NOVEL WEB Chapter 314 Engineer
Estelle entered the 'battlefield' under Nis's escort...
The corpses littering the parking lot were unsettling for Estelle, but the advantage of small caliber weapons became apparent: even with a gunshot to the head, the victims' appearances weren't too grotesque, their features largely intact.
Standing among the scattered bodies, Estelle gazed at the neatly stacked drugs in the truck's container, as well as several large bags of cash. Cradling her head, she turned to Nis and asked, "What's going on here?"
Nis glanced at the cash poking out of Dorian's tactical vest. She pinched Estelle's chin to direct her gaze, cleared her throat awkwardly, and began to spout an uncomfortable lie...
"Under your leadership, we've conducted a successful raid. Not only did we capture the heads of these Georgian drug traffickers, but we also seized a substantial amount of drugs and cash."
Only after Dorian and his team had secured the 'dirty money' did Nis gesture to 'Spur,' who was more familiar with case procedures, and said, "You should ask him for the details; it'll make it easier for you to write the report."
'Spur,' approached by a chorus of whistles, came up to Estelle, hands outstretched, and said, "There's still roughly 100 kilograms of drugs left here, and another shipment of undealt arms within the truck.
You've made a name for yourself this time. Your Deputy Director Michael Beach is on his way, and you need to prepare an operative report to help your boss with the press conference tomorrow."
As he spoke, 'Spur' scrutinized Estelle, who he thought looked 80 points in face and 70 in figure, and said with a smile, "Our boss likes you. Don't wander off these next few days; we've got more work to do together,"
Estelle, in shock, pointed to her own nose and said, "Likes me?"
'Spur' was confused by the girl's train of thought, but as laughter from Dorian and the others behind him reached his ears, he realized and clarified with amusement, "You've got it wrong; you're definitely not our boss's type. Our boss appreciates your naivety; he thinks you have potential at the DEA."
With that, 'Spur' looked at the expressionless Devil Bird and said, "Right, Devil Bird?"
Nis ignored their silliness. She walked over to Joe Ga, who was arguing with the FBI, and said, "Let's go back to the hospital. 'Jackal Wolf's' son's surgery should be over, and I'm a bit worried about Adel and Gino."
Joe Ga, upon hearing this, flipped off the always troublesome FBI agent and moved toward the group, smiling, " 'Spur' and 'Orange Cat' will stay to help Agent Estrella control the scene until the DEA arrives.
'Medic Officer Bird' and 'Dart' will check the apartment in the Upper East for the exact location of the 'Messenger.' If confirmed, I'll pay a visit tomorrow.
The rest of you, come with me to the hospital; I need some good news to wash away the bad vibes from these past few days."
...
In contrast to Joe Ga's 'victory,' Danny and Serial once again met with obstacles.
A three-minute blackout occurred in the police station's surveillance, and the taxi driver's boss mysteriously died in the interrogation room.
Danny, upon receiving the news and rushing back from the tech department, saw Serial charging towards the outside of the police station.
He had no idea what had happened, but whatever Serial had discovered was definitely more pressing than a dead witness.
The two of them chased thin air for three blocks and ran into a subway station. Danny, gasping for air after finally catching up to Serial, asked, "What are you chasing?"
"The Engineer..."
"What?"
Serial didn't answer Danny's question, his eyes fixed on the moving subway...
A lean man dressed in casual pants, a plaid shirt, and a tan jacket on top, clutching a briefcase, stood inside the moving subway. He gave Serial a shy smile as he passed by.
To the outside world, he was just another ordinary, unassuming office drone, but the moment Serial saw him, it was as if he'd missed out on 5 million dollars—the first time he lost his composure in front of Danny...
"FUCK!!!!"
He kicked a trash can, eliciting gasps from bystanders, and attracting the attention of two police officers.
It was the first time Danny had seen Serial lose his cool. He flashed his badge at the two officers and then walked over to Serial, asking, "Who was that guy just now?"
Serial, frustrated, shook his head and said, "It was 'The Engineer'..."
Danny, being impatient himself, irritably demanded of the cryptic Serial, "My key witness just died, and you need to tell me what you've found out?"
Serial had calmed down by now. He tapped his own neck and said, "I noticed something odd, rushed into the interrogation room and found the witness dead—cyanide in a modified anesthetic needle pierced his neck.
Shit, I'd seen that guy in the station before..."
Danny, furrowing his brows and tugging on his earlobe in frustration, said, "So you concluded he was the 'Engineer'? What the hell is the 'Engineer' anyway? A hitman? That guy just now didn't look like he could fight my 13-year-old son."
Seeing Danny on the verge of inflaming his own earlobe, Serial pulled out a box of quit-smoking gum, popped one in his mouth, and handed the rest to the hypertension-prone Danny, saying, "'The Engineer' isn't just any killer. They're an organization, or artists of assassination, if you will.
Their hits are meticulously planned, and most often they stage deaths to look accidental, leaving hardly any room for flaws or clues for the police to follow.
Even if you catch someone, finding the proper evidence for prosecution is next to impossible."
Serial looked at Danny's irritated face, shook his head and said, "I've dealt with them before, and I screwed up one of their missions using my undercover identity."
Danny, spreading his hands, asked, "So? Why haven't they killed you?"
"Killed me?"
Serial shook his head with a laugh and said, "'The Engineer' are professionals. Without someone paying them, why would they take the risk of murder?"
Buddy, the assassin business is high-risk—even the smartest can't avoid accidents. They don't do things without purpose,"
Said Serial as he pinched his chin, smiling, "But I think the appearance of 'Engineer' proves that our investigative direction is correct.
The person behind the scenes is eager to silence someone, even willing to spend a lot of money to hire 'Engineer,' but didn't give them enough time to scope out and plan, which proves that he is in a hurry.
Daniel, being in such a rush to silence someone shows that the person behind the scenes isn't flawless…
Do you remember that guy just now?"
Daniel recalled somewhat confusedly and said, "Glasses, skinny, casual pants, plaid shirt, coffee-colored coat, black briefcase…"
Serial put up a thumb and then looked at the still somewhat bewildered Daniel and said, "We caught him…"
"What the fuck do you mean?"
"What do you think would happen if we brought a man wearing the same clothes back to the police station? What would the dirty cop behind the scenes do?"
Upon hearing that, Daniel's eyes widened as he said, "Make a phone call."
Serial smiled and nodded, saying, "You need to make a list of everyone who could have directly or indirectly driven those two homicide detectives to look for Hu Lang; they are all suspects.
Call the FBI and have them monitor all outgoing calls from the police station. We've got a hold of the bastard behind the scenes' tail."
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Daniel admired Serial, giving a thumbs-up and saying, "You're a smart bastard, but without a judge's warrant, monitoring the phones of high-ranking officials in the station, no matter the outcome, my career as a cop is over."
Upon hearing this, Serial sighed and said, "Then let's see who's most interested in the 'Engineer'?
It's not illegal to spout nonsense in the police station, right?
I'll hire someone to disrupt the cell signal near the station; you're responsible for the nonsense, forcing him to personally verify."
Daniel looked at Serial as if seeing a ghost and said, "That's illegal too!"
Serial wrapped an arm around his shoulder, walking and talking, "Isn't it normal for the telephone company to carry out maintenance? I'll send a message to everyone within the station's range beforehand.
But now you need to inform the FBI that 'Engineer' is here. I believe they also have information on 'Engineer.'
I need to notify Hu Lang as well; his tricks don't work very well on 'Engineer.'
According to their plan, Hu Lang's hotel should now be under FBI protection. That place is probably 'Engineer's' target now."
...
When Joe Ga in the hospital received the news, it was already daylight.
'Jackal Wolf's' son's surgery went very smoothly. He was now in the ICU under observation, and if lucky, he could be moved to a regular ward for recovery in 72 hours.
But while 'Jackal Wolf's' son was out of danger, Joe Ga himself was entangled by that bucktoothed kid Gino.
He liked energetic little girls like Briella; children around three or four years old are the cutest. But teenage boys are a different story.
Especially a teenager who has spent who knows how long around gangsters!!
Watching Nis coming out of Adel's room, Joe Ga, disdainfully pushing away Gino leaning on him, made the bucktoothed boy instantly wake up...
"Sir, do you need anything, do you want breakfast? I'll go buy it for you..."
Looking at Gino acting like a devoted little brother, Joe Ga sighed and said, "Don't be like that, we're not close, and you're not my little brother."
"I could be..."
"You could be a fart!!"
Saying this, Joe Ga tousled the bucktoothed boy's head, saying, "I'm in trouble now, stay here to look after your sister.
'Jackal Wolf's' son is in the ICU, and he's got nothing to do anyway, if you have any issues, go to him.
Don't worry, I've paid for your sister's medical bills."
The bucktoothed kid Gino scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Thank you, sir.
Are you sure you don't want a little brother? I can do a lot, run errands, deliver messages, buy weed, even find you women, really, I know all about it..."
Joe Ga couldn't help but laugh at the kid's audacity, shaking his head and saying, "You're naturally great prison material..."
Nis, for reasons unknown, pulled on Joe Ga and said, "Help them out, Gino, Adel, and the two little girls...
They're illegal immigrants, their parents are dead, and they're not young anymore. If they're sent to immigration, they'll just be deported back to Albania."
Joe Ga looked at Nis who had suddenly shown compassion and said firmly, "Then, I'll help!"
After saying this, Joe Ga looked at the excited Gino and said, "You all stay in the hospital; 'Jackal Wolf' is here to watch over you, and the FBI is guarding outside, so you'll be safer.
Wait until things calm down, then call my phone. I'm staying at the Waldorf Hotel; by that time, I'll think of a way to help you."