CHAPTER 515: CHAPTER 515: ANALYZING CLUES, LUO AN AND OTHERS’ ALIASES

The next afternoon in Las Vegas, Luo An, Mona, Winslow, and Chenier, their heads donned with sunglasses and dressed as tourists, walked out of the airport at a leisurely pace, bags in hand.

They took a taxi to a hotel, carrying their personal belongings into their rooms which they had previously reserved, agreeing to meet in an hour.

Since Reesi was hospitalized due to an injury, she was unable to participate in the operation. Therefore, Luo An gave her several bottles of vitamin functional drinks and asked Michelle to stay behind to keep her company and cover for their absence.

An hour later, the three of them tidied up their personal belongings, took a short rest, and then gathered in Luo An’s room.

Inside, Luo An found a roll of tape and fixed photos and names of seven people from the Chicago Special Investigation Team, including their leader, as well as three agents sent from the FBI Washington Headquarters, onto the wall.

Pointing at these photos on the wall, Luo An said in a grave voice:

"Minister Alexander from Washington Headquarters is dead, only these ten people know what really happened.

So our primary goal next is to locate them."

As Luo An finished speaking, Chenier narrowed her eyes and analyzed:

"There are a whole ten of them, wherever they go they’re not a small target, should we check their travel tracks?"

"Of course."

Luo An nodded and said:

"Winslow, Chenier, you two will mainly investigate the ticketing records of planes, trains, buses, etc., in the area around the FBI Washington Headquarters.

Also look into the surveillance on nearby highways, we cannot rule out the possibility that these ten people left the Washington Headquarters region by car."

"No problem."

Chenier’s computer skills were nearly as good as Michelle’s, capable of providing assistance to Mona. Winslow was not as adept with computers but was still able to handle tasks like monitoring surveillance footage.

The two nodded in agreement, and Luo An then turned to Mona and asked:

"Minister Alexander, and Essen Patel, the leader of the Chicago Special Investigation Team, can you find any clues from their computers?"

This case was rather unique, and since Kennedy and Mr. Clement had told Luo An to go ahead and investigate without reservation, he allowed Mona to use some methods he usually forbade.

"I checked last night."

Mona spread her hands and sighed:

"Those two likely don’t use computers much because of their age, or they don’t trust them. Anyhow, there wasn’t much useful information there.

I’m starting to suspect that these two probably rely on traditional paper documents to record the details behind this case."

"Then continue to check the other people, like their computers, expenditure records, financial status, and try to find some clues."

"No problem."

Mona and the others started to get busy, while Luo An closed his eyes and massaged his temples.

Unable to get the paper documents from Kennedy’s side, they had to grope in the dark for leads on this side, making progress difficult.

Pondering for a while, Luo An’s thoughts shifted from the case to the existence of the Special Investigation Team.

Previously, Trick Kennedy mentioned that the headquarters was considering disbanding the Special Investigation Team.

If that happened, Luo An would have to return to New York or stay in Los Angeles, but wherever he was, he would become a numbered team leader with greatly reduced access to authority and funding...

"Luo An, I’ve got a new discovery."

As Luo An was contemplating the future of the Special Investigation Team, Chenier suddenly called out loudly:

"I found some travel itineraries for part of those ten people!"

Luo An quickly moved next to Chenier:

"Where?"

"Washington D.C. to New York, as well as Chicago to New York."

Chenier brought up a surveillance video from a highway and pointed at a car on the computer screen, saying:

"Three agents from FBI Washington Headquarters left from the Headquarters and drove along the highway straight to New York.

The seven people from the Chicago Branch Special Investigation Team left from Chicago and took a commercial flight to New York.

Both groups likely met in New York City, but the travel tracks of the ten people after that are completely untraceable."

"New York..."

A glint flashed in Luo An’s eyes as he stood up thoughtfully. Just then, Mona by his side suddenly spoke up:

"Mona, I’ve got a find here."

Luo An and two others moved over to Mona, only to see on her laptop screen a portrait of a woman. Mona pointed at the photo and explained:

"This woman is one of the ten missing individuals, a member of the Chicago Branch’s Special Investigation Team, Ivan’s wife, named Kayla, who works at a veterinary clinic.

When I was investigating the family situation of these missing individuals, some of them were either calling around to inquire about the situation or still unaware of it, going about their work normally.

Only this Ms. Kayla had purchase records showing that she bought a ticket to go abroad, preparing to leave the Federation and head to Africa."

"Africa?"

Winslow was quite surprised:

"That doesn’t seem like a very nice place."

Chenier, who came from the International Business Department, had a light in her eyes, as she thought of something and said:

"But there are many countries there that are perfect for hiding one’s identity and living the rest of one’s life incognito!"

Seeing the information Mona had found on the computer, which showed that Kayla and her husband Ivan had no relatives or friends in Africa, Luo An did not hesitate and immediately said:

"Mona, contact that airline and see if they can do anything to prevent Ms. Kayla from leaving the country.

We’re off to Chicago!"

"Understood!"

————

Chicago, one of the world’s financial centers, the third-largest city in the Federation, and also known as the capital of crime, once held the throne for the highest federal crime rate.

The city’s council members even called on the local criminals to only shoot after 9 PM, trying to refrain from gunfire and criminal activities from 9 AM to 9 PM, to give the citizens a peaceful life.

Mona’s father, Javari Evans, was born in Chicago, and he chose to work for the CIA because the local customs were too fervently hospitable.

In a certain apartment within a community in Southern Chicago, a young woman with long red hair and a few freckles under her eyes was nervously packing her personal belongings.

Ding-dong—

Just then, a knock on the door suddenly sounded from downstairs. The frightened Kayla shuddered, then quickly took a deep breath, went down to the kitchen to grab a kitchen knife, and then as she approached the door, asked:

"Who’s knocking?"

"Hello, we are agents from the NSA (National Security Bureau)."

The knockers were Luo An’s group of four, but given the peculiar nature of this case and in order to avoid drawing unnecessary attention during the investigation, Luo An had clothed their FBI identities with an NSA disguise.

In addition to the NSA, Luo An’s group also had credentials from several departments like CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency), CSS (Central Security Bureau), and IRS (Federal Tax Bureau) in their pockets, showing different credentials to different people as necessary, always able to deter various individuals from probing or troubling them.

"NSA?"

Kayla inside the room paused, then asked through the door:

"Is there something you need from me?"

"I think it might be more appropriate to talk inside the room."

"...Okay."

Kayla hesitated for a few seconds and took a deep breath. She tossed the kitchen knife aside and slowly opened the door.

Seeing the four smiling faces of Luo An’s group outside the door, a somewhat stiff smile appeared on Kayla’s face. She stepped aside to make way and said:

"Please come in."

"Thank you."

Luo An’s group walked into the room. Kayla stood beside the coffee table, wringing her hands behind her back, and asked:

"Are you looking for me or my husband Ivan?

Ivan is with the FBI, he’s been out on a trip and hasn’t come back yet..."

"We’re here exactly because your husband Ivan hasn’t returned from his trip."

Activating "emotional perception" and detecting deep panic and confusion in the lady’s heart, Luo An gave Chenier a meaningful glance. She nodded in understanding, took Kayla’s hand, and seated her on the couch to start a soothing conversation.

Meanwhile, Mona, holding her laptop, approached Luo An and whispered:

"I’ve found something."