Although Jack had trained in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) during his time with the SEALs, he left the task to the FBI's dedicated bomb squad experts. There was no need to overstep his role here. Clad in their bulky bomb suits, the two specialists were already waiting nearby, ready to handle the situation.
In movies, bomb props are often exaggerated for dramatic effect, complete with red timers and beeping sounds to signal their deadly intent. In reality, bombs are much simpler and far less flashy. No one with any sense would add features like a countdown timer or audio cues that help law enforcement locate and defuse the device.
Disarming bombs in the field is generally straightforward: remove the detonator, disable the trigger mechanism, or, in certain situations, move the bomb to an open area and conduct a controlled detonation. For situations requiring immediate action, tools like Jack's Barrett M82A1 anti-material rifle also come in handy—capable of neutralizing threats with precision from a safe distance.
The use of a toy car's remote control system to construct a bomb made the situation simpler. With radio signal jammers—a standard tool for EOD experts—the remote detonator was effectively rendered useless. Regardless of how many times someone pressed the remote's buttons, the device couldn't be triggered.
The real challenge wasn't defusing the bomb—it was finding it in the first place. After a meticulous search of the Ford Raptor F150, both inside and out, the bomb squad experts signaled to Jack and Hannah that no explosives were present. However, instead of feeling relieved, Jack and Hannah exchanged disappointed glances.
One of the experts removed his heavy helmet and shook Jack's hand with a smile. "It's all yours now. There's a body in the back."
In the truck bed, hidden under a tarp, lay the corpse of a man in his early 30s. He was stark naked, with a gunshot wound to the head—likely from a 9mm round.
Forensics officers quickly identified him through his fingerprints: his name was Sarin Kendall, a local caretaker responsible for looking after unoccupied vacation properties in the area.
"He had access to keys for multiple properties. Could one of those be the target of their planned attack?" Hannah asked while disassembling her G28E rifle and carefully placing the parts back into its case.
"Highly unlikely," Jack responded, shaking his head. The Kanes might be amateurs, but they were far from hesitant or merciful. The horrific church massacre was proof of that.
Kendall's duties mostly involved maintaining privately-owned, long-vacant vacation homes. Jack skimmed through a list of these properties provided by the operations center but found no notable names or political figures associated with them.
Would the Kanes use 400 pounds of Semtex to attack a private residence? Jack found the idea implausible. Their goal was to make headlines, to cause as much public outrage and shock as possible. The threatening text sent to LaCroix made that abundantly clear.
"Sarin Kendall and his work truck were just reported missing," Jubal informed Jack over a video call. "Last night, someone at a local bar saw him leave with a woman. The bartender has since identified the woman as Emma Kane."
Jack frowned, running through the possible angles in his mind. Time was running out; the Kanes planned to strike this morning, and it was already 8:30 a.m.
"Check if Kendall had any side jobs or was temporarily covering for someone. They stole his keys and truck, and they stripped him of his uniform. This means they're exploiting his identity. We're missing something critical."
Jubal nodded. "We're on it. For safety's sake, I've also instructed bomb squads to begin systematically searching every address on Kendall's work list."
"Also, they're using a remote detonator instead of a timer, which means they're watching the target and want precise control over the timing. Look into any events happening this morning in Ulster County—especially ones involving immigrants or minority communities."
Jubal's response was interrupted as a colleague handed him a file. He quickly skimmed it and began to read aloud:
"Sarin Kendall, 31, single, a lifelong Ulster County resident. His employer described him as well-liked, hardworking, and reliable. No political affiliations, no connection to any white supremacist groups, and no criminal record… oh, wait—there's something."
Jubal raised an eyebrow. "Back in August, Kendall was summoned to a local court for fishing without a license. He caught five trout illegally in a public park and was sentenced to five months of community service."
"Where?" Jack interrupted.
"Huh?" Jubal blinked.
"Where did he serve his community service?" Jack pressed.
"Uh… at the Ulster County Recreation Center in Kingston. Wait a second." Jubal's eyes widened, flipping through another set of papers. "The recreation center is hosting a citizenship ceremony this morning. Over a thousand people are expected, including participants and spectators."
"That's it," Jack said firmly. "Notify the local police immediately."
There was no time to lose. Jack, Hannah, and the two bomb squad experts quickly loaded into a Suburban and sped toward the Ulster County Recreation Center.
"You guys can't go in wearing bomb suits," Jack reminded the two EOD specialists as he pressed the gas pedal to the floor. "That'll just cause mass panic."
"No worries," one of them replied, already starting to remove the heavy suit with his colleague's help. "Honestly, against 400 pounds of Semtex, these suits wouldn't make much of a difference anyway."
Halfway to the center, Jack's phone rang. It was LaCroix. Without wasting time, LaCroix relayed critical updates.
"The ceremony was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. People are already entering the hall. There are metal detectors at the entrance, and local police have been instructed to slow down the entry process—but the officers on duty aren't aware of the potential threat."
The remote detonator found at the garbage site had a range of 200 meters, meaning Emma Kane and her team were likely nearby, watching. Evacuating the crowd at this point could trigger a premature detonation. Secrecy and speed were crucial.
Jack's Suburban reached the recreation center in just under 15 minutes. They parked discreetly to avoid drawing attention; a lone black SUV wouldn't look too suspicious.
By this time, LaCroix and his team—who had arrived earlier—were already scattered around the perimeter, keeping an eye out for Kane and her accomplices.
Jack, Hannah, and the two bomb squad experts exited the vehicle, blending in with the crowd. The EOD specialists carried inconspicuous toolboxes, while Jack carried a black bag concealing the disassembled G28E rifle.
Their mission was clear: find the bomb, stop the detonation, and locate Emma Kane before she could escape again. Time was ticking.
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