Cindy Bout's Home.

Luke and his partner parked the car by the roadside.

They put on bulletproof vests and loaded their handguns.

If Cindy Bout really was Tony's girlfriend and had intentionally deceived the police, it meant she could very well be involved with the 'Telson Estate Disappearance Case'.

The two had to be cautious.

Upon entering the yard, they did not knock directly on the door but surveyed the surroundings first.

One went left, and the other right, circling from the front door to the back.

Luke walked up to the window and saw Cindy Bout's daughter on the phone, looking extremely anxious.

He made his way to the back door as David came around from the other side, "Any findings?"

"No." David shook his head.

Luke said, "Through the window I saw Cindy Bout's daughter making a phone call, but I didn't see Cindy Bout."

As they were deciding whether to knock or to break in, the front door suddenly opened, and Cindy Bout's daughter hurried out.

Without further hesitation, they rushed to the front door.

Cindy Bout's daughter was startled by their full gear, "What are you doing?"

Luke demanded, "Where's Cindy Bout?"

"My mom has been taken by the FBI, and now I need to go find a lawyer. Don't point your guns at me, what's going on?" Cindy Bout's daughter burst into tears.

"You watch her; I'm going to check inside," David said and entered the house with his gun.

"What's going on? Are you here to take my mom too?"

It was the FBI again.

Luke felt annoyed, outmaneuvered again, "When did the FBI come?"

"Just after you left, my mom was about to go out for some errands when the FBI took her right at the doorstep."

Luke took out his cellphone, dialed Susan's number, "Captain, we've arrived at Cindy Bout's home, but according to her daughter, Cindy Bout has been taken by the FBI."

From the phone came Susan's voice, "I spoke with the FBI this morning, and they have not gotten involved in the 'Telson Estate Disappearance Case' investigation."

Luke retorted, "Can we trust the FBI?"

"Don't question my judgement. Confirm their identity and keep in touch," Susan hung up.

At that moment, David also came out of the house, "No sign of Cindy Bout."

"I told you, my mom was taken by the FBI."

Luke holstered his gun, "What's your name?"

"Lisa Bout."

"What's your father's name?"

"My father is a jerk; he abandoned my mom and me years ago. I don't know who he is, nor do I care."

Luke asked, "How many FBI agents came?"

"One person."

"Describe his physical characteristics."

"He drove a black SUV, about fifty years old, with a big beard. That's all I remember."

Luke showed her a photo of Lorne, "Was it him?"

"No."

Luke then showed her a sketch of Cole, "What about him?"

Lisa Bout looked closely and nodded, "Yes, he resembles this man, only with an added beard. Is he FBI? Why did he take my mom?"

Luke and David exchanged glances, both feeling an ominous premonition.

Cole had a clear purpose, which was to exact revenge on his former associates and reclaim the valuable painting.

The first to be attacked was Tony, followed by Lorne, but the painting worth tens of millions of US Dollars had not been found.

Now, impersonating as FBI, he had taken Cindy Bout, obviously well-prepared.

However, if Lisa, Cindy's daughter, could recognize Cole, there was no reason Cindy herself wouldn't be able to do the same?

Knowing Cole's identity, why would she obediently follow him?

"Hey, you haven't answered me yet? Why did that man take my mom?"

Luke said, "Cindy Bout's situation is quite complicated. The person who took her is likely not from the FBI. If you hope for her to be rescued quickly, you need to cooperate with our police investigation, understand?"

"Will my mom be in danger?"

Luke asked another question, "Where is that painting?"

"What painting?"

"Work of the Impressionist master Schelder Hasen, 'Snowy Night'."

Lisa Bout shook her head, "I have never seen any Impressionist master's painting. We've never had paintings in our home."

"This is related to your mother's safety. The person who took your mother did so to get that painting. The police must find the painting first in order to rescue your mother.

If he gets the painting, he will certainly kill to silence any witnesses."

"I'm not lying to you. We really don't have any paintings at home, never have. My mom doesn't even like paintings; she never even mentioned anything about paintings. Why do you think the painting is at my house?"

Seeing that the other party appeared genuinely anxious and unlikely to be lying, David changed the question, "What kind of car was the person driving who took your mother?"

"I didn't get a clear look at the emblem, but I remember it was a black SUV."

"Which direction did it go?"

"East."

Afterward, David walked to the side to report to Susan, asking for her coordination to bring in nearby police reinforcements to search for a black SUV…

…

Several kilometers outside Haim City.

A black SUV turned off the highway, directly driving into a forest without regard for scratching the paint.

After parking the car.

The driver was a white man in his fifties who, after taking off his beard, bore a striking resemblance to the sketch of Cole Davis.

He turned his head to look at the woman in the back seat, "Dear Cindy, long time no see."

"Cole, why come back? Aren't you afraid of being caught?" The woman was handcuffed in the back seat, looking angrily at the front.

"It's precisely because I'm afraid that I haven't come back for so many years, otherwise... I would have liked to catch up with you sooner."

"Then why did you come back now?"

"Because I've been exposed, and I'm very angry. Anna's death had nothing to do with me, yet I became a wanted criminal by the police.

You real murderers, on the other hand, have been walking free. Doesn't your conscience hurt?"

"No one deliberately betrayed you, it was your own bad luck that a neighbor saw you. And you didn't take any less of the loot when we divided up the assets."

"Don't talk to me about that damned division of assets. I only got a hundred thousand US dollars; the real valuables were all taken by you. Especially that painting by Schelder Hasen, 'Snowy Night,' which could sell for ten million US dollars on the black market.

I've made inquiries, and the buyer might well be Bill Gates; he's been collecting Schelder Hasen's work.

Hand over the painting and I'll let you go.

It's what I deserve."

"I don't have the painting."

"Where is it, then?"

"It's with Lorne."

"I searched for Lorne... At first, he also said that he never saw that painting. I resorted to waterboarding him. Afterwards, he did give me an address, but I found nothing there." Cole sighed,

"Now that I think about it, either Lorne deceived me, or he really didn't have it.

If Lorne doesn't have the painting, then it must be with you.

So to avoid further pain, you'd better hand it over yourself."

Cindy said sincerely, "Cole, I really don't have the painting.

The moment I saw you, I recognized who you were. If I had the painting, I wouldn't have come with you.

I have a clear conscience."

"Ha ha." Cole chuckled coldly, waving the gun in his hand, "Come on, don't paint yourself as so saintly. The only reason you came with me is to protect your daughter.

Wow, that reminds me. How about exchanging your daughter for that painting?

Hand it over, and I'll let you go, so you can reunite with your daughter.

If you don't hand over the painting, then I'll send your daughter to join Tony..."

Cindy's expression changed slightly, her eyes reddening, "What do you mean? What have you done to Tony?"