Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye Fan Fiction: "Missed Connections" - Part 1

*** What was I thinking? Musings on my foray into fan fiction. Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye was created by Dave Alan Johnson and Gary R. Johnson. ***

"Missed Connections" - Part 1, by B.A. Rogers

SCENE 1. At Sue's apartment

It's late at night. Sue and Lucy are sitting on the couch in their pajamas, talking. Sue is wearing Jack's hockey jersey, but she has a shirt over it that partially conceals the number. Sue is sick with a sinus infection. Jack has been on Temporary Duty at an undisclosed location for six weeks, and he is returning the next day. Lucy has been temping at Pang Industries, in an attempt to gain information about people who may be using a computer there for money laundering.

Lucy: I've only got three more days as a temp there. I really hope I find out something soon.

Sue: You will. I have faith. Maybe tomorrow will be the big day.

Lucy: Yes, a big day . . . Hey, you know I still think you need to take a sick day tomorrow. Don't you remember the last time you had this sinus infection? It totally snuck up on you. Boom.

Sue: I'll be fine.

Lucy: Not if you don't take care of yourself.

Sue: (a little distracted) So Jack gets home tomorrow. Six weeks, that's a long time.

Lucy: Especially since he wasn't allowed to call or email or anything.

Sue: Super-secret.

Lucy: I hope he wasn't in danger.

Sue: You mean, more than usual.

(Sue and Lucy laugh.)

THEME SONG [click here] and OPENING CREDITS

SCENE 2. In the bullpen

Dimitrius, Bobby, Tara, Sue and Myles are sitting around the office. Dimitrius is in charge of the meeting.

Dimitrius: What do we have?

Tara: We've narrowed down the computer that -- apparently -- is being used for the transactions ---

Bobby: --- Money laundering ---

Tara: --- Yes, the funds --- so far, we think at least 55 million dollars ---

Myles: (whistles at the large amount of money) 55 big ones. Did they think we wouldn't notice?

Bobby: No, they thought we couldn't catch them anyway, after we noticed.

Dimitrius: And the fact is, they may be right. This is a hugely complicated operation, with layer after layer. What we're working on now is just a tiny piece of it. But, If we get a foot in the door ---

Bobby: Then we can try to unravel the whole thing.

Dimitrius nods to Tara to resume.

Tara: The funds are being funneled to what seems to be a holding company for various terrorist organizations, multiple violations of the Patriot Act. What we haven't narrowed down is who is using this particular computer, either locally or remotely, to make the transfers. Or what the transfers are being used for.

Bobby: The woman assigned to the computer is Sherry Pelator, at a global behemoth called Pang Industries. She's apparently as pure as the driven snow. Her entire chain of command thinks she's the greatest thing since Vegemite. Santa Clause is more of a suspect than her. Her office-mate, however -- a man by the name of Greg Carlson -- is another story. Fortunately, right now he's on vacation in Romania. Except he isn't in Romania.

Myles: Who tells people they are going on vacation to Romania?

(General laughter.)

Bobby: Well. Wherever he is, ---

Tara: --- We're working on that ---

Bobby: --- The fortunate thing is we were able to get Lucy in as a temp for two weeks. She's trying to find out something that opens a lead for us.

Tara: The accounts suggest that the funds are not being spent right now. The terrorists may be building up a fund to make a large purchase. With transfers this large, we think they might risk one or two more at this location before they've got what they want or they change their M.O. It doesn't look like this is money for normal operating expenses.

Myles: Terrorists, saving up for a shopping spree.

Bobby: Which means not only do we have to find out who's making the transfers ---

Tara: We need to stop the transfer ---

Dimitrius: To stop the shopping spree. In a market where all sales are final.

(All thinking)

Dimitrius: What do we know about the transfers that have occurred in Pang's system? What do they have in common?

Tara: (Thinking for a minute.) We know of three transfers. And they all were made on week days.

Sue: (Checking paperwork on desk) Two were on a Wednesday. The last one was on Friday.

Bobby: And Sherry, the person assigned to the computer, she works a lot of overtime during the week. Basically, she has free reign on her schedule, depending on her workload. Except on Wednesdays. Lucy found out that Sherry goes to sort of a club thing that usually meets on Wednesdays ---

Myles: This would be the Lord of the Rings club? Or, should we say, the Lord of the Rings ring?

Bobby: Exactly. The club --- (to Myles) ring --- meets at the local, as you'd have it, 'round the corner. Lucy says she's pretty much obsessed with it.

Myles: That would be the ring thing . . . that she's obsessed with. She's obsessed with the ring thing.

Bobby: Yes. We've cleared that up, thank you.

Dimitrius looks skeptical. He stands up. Everyone starts in motion. Cut to view of office doorway. Dimitrius and Bobby exit one after the other, heading in opposite directions. As Bobby walks out, he takes a phone call.

SCENE 3: At Pang Industries

Lucy is sitting outside with a cup of coffee, making a phone call to Bobby.

Cut back and forth between Lucy and Bobby as they talk

Lucy: Sherry is going to one of those meeting things again today.

Bobby: The Lord of the Rings?

Lucy: Yes. She seems to have developed an interest in something other than Middle Earth, though. She's met a man there.

Bobby: Really.

Lucy: All she told me was that his name is Joe. He started coming to the group a few weeks ago ---

Bobby: How convenient.

Lucy: --- and she thinks he's taking an interest in her. Apparently, he's a handsome, mysterious ---

Bobby: --- Frodo-type.

Lucy: Yes.

Bobby: Okay, thanks, Lucy.

SCENE 4. Jack at the airport

Jack dials a number (Sue's). No one picks up. He appears impatient. He dials another number. This time he reaches Dimitrius, just as Dimitrius is walking into the bullpen. As Dimitrius walks in, Tara walks out. No one else is in the office.

Jack: (happy, relieved, almost boisterous) Hey!

Dimitrius: Hey! Long time, no hear from. Where are you?

Jack: New York. We got in late and I missed my connecting.

Demitrius: Oooh.

Jack: I'm hoping to get out of here in an hour or so. But anyway, I'm delayed. What's going on? . . . Is Sue there?

Dimitrius: Sue? No. No one's here. I think Sue is with Bobby. Otherwise, I don't know where anyone is. I just got back from a meeting. (Disgusted) Randy.

Jack: Sorry.

Dimitrius: And I've got to run to another one, as a matter of fact. But, hope you get in sooner rather than later. Yeah.

As Dimitrius hangs up, Tara walks back in, followed by Bobby. Everyone seems hurried and a little harried. As Dimitrius hurries out, Tara looks at him with a question about his phone call.

Dimitrius: (over his shoulder) Jack. New York.

Continue to Part 2 . . .