something."
Almost as soon as he dialed Alexis's number, a ring rang from the other side of the hotel.
Cassel looked around with some confusion, "That's her cell phone ringing."
The three of them followed the hotel housekeeper towards the bar. The ringing sound came from under the wine cabinet.
"What is this?" Cassel looked around. At this time, he didn't realize the seriousness of the matter.
"This is where we store lost and found items." The hotel housekeeper moved a cardboard box from under the wine cabinet. Inside was a bunch of wallets, cell phones and other things. One of the phones was vibrating non-stop.
"This was just handed over by a guest. He said he found it on a fire hydrant next to the hotel's security door leading to the back alley."
Cassel picked up the phone, and the smile on his face disappeared instantly, and even lost all color. "The kidnappers also took Alexis and Kim!"
(End of this chapter)