You Are Under Arrest

Jack feels a little nervous that Keith asks that. It sounds as if Keith knows what he has been doing.

Jack decides to reply this: "Well, Nitte doesn't want me around. She is currently not too happy with me."

"Well, it is your job to keep her near. You cannot let her out of your sight."

"That's hard to do. She is not a child. And not a pet."

"Try. You will be paid very well. If you need plane tickets, anything, just let me know, I will purchase anything you need to keep an eye on Nitte."

Jack then sighs, continues to text, "OK, so what is the next task?"

Keith replies: "This is something I will have to call you to explain. Kind of a long, drawn-out one."

"OK. Then, when are you going to call?"

"How about, search this online-- Missing PhD student, Jamila Mayuf, University of New Hampshire. There are a lot of news stories about her. Read some. After you finish reading the news, send me a text message, tell me what you think is weird. Then I will be in touch with you."

Jack is a little annoyed that Keith is so round-bout it. But Jack remembers that Keith kind of likes to play the role of being a teacher.

So Jack replies: "OK. I will do that later."

Jack and Bob are back in the office. Jack starts to search news about Jamila Mayuf.

Jack then learns: Jamila, 24-year-old, has Middle Eastern background. But she was born and raised in New York originally. She is studying in New Hampshire . She is an excellent biochemical and medical research student. She has been reported missing since last night. She was last seen before noon on campus in the University.

Jack pauses to think. Does that mean Keith only just thinks of this case as a task yesterday? Jack is surprised. The impression Keith gave Jack was that Keith had a list of tasks already waiting to be finished. But Jamila is only missing since yesterday and reported to be missing last night. This case had to be only added on to the list last night.

Jack continues to read: Since missing, the FBI, the State Police of New Hampshire have both gotten involved, on a quest to locate Jamila.

OK. Jack can see one thing really weird already. To file a missing person report, especially for an adult... usually people have to wait 24 hours. This means, the police usually wouldn't even begin to take your report seriously, if you tell the police your friend hasn't been seen for 8 hours. The police will definitely tell you, go home, wait for 24 hours.

This is because, the police will not just take any report. Just because you haven't seen or talked to your friend for less than a day, doesn't mean your friend is missing.

So, this is definitely very strange. Without needing to wait at least 24 hours? This report is already taken as a missing person, the police and the FBI immediately intervene? There has to be some reason. Is Jamila especially important? Or does Jamila have a powerful background that forces the FBI and the police to take this case immediately? Faster than average people?

Jack wants to text Keith right away. He wants to tell Keith he has found the strange part about this case. The authorities got involved way too quickly.

But then Jack decides to wait to text a little later. He is not in a hurry. Maybe he will take Bob out to have a big meal first.

"Hey Bob! We never actually took our lunch break. Let's go eat! Like I said, my treat!" Jack hollers.

"Sure. Who says no to a free lunch!" Bob then gets up.

They take the elevator down and then walk out of the building. They are standing on the curb.

"I think we should take a taxi instead of subway."

"Why?" Bob is a little surprised.

"Because I feel like spending money today. Gotta live a little, Bob. I think you've repressed and denied yourself any fun for far too long." Jack smiles.

Bob thinks Jack is right. He has been living rather conservatively. He doesn't do anything for fun. He spends most of his time with his ghosts/spirits.

Just when they are about to hail a cab, they see a black vehicle approaching on the opposite side of the street. Although unmarked, both Jack and Bob can tell it's a police vehicle in disguise.

They then see a red-haired girl opening the passenger door and getting in. That red-haired girl is Rosanne. She just talked to Jack and Bob earlier.

The car drives away. Jack and Bob cannot tell who the driver is.

*** *** ***

It is actually BCI Detective Kasim Bashar. He picks up Rosanne near the NYPD headquarter building.

Kasim Bashar quickly starts, "So, someone actually submitted a tip to me in the middle of the night. He heard there are money pouring in from the Middle East and from an unknown region in Eastern Europe. Very round-about and very secretly through some politician."

"Any tip about Mr. Lai?" Rosanne looks at him.

"Not sure yet." Kasim Bashar shakes his head.

"Are there supposed to be some terrorists involved in this?"

"Could be. We just haven't found out yet."

"I don't know. This sounds so stereotypical." Rosanne shakes her head.

"I think that's what Jie Ai said, too. The Chinese interpreter. Or maybe it was Jack who said that. Or maybe Bob said that. I can't remember."

"Maybe you should go undercover and find out if any Middle Easterners are involved." Rosanne suggests.

"I am actually going to do that soon. I will talk to Bob before I leave."

"Huh? Why do you have to talk to him before you go undercover?" Rosanne is curious.

"Oh, you probably don't know that much about him. Bob speaks several Eastern European languages. And Russian. And he knows a lot of minority groups living in New York. He will be a good resource. Because, the tip does not just talk about Middle Eastern. It also mentions Eastern Europe. Hmm. Maybe I should consider making him go undercover with me."

Rosanne finds this information interesting. She has looked up both Jack and Bob's profiles, but she spent more time on looking at Jack's file, because Jack has a long, long rap sheet of breaking rules. Rosanne is more concerned about making sure that NYPD members are not in trouble. She doesn't remember much about Bob's profile, because she doesn't remember seeing anything that catches her attention. But of course, she was only looking for records that will cause troubles. She crosses her legs then uncrosses them.

Bashar now speaks like he is star-struck: "Gosh, I hear he has some training in FBI and CIA. I don't know how that is possible though, since he is so young. I think they tell me, he finishes those trainings but he somehow decides to come work for NYPD. And he is always just in Police Records. I don't know if it's true, but I hear Bob has contributed very useful interrogation tactics when he was training with the FBI. His suggestion is now used in the training videos actually."

"I didn't know that." Rosanne speaks quietly

Kasim Bashar doesn't seem to hear her, "Man, imagine if he helps me with undercover. He can also help me with interrogation. I hear he is up for a promotion."

"Oh yeah. He is. But that probably will make my job harder." Rosanne adds.

"Didn't you just talk to Bob because he persuaded a guy to go away?"

"Yeah. But, what he did was not a positive thing for NYPD. My job is to help the police maintain good relations with the public."

"You are right. Anyway, I'm glad you can help me reaching out to different neighborhoods and communities. I want people in the community to feel safe to submit tips about anything strange. You are the bridge between law enforcement and the community."

"No problem."

They arrive at Flushing precinct. Rosanne gets out of the car. She is here to try to help Kasim to get the words out even more. Kasim wants anyone who hears anything about explosion to come forward.

"Have a good trip back. Let me know if you need anything else," Rosanne pushes her sunglasses up and smiles.

She proceeds to walk to the precinct entrance, but she notices two men in suits and sunglasses walking rather fast past her.

She turns around to see where these two men are going. They actually stop right in front of Kasim Bashar.

"Kasim Bashar, you are under arrest for conspire to bombing public places, destroying a gas pipeline, and providing material support to terrorist organization. You have the right to remain silence. Anything you say can and will be used in --"

"Wait, wait, what's going on?" Rosanne walks back to Bashar.