Reborn in 24 TV SHOW

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Emergency Situation



Bryan's tone was unexpectedly forceful, leaving Owen confused. Still, he answered truthfully, "My mom and sister are both ordinary people with simple social circles. They're kind and wouldn't have any enemies. As for me, I'm a cop, so I do have some enemies, though probably not many. Alright, I've answered your question—now can you tell me what's going on?"

There was a brief pause before Bryan finally spoke: "Amanda and Kim have been kidnapped."

"What?! Kidnapped?!" Owen shouted in disbelief.

"Yes," Bryan confirmed grimly.

Bryan quickly gave a detailed account of everything he knew. He ended by saying, "If you want to come with me to Paris, meet me at Los Angeles International Airport in one hour. Bring photos."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Owen in shock. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Amanda—kidnapped in Paris? It sounded impossible, but Bryan wasn't the type to joke about something like this.

Owen immediately tried calling Amanda, but her phone was off. His panic deepened.

On Luke Street, near a quiet convenience store, a Chevy screeched as it made a sharp turn. Tires squealed against the pavement, and coffee spilled all over the car's interior. Owen didn't care. He gripped the wheel, steering furiously toward the airport.

Forty minutes later, Owen arrived at LAX in casual clothes. He carried only his phone, passport, and a few photos of Amanda. He figured they might be useful in identifying her once they reached Paris.

Bryan arrived shortly after, also without luggage. Owen immediately rushed to him. "What's going on?!"

"Listen to this," Bryan said, handing him a small recording device.

Owen put on the headphones. After a few minutes of listening, he grasped the full gravity of the situation. It was eerily similar to something he'd seen in a movie before—an agent's daughter kidnapped while traveling in Europe. The names, the events, everything fit perfectly: Bryan, Kim, and the abduction.

So this really is a movie world, Owen thought. He had once dismissed the Zhongchen Tower incident as a coincidence, but now he wasn't so sure. It seemed like films from his previous life were playing out in reality. He realized he needed to start recalling all the movies he had watched—each of them might become part of his life here.

The plane they boarded was a private jet owned by Amanda's stepfather. While passing through customs, Bryan noticed Owen's use of a fake passport and gave him an approving nod. Bryan himself had used a false identity. Having worked in Paris before, he knew the city's police weren't particularly effective. He didn't intend to rely on them and had prepared for the need to operate outside the law. Seeing that Owen had come prepared reassured him.

The private jet offered direct VIP boarding, allowing them to bypass much of the usual hassle. Soon after takeoff, the plane began taxiing down the runway.

Onboard, both men were silent at first. Bryan was busy making a series of phone calls. From his experience as a detective, Owen could easily tell that Bryan wasn't just an ordinary person.

For one, Bryan remained unnervingly calm, showing no signs of panic or distress. He had also recorded the kidnapping as soon as it happened—a rare habit outside of journalists. Moreover, he had sent the recording to an expert for analysis, demonstrating a level of preparedness beyond what most law enforcement officers possessed.

As Bryan continued his calls, Owen took the opportunity to mentally review the movie's plot. He struggled to recall many of the details, which worried him. If he was going to save Amanda, he needed every piece of information he could remember. Slowly, the scenes from the film became clearer in his mind.

But the more he remembered, the more anxious he grew. This wasn't just a movie anymore—this was his life. Amanda wasn't a fictional character; she was his real sister. The thought of her facing the same fate as in the movie—dying from a drug overdose—filled him with dread. He clenched his fists, his breathing labored. He couldn't let that happen. He had to save her.

Just then, Owen's phone rang. It was George. Earlier, Owen had asked Carlos to inform George about his sudden departure, and now the older detective was following up.

"Hey, Steve. Carlos said you had to leave the country in a hurry. What's going on?"

"Nothing serious, George. My sister ran into some trouble overseas, and I need to handle it."

"Is it serious?" George asked with concern.

"Nothing I can't handle. Don't worry about it," Owen reassured him.

"Alright. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Could you pass a message to my mom? Just tell her that I had to visit CTU headquarters for something related to the last case and that I'll be back in a couple of days."

"Got it. I'll let her know. Stay safe out there, Steve."

"Thanks, George. I will."

Owen ended the call just as Bryan finished his own conversation. Owen sat beside him, sensing that Bryan was a powerful ally in this fight. He decided it was time to share what he knew. If he wanted to change Amanda's fate, he would need Bryan's help.

However, before Owen could speak, Bryan's phone rang again. Bryan held up a hand, signaling Owen to wait, and answered the call. He put the phone on speaker.

"Bryan, it's not looking good," said a man on the other end.

"Go ahead, Sam," Bryan replied.

Sam's voice came through clearly. "The recording you sent… the men who took Kim were speaking Albanian. Based on what they said, the one you spoke to on the phone is named Marko.

"Their accents suggest they're from Tropoja, a region known for criminal activity. Interpol reports describe it as a breeding ground for scum—so dangerous that even the Russians avoid dealing with them.

"The tattoo of a star and moon is a gang symbol. These guys specialize in human trafficking. They used to lure women from Eastern European countries—places like Yugoslavia, Romania, and Bulgaria—by offering fake jobs as maids or nannies in the West. Once the women arrived, they were controlled through drug addiction and forced into prostitution.

"But now, they've changed tactics. Kidnapping young tourists has become more profitable. It saves them the trouble of smuggling people across borders."

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