Mac Taylor and his team packed up the evidence collected from the junkyard, including the remote-controlled toy car, and returned to the lab. Before leaving, Jack searched online for details about the car's model. To his surprise, the remote had a range of up to 200 meters. He couldn't quite figure out the practical use for this range—at 50 meters, you'd be hard-pressed to see the toy car clearly, let alone control it effectively.
"Maybe it's designed for mounting cameras for remote surveillance," Jack mused. But it wasn't important now. Mac Taylor's team would soon analyze its frequency band and prepare a batch of radio jammers tailored to block signals in that range.
Jack drove back to the operations center alone. By the time he arrived, the place was buzzing with activity. Dana Moret had issued a terror attack alert, and liaison officers from DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) were on-site.
Local law enforcement agencies were also heavily involved. NYPD and the New York State Police had both sent high-ranking commanders to coordinate operations. No one was taking this lightly, especially given the recent developments.
Mark Vasko had confessed to selling 400 pounds of Semtex plastic explosives to Emma Kane and her crew for a total of $600,000. That amount of explosives, placed strategically, could demolish a medium-sized skyscraper or cause catastrophic damage if detonated in a single blast.
With this new information, everyone was working tirelessly to prevent the worst-case scenario. DHS, despite its occasional inefficiencies, was fully mobilized, and ATF had played a pivotal role in tracking down Mark Vasko. Without their intelligence, he might still be at large.
Federal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. typically fall under two main departments: DOJ (Department of Justice) and DHS (Department of Homeland Security).
The DOJ oversees major agencies like the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), USMS (United States Marshals Service), and ATF. The DHS includes agencies such as the USCG (United States Coast Guard), CBP (Customs and Border Protection), ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and USSS (United States Secret Service), where Jack Reacher's brother used to serve.
Jubal and Hannah, back in action after a short rest, were deeply immersed in analyzing potential targets. Jack's latest updates only added to the urgency.
"Let's focus on soft targets," Jubal emphasized, pointing at a list of locations on the screen. "We've seen Kane's ideology and tactics—she's not going for heavily guarded sites."
Jubal continued, "Over the past six months, the Kane couple has been on a road trip spree. Their credit card records show transactions in Boston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore. We're coordinating with local law enforcement in those areas to sweep transit hubs, airports, train stations, and bus depots, as well as places with high concentrations of undocumented immigrants."
"What about the tire tracks at the junkyard?" Jack asked. "One set belonged to a Ford Raptor F150, presumably Joey Carter's vehicle. He was using legitimate plates before—any leads?"
"Nothing so far. Highway patrol units have received the BOLO (Be On the Lookout) notice, but I suspect he's switched to fake plates," Hannah said, shaking her head. "The F150 is the best-selling pickup in the country. They're everywhere—it's like looking for a needle in a haystack."
"Also, you mentioned five sets of footprints at the scene. Vasko confirmed in his statement that he was alone, while Emma Kane brought three accomplices. We've identified Joey Carter, but we're still working on identifying the other two."
When Hannah mentioned Vasko's statement, Jack instinctively glanced around the operations center. "Where's LaCroix? Is he still interrogating the arms dealer?"
"No, he's questioning Austin Stevens, the ICE supervisor. You want to check it out?" Jubal asked with a cryptic smirk.
"Why not?" Jack replied with a shrug, curious to see how the Fugitive Task Force operated. Known for dealing with high-profile fugitives and hardened criminals, their methods often leaned more toward tactical enforcement than traditional investigative work.
When Jack approached the makeshift interrogation room, he could already hear muffled screams from behind the door—screams that sounded like a pig being slaughtered.
This wasn't your standard FBI interrogation room. It lacked the usual one-way glass observation panel, surveillance cameras, or recording equipment. The room was a converted storage space near the underground parking lot, stripped bare except for a single bolted-down steel table and a folding chair.
Jack opened the door to find ICE supervisor Austin Stevens trembling in a sleeveless T-shirt, visibly freezing. His hands were cuffed to a steel rod welded to the center of the table, while his legs dangled awkwardly from a simple folding chair. LaCroix stood leaning against the table, his left foot planted firmly on the chair—right between Stevens' legs.
LaCroix wasn't doing much, but the position of his foot made it clear who was in control. Every so often, LaCroix pressed down slightly, causing the chair to scrape against the floor. Each movement forced Stevens to arch his body backward in a desperate attempt to relieve the pressure, his muscles straining to the breaking point.
If Stevens stopped retreating, the consequences for his "vulnerable area" would be... unpleasant, to say the least.
"Please! I'll tell you everything!" Stevens begged, his voice hoarse. "I'm sorry about your daughter—I was wrong, okay? I made a mistake! Please, just stop!"
Jack leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with genuine curiosity. "Don't mind me. I'm just here to learn a thing or two."
LaCroix didn't even glance back. His expression remained as cold and unreadable as ever. He pressed his foot down again, causing the chair to scrape backward with a high-pitched screech. Stevens let out another blood-curdling scream, his face flushed to a deep shade of purple.
"Mercy! I'll talk! Just tell me what you want to know!" Stevens wailed.
Jack stifled a laugh, realizing LaCroix was relishing this opportunity to exact some personal revenge.
Jack wasn't surprised that Stevens, despite his title, had caved so easily. While Stevens' rank as an ICE supervisor was comparable to Hotch's position in the FBI, it was clear he wasn't cut out for fieldwork or physical intimidation. He'd likely climbed the ranks through political maneuvering rather than any notable skill set.
From what Jack had gathered, Stevens wasn't involved with Kane's group for money. The Kanes were practically broke—they couldn't afford to bribe someone like him. Instead, Stevens' motivation seemed ideological.
As a white supremacist sympathizer, he likely saw Kane's cause as aligning with his own twisted worldview. By helping the Kanes, he could claim a minor role in advancing their agenda, even if his actions were limited to small abuses of power, like falsifying records to have a child classified as an undocumented immigrant.
For Stevens, it was less about tangible benefits and more about validation—seeking recognition from like-minded individuals. That desire for inclusion was why Jack believed Stevens knew more than he initially let on. Even if he wasn't directly involved in the planning, he would've sought details about the Kanes' next moves to feel like he was part of their mission.
LaCroix had clearly reached the same conclusion, and judging by Stevens' current state, he was close to breaking entirely. Jack decided to let LaCroix finish his work uninterrupted.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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