Chapter 1418: Chapter 1413: Just as Expected

Yang Yi was interested in the FBI investigation, half out of curiosity, and half to see how much the FBI could actually find out.

Of course, whatever the FBI could uncover and its impact on Big Ivan was not something Yang Yi was particularly concerned about.

Why let the FBI investigate? Because the cleaning crew has infiltrated the FBI completely, and what status does Big Ivan have? He is the highest-level client of the cleaning crew, making the FBI’s investigation akin to family checking on each other.

Yang Yi’s entire interest now was just to see what the FBI could actually come up with. Seeing more and learning more could always be beneficial, especially if he ever found himself in trouble in the future and needed to hide something.

Investigating a case takes time. Even with the FBI’s powerful resources within the United States, they couldn’t immediately find anything in the shortest time possible.

So Walter was actually thinking of leaving, but seeing Yang Yi’s enthusiastic demeanor, he didn’t want to dampen Yang Yi’s spirits.

In half an hour, John meticulously examined every corner and trace at the crime scene, and finally, he said to the other three FBI colleagues, “We can leave now; someone needs to come and remove the nuclear bomb.”

It was evident that John was capable because, although the other three people held higher positions, he was the only one who could conduct a thorough investigation.

John had no large team, not even an assistant to lend a hand, yet he managed to complete the entire investigation process alone, which intrigued Yang Yi to some extent.

“John, may I ask, are you a detective? The kind that specializes in criminal cases?”

John glanced at Yang Yi and said, “How did you figure that out?”

“Hmm, just a guess.”

John nodded and said, “Yes, I specialize in major criminal case investigations. It’s the first time I’ve handled a case involving a significant threat to national security.”

Yang Yi just nodded and asked no further questions.

A special military unit responsible for handling nuclear incidents and threats came to remove the nuclear bomb. They were military personnel, and such matters were not within CIA and FBI jurisdiction. Therefore, all evidence collection had to be completed before the military removed the nuclear bomb; otherwise, once it’s gone, it can’t be recovered.

John conducted fingerprint extractions and other tasks alone. Although doing these things alone inevitably led to omissions, given the extreme confidentiality requirements of this case, it was understandable.

As soldiers loaded the nuclear bomb onto a vehicle and took it away, John’s phone rang. After answering, he nodded as if expected, and then, in a solemn tone, said, “There are no surveillance cameras in the vicinity? Not a single one? Hmm, then expand the search range, set the time to three hours before Wen Fokkes’ time of death, and focus on investigating box trucks, large SUVs, and disregard sedans and the like.”

After speaking, John hung up and said to Yang Yi, “Wen Fokkes is dead, died in his own home, along with his girlfriend, approximately five hours ago.”

Yang Yi nodded and said, “You were right. So do you think Wen Fokkes was randomly selected, or was he a premeditated target?”

John calmly replied, “He wasn’t randomly chosen. There were at least two perpetrators, because the box that held the nuclear bomb had been moved, and it couldn’t be moved by one person alone. Additionally, Wen Fokkes lived in a crime-ridden community without any surveillance cameras, where even police officers are reluctant to go. Furthermore, there are no surveillance cameras near his house, neither public nor private, because the rampant crime in that area does not tolerate cameras.”

Yang Yi spread his hands and said, “The killer might have known about the situation on that street and chose it temporarily.”

John nodded but then shook his head. After a moment of silence, he said softly, “It wasn’t a temporary choice. I have no direct evidence for now, but I will find it. Also, at least one of the killers was familiar with Wen Fokkes’ situation. If you ask why I think so, my answer is logical reasoning.”

Yang Yi spread his hands, and John took a breath, saying, “A nuclear bomb, capable of being stored and kept in a ready-to-detonate state, requires someone to manage and hide it. When it needs to be taken out, it won’t be just anyone who can do it. That’s common sense. Would a professional and trustworthy person do things sloppily? No, meticulousness and preparedness are common traits of such people. Therefore, choosing Wen Fokkes was not random.”

After speaking, John looked at Yang Yi and said, “Someone is deliberately creating false clues for us.”

“It’s understandable and expected, but I want to know if we can still find any useful clues?”

“There will always be traces. There will always be.”

John smiled, looked at Walter’s position, then at his other colleagues’ positions, and sneered mysteriously before saying to Yang Yi, “For example, I can tell you’re connected to this case. Not officially, but you’re involved, and you’re linked to the culprits. You’re not on their side, but you’re connected.”

Yang Yi frowned and said, “Oh?”

John shrugged and said, “Criminal psychology, your excessive interest exposed you.”

Yang Yi laughed and said, “You’re overthinking. I’m tasked with handling this case; it’s impossible not to be interested.”

“I said excessive interest.”

After saying this, John turned his face to the side and whispered, “FBI has many skilled employees. If someone else came, even if your behavior was perfectly normal, it would raise suspicion. Because since this case is obviously a trouble the CIA created for the FBI, you shouldn’t be this interested in the case, just like that gentleman. You should be eager to get out, so you should leave with any excuse instead of being this involved.”

Yang Yi smiled and said, “Understood, I just wanted to confirm one thing, and that is… well, no need to say it. You get it. Well, good luck to you. Keep in touch, and please notify us of any new discoveries.”

Without a doubt, John was a cleaner. Yang Yi trusted his judgment could not be wrong. From the beginning, he believed John must be a cleaner, he just wasn’t sure, of course, only unsure, because a cleaner would never allow a detective truly eager to thoroughly investigate Big Ivan to take charge of this case.

Yang Yi reached out to shake John’s hand, then walked over to Walter, saying, “Let’s go.”

Walter whispered, “So, found any leads?”

Yang Yi gave a bitter smile and whispered, “No valuable leads. I just wanted to know if they could find anything. Now it seems staying here is a waste of time. Let the FBI people take their time with it. We should go back and report.”