Original air date: January 18, 1997

Written by: Javier Grillo-Marxuach

Directed by: Terrence O’Hara

While Jarod joins the bomb squad and searches for a crazed bomber, the Centre’s Mr Raines is put in charge of searching for the person who is leaking information to Jarod.

Jarod’s Discoveries: Mr Potato Head

Jarod’s Occupations: Bomb Squad Officer, FBI Agent, Pyro-technician, Palm Reader, Physical Therapist

Jarod’s Aliases: Jarod Nobel, Jarod Webster

Behind the scenes insights and the Creator’s Take

Official Synopsis

Jarod joins a bomb squad as he searches for a madman whose explosive device blinded a photographer. 

Inside the Centre, Mr. Raines instructs Angelo to use his unique powers to search the Internet for any signs of Jarod.  Meanwhile, Miss Parker and Sydney make their way to a fireworks stand, Jarod’s last known whereabouts.

Jarod, now a member of a bomb squad, and his partner, Daniel Carlson, set about defusing an explosive device, the handiwork of the Fax Bomber.  A note attached to the bomb reads, “Catch me if you can, you miscreants.”  As the detonator counts down, the two men race for cover…and the bomb detonates.

Bomb squad members convene with their team leader, Chomsky, and civil servant, Lamont.  During the discussion, Carlson reacts to some pain in his shoulder, which he blames on an injury he suffered while fighting in Grenada.  Later, inside his office, Chomsky distributes a computer-generated composite sketch of their suspect, which is based on incomplete information.  It is believed that the Fax Bomber is a left-handed, disgruntled city worker.  Jarod, however, suspects that the perpetrator is deliberately leading the investigation astray.  Later, Jarod convenes with Hutchison, who developed the composite sketch.  As they converse, Jarod takes an interest in Hutchison’s Mr. Potato Head figure.

Jarod and Carlson visit the home of Curtis Haring, a thirty-year-old man who lives in his mother’s basement and writes threatening letters to the utilities commission.  During the conversation, Curtis utters the word “miscreants.”  He refuses to cooperate with the investigation, telling the pair they will need a warrant.  Though Carlson believes Curtis is the bomber, Jarod is unconvinced, as Curtis continued authoring the letters during the bombing campaign.  Later, Jarod visits Rachel Newton at the Huron Institute for the Blind.  Rachel, a former photographer, lost her sight when one of the bombs detonated while she was on the rooftop of city hall.

Mr. Raines attempts to plug up an information leak emanating from within the Centre by forcing Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots to undergo special testing.  One by one, the threesome answer a technician’s questions.  Unbeknownst to the group, Angelo monitors their responses.  He tells Raines that Broots is the source of the leak.

Jarod gives Hutchison a photograph of his mother and asks him to age her electronically.  Later, Jarod and a very nervous Carlson are dispatched to a bus station to diffuse (what is believed to be) a bomb in a suitcase.  But the suitcase turns out to be harmless.

Jarod transforms an institute therapy room into a darkroom as part of simulation therapy.  He hopes the smells of the darkroom will stimulate Rachel’s memory, and perhaps allow her to remember the Fax Bomber’s face.  The experiment allows Rachel to realize she never saw the bomber’s face.  But she does remember a distinct scent: liquid heat (what athletes rub into sore muscles).  Jarod realizes that Carlson, who experiences muscle problems with his shoulder, is the bomber.

Jarod receives word that Carlson phoned in a report about the Fax Bomber having blown himself up.  When Jarod arrives at Curtis Haring’s house, Carlson claims that he returned in an attempt to get Curtis to talk.  Shortly thereafter, an explosive detonated.

Miss Parker and Sydney begin tailing Broots from afar.  They watch as he converses with a private investigator…and wonder if he has located Jarod on his own.  Parker and Sydney storm Broots’ apartment, only to discover that Broots hired the private investigator as part of a custody battle.  Broots warns the pair not to interfere with his struggle to keep his daughter.

Jarod approaches Chomsky about the explosion at Curtis Haring’s house.  He points out that several pieces of evidence do not add up, including the fact that Curtis is left-handed (it had earlier been established that the bomber is right-handed).  But Chomsky refuses to listen.

Jarod informs Carlson about another threat from the Fax Bomber.  Carlson insists it is a hoax, as the bomber, Curtis Haring, is in a hospital.  But Jarod prevails, and the two men make their way to an elevator which is rigged with an explosive device.  There, Jarod reveals that the bomb is connected to a barometric detonator.  When the elevator reaches an altitude of six or seven hundred feet, the bomb will go off.  Jarod then accuses Carlson of being the bomber and extricates himself from the elevator.  Carlson panics as the elevator climbs steadily upward, certain it will explode at any minute.  But when the elevator reaches its destination, an electronic voice says, “Kaboom!”  When the elevator doors open, Chomsky is waiting.  He places Carlson under arrest.

Jarod’s simulation helps bolster Rachel Newton’s confidence, and she ventures outdoors by herself.  Meanwhile, back at the Centre, Mr. Raines speaks with Mr. Parker by phone.  He promises he will find the source of the leak.  Unbeknownst to him, Angelo finds the aged photo of Jarod’s mother on the Internet…and keeps the discovery a secret.