Counterterrorism in America

When the incident first broke out, Amanda saw the news and their mother tried to call Owen to check if he was safe. There was no answer, but they didn't worry too much at first. They assumed he was on duty and too busy to pick up the phone. Being familiar with the hectic life of LAPD officers, they knew this wasn't unusual.

However, when the media revealed Owen and McClane's involvement, both Amanda and her mother panicked. They immediately drove to the scene but were stopped at the barricades. It wasn't until they encountered Carlos, who vouched for them, that they were allowed inside the perimeter.

Later, the police made contact with Owen, but Jack Bauer, concerned about the operation's security, didn't allow Owen to speak with his family until the situation had been fully resolved.

After calming his mother and sister, Owen sat in the back of an ambulance as a doctor examined him. A nearby nurse cleaned and dressed his wounds. He was wrapped in a jacket that Carlos had found for him since he had left his shirt behind in the building. The cool Los Angeles night was starting to chill him.

"You're fine for now, but I still recommend you go to the hospital tomorrow for a more thorough check-up," the doctor said after finishing his examination.

"Got it. I'll go tomorrow. Thanks, Doc," Owen replied.

The doctor and nurse left to attend to others. Several SWAT officers had been injured, and the earlier explosions had caused minor injuries among bystanders, keeping the medical team busy.

"You see, Mom? I told you I was okay. No need to worry," Owen said, turning to reassure his mother and sister. Their expressions softened at last.

The doctor's words were far more convincing than anything Owen could say. The sight of him earlier had terrified them—he had been covered in wounds and blood (some of it likely his enemies'), his face swollen like a beaten prizefighter. His clothes were in tatters from the multiple explosions, and his hair and face were a disheveled mess.

After a bit more comforting, Owen asked Carlos to drive his mother and sister home. Owen couldn't leave yet. CTU had confirmed that the SWAT vehicle contained the thieves and their stolen loot, but all of them had been killed in the explosion.

Since Owen and McClane were the only two people with firsthand knowledge of the events inside the building, CTU required a full debriefing. However, with McClane wounded and hospitalized, that responsibility fell entirely on Owen's shoulders.

Half an hour later, Owen arrived at CTU's Los Angeles division with Jack Bauer and his team.

The CTU headquarters was an unassuming three-story building with a dull, gray exterior. It looked far from impressive. However, inside was a different story—a massive screen displayed maps, charts, and data streams, much like what Owen had seen in his past experiences.

Led to a conference room, Owen was asked to recount the entire sequence of events. Present were Jack Bauer, a woman named Nina, who was a deputy director, West Hollywood Police Chief Wayne Haviland, and SWAT commander Powell.

Owen laid out the events in detail—how he encountered McClane, how he managed to alert the police, the series of chases, the rooftop showdown, the rescue efforts, and finally, the bomb situation. He concealed nothing, except for fabricating a reason for his presence in the area. He claimed he was meeting a confidential informant who often operated near the building.

"You're saying you just happened to be meeting your informant near the Zhongchen Tower at the exact time of the incident?" Nina asked skeptically.

"Yes, that's correct," Owen answered.

"That's quite a coincidence, Officer Owen. Don't you think it's a bit far-fetched?"

"Uh..." Owen hesitated, feeling awkward. He thought he had made his story as plausible as possible, but it was clear that the others were not fully convinced. He was relieved he hadn't gone with his first idea of claiming he needed to use the bathroom.

"Apologies, Officer Owen," Nina continued, her tone cool. "I'm not trying to offend you, but this explanation is absurd. I suggest you tell us the truth."

Nina seemed more than willing to play the role of the bad cop. She had her doubts about Owen, even though his actions didn't align with those of a collaborator. Still, his timing and the destruction of the bearer bonds raised suspicions.

Owen shrugged, indicating that there was nothing he could do if they didn't believe him. The others exchanged glances. None of them thought Owen was a terrorist or mastermind, but they couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story.

They decided to deliberate privately. Owen was escorted to another meeting room, where he welcomed the opportunity to relax and observe how this "mysterious government machine" operated. He sat by the window, watching CTU personnel scurry about and was amused when he recognized a few of them.

"Oh, that's Tony... and that's Chloe…" he muttered to himself, feeling oddly entertained by his observations.

What he didn't realize was that the meeting room's monitors were broadcasting his every move to Jack, Nina, and the others.

"I think we should use the polygraph," Powell suggested.

"I agree," Haviland added.

Jack nodded at Nina, who left the room and returned shortly with a set of polygraph equipment.

"This is just standard procedure. I hope you understand," Nina said, her tone polite but formal. Despite her apology, her demeanor remained strictly professional.

Owen wasn't pleased. No one would be after surviving life-or-death situations only to be subjected to a lie detector test. To make matters worse, Owen knew that Nina was a traitor who would eventually betray Jack and cause the deaths of his wife and daughter. This knowledge only deepened Owen's distaste for her.

Still, after some thought, Owen decided to cooperate.

The polygraph sensors were attached to him, and the questioning began. The questions varied from routine to invasive, some of which Owen found downright offensive.

After half an hour, Nina returned to the main conference room, carrying a report of the results. Under the watchful eyes of Jack, Haviland, and Powell, she delivered her findings.

"No irregularities. The test shows he was telling the truth."

The three men exchanged tired glances. It was going to be a long, sleepless night.

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