The phone call lasted over twenty minutes, but Owen received good news: the bounty on Beth had been canceled, meaning, in theory, she was no longer in danger.
"Thanks."
Owen handed the phone back to Keel.
Keel nodded, then said, "Director Owen, if it's convenient, we'd like you to come back with us to CTU. We need to verify some details about the tunnel explosion…"
"No, Agent Keel, Owen is very weak right now and needs to be hospitalized for rest. I've already arranged the best hospital for him, and we have to leave immediately. I was in the same car as Owen—everything that happened in the tunnel, I already told you in detail. There's no need to repeat it and delay Owen's treatment…"
Before Owen could respond, Beth had already refused on his behalf without hesitation. They were rescued first, so CTU had definitely already questioned them.
Keel looked awkwardly at Owen—Beth was a powerful billionaire, not someone he could afford to offend lightly.
Moreover, Beth was Owen's friend. While Owen's title as Operations Director of the Los Angeles CTU didn't carry jurisdiction in New York, he was one of Jack Bauer's trusted people—and that changed everything.
With a wave of Beth's hand, a team of medical staff who had been waiting nearby rushed over to begin examining Owen.
Owen quickly said to Beth, "No need for another check—they already examined me in the ambulance."
But Beth insisted, "No, these are Mayo Clinic medical staff. They're more professional…"
Unable to argue with her, Owen had to let them proceed. At the same time, he turned to Keel and said, "Sorry. How about this—I'll go to the hospital as my friend insists, and if I'm cleared, I'll go to CTU later today and cooperate with your inquiry."
"Alright."
Owen had clearly shown willingness to cooperate, so they had no legal grounds to force him to come along. Besides, the tunnel surveillance footage suggested the explosion wasn't a terrorist attack, just an accident. A slight delay didn't matter.
Keel left with his team, and Owen was loaded onto another ambulance that had arrived with Beth. It bore the logo "Mayo Clinic – New York Branch."
Chen Mike, thinking his part was done, was about to leave when the medical staff forced him onto a stretcher and shoved him into the ambulance too.
"I don't need an ambulance, I'm fine, I don't need an ambulance…"
Chen Mike resisted—ambulances in the U.S. were expensive, and he didn't have that kind of money. He still needed to save up for his dream.
Beth saw him struggling and walked over, pressing him down firmly. With an exasperated look, she said, "Don't worry about the cost—I'll pay for everything."
The Mayo Clinic. Even someone as out of the loop as Chen Mike had heard of it. Ranked number one in the country. Even U.S. presidents went there for surgeries.
The two of them were taken to the Mayo Clinic branch for a full battery of tests. Beth spared no expense, arranging the highest-level executive medical checkup, normally reserved for national leaders or CEOs of major corporations.
The process was an eye-opener—wealthy people really did live differently.
The checkup involved 19 departments and 35 procedures, and each of them had a gentle, attractive young woman as a personal assistant to guide them through each station.
Unlike public hospitals in the U.S., there were no appointments—everything was one-stop and incredibly efficient.
The final conclusion: Owen was as strong as an ox, needing no recovery at all. Same for Chen Mike. Despite soaking in cold river water all night, they required only warmth—no further treatment.
Beth, however, didn't fare as well. Being a woman with average physical resilience, combined with a night of stress and exhaustion, led doctors to recommend hospital observation.
Owen still had to go to CTU. Before leaving, he briefed Beth on what he knew about the attempts on her life.
Learning that she was now safe, Beth sighed in relief—but she also memorized the name "Continental Hotel." Knowing her personality, it was likely that organization would soon face the same fate as Doghead Corp.
Since CTU's intel was usually reliable and Beth wasn't in immediate danger, Owen no longer needed to play bodyguard. But to ease her mind, he asked Chen Mike to stay and look after her for a while.
Chen Mike had just overheard that the executive-level medical exam he received cost $40,000, and was quietly panicking.
Owen gave him an encouraging look and leaned down to whisper in his ear before leaving: "Didn't you want to open a chain of MMA gyms? Haven't you been looking for investors? The billionaire's right in front of you. I've created the opportunity—now it's up to you to convince her."
After bidding the two farewell, Owen hailed a cab to New York CTU. On the way, he bought a temporary phone. Just as he turned it on, he got a call from Chen Mike.
Hadn't he left less than half an hour ago?
Suspicious, he answered. On the other end, Chen Mike's excited voice rang out: "Owen, I did it! Beth agreed to invest in me! My chain of MMA gyms is finally going to happen!"
Owen shook his head. After offering his congratulations, he hung up. He could already picture the scene.
Chen Mike, nervous and anxious, probably prepared a dozen persuasive arguments. But Beth didn't even listen. She just asked him what his dream was.
And then, wide-eyed, he blurted out his plan for a chain of MMA gyms. Beth waved her hand casually and said, "Okay, I'll help you make it happen."
One million dollars—would that be enough?
Not enough? Then how about two million?
In that moment, Beth was a goddess in Chen Mike's eyes, and the check in her hand a magic wand that could make dreams come true.
Thinking about it, even Owen couldn't help but laugh. Chen Mike had probably been stunned by the sheer extravagance of how rich people spent money.
Arriving at CTU, Owen met with Keel and recounted in full detail everything that had happened in the tunnel.
CTU had already mostly concluded that the explosion wasn't an act of terrorism. The intel and surveillance footage supported the idea that it was merely an accident.
Owen's testimony confirmed that theory.
That made things simple. Since it wasn't terrorism, CTU could hand the case over to the state police.
Ring ring~~
Just as Owen was leaving CTU, his phone rang again. On the other end was McClane.
"Hey, buddy, why are you out of the hospital already? I just went to Mayo to see you, but your Asian friend said you'd been discharged…"
"John, I'm fine—not a scratch on me. I was about to call you. There's still work at CTU, and I'm flying back to L.A. tonight…"
"No, no, no, no…"
McClane's voice on the other end sounded like he was shaking his head like a rattle. "Buddy, that's not happening. We haven't seen each other in ages. Remember what I said? If you ever came to New York, I'd treat you right…"
"But John, work in L.A. is busy. They've already booked my flight…"
"Come on, don't give me that 'I'm too busy' crap. The world doesn't need you to save it singlehandedly. Leave tomorrow. Tonight we drink—settled."
McClane cheekily left him an address and hung up before Owen could respond. When Owen tried calling back, McClane wouldn't answer.
Owen smiled wryly. Fine. With McClane being that insistent, leaving tonight would really feel like letting him down.
Owen first called his family to let them know he was safe, then called Tony to explain the situation. Tony didn't mind him staying an extra night—CTU was still made up of people, and people needed to maintain relationships.
------------------
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