"That's basically it. I need you to bring Senator Lavoie to the forefront. I want to know the extent of his involvement, and ideally, find evidence to force his resignation."
Jack outlined the initial plan he had just devised after an urgent meeting with Zoe and Rossi.
Normally, a scandal involving bribery wouldn't be enough to send a senator into disgrace.
But if a funding bill, one he pushed through, happened to include defense companies benefiting from it, or even the associated arms procurement itself, linked to acts of terrorism, that would be a different matter.
Not to mention the Anderson family, who were eyeing the California seat, trying to sabotage Zoe.
With three years until the Senate election, if either California seat became vacant, Zoe would naturally become a fill-in senator through the governor's appointment, without the need for a campaign.
Once in that position, the Anderson family's power would make it difficult to unseat her, and re-election in three years' time was foreseeable.
Zoe could then naturally step into the spotlight, providing a solid political shield for Shangri-La.
This wasn't easy, and Jack didn't expect it to happen overnight, but it wasn't impossible to give it a try. After all, the opportunity had presented itself, and all they had to do was seize the opportunity.
So, Reacher and O'Donnell had changed into suits not for a symphony concert, but to impersonate FBI agents.
Interestingly, Jack, the real FBI agent, couldn't appear, as the identities of Reacher and O'Donnell were ultimately unmasked.
Only after Congressman Lavoie, the man behind Daniel Boyd, discovered Reacher's true identity would he dare to make his move. Whether it was bribery or silencing, any move by him would be a step into a trap set for him by the Anderson family and the FBI.
Symphony concerts typically last no more than two hours, with a 15-minute break. Jack had found this information online.
He had never sat through a full symphony concert in a concert hall, and his knowledge of European classical music was limited to works well-known to ordinary people, such as "The Blue Danube," "Für Elise," and "Symphony of Fate."
However, privately, the upper class seemed less enamoured of high art than they appeared. The three of them had been sitting in the cafe across from the concert hall for less than 40 minutes when they received a message from Negley.
"They're coming out. Intermission. Apparently some people can't wait." Jack put away his phone and cast his gaze towards the sidewalk across the street. "I see. Dixon's dress looks absolutely stunning from this angle. Your girlfriend has incredible taste in clothes. Boyd can't resist it at all," O'Donnell said with a chuckle. Reacher narrowed his eyes at Jack and silently mouthed Hannah's name.
Just before everyone left New York, Jack and Jiejie's casual affectionate gestures before parting indicated something unusual about their relationship. O'Donnell naturally mistook Jiejie for someone's girlfriend. While there wasn't anything wrong with that, Reacher had known Hannah since their time in Margrave Town and was well aware of her relationship with Jack.
"Rosko," Jack mouthed back, too. There was no need for the two of them to be so at odds. While Reacher didn't know about him, he had two girlfriends, but at least they weren't as ruthless as this guy.
"Okay, let's wait and see what Inspector Finlay does. If all goes well, it'll be our turn."
O'Donnell, oblivious to this little backroom battle, stood up, smoothed the wrinkles on his suit, and straightened his tie, looking presentable.
Meanwhile, Dixon had already taken the soul-enchanted Daniel Boyd into the alley behind the concert hall and got into her Porsche Cayenne.
Just as a certain lecher was getting impatient, Dixon pulled out a packet of white powder, saying it would help him, and it played right into his hands.
Just as Daniel Boyd expertly used a small card to spread a small amount of powder into long strips on Dixon's vanity mirror, pressed his nose against it, and sniffed hard, a dark, old face appeared outside their car window like a ghost.
"Those aren't my drugs." In the police interrogation room, Daniel Boyd, handcuffed to the interrogation table, appeared much more sober. Upon seeing the sullen Finlay, he vigorously argued for himself.
"What poison?" Finlay shoved his hands in his pockets, his eyes flashing coldly in the light. "Those on the vanity mirror, or the ones on your nose?"
"Use your brain! How could I possibly have a vanity mirror? Those are all hers!"
Daniel Boyd's voice rose an octave, his voice a tone of being wronged. He had no idea that the black officer before him was also part of some idiot's scheme to trap him, and he took Finlay's perfunctory expression as a deliberate attack on him.
Honestly, without the double favors of Jack and Reacher, Finlay wouldn't have easily agreed to such a scheme to frame a congressman's staffer.
But back in Margrave, the black detective had witnessed Jack's ability to use his power as a pretext.
Back then, he was just an ordinary LAPD officer, with only a year on the job, yet he was able to manipulate the situation and manipulate the IRS, FBI, and Secret Service. Now, a few years later, he was an FBI supervisory agent.
Add to that the lawless killer Reacher, and if he cooperated to trap Daniel Boyd, he might actually save his life.
Otherwise, tomorrow, he'd be grappling with a murder case destined to remain unsolved.
Finlay's face darkened even further at this thought, and he said angrily, "That's not what the lady said. And from what I saw, the poison stick wasn't in her possession. She even asked for blood and urine tests. Are you willing to do them, too?"
Daniel Boyd's expression froze. He was a good-for-nothing, second-generation rich kid, but that didn't make him an idiot. He was truly foolish for not realizing he'd been set up.
However, he subconsciously mistook Finlay, who was wearing a tweed suit, for a black cop looking to make some extra money. A smile suddenly appeared on his face as he rolled his eyes. "Officer, although I hate to say this, do you know who I am?"
"Of course I do," Finlay interrupted him impatiently. "Mr. Boyd, I also know that the woman in the car is not Mrs. Boyd.
And I particularly despise those who disrespect the sanctity of marriage. I also know that you are working for Councilman Lavoie."
These words immediately changed Daniel Boyd's expression. He had already vaguely sensed that he seemed to be in some trouble. The other party did not seem to be after money, at least not a small amount.
(End of this chapter)