For New Yorkers, ferries are a popular mode of public transport, second only to the subway. The ferry route between Manhattan and Staten Island is especially famous, with 20 million tourists taking this line each year to get a view of the Statue of Liberty. In addition to free sightseeing ferries, there are commuter ferries with fares similar to subway prices, with the longest routes reaching Long Island directly from Manhattan.
Many commuters, tired of the dirty and cramped subway, prefer to take a bit more time for the clean, fast ferries. The ferry terminal on Manhattan's southern edge is even nicknamed the "water taxi."
The ferry ticket Hannah found in Hajima Bass's backpack was for a New Jersey-bound ferry.
"Danny, tell your guys to hold that ferry. You handle things here—we're heading to the terminal," Jack said.
Danny Reagan gave an "OK" gesture. "Once this is all wrapped up, give me a call. My dad wants to invite you to our family lunch this weekend."
"Got it, we'll see," Jack replied, then dialed Dana Moyer to officially report the update as he and Hannah hurried back to the car.
The Dodge Hellcat screeched down the street, sirens blaring, while Danny looked on in envy, catching only a glimpse of the car's rear as it sped away.
Being a senior detective with the NYPD generally came with a better paycheck than an FBI agent's, but somehow, Jack managed to have the best of both worlds—luxury cars, company perks, and even a penthouse apartment. Danny couldn't help but think back to his own socialite days in New York, now that middle age had caught up with him.
---
By the time Jack and Hannah arrived at the ferry terminal, a dozen NYPD officers had already blocked the entrances. A stocky Black sergeant waited on the stairs leading to the dock.
"We've discreetly secured the entrances as requested," he said. "All the ferries are on hold. So far, the passengers haven't noticed anything unusual, but if we hold this any longer, they might."
"Any sign of Baram?" Hannah asked.
The sergeant shook his head. "I only sent three officers to search in civilian clothes to avoid alerting him. You don't have a clearer photo of him?"
"No," Jack replied. The ferry terminal didn't have the extensive camera coverage that City Hall Park had, so there was little Jubal could do to assist.
Jack popped open the trunk, pulling out two bulletproof vests marked with "FBI" in bold letters. He tossed one to Hannah and donned the other, attaching his earpiece.
With their distinctive appearances and gear, they were bound to draw attention. To complete the show, Jack signaled to the sergeant to call over a few more armed officers to accompany them.
Their entrance, a mix of FBI agents and NYPD officers in full gear, turned heads.
The terminal was crowded with over a hundred passengers waiting to board, yet the area was spacious enough that the crowd didn't seem packed. As Jack's team descended the steps, eyes turned toward them, faces registering surprise and curiosity.
With his hand resting on his Glock holster, Jack scanned the crowd with intense focus, studying every surprised or puzzled face. His plan was simple: if they didn't have a clear photo, they'd make their suspect uneasy and provoke a reaction.
The intel described Khalid Baram as a multi-generational mixed-race Nigerian with only mild Black features. Jack quickly scanned through the faces until his eyes landed on a man leaning against a pillar, wearing a baseball cap.
Several passengers, realizing something was off, started murmuring and edging away, glancing uneasily at the armed officers. The man in the cap seemed to sense the growing tension and, as he turned his head, his eyes met Jack's unblinking gaze.
He looked away, gripping his shoulder bag tightly and attempting a casual retreat toward the benches at the far end of the dock.
"That's him," Jack said, giving Hannah a quick nod. She immediately directed the NYPD officers to spread out and keep the crowd back.
"Khalid Baram!" Jack shouted, drawing his Glock and advancing. At the sound of his name, Baram dropped his bag and bolted into the crowd.
Screams erupted as people realized what was happening, panicking as they scattered in all directions. Jack's eyes stayed locked on Baram, his gun trained on the man's head.
"Stay back!" Baram grabbed a Black woman, pulling her into a chokehold and pressing a knife to her throat, using her as a shield.
"Bang! Bang!"
Two gunshots rang out almost simultaneously, and Baram fell backward, the woman he'd grabbed breaking free with a shriek. She ducked down and dashed toward an NYPD officer without a second thought, instinctively seeking safety.
Another deranged fanatic, Jack thought. He hadn't fired initially to avoid hitting the hostage, but once the knife was close, Hannah had taken the shot without hesitation.
The two agents approached Baram's lifeless body, their guns still trained on him. Jack kicked away the knife and checked the body for any signs of life.
Baram was dead. Jack quickly inspected his body, wary of any hidden toxins or explosives; after all, American ferries and subways had no security screenings.
---
It took only a few days to wrap up the terror plot, but the paperwork stretched on through the weekend. Without the analytical genius of Reid to help, Jack found himself buried in reports, confined to his small office for days on end.
On Friday night at 9 p.m., Jack finally finished the last of the paperwork and stumbled out of his office, exhausted, only to run into his smiling supervisor.
"Congratulations, Jack. Looks like you'll be making a trip to D.C. soon," Dana Moyer said with a grin.
Jack's eyes widened in surprise. Dana continued, "For your bravery during the Dallas supermarket attack, the Director himself has decided to present you with a Medal of Merit."
That incident was almost six months ago! Did they just remember it now? Jack thought. He plastered a smile on his face and shook Dana's hand.
Months earlier, Jack had traveled to Dallas after hearing that Walker had been injured, only to be caught up in a suicide bombing at a local supermarket. He had managed to take down an attacker attempting to detonate at the entrance and had even rescued an infant from the ensuing fire.
Afterward, the Bureau had been silent, and Jack had assumed the incident was forgotten. But here it was, brought up again. Whether it was due to bureaucratic delays or Rossi's "reputation-building" efforts was anyone's guess.
The Medal of Merit was an internal FBI award, but it still came with official recognition, a commendation ceremony, and a chance for the recipient to stand beside the Director for a photo that would circulate in Bureau reports—and maybe even the press. This could be Jack's ticket back to the BAU. But what about Hannah?
"Rossi promised to loan you to me for at least three years." Dana, noting Jack's concerned expression, rolled her eyes. With a huff, she turned and headed toward her office in her heels.
Rossi was bluffing all along, Jack realized. No wonder Rossi had been so evasive whenever Jack asked how long he'd be stationed in New York. Turns out the trap was already set.
---
The following weeks were a whirlwind for Jack, but not due to any new cases. Both personal and professional obligations piled up at once.
First, he traveled to Washington, D.C., where he received the gleaming gold Medal of Merit from the silver-haired Director, with a crowd of senior officials looking on.
Afterward, Jack flew to Los Angeles for the weekend. He spent time catching up with three long-lost friends and signed a stack of documents: Chris had formally acquired a small publishing house and secured a contract with an anonymous author.
This writer had pioneered a new genre of romance novels centered around powerful American CEOs, and several of the author's works had recently climbed onto various bestseller lists, including the New York Times.
Most notably, the writer's debut novel, The Contract Wife of the CEO, had surged into the season's top twenty bestsellers, though critics widely decried it as "harmful trash," stopping just short of calling it a blight on society.
Happy New Year to all readers! Wishing you good health and prosperity!
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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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