Controlled chaos. Phones ringing.
Typing. TV monitors flashing headlines.
LEILA pulls off her headset as a PRODUCER
gives her a thumbs up. She steps aside. Dials.
[INTERCUT – INT. MAGGIE’S CAR – NIGHT]
SPECIAL AGENT MAGGIE drives. Focused.
Jaw tight.
Her phone buzzes.
She answers on speaker.
MAGGIE:
“You off air?”
LEILA:
“For now. I pushed what I could. They’re spinning it as gang violence.”
Maggie’s eyes harden.
MAGGIE:
“It wasn’t gang violence.”
LEILA:
“I know.”
(Beat.)
Traffic light turns red.
LEILA:
“I pulled archived tunnel reports. Sealed infrastructure. Cold cases near storm drains. Kids. Missing persons.”
Maggie grips the wheel tighter.
MAGGIE:
“It’s escalating.”
(A beat.)
Leila lowers her voice.
LEILA:
“There’s something else.”
Maggie waits.
LEILA:
“My Special Agent Detective application.”
Maggie glances in her rear view.
MAGGIE:
“What about it?”
LEILA:
“It was accepted.”
Maggie almost smiles.
LEILA:
“They assigned me a trainer.”
Leila waits a beat.
LEILA:
“You.”
Maggie exhales slowly.
MAGGIE:
“You didn’t tell them we’re related.”
LEILA:
“Of course not.”
MAGGIE:
“Then it’s official.”
Leila’s voice shifts — serious now.
LEILA:
“Maggie… what happened at that apartment complex?”
Silence.
MAGGIE:
“Something that shouldn’t exist. Thinking about it, I’m going to check on Kyle.”
LEILA:
“Call me after.”
MAGGIE:
“I will.”
They hang up.
Maggie immediately dials another number.