When Jack returned to the Most Wanted Unit's Long Island office building, Danny had already picked up Reacher and the others. Aside from being a bit dusty, the four appeared unharmed, without even a scratch.
The assassin had been completely ripped apart by the explosion. Reacher and the others had been watching from outside, hoping to capture and interrogate the assassin after the final payment was exchanged.
However, they chose to silence him, even resorting to the highly visible method of explosion.
Danny hung up the phone and waved to Jack. "The fire's out. The bomb disposal team found the remains of a tripwire-style IED at the scene, along with only a charred, mutilated body."
"Using Swan's name to hire an assassin and then using such a high-profile method to silence him is a perfect frame-up. Once the police find Swan's military experience, they'll undoubtedly identify him as the killer,"
Negley said, rolling his eyes, as if still frustrated by his earlier misjudgment and doubting his former teammate's thoughts.
"But all our leads are gone now. Is there any good news from the FBI?" Dixon was opening the refrigerator to look for something to eat, but because Jack's inventory was too rich and many of the things she had never seen before, she was a little confused.
Jack came forward and took two salted duck eggs and cracked them on the table, indicating that Reacher, who was munching on bread, could eat with them. Then he took out a lunch box and took out a mango and a few strawberries.
He first talked about the strange email exchanges between Swan and Marlo Burns, and several special investigators immediately showed indescribable expressions on their faces.
"Swan hates Jimi Hendrix, including any songs with electric guitar as the main melody." O'Donnell's eyebrows almost flew to the top of his head.
Dixon was watching Jack working on the counter with curiosity on his face, and nodded in agreement when he heard what he said, "Swan likes to play guitar, but he never plays songs by Skinner, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix or The Who. This is his principle."
"Although the FBI doesn't know this, our smart analysts still found the code hidden in it and linked it to the 'Little Wings Project'."
Jack peeled and cut the mango into pieces with skillful techniques, cut the washed strawberries in half, poured in milk and osmanthus honey, then opened the lunch box and cut the black, jelly-like substance inside into small cubes and added them to the lunch box. Finally, he handed a bowl to Dixon and Negley respectively.
"Unfortunately, we arrived too late. Marlo Burns and her daughter are currently missing, but the good news is that they likely fled on their own initiative, rather than being kidnapped or murdered like the others.
However, the memo clearly states that Senator Malcolm Lavoie guaranteed that Project Little Wings would pass a congressional vote.
I still remember his exact words: 'He firmly believes this project is incredibly important and will do everything in his power to help us.'"
Dixon scooped a spoonful and savored it, frowning in thought. "So, unless we find Marlo Burns, the only way to learn more about Project Little Wings is to go to that senator?"
"Federal senators aren't easy to approach," Negley said, her attention drawn to the fruit salad Jack handed her. Curiously, she examined the black jelly in the bowl, which contrasted sharply with the white milk.
"Why is it black?"
"It's Guilinggao, a traditional Chinese medicine that improves women's health, making their skin smoother and reducing wrinkles." Before Jack could speak, Danny volunteered to explain. This thing was now his wife's favorite.
Authentic tortoise jelly is made from the shells of hawksbill turtles. This cold-water turtle, native to China and Southeast Asia, is not native to North America. However, it has a distant cousin, the alligator snapping turtle, that is similar in appearance and ferocious habits, though taxonomically unrelated.
Jack recently returned from France and, persuaded by Danny, spent $765 on a lifetime New York State fishing and hunting license, intending to improve his fishing skills.
Saltwater fishing in New York State is mostly free; registration is all that's required. However, freshwater fishing is more complicated, so Jack simply applied for a license to avoid the hassle of obtaining a permit if he wants to go hunting.
Unexpectedly, Danny was also a novice. After a day of fishing at Hempstead Lake on Long Island, the two of them failed to catch even the most common sunfish. Just as they were returning home disappointed, they spotted a large fish in the bushes by the lake.
Snapping turtles are native to the Americas and are broadly divided into two categories: the true snapping turtle and the false snapping turtle. The true snapping turtle is a protected species in the United States and is endangered due to habitat loss. Adults are said to weigh over 100 pounds and are extremely rare in the wild.
Despite its name, the false snapping turtle is considered large for a freshwater turtle, easily weighing over 20 pounds.
Besides size, the biggest difference between the two species lies in the spines on its carapace. The true snapping turtle has a ferocious appearance, with three sharp, protruding spines on its back, resembling a Triceratops.
The false snapping turtle, aside from its unusually unsightly head, has a less prominent back. This is the one Jack and Danny discovered, weighing over ten pounds.
In Jack's previous life, this species was considered an invasive species, with official recommendations to eat it immediately upon capture. It's not often considered a concern in the United States. This species is native to Florida, and its presence here likely stems from captivity.
Although snapping turtles look menacing, they taste quite good. Key to this is their large size, easily growing to over ten pounds. They're perfect for braising with pork or chicken feet, boasting a rich, gelatinous texture.
Afterward, Jack, figuring such a large shell shouldn't be wasted, went to Chinatown and bought over twenty kinds of Chinese herbs to make a large pot of tortoise jelly for his girlfriends
. While eating tortoise jelly in autumn felt a bit strange, upon hearing it could improve skin, not only did Hannah and Jiejie fall in love with the slightly bitter "black jelly," but Danny even happily bought a whole box to take home for his wife.
After Jack's introduction, the two women's expressions of disdain, initially expressed at the slightly bitter taste, instantly vanished, and they devoured it with relish.
"Malcolm Lavoie, Washington's 'paper bag,' huh, huh, it seems New Age Technology has put a lot of effort into this project," O'Donnell said with a hint of sarcasm.
"Have you heard of this congressman, too?" Jack couldn't help but feel curious. Although he knew that these special investigators generally returned to their old jobs after leaving the military, they probably had little to do with politics.
Even he, an FBI agent, didn't know much about those congressional gentlemen. He had only heard the name Malcolm Lavoie from Zoe some time ago. This jerk senator, who held one of California's two seats, had inexplicably become his "rival in love." (Chapter 927)
"Given enough incentives, he can even portray Satan as a saint. This senator is notorious in Washington, and his political views and opinions have always changed with the wind."
O'Donnell rubbed the back of his head with a smug look, as if he was waiting for you to ask me before revealing more inside information.
Reacher, who had seemed intently munching on his bread, wiped the salted egg yolk from the corner of his mouth, licked his fingers with relish, and spoke thoughtfully.
"So this Lavoie is New Age Technology's voice in Congress. If he's been paid with bribes, he probably wouldn't want to be associated with terrorism. Perhaps that's something we can exploit."
Negley rolled his eyes. "It's the same problem. Even if Jack were to come forward as an FBI agent, it would be difficult to speak to a senator. And if your brother or his DHS colleagues were to question him, do you think he would confess everything or deny it?"
Seeing these guys ignoring him, the "expert," and instead engaging in private conversation, O'Donnell felt a little discouraged. Although he knew they were doing it on purpose, he still approached them.
"We don't need to look for him. These politicians never know what they are voting for, and it is impossible for them to read a bill of thousands of pages in person. After receiving the money, they just need to know whether they voted for or against.
But the legislative directors who work for them are different. They are the ones who will actually study those bills, and they are our target. It is not easy to approach them without personal bodyguards."
"Is there any difference?" Negley glanced at him, "Why would such people be willing to tell us? As the lackeys of the congressman, their interests are the same as those of the congressman."
"This is my professional area. I have a way to control the situation and make them reveal everything they know." O'Donnell looked complacent.
Negley looked at him with a half-smile. "It sounds like your work as a private investigator has brought you into contact with many high-ranking figures in Washington. Is there anything you'd like to share with us?"
O'Donnell's expression faltered, his initial elation gradually shifting to an indescribable one. "Well, let's put it this way. There are many powerful people in Washington, D.C., haha, but as we all know, the more powerful they are, the more secrets they have to hide.
Most of these little secrets are not illegal, or only slightly illegal, but very shameful. My job is to ensure that these little secrets are kept secret."
"So you're exploiting privacy to blackmail people." Reacher spread his hands, getting to the point.
"I'm motivating them, urging them not to make the same mistake again," O'Donnell argued guiltily.
Dixon covered his face to hide his laughter, "That sounds a bit immoral, O'Donnell."
As his self-psychological construction strengthened, O'Donnell's sophistry became less guilty, "That's because you haven't seen those dirty little secrets. Believe me, compared to those upper-class people, my character is comparable to that of a saint.
Besides, I have two children to raise. Do you know how expensive private schools are? I just put the facts in front of them and let them choose."
Reacher shook his head speechlessly, "O'Donnell, I always thought that the cause of your death was that you were hacked to pieces by an angry ex-girlfriend, but I didn't expect that there would be a time when you would give up the entire forest.
In any case, I am very happy to see that you bravely took on the responsibility of taking care of a family. Such a change is not easy."
"Everyone is changing, right?" O'Donnell was a little embarrassed, "Just like I always thought you would live in seclusion in some small place where no one would disturb you, own a small house of your own, and then"
". raise five or six dogs to keep you company." The other two special investigators spoke in unison, and then everyone looked at each other and smiled.
"Okay, give me ten minutes to make some calls. I'll find the name and details of the legislative director who works for Congressman Lavoie." O'Donnell picked up his phone and prepared to make a call.
"Daniel Boyd, the name you want, and his information." Jack, who was frying steaks for everyone in the kitchen, suddenly called out to him, shaking his oil-spattered phone screen.
While they were digressing, Jack sent Zoe a message to inquire about his "rival."
Soon, several files arrived, including information on Malcolm Lavoie himself and several of his staff, including the legislative director O'Donnell had mentioned.
A steak and noodles lunch was a bit incongruous, and even the timing was inappropriate. It was three in the afternoon, and tea was supposed to be served, but instead, a group of people were staring at computer screens and slurping noodles.
"This guy looks like a spoiled idiot. He's probably never lifted anything heavier than a bottle in his life, has he?"
O'Donnell clumsily finished Jack's chicken noodle soup with chopsticks, slurping down the broth before wiping his mouth and offering a scathing assessment of the Daniel Boyd listed in his profile.
"He got into the University of Virginia and Georgetown Law School with C+ grades. He was a complete party boy and frat boy as a student. He's a loser who got to his current position entirely through his parents' connections. He had two DUI records expunged. He was caught red-handed by a policewoman during his second year of law school, but the charges were also mysteriously dropped. He maintains a 2.3 GPA and continues to practice law smoothly, even landing a job at a major law firm.
This is the same guy who now writes bills that determine the fate of ordinary people like us, getting his boss to vote according to the demands of the highest-paying, most ingratiating lobbyists.
Now I understand how the people of Massachusetts lost their mothers overnight."
O'Donnell was referring to a new Massachusetts law requiring birth certificates to use "birther" instead of "mother" on newborns' birth certificates.
In fact, future Massachusetts babies will not only be without a mother but also a father, as the word "father" has been replaced with "other parent."
Of course, given the current American climate, I'm sure the locals won't be too concerned about the lack of a father.
"So, how are you going to use those little tricks you use to motivate the upper class?" Reacher teased.
O'Donnell glanced slyly at Dixon and Negley, "How long has it been since you two last wore a sexy dress?"
(End of Chapter)