Jack's conspicuous mammoth figure was the perfect disguise at this tourist attraction. Everyone was dressed in flashy floral shirts and beach shorts, looking like bored rich guys on the beach trying to pick up girls.
"What's the standard procedure?" Danny asked, puzzled, peering through the car window at the suspect's RV not far away.
Jack recalled his FBI training. "We can't be sure they've acquired the virus yet, so the standard procedure is to wait for the tourists to disperse after sunset, cordon off the surrounding area, and then dispatch a professional hazardous materials team."
"Sounds good, let the professionals handle professional matters," Danny shrugged.
"But the problem is that waiting is also a risk. These guys slipped through the net and are already very sensitive.
If they sense something's wrong, or see someone in a hazmat suit, they'll absolutely draw their weapons and fight back. I have no doubt their arsenal is in that RV."
Karen's words clearly indicated a preference for a quick resolution.
Hanna's phone beeped, and he opened it, frowning. "Headquarters just sent a message. They've discovered that Gabriel Martial wired $200,000 to a bank account in Honolulu four weeks ago.
This confirms that 'ELE' is using Dr. Rachel Horton as an intermediary to obtain the smallpox virus from Broadman, and they've likely already obtained it."
"Trying to subdue them quietly now would be dangerous. If the virus is hidden in the car, if one of them is decisive enough, even the simplest way to detonate it with explosives, the tourists nearby would be in jeopardy."
Cheng Hao, observing the situation, voiced his concerns.
The rumble of a diesel engine reached Jack's ears. He peered through the windshield and saw a large bulldozer working nearby.
Even a natural beach requires regular maintenance if it's overcrowded with tourists. They clean up the garbage and bring in clean sand from elsewhere for covering. The bulldozer was currently busy working on a large pile of sand.
"I think maybe we don't need to subdue them quietly. Making a big noise might be more effective."
Everyone followed his gaze, their understanding palpable, and a smile spread across their faces. Today
,
those visiting Torrance Beach witnessed a bizarre and rare law enforcement operation. A massive bulldozer, spewing black smoke, barreled towards a recreational vehicle parked near the beach, effortlessly turning it upside down.
Before anyone could react, several plainclothes federal agents, guns drawn, swarmed in and apprehended everyone inside and outside the RV.
State police cars, standing by nearby, roared in and quickly established a cordon, cordoning off the crowd of onlookers.
The entire operation lasted less than five minutes, and the subsequent search lasted nearly two hours.
The hazardous materials team turned the RV upside down, but ultimately found nothing except a pile of firearms and household trash.
——
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"Ah! Fuck! You federal running dogs!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"Stop it! Stop hitting me! Fuck!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"What the hell do you want to know? Ask me!"
Listening to the sound of fists and flesh hitting each other in the room, and the screams that followed, Danny couldn't help but ask Jack in amazement, "Is it really legal for them to do this?"
"What are you thinking? Of course it's not illegal, but who would know? Hundreds of people just saw the RV where the suspect was being overturned. It's reasonable for two bones to be broken, right?"
Jack was looking up information on the computer, and replied without even looking up. "Besides, the military has its own prison. Any injury will be healed after being sent in for two months of recuperation."
"Do you think it's possible for us to convince the governor to set up a dedicated prison for 'Five-O' in Hawaii?"
Danny's fantasy was not met with contempt, but Cheng Hao's thoughtful look. "The governor is unlikely to agree, but we might be able to let Steve find a remote small room in a military facility on another island."
Knowing that the "Five-O" guys were indeed quite "tough" on the island of Hawaii, Jack was still secretly shocked after hearing the conversation between the two. He didn't expect them to be even more "wild" than he imagined.
NCIS can do this because they're part of the military, just using the name of a federal agent. "Five-O" is probably just too far away.
Not long after, the door opened, and Hannah came out, rubbing her wrist, a murderous look on her face.
"Gabriel Martial said that he didn't get the virus from Dr. Rachel Horton. They agreed to deliver it tomorrow night. We may still have a chance."
"I don't think so." Jack, who had been sitting in front of the computer, turned the screen towards everyone. "Rachel Horton has booked a flight to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, tomorrow afternoon."
"You mean, Rachel Horton never intended to hand over the virus to the 'ELE' militia?" Danny was confused. "What exactly does she want to do?"
"She defrauded the militia of a $200,000 advance payment and paid it directly to Broadman, then paid the remaining $300,000 balance herself, and then prepared to flee abroad with the virus?
To be honest, I don't quite understand what this doctor did. What exactly does she want to do? Switch to becoming an international arms dealer selling biological and chemical weapons?"
"She can't get away with the virus. Los Angeles Airport has strengthened security checks." Hannah said with certainty.
Jack was about to say something when Karen pushed the door open. "Dix and Bly just searched Rachel Horton's office at the Malibu Cancer Research Center. The center says she's on leave, but the office is empty.
We've also looked into her financial situation and found she hasn't used her credit cards in weeks. She's sold all her properties and even her car. This means she's either going into hiding or trying to leave the country."
Hannah pulled him in front of Jack's computer screen and said gravely, "Whatever she wants to do with the virus, we only have 24 hours left. She'll definitely do it before she leaves."
As the conference room fell silent, Jack coughed softly, closed the current page on his computer, and accessed several scientific journal websites.
"Karen suggested I profile Dr. Horton, so I've been searching various websites for her publications. Judging by the uncomfortable views she's expressed recently, I think I might have an idea of what she's up to."
Seeing everyone's eyes on him, Jack played it off. "Have you heard of the Gaia hypothesis?"
(End of Chapter)