Behind the building, multiple streets intersected, making it clear that the sniper's escape route had been meticulously planned.
With so many possible exits, a standard police or FBI response would likely end here—they simply couldn't chase him down in time.
But Owen wasn't part of a standard police force.
At CTU, he had grown used to real-time intelligence support.
A situation like this?
Just pull traffic camera footage, and within minutes, the suspect's escape route would be revealed.
The LAPD and FBI weren't incapable of doing this—but their bureaucracy meant they could only request footage after the fact, relying on secondary clues to track suspects later.
Only CTU, with its real-time surveillance access, could instantly seize control of live security feeds and respond immediately.
Owen dialed Chloe's number.
"Chloe, I need you to look something up for me—"
"Hey, Owen. How's FBI training going?"
"Uh… fine. Chloe, just help me—"
Before he could finish, she cut him off.
"What are you offering in exchange?"
"What?"
"I told you before—I'll pull whatever data you need, but you owe me Chinese food."
Owen sighed.
"Fine. Stinky tofu from Chinatown?"
"Oooooh, dark cuisine! But I like it."
"Good. Now track a suspect for me."
He quickly explained the situation.
Chloe typed away, then—
"Got him. Green old-model Ford, plate number . Headed north on Jacaranda Avenue—oh, now turning onto Fourth Avenue."
"Good. Alert local police to intercept."
"That's gonna be tough."
"Why?"
"Because almost every patrol car from West Hollywood and Central Division is already at your location."
"Damn it!"
Owen's conversation had been on speaker, and everyone in the SWAT truck had heard it.
Before ASH could even issue orders, they were already moving—
Jumping down from the rooftop, sprinting back to the Bearcat G3.
Owen snatched up his M4A1 from where he had dropped it earlier.
Max Payne—the LAPD detective—was running alongside them, surprisingly keeping up.
As Owen and the SWAT team jumped into their vehicle, Payne hopped into his own car, gunning it toward Fourth Avenue.
Inside the Bearcat, everyone was reloading, restocking magazines, and preparing for another fight.
Outside, Payne pulled up alongside them, rolling down his window.
"Something's wrong!"
"What?" Campbell shouted from the driver's seat.
"This is a classic feint. The shooting at the square drew in every cop in the area. The real attack is happening somewhere else. This is a distraction!"
The team exchanged glances, then looked to ASH.
She processed for a moment, then turned to Owen.
"Call your friend. If we track the suspect, we'll find their real target."
Owen nodded, reaching for his phone—
But before he could dial, Chloe called him first.
"Owen, the target just stopped. Fourth Avenue—First Financial Bank."
At the same time, Payne's police radio crackled.
"Attention, all units—silent alarm triggered at First Financial Bank, Fourth Avenue. Nearby officers, respond immediately."
Payne grabbed his radio.
"Dispatch, this is Max Payne, Central Division Major Crimes! I'm en route—send backup, now! I repeat—send backup immediately!"
Target confirmed.
First Financial Bank, Fourth Avenue.
The two vehicles sped through the streets, the bank tower already in sight—
Then—
WHOOSH!
Two white smoke trails streaked toward them at high speed.
"RPG!!!"
Campbell yanked the steering wheel hard, dodging—
BOOM!
The explosion rocked the vehicle, but they had avoided a direct hit.
The shockwave still slammed into them, shaking everyone inside.
Max Payne wasn't as lucky.
His car took a direct hit to the front, flipping over.
The wreck landed on its roof, smoke rising—but no sound from inside.
"Cough… cough…"
Inside the Bearcat, everyone was stunned and disoriented.
RPGs. In the middle of Los Angeles.
"Shit. This is gonna be huge."
One by one, they checked in—
No serious injuries, just light bruises and dizziness from the shockwave.
The Bearcat's armor held—but Payne's car was done for.
After a moment, the rear doors swung open.
The SWAT team stumbled out, shaking off their dazed state.
"Enemy attack!"
ASH's command snapped them back into focus.
They scrambled for cover—
As four armed men in tan combat uniforms and black masks approached.
One of them headed toward Payne's wreck, while the others took aim at SWAT.
"BRATATATAT!"
Monica fired first, delivering controlled bursts.
Her methodical three-round bursts were a stark contrast to her single-shot IPSC competition style.
The rest of the team followed, unleashing a storm of return fire.
Two hostiles dropped immediately.
The third ducked behind cover, abandoning his attempt to finish off Payne.
The fourth tried to escape, but was quickly gunned down.
"Ping-ping… pang-pang!"
Bullets rained down, striking the SWAT vehicle.
ASH signaled—
"Flank them! Triss, Campbell—move in!"
Owen and Monica provided covering fire, allowing Triss and Campbell to circle around the enemy's position.
Meanwhile, two SWAT officers sprinted toward Payne's overturned car.
Owen glanced toward the bank building—
"These guys were just here to slow us down. The real action is inside."
The gunfight intensified.
Outnumbered, the remaining attackers fell back, attempting to retreat—
But were intercepted and eliminated by Triss and Campbell.
With the area secured, Campbell jumped into the Bearcat, trying to start the engine—
But it refused to turn over.
"Damn. The RPG blast must've damaged it."
Max Payne's car was wrecked, too.
But—
Owen's gaze fell on a nearby vehicle.
One of the getaway cars the suspects had arrived in.
It had taken some bullet hits, but the engine was still running.
Without hesitation, Owen jumped into the driver's seat.
ASH barked orders.
"Campbell, stay here with two men and secure Payne. The rest of us—get in! We're going after them!"
She, Triss, and Monica piled into the stolen car.
Owen slammed the gas—
And they raced toward the bank.