Nail extraction and the application of hydrochloric acid are said to be a CIA interrogation method. While toilet cleaner only contains diluted hydrochloric acid, it's sufficient for emergency use.
Douglas actually spoke up when the first nail was removed, and Brian's subsequent actions were simply to verify his account.
Although Jack had heard of many CIA torture methods, the only one he had witnessed in action was waterboarding, which was truly eye-opening.
Jack wasn't worried about prosecution. The three kidnapped girls all came from prominent backgrounds. Even Cassel, the relatively "poor" one, was the most socially connected, with friends spanning New York's upper crust.
The FBI was unlikely to embarrass him over such a minor matter. If they knew, they might even praise his decisiveness. Human rights are not universal.
After calling in the NYPD to handle the aftermath, Jack took Brian and Beckett straight to the farm listed.
While he had confidence in Brian and his own current skills, the purpose of this mission was to rescue the hostages, not to storm the enemy's lair and slaughter them.
There were three kidnapped girls, and it was obviously unrealistic to rely on only two people to protect them all. Of course, too many people involved in the operation would also make accidents more likely.
The FBI-SWAT team under the New York office had worked with Jack many times. They couldn't be said to be as capable as an arm, but they were definitely trustworthy.
Two hours later, shortly after the three arrived at the farm, Jubal and the fully armed wanted criminal team arrived with a team of six people, and they also brought Jack's equipment.
In the distance, police cars from the New York State Police were responsible for guarding various intersections, and two police helicopters from the NYPD were on standby in the sky.
Although Cassel, who came with them, still had bloodshot eyes, he looked much better.
Jack put on his equipment and turned around to meet the great writer's worried gaze. He reached out and pulled Beckett over and said, "Keep an eye on this guy. Put handcuffs on him if necessary. If he dares to run around, just shoot him in the leg."
He was the biggest destabilizing factor here. As for Brian, he had already put on a bulletproof vest and was holding the spare pistol that Jack had given him before.
Cassel lost his usual detachment and grabbed Brian's shoulders, his eyes pleading. "Please, make sure Alexis is safe."
Brian nodded silently, then paused, gesturing to the most wanted criminals and SWAT team nearby. "The FBI is the professional at this. They know how to rescue hostages and are trained over and over again to handle any possible emergency."
"I know, I know. I know a lot about Jack and the others. I know they've faced far more dangerous situations. I just can't help but worry. I'm afraid that when you rush into the house, what you'll see..."
Jack checked his N4 assault rifle and punched Cassel on the shoulder. "Be optimistic. It's been less than 24 hours since this happened. The kidnappers haven't even had time to call for ransom. They'll be fine."
Cassel's lips moved, but he didn't say any more depressing words.
Jack thought about it and felt a little worried, worried that this guy's aura of being the protagonist would cause some inexplicable trouble at this time. He walked over to Jiejie and whispered another warning.
He was serious about keeping Cassel under tight security, because the safety of not only Alexis but the other two girls was at stake.
If only Alexis had been kidnapped, Jack wouldn't have panicked at all and simply brought Cassel with him, perhaps even making a difference in a crucial moment.
But the plot was clearly broken. No matter how powerful Cassel's protagonist aura was, could he really protect Kim? If Kim got hurt because of his mischief, even he wouldn't be able to protect her when Brian came to seek revenge.
Since he could travel through time, Jack had to believe in some metaphysics, but in this situation, he chose to take his fate into his own hands.
"The drone's back," Jubal said, holding a tablet. "This is the SUV we're looking for, the black Yukon."
Jack confirmed the location on the satellite map, mapped the drone's footage to it, and quickly marked various arrows and key points.
The main farm building is the old brick house in front of us. The kidnapper's car is parked in front of the house. There is also a barn next to the old house. It has been confirmed by drone that the interior is empty. It must have been abandoned for a long time.
According to the investigation results sent by NYPD, this farm has been without an owner and no one has maintained it since it was mortgaged five or six years ago. It is indeed a good hiding place.
The SWAT team will divide half of its members and Jack to enter through the main gate for the main attack. Hannah and the SWAT team's sniper will be responsible for surveillance from the east and west sides respectively. Clay and Aubrey will approach from the small garden behind the old house, which is full of debris, and block the direction of the back door.
Everything was arranged and everyone immediately took action. Jack took the lead, followed by a SWAT team member holding a door hammer, and then Brian.
However, just as they reached the main entrance, something unexpected happened. Jack and Brian simultaneously looked up at the brand-new security camera on the porch, which stood out from the crowd. A foreboding feeling lingered.
"GO! GO! GO!!!"
Jack roared, unconcerned about revealing his unusual physique. He leaned slightly, exerting force on his feet, and like a predator, he leaped forward, slamming his shoulder into the old house's main entrance.
The door, which normally opened outward, was shattered, along with its frame. Brian, bypassing the dazed SWAT team, still clutching their battering rams, rushed in after Jack.
"FBI!"
Now that they had been spotted, the next challenge was speed. Jack's senses were fully activated, abandoning the normal entry procedure and bypassing less important rooms, heading straight for the living room and bedroom, where most people were most likely to be hiding.
"Clear!"
"No one!"
"Clear!"
No one on the first floor, no one on the second floor, no one in the basement, but there was a body.
—
"Are you sure there aren't other basements or secret rooms nearby?" Cassel said, his face filled with disbelief, as he followed Jack into a bedroom.
"We've searched everywhere, including the abandoned barn, but I'm certain of one thing: the three girls were brought here."
Jack pointed to three coats discarded on the floor. "Brian has confirmed the yellow one is Kim's."
"The green one next to it belongs to Alexis. Their coats are here, but they're not. What does that mean?"
Castle asked, his voice trembling as he returned to his previous panicked state. Becket, beside him, was also panicking, instinctively grabbing his arm.
"Combined with the camera at the door, this means a lot. We're probably dealing with more than just a bunch of kidnappers. This is just a transit point. The real mastermind has already moved them."
Jack said, opening a secret door in the bedroom floor. "That's not the weirdest part. Come down with me and you'll see."
The smell of blood, mixed with a pungent, sour smell, hit them.
Roger Hansen, whom they believed to be the kidnapping mastermind, was tied to a chair, covered in blood and a bullet hole in his forehead. Brian was squatting over him, examining him.
"He was tortured?" Cassel's attention was instantly focused on the hands of the corpse. The nails on the fingers were all gone, and the fingers that should have been covered with nails had been corroded into a black and yellow color by something.
"You." Beckett's beautiful eyes widened.
"He was already dead when we came in." Jack knew she had misunderstood something and quickly explained. After all, a similar scene had just happened a few hours ago.
"It's a common CIA method." Brian stood up and nodded in confirmation.
"CIA?" Cassel's tone changed a little. "Is there a second CIA person here?"
"Those friends of yours?" Jack asked Brian with some confusion.
"It wasn't my friends who did it. I just asked them to help with some investigations. They couldn't have acted privately without telling me."
Brian explained lightly, his face a little strange, and handed Jack something wrapped in paper. "I'm more curious about what this is. Can you help explain it?"
Jack opened it and found that it was wrapped in a cheap anonymous mobile phone. There was a line of words written on the paper, "Jack, they are in Paris and came here alone. I need your help."
(End of this chapter)