Two days later, hand over six million US Dollars in cash to them.
I believe that before getting the six million in cash, he probably won't kill the hostage." Jim said somewhat irritably, "No wonder he agreed to take the gold first and pay cash later, rather than exchanging them hand to hand.
He planned to use me to take the loot. I won't let this bastard go, and I hope you can catch him."
"Do you know where the hostage is?"
"No, I have absolutely nothing to do with the kidnapping. If I knew this gold came from ransom money, I would definitely not have traded with them.
I know which money can be earned and which can't.
This kind of money is deadly; you can earn it, but you won't live to spend it.
Captain Li, this isn't the first time we've dealt with each other. You should know I'm not that short-sighted fool."
Luke stared at the other's cheek, probing again, "You really have no connection to the kidnapping?"
Jim affirmed, "Yes, no connection whatsoever.
I just agreed to help him exchange the gold."
Luke watched his expression, finding no obvious signs of lying.
"Jim, can I trust you?"
"Yes, I would never lie to you."
"That batch of gold should not be moved."
"No problem."
"Additionally, I need you to assist the police in keeping the kidnappers stable and rescuing the hostage."
"I'm willing to help."
"Great, tell me about that guy named Tom, since you're able to do business you should know him."
Jim shook his head, "Sorry, I'm not very familiar with him, I don't even know his true identity."
The deputy captain shook his head, "Lies, this is a big deal, it's impossible to conduct a transaction with someone you're not familiar with."
Jim sighed, "You're right, I thought the same way before and used this excuse to reject him.
But his tone was sincere, and he even offered to give me the gold first and take the cash later.
I thought about it; no matter if he's lying or not, I wouldn't lose out.
If he really has gold, then it's a deal.
If I don't receive the gold or it's fake gold, he shouldn't expect any benefits from me." Jim clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth,
"I didn't expect there really was gold under the bridge on Kerman Street.
Even more surprising, they tricked me."
Luke was not satisfied with this answer, "This doesn't sound like the shrewd Jim I know, pal, tell me something useful."
Jim nodded, "I was just about to explain.
Just like the deputy captain said, I don't like doing business with strangers, especially with such a big transaction.
Although judging by the agreement, this deal is a guaranteed win.
But I still felt uneasy, so I had someone tail that guy named Tom."
"That's more like the shrewd Jim I know." Luke laughed,
"Where is he?"
...
Tosta community.
As the car drove into the community, Luke felt a sense of familiarity, not because he'd been there before, but because the tech team had tracked the kidnappers' cell signal base station location near this area.
However, the situation in this area is quite complex, making investigation very difficult.
After the car entered the community, it was populated with both white residents, black residents, and Mexican residents, perhaps a reason for the chaotic nature of this community.
Jim sat in the back of the police car, pointing to a gray-roofed bungalow on the west side of the community, "Tom went to that house."
"Can you be sure?"
"Yes."
Luke took out the radio and said, "The gray-roofed bungalow on the right side of the road is where the kidnappers are, observe for any signs of movement."
"Yes, sir."
After Luke finished speaking, he also took out binoculars to observe the situation at that house.
After watching for quite a while, there was no activity in the house.
Jim couldn't help but ask, "Are we going to keep waiting like this?"
Little Black asked back, "Buddy, do you have any good ideas? Don't hesitate, speak boldly, it might be your chance to make a mark."
Jim suggested, "Why not use an infrared imaging device to check the situation inside the house."
Little Black shrugged, "That thing can't penetrate walls at all, why would you think of that?"
"I've seen Fast & Furious, infrared imaging devices can even penetrate big iron gates."
Little Black laughed, "Then you should watch the ninth one, where two guys drove their car into space and crashed a satellite, their spacesuits were even taped together. Elon Musk would surely be pissed seeing that, haha."
Jackson turned his head from the driver's seat and said, "Movies have dramatic effects, don't take them too seriously."
Just at that moment, a green panel van drove up not far away, with a blue logo 'Carter Cleaning Company' on the side of the vehicle.
The cleaning car stopped outside the gray-roofed bungalow, and several people in cleaning uniforms got out of the car, took tools from the car, and walked to the house's door.
Among them, an older white man pressed the doorbell, but there was no response.
He knocked on the door again, still with no response.
Then he lifted the doormat at the entrance and took out a key from underneath it, unlocking the door.
Luke and the others saw this scene.
Little Black was puzzled, "What's this bunch of guys doing? Destroying evidence?"
Jackson deduced, "They opened the door themselves, so the house is likely empty. Could the kidnappers have fled?"
Luke took out his radio, "I'll go down and check, the rest of you stay put, deputy captain, you take charge of command."