A standard flexible containment unit can withstand the explosive force of 1.5 kilograms of TNT and effectively manage the shockwave and shrapnel of up to 3 kilograms of TNT. The collar bomb Jack placed inside, though slightly over the limit, was still within controllable parameters.
The 4 pounds of C4 packed a punch equivalent to nearly 2.5 kilograms of TNT. The blast shattered a few panes of the glass façade near the front doors, but the damage stopped there.
Before the fire trucks could douse the rising black smoke, the crowd erupted into cheers. Reporters and photographers beamed with excitement—this was a headline story for the evening news and the next day's papers.
Anthony Vargas was rushed to the hospital. Despite his fear-induced collapse, he appeared unharmed. When Jubal and two agents arrived to unshackle him, the once-formidable drug lord's legs gave out completely, leaving the agents to carry him away like a sack of flour.
Stella, clutching Clay tightly, sobbed uncontrollably. "You told me this job would be safer than going to war! I can't imagine what you went through on your deployments if this is considered safe!"
Clay, half-amused, half-sheepish, held her close. "Honestly, this kind of situation didn't happen that often in my military career either."
Hannah seemed composed, at least on the surface, but Jack noticed the deep crescent nail marks in her palms and the faint bite marks on her lips.
Dana Morge, the ranking official on-site, exuded a calm and authoritative demeanor. She was already directing FBI public relations agents to engage with the media, clearly planning to hold an impromptu press conference.
In less than two hours, the FBI had killed the NYPD officer's murderer, seized a staggering amount of drugs, and captured Anthony Vargas—a notorious cartel boss. Even the bomb threat at Federal Plaza 26 was resolved without civilian casualties. Each of these achievements could be a headline on its own, and now they were all part of one dramatic story.
As the media frenzy reached its peak, the key figures involved quietly slipped away from the scene, shielded by FBI agents and NYPD officers.
One Week Later
Jack personally drove Clay Spenser and Alice Taylor to Quantico to begin their training. Two or three months later, when they returned to New York, it would mark the official launch of the new Major Fugitives Task Force.
Jack had initially worried that Stella might oppose Clay joining the FBI after witnessing him risk his life firsthand. But his concerns were unwarranted.
Stella, a former military spouse, had a steady heart. More importantly, Jack's insistence that Clay step away during the most dangerous moments left a strong impression on her. She felt reassured that her husband was in good hands.
Anthony Vargas, after recovering in the hospital, was transferred to the highest-security federal prison in New York State. Although his final moments of terror had tarnished his image, the bomb threat linked to him left the FBI on high alert for weeks.
Fortunately, Vargas's cartel, the Durango Group, wielded significant influence only in Bolivia. As an upstream supplier, they lacked the territorial presence in the U.S. to mount any serious retaliation. The FBI, DEA, and CIA worked together to dismantle their operations in the U.S., leaving the cartel in disarray.
There were rumors of Vargas having connections to domestic terrorist groups, but investigating those ties fell under the jurisdiction of the DHS and NSA. Until solid evidence surfaced, there wasn't much more the FBI could do.
With official appointments announced, Jubal was promoted to Special Agent-in-Charge (SAC), while Jack was elevated to Supervisory Special Agent (SSA). Despite his promotion, Jack remained responsible for setting up the new task force since Jubal had to hand over operations center duties to his successor, Kate Joyner.
Kate, an Anglo-American dual citizen, was a former Scotland Yard officer who had joined the FBI a few years earlier. Her rapid rise through the ranks was impressive—she had become an Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge (ASAC) in record time.
Even Jubal couldn't hide a hint of jealousy when discussing her. "It took me ten years to make ASAC, and she does it in a few?" he grumbled.
Interestingly, the person most annoyed by Kate wasn't within the FBI but at NYPD Headquarters: Detective Danny Reagan.
Whether it was clashing personalities or his Irish-American roots instinctively rejecting a Brit, Danny had repeatedly complained to Jack about Kate.
Jack found the situation amusing. From what he knew, Kate was a political appointee recommended by a senator, not someone Dana Morge had chosen. Yet, Kate was competent in her role, aside from being somewhat aloof and having an occasionally abrasive demeanor.
For Jack, watching Danny and Kate bicker was an unexpected source of entertainment.
As spring drew to a close and summer approached, the new office renovations were nearly complete. Jack finally had a brief reprieve, though the daily drive from Manhattan to Long Beach tested his patience. He often thought about how much time he wasted in traffic—time he could've spent writing.
The New York subway wasn't an option either. Jack despised its stench and decrepit state, likening it to a giant rat's nest.
One morning, as he settled into his office and powered up his computer, he heard voices escalating outside.
"Why can't you get used to joint operations between NYPD and FBI? What is it? Is your ego too fragile to take orders from a British woman?"
"I never said I was against FBI involvement! Having help is fine, but don't think you can order me or my team around. Not ever!"
Jack sighed, rubbing his temples as he stepped to the door. "Hey, you two," he called. "How about settling this over a cup of tea in my office?"
Looking at Danny and Kate—two seasoned professionals acting like squabbling kids—Jack shook his head in exasperation.
Pouring each of them a cup of jasmine tea, he muttered, "Can't you two go one day without arguing?"
(End of Chapter)
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