Nick, who neither had the authority nor the desire to release Clyde, requested additional personnel from his superior, Bruce Mack. He also moved his entire team into Bilton Prison that same evening to investigate if Clyde had accomplices within the prison. No one was exempt from scrutiny—not even the warden or the guards.
Under the looming threat of death, everyone involved in the investigation worked with utmost diligence. Yet, as the clock ticked closer to Clyde's ominous deadline of 6:00 AM, anxiety gripped Nick and his team. The mounting psychological pressure from the previous days' constant killings weighed heavily on everyone.
As the clock approached 5:50 AM, the entire office came to a standstill. No one could focus on their tasks anymore. Unconsciously, they all turned their attention to the wall clock, waiting in tense silence. The ticking sound of the second hand filled the room, each "tick-tock" amplifying the tension.
As the second hand counted down to the final ten seconds, the silence became deafening. The last three ticks felt like an eternity. When the clock struck 6:00 AM, everyone instinctively tilted their heads, straining to hear any unusual sounds beyond the office walls.
A full minute passed, and the anticipated explosion or attack never came. "Thank God," someone whispered. Only then did everyone in the office dare to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Yes! Yes!" Cheers erupted, breaking the oppressive silence.
Nick, also relieved, climbed onto a chair and shouted to his team, "Guys, we were right! Clyde Shelton is no omnipotent god. His previous murders were only possible because he had prepared in advance. Now that we're on guard, he has no way to target us. So, go home, rest for the morning, and be back by 1:00 PM. We'll continue to work on pinning that bastard Clyde Shelton so he can't hurt anyone else!"
"Got it, boss!" The team, emboldened by Nick's words, felt their fear of Clyde diminish. They packed their belongings and left the office in small groups.
Nick, exhausted after an all-night shift, was eager to go home and sleep. But as he exited the office area and headed toward the prison parking lot with his colleagues, his portable explosive detector began emitting a sharp "beep, beep, beep."
The alarm immediately caught the attention of those nearby. "What's going on, boss?"
"Dammit!" Nick quickly unhooked the device from his belt, where it dangled with his car keys. Pressing his thumb against the detector's screen, he confirmed the warning: a significant number of explosives were ahead.
"Oh my God." Nick stared at the parking lot in front of them, his face pale. He screamed at his colleagues already near the lot, "Bomb! Bomb! The parking lot is rigged with bombs!"
Two team members, about 20 meters ahead of Nick, froze upon hearing his warning. Their tightly wound nerves kicked in as they shouted the alarm to others already inside the parking lot.
Thankfully, the warning came in time. Those inside the parking lot managed to escape. After retreating to a safe distance and waiting for several tense seconds, a series of "BOOM, BOOM, BOOM" explosions rocked the parking lot.
The chaos that followed was immediate. The entire prison was thrown into disarray, while in his solitary confinement cell, Clyde Shelton smiled to himself. Yet, moments later, his face twisted in agony as if battling some inner torment.
Within 40 minutes, news of the explosions reached the media. Journalists swarmed Bilton Prison, even though precise details were scarce. The fact that five or six bombs had detonated with no casualties quickly became the headline.
When the news vans arrived, an anonymous source leaked information that the lack of casualties was thanks to a timely warning issued seconds before the explosions. This revelation sparked a frenzy of speculation among reporters.
After Nick briefed his superiors on the incident, he received a directive to disclose to the media how the explosives had been detected. The reasoning was to prevent the public and media from jumping to unfounded conclusions.
Nick didn't have to think too hard to figure out who was behind this directive—it was undoubtedly an effort to promote William's explosive detector. Normally, such details wouldn't be revealed before an investigation was complete.
Surprisingly, Nick didn't resent it. After all, William's device had genuinely saved his life and those of over a dozen colleagues. He even saw the public disclosure as an opportunity to project strength. If Clyde's accomplices thought the team had a reliable way to detect bombs, they might be deterred from attempting another attack.
During his interview, Nick revealed that William's trial-phase explosive detector had been the key to their survival. As soon as the news aired, the entire country learned how a seemingly casual test run had saved lives and elevated William's product to global fame.
By midday, a New York City official announced during an interview that they would propose purchasing the proven detector for high-risk personnel. However, when the $1 million price tag for the keychain-sized device was revealed, public backlash ensued, with many accusing William of greed.
Despite the high cost, certain well-funded departments and private buyers wasted no time. By the end of the day, over 100 units had been confirmed for purchase nationwide.
This sudden demand forced Catherine Davis, CEO of Devonshire Defense Products, to abandon her plans in England. After receiving complaints from William about being too busy to handle sales, she boarded a private jet with her team of ten to fly directly to New York.
Seven hours later, to demonstrate his appreciation and subtly absolve himself of sales responsibilities, William personally led a convoy of SUVs to meet Catherine's plane. The motorcade, accompanied by Bryan Mills' team and additional security personnel, underwent thorough checks before being allowed onto the runway.
As they waited, Sunday's voice came through William's earpiece. "The plane will land in five minutes."
Sitting upright, William tapped Bryan, who was in the front passenger seat. "Get out. Let's talk."
"Understood, boss." Bryan exchanged a look with Sam, who was driving. Both men felt a surge of excitement.
Since receiving William's call the day before, Bryan and his team had been eager to discuss the electronics venture William had hinted at months ago. However, knowing William well, Bryan had cautioned his teammates to hold back and wait for William to bring it up himself.
Finally, the moment had come. Bryan nodded to Sam, opened the car door, and followed William outside. After walking a few steps, William turned to Bryan and asked directly, "Is the USB patent issue settled?"
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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