48: Chapter 48 The Colombian Revenge

Shaun closed the book, dazed.

He looked up and found Ballard watching him.

"What's wrong?" Ballard asked. "You have such a strange expression."

Shaun shook his head. "It's nothing."

Ballard didn't press him.

She packed up the stack of documents and put them into a file bag.

Then she said, "Shaun, from now on, this case depends on the two of us."

Shaun looked at her.

"At the Fifth Precinct, I don't know who among the people below can be trusted. In the Technical Team, I can only find Jamie, that young technician; I trust him."

She paused, then said with some helplessness, "The others cannot be trusted for the time being."

Shaun nodded. "What about the Colombians?"

Ballard's expression became more serious. "That is exactly what I was about to say."

She took a step forward, and although no one was around, she still subconsciously lowered her voice. "I received news that after Hector was released on bail, word came out from the Colombian side..."

She stared into Shaun's eyes. "They want revenge."

Shaun's heart tightened. "Revenge on whom?"

"You," Ballard said, "and me."

Shaun was silent.

He remembered that night at the entrance of Hill Manor, those three black SUVs, those dozen machetes, and the Scarface who had been scared unconscious.

Those people would not let it go.

Ballard asked, "Do they know where you live?"

Shaun thought for a moment. "I've been returning to the manor lately, so it should be fine."

"That's good." Ballard felt a little more at ease. "But you'd better be careful. Take a different route to and from work, don't go to places you frequent, and watch out for anyone following you."

Shaun nodded.

Ballard looked at him, a hint of worry in her eyes. "Shaun, you saved me. If you hadn't been at our Hill Manor when the Colombians came, I fear the outcome would have been grim."

Shaun was stunned for a moment. "That time..."

"I know."

Ballard interrupted him. "You don't need to explain this manor. In any case... I want to say, I trust you."

Shaun didn't actually want to solve the case that much, but he still remembered his cooperation with the Supreme Witch.

He thought for a moment, then asked, "So, what are your plans?"

"Two paths," she said. "The first is to continue investigating White's interpersonal relationships, to see who he met and where he went in his last few days. But actually, we already understand the general situation: the Colombians are looking for some treasure, but their identities are special, making them difficult to investigate, so they bribed White to help them do things."

"It's just that we still don't know if White found anything in the end, or who exactly killed him."

"Besides... there might still be a mole for the Colombians in the precinct. Whatever we find, they will know too. Perhaps before we even take action, they will strike first."

Shaun nodded.

Ballard's analysis was correct. On White's end, everything that could be investigated had been, and there was truly no other way.

So Shaun asked, "Then what about the second path?"

Ballard paused. "The second path: since White was looking for that treasure, and Frank was also looking for that treasure, why not figure out what that treasure actually is?"

Shaun was stunned for a moment. He knew what that treasure was.

The Witch's treasure.

The thing Fiona Goode wanted.

But he couldn't say it explicitly, so he could only ask, "Do you think that treasure is related to White's death?"

Ballard looked at him. "Don't you think so?"

Shaun didn't speak.

Of course he thought so.

Fiona had said she didn't kill White.

Then whoever killed White was either the Colombians or other "strange things."

Ballard didn't know what Shaun was thinking, and just continued her analysis. "That treasure, being able to make a person who has been a police officer for fifteen years take such a risk, and being able to make an old thug from Chicago run into a swamp to die, it definitely isn't simple."

As she spoke, Ballard suddenly added, "Shaun, do you know why I took this case?"

Shaun looked at her. "You said it was because a police officer died."

Ballard nodded. "Yes. But now... it's not just because of that."

Her eyes became deeper. "I have seen many secrets in this world, and if I don't figure them out, I feel uncomfortable..."

Damn it!

This Ballard... is purely the type where curiosity killed the cat.

Regarding this reason, Shaun had nothing more to say...

For the next three days, Shaun lived with extra caution.

He took three different routes to and from work, observed for ten minutes from the window before leaving every day, and only set off after confirming there were no suspicious vehicles.

At the police station, he only interacted with Ballard and the technician named Jamie, keeping his distance from everyone else.

Ballard was even more cautious than him.

After she moved into the manor, she left early and returned late every day, and after returning, she still insisted on going over the day's progress with Shaun.

The case of White still had no breakthroughs. The Fifth Precinct was like stagnant water; everyone went to work as usual, and there were no abnormalities.

Everyone was very low-key, but someone couldn't sit still.

Frank Gallagher.

After this old scoundrel had enjoyed living in the manor for three days, his restless heart began to itch.

On the first day, he wandered around the manor, visited every room, and sighed to Shaun, "You kid have such good luck."

On the second day, he started complaining, "This place is too remote, there isn't even a bar."

On the third day...

When Shaun returned from work, he saw Fiona standing under the porch.

She wasn't cleaning, nor was she cooking.

She just stood there, arms crossed, her face pale.

Shaun's heart skipped a beat. "What's wrong?"

Fiona looked at him and took a deep breath. "Frank is gone."

Shaun subconsciously asked, "What do you mean he's gone?"

"He's just gone!" Fiona's voice rose a little. "In the afternoon he said he was going out for a stroll, said he would just walk around nearby and wouldn't go far. I told him not to go, and he said, 'Just taking a walk, I'm not a kid'... And he hasn't come back since!"

Shaun's brows furrowed. "How long has it been?"

"Four hours," Fiona said. "It's almost dark."

Shaun looked at the sky.

The sunset was about to fall below the horizon.

Normally, if Frank left, he left. Given his personality, it would be a miracle if he could stay quiet for two days.

But with the Colombians eyeing him, Frank might really be in danger.

Shaun's heart sank.

He didn't ask any more questions and turned to walk towards the garage.

Fiona chased after him. "I'm coming with you to find him."

"Get in the car."

Shaun agreed without hesitation.

The two got into the car, started the engine, and drove out of the manor.

The sky grew darker and darker.

Shaun drove slowly along the road, attempting to find Frank.

Fiona sat in the passenger seat, her eyes fixed on the window.

Her voice carried a glimmer of hope. "Could he have just gotten lost?"

Shaun didn't want to discourage Fiona.

But he knew in his heart that for that old scoundrel Frank, the possibility of getting lost was small.

The possibility of being kidnapped... was much greater.