| "Only More Questions" | ||
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June 15, 2008 Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) Los Angeles, California 1630 hours Jordan walked closely behind Safara and Tony Almeida and surveyed the large room they were walking into. The ceiling was high and there were no walls between the numerous desks. It gave the feeling of openness and communication - something which she was glad for and hoped it extended to them. "I trust you want to get started right away, but I'll just give you a quick tour to avoid you getting taking a wrong turn." Tony began. "To your left is Systems, where most of our staff work. Straight ahead, down the hallway is the cafeteria, 24 hours, upstairs it my office plus a few other personal, mainly the computer technicians and field agents." Jordan looked to each of the areas Tony spoke off as they walked through the large open room. The systems area reminded her of Section, only there were more computers and people working. Some where talking on the phone, others were tapping away on their keyboards. Only one or two stopped what they were doing and stared at Saf and herself as they were walking with Tony. They stopped at the far desk where a woman was working on her computer. "Michelle," Tony said to the women, who rose when she saw Safara and her. "This is Michelle Dressler. Michelle, this is Safara and Jordan. They are here to do an audit on the Chinese bank operation," Tony said, smoothly making the introductions. "Pleased to meet you," Jordan responded to the introductions. She smiled at Michelle who smiled back and then turned to great Saf. "Michelle will be able to get anything you need," Tony explained. "She is the second in command, so anything you need." "Of course, thank you," replied Safara. Jordan looked around her again, hoping they wouldn't be forced to meet anyone else. She was anxious to get started. Tony, as if sensing this said, "Well, you'll probably want to get started, so I will show you where we have assembled all the data." "Yes, that would be great," she replied, glancing at Saf quickly. She wasn't sure about Saf, but she knew she wanted to get started and get it over with. Honestly, she wasn't relishing the thought of going through whatever information there was on the incident, but whatever. It should really be a privilege to do it, but yet it seemed like a strange thing to be doing since they were technically field agents. Tony led them to the hall that led them to the cafeteria, but he stopped and turned left down another hallway and stopped at the first door. He keyed in the door code and walked in. They stepped in behind him and Jordan immediately saw the stacks of files. There was a computer set up on one end of the table with a small pile of disks beside it. Only when the door was closed securely behind them, did Tony speak again. "The door code is 5137793. The room is secure and again only myself and Michelle know the code." "Thank you Tony." Safara said. "Well, there isn't much too tell about the files, they are all labeled so you should have no problem whatsoever. I assume you will keep Mr. Wellington briefed on your progress. And please do the same with me. If time allows, we can set up a meeting for all of us to go through your findings." Tony paused for only a moment, but during that moment, Saf glanced quickly over at Jordan. She remembered that Rebecca instructed them specifically not to brief CTU on their findings, but wait for Wellington to do it in an official meeting for Thursday. Perhaps Tony was unaware of the meeting just yet, or was trying to fish for answers before the meet to have time to prepare for the outcome of it. She almost got the sense that Tony was uneasy about the outcome of their findings. "Anyhow, I will leave you now, let you get started. He walked to the door, "Oh, one more thing, if you need to speak with me, my extension is 1101, Michelle's is 1226." She watched the door close behind him and then smiled at Saf. "What a place this is�sure makes me wonder�" Saf looked at her for only a moment before nodding in understanding. "I know, something very similar to what we do, yet, how shall I say, legal. Anyhow, I suppose we should get started." "I agree," Jordan answered, surveying again the small stacks of file folders and the disks. "Best start by seeing what we have and then go from there I suppose." "Great idea, I'll grab a pen and paper, and lets get started." 1935 hours "Okay, so the files include a guest list, building plans, lists of the documented surveillance, both internal and external, video and audio." Jordan listed off to Saf. "I assume the video and audio files are on the CDs?" Safara nodded, "All the internal ones yes. The external video is in digital media format. Anything else?" She nodded, "The official debriefs, well, they call them reports, from CTU staff." Jordan then looked over to Saf. They had been going over all the files briefly and noting what was there for a good 3 hours. She could feel the familiar strain creeping up her left shoulder and into her neck. A few more hours of this without any movement would soon make it hard to ignore. "Okay, on the disks, there is of course video footage, plus audio, and lists of the possible known terrorists who operate in the domain of poison gas." "How much video footage and audio is there?" Saf shifted a few papers before finding the right one, "Video there is 3 hours, audio about 5 hours. Most of the video is comes directly from the bank from what I can tell so far." Jordan nodded and rubbed her sore neck absentmindedly. "So, what tipped CTU off to the poison gas release?" "I haven't found that yet, but I'm sure it is in one of the reports. We'll just need to look more closely at them." "Ya, here's half of them. Let's find that and call it a night eh? Cuz I don't know about you, but I'm hungry and tired as hell." Saf nodded in understanding, but Jordan sensed that Saf didn't want to stop working, but she knew Saf had better stopped soon; circles under her eyes were beginning to form. 2045 hours "Found it!" Jordan exclaimed, happy to have finally got it. "And?" Safara questioned. "It seems as though it was a phone conversation between Benny O'Salava and Sarah Master. Sarah initiated the phone call and asked Benny if it was ready yet. It's the audio file dated June 1, time 6:45 am." Saf was already at the computer looking for the audio file. "I'm playing it now," she said. The audio file was in Chinese. "Hello?" said a hoarse male voice. "Is it ready?" answered a female voice, who Jordan assumed to be Sarah. "Yes, it arrived at 4 a.m this morning. I checked it out and it's all ready for the HVAC system. It's ranged is quite good, good for at least a 3000 square foot building." There was an audible sigh from someone, but Jordan wasn't too sure who. "Yes of course. Hey, would you be able to meet me in the parking lot outside the bank of Edmonds Street? I'll be there around 8ish." "Perfect" replied Benny. Jordan looked across the table at Saf, "Not much there is there?" Saf shook her head, but obviously she was going over it in her mind. "It's strange how Sarah mentioned dropping the kids off; I wonder who she was referring too? And setting an address for a pick-up, I imagine Sarah and Benny never met at the parking lot on Edmonds Street." Safara observed. Jordan nodded, "Yes that's the same conclusion that CTU came to and it says here that there was no meet. It was the mention of the HVAC system that initially set off the alarm." The sat silent for a moment before Jordan ventured to voice her opinion of Tony earlier. "I think Tony is worried about the outcome of this report." Saf nodded slowly, "Yes, most definitely, when he mentioned the possibility of a report. Good thing Wellington will not know about that though." Jordan grinned at Saf, knowing what she wasn't saying. It wasn't that they were never telling Wellington about that, it was that they weren't really auditors for him. "So, how about some dinner?" Saf asked. "I think you just started a small earthquake with that rumbling stomach yours." Return |
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