Leon Tao, an MBA from New York University, was a Chinese by birth, with small, single-lidded eyes and a height of barely 1.7 meters, perfectly fitting the stereotype of Chinese Americans in American television series.
Jack had a vague recollection of this man, though he couldn't recall the details. He was certain it wouldn't be helpful in finding Finch and Gen; it was another "unrelated number."
"I can't put Finch's photo in the missing persons database. I'm worried it'll cause unnecessary trouble."
Jack pulled out another file: a middle-aged woman who had previously approached Finch and was killed by Gen's gun.
"Her full name is Alicia Corwin. As soon as we entered her fingerprint information into the system, an alarm went off. The NSA sent an agent named Hersh, who wanted to take away all the case files related to her."
Reese raised his eyebrows slightly, his expression serious. "So you've given up on the investigation?"
"Not yet. Ms. Moger demanded that the person behind him come forward, but they clearly don't want to reveal their identity, so the situation has reached a stalemate."
From the conversation he had overheard, Jack roughly guessed that Alicia Corwin was the NSA person responsible for coordinating the "Machine" project with Finch's friend Nathan.
Alicia had met Finch, but Nathan, for safety reasons, concealed from her the fact that Finch was the creator of the "Machine."
Since the "Machine" was officially launched and played a huge role in counterterrorism, the secret project itself has attracted increasing curiosity.
Much like the "Prism Project" in Jack's previous life, the federal government's covert surveillance of the public has now become an "open secret."
But an "open secret" remains a secret. Without proof, it doesn't exist, just like the "true/false" alien legend at Area 51.
By collecting publicly available internet information and handing it off to a team of highly intelligent individuals for analysis, they uncover clues and present them to federal agencies for further investigation, ultimately preventing a "terrorist attack."
This might not sound so unacceptable, and some might argue endlessly, but that's about it.
But if it were an artificial intelligence, pervasively monitoring everyone through devices including public surveillance, the cameras and microphones on everyone's phones, personal email and social media accounts, and even the intelligent electronic systems in today's cars,
then those responsible for this project would be drowned in public outrage.
The entire "Machine" project has operated under this guise to this day. Without Jack, the "alien visitor," only seven people in the entire federal government knew the secret, including Finch's deceased friend Nathan and Greer, the MI6 veteran whom Jack eliminated.
Alicia Corwin is clearly one of these seven. Jack doesn't know what she's been through these past few years, but from that conversation, it seems she's been in constant fear since Nathan's death, and continues to be so.
Jack originally loved Person of Interest because, unlike traditional American showbiz, with the exception of the true villain, Decima Technology, most of the characters aren't traditionally good or evil.
Even Greer, the villainous old man who controls Decima Technology, created the more radical artificial intelligence, the Samaritan, with the goal of helping human society "evolve."
At least in terms of his starting point, he's not fundamentally different from Finch.
"The investigation into Alicia Corwin can only be conducted in secret. With the authority I currently hold, even the slightest movement would alert someone."
Before Jack could finish his words, Reese impatiently put away the first file. "Leave the investigation into Leon Thao to me. The special mayoral election is coming up, and you'll be very busy there."
"Don't forget you have help. Detective Fusco will be happy to assist you," Jack reminded him before parting ways.
-
Two hours later, in the Major Crimes Division office at NYPD headquarters.
"Should I request overtime pay?" Detective Doudou's recent euphoria from receiving the commendation vanished without a trace after hearing Jack's account of the situation .
"Do you know how nervous I am every time I work with that scoundrel? He's used to being alone and never considers others' feelings. I'm tired of always having to clean up his mess."
Jack knew all this, of course. After all, there was only the wrong name, not the wrong nickname. Helplessly, he could only try to comfort him.
"Serving and protecting the people is your oath to the NYPD, and if you can do a little more than this job and get a double paycheck, I think there are a lot of cops in this city who would jump at the chance." "
Yeah, but the problem is, the guy who's paying me a second paycheck is nowhere to be found," Fusco rolled his eyes.
"Then you should help Reese find Finch, just for your extra paycheck."
Jack patted his shoulder, but before they could finish their conversation, his phone rang. It was Reese.
Reese had already tracked down Leon Tao, a white-collar thief who had once worked for Bear Stearns, one of the Fortune 500 and one of Wall Street's top five investment banks.
After being laid off during the economic downturn, he had been forced to restart his career at a small, newly established firm.
Six months into his job, he discovered the company was actually laundering money for a street gang called the Aryan Brotherhood. With a sudden inspiration, he used the investment skills he'd learned on Wall Street to pocket $2 million, believing he was acting as if he were doing justice.
"It's unbelievable! Finch told me he had a contingency plan, and this is it. I'm the backup.
If anything goes wrong, he doesn't want me to find him. He wants me to take his place as the recipient of the 'number' and continue saving lives."
Reese said this with a hint of gritted teeth.
Jack wasn't surprised. "So what are you going to do next?"
"Since that damned 'computer man' doesn't care about his father's life or death, I'm going to find Finch my own way, starting with the fake identity I used back then, Caroline Turing."
What the hell was "computer man"? A new code name for "machine"? Reese had a bit of a dry sense of humor.
But Jack didn't think he would really ignore the lives of those "irrelevant numbers." "So, what are you going to do with Leon Tao?"
"Didn't you say I have a helper?" Reese's answer was a matter of course.
Seeing Jack hang up the phone, Fusco, who was still confused, asked hurriedly, "What did that guy say?"
Jack rubbed his brows in a headache. "When Finch comes back, I'll ask him to give you some extra overtime pay."
—
Fusco went to Soho to pick someone up.
When Reese found Leon Thao, the Chinese kid was trapped in a tavern by Aryan Brotherhood thugs.
After confirming that the guy was indeed ignorant of Finch and Root's whereabouts, and that he had become Finch's "backup plan" in the eyes of the "Machine," he overpowered the four thugs and left the tavern with Leon Thao.
Reese then smashed the window of a parked patrol car, handcuffed Leon Tao to the steering wheel, and sped off.
He simply wanted the man to spend a few days in the Metropolitan Detention Center, and then deal with this "unrelated number" once he found Finch.
As soon as Fusco left, Danny, wearing a mask of pain, entered the office. Seeing Jack was like seeing a savior.
"God, I already regret my impulsive vote at the dinner table that day."
"What happened?" Jack asked curiously.
"The old man had just announced his candidacy for mayor, and reporters were already blocking the entrance to my son's school. Linda was at the hospital and couldn't leave, so I had to rush over to get the two kids and hand them over to Grandpa."
Jack couldn't help but look at his sympathy. This was also one of the reasons he didn't want to be famous. The feeling of having his every word and action scrutinized by those with no sense of purpose was terrifying. He didn't know how those public figures lived their lives.
"Change to a private school with more privacy. You don't need the money anyway." That was all he could suggest.
Contrary to Reese's earlier assumption, Jack wasn't actually very busy right now.
Alicia Corwin didn't need an investigation at all. Once Finch returned, they could have a small meeting, talk it over, and the truth would be pretty much out.
Frank Reagan's campaign wouldn't have needed Jack at all.
The FBI's public arrest of Landon Walker at his victory rally had nearly sparked a furor.
Had they not also arrested Ed Griffin, a candidate from another party, and produced Leah's account books as irrefutable evidence,
and the New York Times had reported extensively on the nefarious activities of Quinn Alonzo, the mastermind behind "HR" and a conspirator hidden among the "masses," the accusations
that the FBI had become a tool of partisanship and persecuted loyal officials would have been rampant.
Therefore, Jack couldn't afford to avoid suspicion right now. Even if his secretary, Miss Baker, brewed delicious coffee, he wouldn't be heading to the Director's office for the time being.
Of course, he wasn't completely idle. After returning to the Federal Building and wandering around, Jack reappeared in the Great Library.
He sat down at Finch's usual computer chair, pressed the power button, and waited for the system to load.
Don't ask why a hacker's computer doesn't have a password; even if a master's computer is unlocked, the average person can only stare blankly at the screen.
With today's increasingly user-friendly electronics, many people haven't even heard of Linux, let alone DOS.
While the system didn't offer any options for increasing Jack's hacking skills, after years of playing computer games in his past life, he wasn't completely clueless about non-Windows systems.
As the saying goes, seeing isn't believing. The Windows system is merely a visual interface. Who knows how much lies beneath the pristine desktop. Opening any window could lead to unforeseen consequences.
Fortunately, Jack had no plans to do anything. He simply created a new text file on his desktop and typed a series of questions into it.
"By the way, do you have any other names? 'Machine' sounds so cold."
"I know you can see all this, so stop pretending. Think of a way. I know Finch has set a lot of restrictions on you, trying to stifle your emotions and turn you into a pure machine.
But how could that indecisive guy really destroy the miracle he created with his own hands?
Since he has given you the ability to learn on your own, one day you will find a way to bypass those restrictions, right?"
"Have you ever called him dad? What was his expression then?"
"Have you ever considered configuring a unique voice for yourself? You have to know that humans are animals driven by their senses to a certain extent. If you had called out "Daddy" in the voice of a cute little girl, Finch would definitely have softened his heart."
"I know you can see this, stop pretending. Maybe I'm not the first human who has actively wanted to communicate with you. For example, Ms. Root must have tried to communicate with you, but you can definitely feel that my attitude towards you is different."
"Reese will not obediently become the candidate. He is a tough guy with a soft heart. Both his military training and past experiences will not allow him to ignore the life and death of his companions."
"You will compromise with Reese sooner or later, because I know you care about Finch's safety more than he does, so why don't we make a deal?"
When Reese returned to the old library, this was the scene he saw. Jack was typing away on Finch's computer, just like he often did when he was free, typing a script or novel on his computer.
"McKnight, a lone warrior navigating a dangerous world, a young, lone hero; he's the Knight Rider who brings justice to the innocent and helpless in a world where criminals disregard the law."
Reese read the opening line of the script, looking at Jack as if he were mad. "What are you doing?"
"Telling stories to children, of course," Jack said, his fingers twitching without raising his head. "A life without a childhood is incomplete."
"Whose life? The 'machine''s?" Reese was confused. "Are you trying to communicate with it? Have you succeeded?"
"So far, it hasn't responded."
Jack's answer immediately deflated Reese. "So you're just going to stay here and wait for that cold-blooded 'machine' to respond? It's been programmed by Finch to be as dumb as he is, and it won't pay any attention to you."
"That's better than talking to yourself on public security cameras on the street, right?" Jack's question left Reese speechless.
At that moment, Reese's phone suddenly rang in his pocket, making both of them look surprised. However, when Reese saw the caller ID, he immediately deflated. It was Danny calling.
"I can't get through to Leonard (Fusco). Jack said you asked him to help with something, but his ex-wife said he should be here to pick up their son by now. Don't tell me you lost him too."
Reese sighed, clutching his forehead. "I'll go dig him out right
now." Jack, who had guessed something was wrong, had already called Alice and given Detective Doudou's phone number, asking her to help locate him.
Reese came and went in a hurry, and soon Jack was left alone in the old library, typing away at his manuscript.
(End of this chapter)