The Clock Is Ticking

Last week, we had an attorney form the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of NY Counterterrorism Unit (what a mouthful - they should come up with a catchier name) come and talk to the National Security and Law Class about his job. Obviously, his work is very confidential, to say the least, so instead of playing "21 questions", we played an entirely different game. He gave us a hypo and called on people to get their opinions. As we analyzed various possibilities and assessed advantages and disadvantages of each decision, he explained the legal and pragmatic considerations the office would have to weigh in such a situation.

I think you can guess where I'm going with that. I'll write out the hypo and will ask for your opinions (if you have a background in law enforcement or related issues, please hold off with your comments. I'm hoping to write a more "legal"-oriented post on that tomorrow, and for now just want to see how people's minds work without a special preparation).

So let's assume you're an attorney/agent working for the aforementioned unit. It is 11 am. The night before, your co-workers, who were trying to intercept an Al Qaeda suspect's lines of communications, heard someone say: "Time to make the donuts!" They came up with two phone numbers out of this conversation, both clearly NY cell phone numbers. You identify the numbers as belonging to the aforementioned Al Qaeda suspect. In the morning, you learn that a Dunkin' Donuts has been blown up somewhere in the city. So it's 11 AM, and an agent comes rushing in with the following information: A few minutes ago, he was approached by an informant, "Freddie". Freddie has a rap sheet, having served some time for drug-related offenses. This morning, Freddie was approached by an unknown individual who asked him whether Freddie wants to make some easy dough. Freddie answered affirmatively and followed the stranger to a Dunkin' Donuts, located on 42nd Street and Broadway. (assuming there is one there). The manager of the store beckoned Freddie to the basement, where Freddie saw an apparatus which to him appeared to be a bomb. The manager says: "Do you want to make some money? All you have to do is come here at 4 o'clock today. I'll give you $8000. You'll take this to a specified train station and leave it there. After I make sure that it's there, you'll get $20,000 more. One of these has already left and is on the way to Brooklyn. I don't think you'll have any problems, but just in case, here's my phone number."

And with that, the agent gives you a piece of paper with a phone number, which you immediately identify as one of the phone numbers you received the night before. It is 11 am and the clock is ticking. What do you do? And why?

I will write another post addressing this hypo later. Meanwhile - shoot! : )

Curious,
Irina