Despite Austin Stevens' desperate pleas, LaCroix remained silent throughout the interrogation. It wasn't until Stevens finally broke down under the unrelenting pressure that he spilled everything he knew—whether relevant or not.
Jack had participated in many interrogations before, some of which he'd personally conducted. Yet he had rarely encountered such a spineless individual. Without being asked a single question, the ICE supervisor divulged all the details he had.
Stevens admitted he didn't know the specific targets of the Kanes' planned attacks, but he did know the timing. A week prior, Tyger Kane had told him that a "major event" would occur the following morning and urged him to watch the news. However, their communication had been conducted via burner phones, and they had agreed to cease contact once the child abduction operation began. Everything was to proceed according to the original plan.
With faint hope, Jack instructed the tech team to trace the burner phone number provided by Stevens. Unfortunately, the phone had already been deactivated and discarded, leaving them at a dead end.
That night was destined to be another sleepless one. All the leads had dried up, and finding the fugitives—U.S. citizens traveling across the well-connected East Coast—was proving to be a daunting task.
Jubal wasted no time distributing alerts and images of Joey Carter's Ford Raptor F150 to police departments across New York State and neighboring states, including Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, analysts worked tirelessly, fueled by caffeine and sheer willpower, combing through potential targets in the region.
Just when the team was brainstorming alternative approaches to track down the suspects, LaCroix stepped into the operations center, his expression grave. Holding up his phone, he announced, "I just received an anonymous text message."
LaCroix read the message aloud, his tone laced with mockery:
"Your little mutt is in our custody. She can be deported at any moment. If you want to see her again, you and your boss, Dana Moret, must hold a press conference within the next six hours."
"You, Agent Jess LaCroix, will personally read our manifesto during the broadcast. If you fail to comply, your little mutt will be dumped into a Guatemalan slum to enjoy the hospitality of MS-13."
As LaCroix finished reading, he glanced at Dana Moret, whose expression mirrored his own mix of incredulity and disdain. He then turned to Jack, his gaze filled with gratitude.
Despite their amateurish organization, the Kanes and their crew had managed to devise a tactic that struck right at the heart of FBI protocol.
The FBI had a long-standing policy of refusing to negotiate with hostage-takers, particularly in high-profile cases. But what happens when the hostage is a family member of one of their own? This scenario put the Bureau in an ethical and operational bind.
Jack didn't know if the FBI had ever faced such a situation before. What he did know was that they were lucky to have already found and secured young Tali before this ultimatum was issued.
The text messages provided another unexpected boon: they revealed the Kanes' general location.
Although the burner phone used to send the messages was quickly turned off and discarded, the Bureau's tech specialists managed to pinpoint its last known location before deactivation—Ulster County, about 90 miles north of New York City.
Local Ulster County deputies, along with state troopers, quickly set up roadblocks on all major exits from the area. Back in the operations center, analysts continued their grueling work, scanning for potential targets in the county that might align with the Kanes' extremist ideology.
Jack managed to squeeze in a brief nap in his office. When he woke up, the first rays of dawn were creeping over the city skyline. Manhattan, ever resilient, was gearing up for another bustling day.
After washing his face with cold water in the restroom, he was startled by Hannah bursting in with urgent news.
"Ulster County police just spotted a vehicle matching the description of Joey Carter's F150 Raptor. They suspect it may be rigged with explosives and are requesting backup—they haven't moved in yet."
Jack exhaled in relief, briefly wondering if Hannah had been about to propose some reckless adventure akin to their wild escapades in Los Angeles.
Grabbing two large rifle cases from the armory, Jack and Hannah rushed to the rooftop, where a helicopter from the air support team was already waiting for them.
Inside the cases were a Barrett M82A1 .50 caliber anti-material rifle and a G28E designated marksman rifle. The former was for taking out the vehicle and any potential explosives, while the latter was for precision shots against individuals.
The helicopter ride to Ulster County took just over 30 minutes. By the time they arrived, the FBI SWAT team had already set up an ambush at a T-junction on Route 209.
On the police radios, updates poured in. Joey Carter, apparently sensing the growing net closing in on him, was attempting to evade capture by speeding away.
Two county patrol cars had overtaken the unmarked state trooper vehicle tailing Carter and turned on their sirens. Following close behind was a caravan of state police cruisers, their flashing lights and wailing sirens creating a spectacle that cut through the morning mist.
The massive convoy—nearly two dozen vehicles strong—made a deafening racket as it pursued the suspect. The sight alone would be enough to intimidate most criminals into surrendering.
With only one escape route left, Joey Carter had no choice but to merge onto Route 209, where the SWAT ambush awaited. His only other option was to abandon the vehicle and flee on foot.
Determined to avoid capture, Carter floored the gas pedal, pushing his truck to its limits. He barely tapped the brakes as he careened through sharp turns, sparks flying as the Raptor's side mirror grazed a guardrail.
As Carter's vehicle roared onto the state highway, the ambush unfolded before his eyes. His pupils dilated in panic as he took in the scene ahead: an armored SWAT vehicle was parked squarely in the middle of the road, flanked by several black Suburbans blocking the remaining lanes.
But what truly made his heart drop was the sight of two figures perched on the armored vehicle. One—a man in a trench coat—was aiming a Barrett .50 caliber rifle directly at him. The other—a woman—was positioned on the roof, her G28 precision rifle trained on his head.
Behind them, a line of SWAT officers crouched behind the Suburbans, their assault rifles aimed and ready.
"BANG!"
The thunderous roar of the Barrett echoed across the highway, followed closely by the sharp crack of the G28. The two shots were perfectly synchronized, as if pre-arranged.
The first shot tore through the Raptor's engine block, sending a plume of white smoke billowing into the air. The second shot struck Joey Carter squarely in the forehead, leaving a clean, fatal wound.
The Ford Raptor skidded to a stop, its engine hissing in protest. The long chase was over, but for the FBI, this was only one step closer to dismantling the Kanes' deadly plot.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get early access to chapters by joining my Patre@n!Find me at: patre@n*com/Mutter
You can read each novel for $5 or get them all for just $15.
I Am Zeus, KING OF GODS (Chapter 79)
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 391)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 471)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 677)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 1059)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1418)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1422)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1452)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1504)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld!(Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 703)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter][+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]