Owen was unaware of the explosion at CTU. The traffic jam had finally cleared, and traffic was moving smoothly. Just as he was about to roll down the window for some fresh air, his phone rang. He closed the window and answered it, hearing Chloe's voice on the other end.
"Owen, are you okay?"
Owen was confused. "What do you mean?"
Chloe quickly explained, "CTU was just hit by a car bomb. Jack and a few other colleagues were injured. The group 'Cruel Angel' has claimed responsibility. Jack asked me to warn you…"
"A car bomb attack? How is Jack?"
"He's fine, just some minor injuries. I can't stay on the line. Stay alert and report any problems immediately."
Before Owen could respond, Chloe hung up.
Los Angeles, a city that never sleeps, was illuminated by neon lights and the glow of nightlife. Compared to the quiet town of Las Via, this vibrant city felt worlds apart. Yet despite returning to familiar surroundings, Owen couldn't shake a sense of unease. Perhaps it was the recent news that had him on edge.
He opened the window, letting the night breeze cool him off.
To openly attack CTU—how bold could this "Cruel Angel" group be? Chloe's warning echoed in his mind, prompting him to glance at his rearview mirror.
During his training at Las Via, Owen had practiced tracking and counter-tracking exercises daily. It became second nature for him to observe his surroundings and check the mirror regularly while driving. Now, this habit finally proved useful.
He noticed that a Ford, two cars behind him, had been tailing him since he left CTU. At first, he thought it was a coincidence, but after making a few turns, he confirmed the Ford was still following him.
Tension crept into Owen's body. Who was tracking him? Was it related to the recent attack? If it were merely paparazzi, they wouldn't dare follow him under such circumstances. It had to be someone connected to CTU's attackers—perhaps Cruel Angel?
Owen's instincts kicked in. In his time with the Major Crimes Unit, he'd learned to rule out coincidences. A targeted attack on CTU was one thing, but for someone to track a new recruit like him seemed excessive.
At that moment, his phone rang again.
"Hey, buddy! I heard about the CTU bombing. Are you okay?" It was Carlos, calling to check in.
"Carlos, shut up and listen," Owen interrupted in a low, urgent tone.
Carlos immediately sensed something was wrong. He pulled his car over to the side of the road.
"I'm being followed," Owen explained.
"By who?"
"I don't know. Someone's been tailing me since I left CTU. It could be a revenge attack or connected to the bombing."
"How many?"
"I've only spotted one car so far, but there could be more."
"Where are you?"
"Stan Street. I'll reach Dobos Shopping Center in a couple of blocks. Bring reinforcements."
"I'm on it. Stall them as long as you can. I'm heading over now."
Owen hung up and immediately called CTU. This time, Nina answered instead of Chloe.
"Nina, how's Jack?"
"He's been taken to the hospital. He was pushing through the pain earlier but suddenly passed out. What's going on?"
Owen hesitated for a moment before deciding to be honest, despite his reservations about Nina.
"I'm being followed."
"Followed? By Cruel Angel?"
"I'm not sure yet."
"Where are you? The tactical unit is assisting Tony, but I can redirect a team to support you."
"No need. I've already contacted a friend with the police. Just have someone investigate the people tailing me. I won't be able to follow them myself."
"Understood. Keep me updated."
After ending the call, Owen checked his rearview mirror again. The Ford hadn't changed pace and was keeping a steady distance. If he hadn't been trained in counter-tracking, he might not have noticed them at all.
The traffic light ahead turned red. As his car slowed to a stop, Owen pondered the situation. If these people were with Cruel Angel, that would be bad enough. But if they were from another group seeking revenge, it could mean his family was in danger.
When he worked in Major Crimes, he had dealt with dangerous criminals, but few had lasting vendettas against him. CTU was a different story.
Hans Gruber, from the Nakatomi Plaza incident, was a confirmed terrorist. CTU had extensive files on him. The Albanian gangsters weren't any less dangerous. Owen recalled that in the sequel to those events, they had come seeking revenge. If even one of these threats held a grudge, he was in serious trouble.
Taking no chances, Owen called Bryan. On the other end, Bryan was watching TV but answered immediately when he saw Owen's name on the caller ID.
"Bryan, I need to book a 'lawn care' appointment."
"When?"
"Right now."
Owen hung up. Without hesitation, Bryan got up, put on his jacket, and left the house.
"Lawn care" was a code word they had agreed upon after returning from France. It indicated that one of them believed their family might be under threat, prompting the other to provide immediate assistance. Although they hadn't needed to use the code until now, Bryan didn't question it.
If there was anyone Owen trusted besides his family, it wasn't Carlos, George, or John McClane—it was Bryan. Their bond wasn't just based on friendship. Both valued family above all else and had survived life-and-death situations together in France. They also shared the burden of having crossed legal boundaries during their missions.
On Hope Avenue, Owen turned another corner. The Dobos Shopping Center was just ahead. He pulled over and parked his car near the curb. The area was part of a busy commercial district with numerous shops and pedestrians. Owen got out and began walking toward the mall.
The Ford following him also pulled over. One of the occupants spotted Owen's profile and compared it to a photo in their possession.
"Shit! Salim, I think we screwed up. This isn't Jack Bauer," the man muttered.
"What?!"
The man in the backseat grabbed the photo and examined it before tossing it aside in frustration. The image was a news article photo of Jack Bauer from a previous counter-terrorism operation.
"Doesn't matter," Salim growled. "He's unlucky. We'll take him anyway. I want him alive to make a public statement in front of the media."
The other two men nodded. Concealing their weapons under their jackets, they quietly exited the car and began following Owen.
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