Shadows of Mr Black

Scene 12

**scene 12: The Dual Threat**

*FBI Headquarters – Washington D.C.*

The atmosphere in the operations room is thick with tension as agents hustle between stations, coordinating efforts with international teams and monitoring the latest developments. Daniel Briggs is staring at his computer screens, piecing together fragments of Mr. Black’s twisted game. His eyes flicker between the list of global targets and the video Mr. Black had sent. Something about it gnaws at him, something unresolved.

**Daniel Briggs**: (murmuring to himself) "He’s not the type to lie… twist facts, yes, but not outright lie."

He rubs his chin, deep in thought, then abruptly stands, his chair screeching as it slides back. His sudden movement catches the attention of Agent Sarah Coleman, who’s just walked into the room after coordinating with Mercer on the field.

**Sarah Coleman**: (noticing Daniel’s agitation) "Daniel, what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

**Daniel Briggs**: (intensely) "Sarah, think about it—Mr. Black may be a lot of things, but he’s not a liar. He takes pride in his games, his cleverness. He twists facts to create chaos, but he doesn’t fabricate them. That list of cities he gave us… it means something. If we assume the attacks abroad are a diversion, then what if he still plans to hit the original targets here in the U.S.?"

Sarah’s face pales as the implication sinks in.

**Sarah Coleman**: "Are you saying… the bomb attacks could still happen on American soil?"

**Daniel Briggs**: (nodding grimly) "Exactly. We might be walking into a trap. If he’s doing this, he’s forcing us to divide our resources between international and domestic threats. It’s a classic strategy—stretch your enemy thin, make them choose, and weaken their response on both fronts."

**Sarah Coleman**: (alarmed) "This is bad, Daniel. Really bad. We’re already scrambling to cover these potential global targets. If we have to divide our special forces between here and abroad…"

**Daniel Briggs**: "We’ll be spread too thin to adequately protect any of the targets. It’s the perfect storm. And knowing Mr. Black, he’s counting on us realizing this too late."

The gravity of the situation hangs heavy between them. Sarah clenches her fists, trying to maintain her composure as the reality of the situation settles in.

**Sarah Coleman**: (determined) "We can’t let him win. We need to confirm if those attacks will happen here. What’s our next move?"

**Daniel Briggs**: "We need to double-check the intel and get boots on the ground in every city on that list. We can’t afford to be caught off guard. But we also need to keep our international coordination going—those sites can’t be ignored either."

*FBI Command Center – New York City*

Mercer is in a video conference with top officials from Interpol and the Department of Homeland Security. The stress is palpable, with everyone keenly aware of the potential catastrophe they’re facing. Mercer’s phone buzzes—an urgent text from Daniel.

**Mercer**: (reading the message) "Damn it… Daniel’s flagged a major issue. There’s a strong possibility that the U.S. cities on Mr. Black’s list are still targets. We might be looking at simultaneous domestic and international attacks."

The room falls silent for a brief moment as everyone processes the gravity of the situation.

**Interpol Official**: "If that’s true, you’ll need to reinforce your domestic defenses. But pulling back your resources here could leave our global sites vulnerable."

**Mercer**: (firmly) "We don’t have a choice. We’ll have to handle both fronts. I’ll have our team in D.C. reassess the threat levels in each American city on the list and prepare for the worst."

*FBI Headquarters – Washington D.C.*

Back in D.C., Daniel is briefing the team on his theory. He paces back and forth in front of a large screen showing the map of the U.S., with the cities from Mr. Black’s list highlighted.

**Daniel Briggs**: "Listen up, everyone. I’ve reason to believe Mr. Black is playing us on two fronts. The global attacks might be real, but I think he still plans to hit the cities here in the U.S. We can’t afford to treat this as an either-or situation—we have to treat both threats as equally viable."

**Agent Peter Marks**: (skeptically) "Are we sure about this? It’s a huge gamble to divide our forces like that."

**Daniel Briggs**: (with conviction) "Mr. Black doesn’t bluff. If he says those cities are targets, then we have to assume they are. Our task now is to figure out how he’s going to strike and where. We need every available agent on this—local law enforcement, National Guard, DHS, everyone."

**Sarah Coleman**: (stepping forward) "We need to prioritize based on the potential damage and casualties. Hospitals, schools, government buildings—anywhere with a high concentration of people. We’re looking for locations that would create maximum fear and disruption."

**Agent Peter Marks**: "And don’t forget about timing. We know Mr. Black likes to make a statement. He’ll likely choose times when these places are packed."

**Daniel Briggs**: (turning back to the map) "Right. We need to run simulations, factor in population density, traffic patterns, and peak activity hours. We’re playing a game of chess, and Mr. Black is counting on us making the wrong move."

*Global Coordination Room – NATO Headquarters, Brussels*

Back at NATO, the coordination efforts are ramping up. Live feeds from the five potential global targets are being monitored closely. NATO generals are in constant communication with their counterparts around the world, directing forces to the designated sites.

**NATO General**: (into the phone) "We need real-time updates from all locations. And make sure every team is equipped with bomb disposal units and crowd control measures. If this goes down, we need to be prepared for mass evacuations and potential casualties."

*FBI Headquarters – Washington D.C.*

The tension in the FBI headquarters is at an all-time high as the clock ticks down. Daniel and Sarah are standing by the operations center, where agents are furiously working to compile and analyze data.

**Sarah Coleman**: (quietly, to Daniel) "We’re running out of time, Daniel. If we don’t make the right calls…"

**Daniel Briggs**: (grimly) "I know, Sarah. We need to trust our instincts and the data. Mr. Black is betting on us second-guessing ourselves, but we can’t afford to hesitate."

Just then, Mercer’s voice comes through on the intercom.

**Mercer**: "Attention, all agents. We’re activating full mobilization for all domestic targets. Be advised—this is a dual-front operation. Prepare for the worst, and hope we’re fast enough to stop it."

*FBI Headquarters – Washington D.C.*

The scene ends with the camera focusing on Daniel, his face set in determination, as he watches the clock tick down. The fate of multiple cities—both in the U.S. and around the world—hangs in the balance. The pressure is immense, and every second counts as they prepare to confront the most dangerous threat they’ve ever faced.

.