"What's your take on this?" Jack turned to the two SWAT team members who had accompanied him. One was a demolition expert, and the other a tactical specialist.
"We have specialized explosives that can blast a hole for a rope descent. It's doable, but a practical simulation would be ideal," they said after a brief discussion.
"Apologies, gentlemen," said Dole Johnson, the facility's manager. "Even though this is just a showcase, the construction cost is identical to the real deal, so I can't... uh..." His smile froze.
Although he was happy to cooperate with the FBI—it was great publicity for his product—their apparent readiness to tear apart the facility left him uneasy.
"Name your price. The FBI will cut you a check," Jack said, bringing back Johnson's smile instantly.
The SWAT team members stayed behind to gather additional personnel and equipment for live-action tests to ensure hostage safety during the actual operation. Meanwhile, Jack returned to the Kirken residence.
On the way, he copied the safe house blueprints provided by the company and forwarded them to Justin. Impressed by some of the designs, he decided to adapt parts of them for his small farm—his own way of slightly bending the rules for personal gain.
When Jack arrived at the mansion, Hannah had just returned as well. She had found the apartment manager where Helton lived, who confirmed that Stephanie was indeed his biological daughter.
The three of them gathered to initiate a video call with Dana Moger, who was overseeing operations at the command center.
"Stephanie's biological mother had a relationship with Helton before he joined the military. After giving birth to her, she married an addict," Hannah recounted with an expression that said the story was hard to believe.
"Stephanie's 'father,' as she knew him, died of a drug overdose when she was ten. Last year, her mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness and reconnected with Helton to tell him the truth before her death."
"So Stephanie's mother entrusted her to Helton, and he has been taking care of her for six months since her mother passed?" Jubal asked, finally understanding. "No wonder we couldn't verify their relationship through official records."
"Exactly. According to the apartment manager, Helton is one of the best tenants she's ever had—he often helps with repairs voluntarily. Stephanie gets along well with her too; they chat frequently," Hannah added.
"I checked Stephanie's bedroom. She stays in the master bedroom, which is warmly decorated. Considering Helton's job as a repairman, I have to admit I misjudged him. He's genuinely devoted to this unexpected daughter. The guy's a good man."
"Another 'good man,' huh?" Jack scratched his head silently. Unfortunately, the world didn't seem particularly kind to good people.
"So where's the problem? Did the apartment manager know Stephanie's whereabouts?" Jubal asked urgently. Time was running out—less than an hour remained.
Hannah sighed, her earlier difficult expression now making sense. "According to the manager, Julie, Helton and Stephanie have had a strained relationship. About a month ago, they had a big fight. Helton, because of her troubled family history, was overly protective of her, but Stephanie, at 16, is in her rebellious phase."
"So Stephanie ran away?" Jack asked, realizing the challenge ahead. How were they supposed to find her now?
Hannah shook her head. "I'm not sure if it qualifies as running away. Helton suspected Stephanie was secretly using 'American Grass' or other drugs, so he grounded her for a month. She got furious, borrowed some money from Julie, and planned to take a long-distance bus to Florida to stay with a cousin until they both cooled down."
Jack covered his face with his hand and sighed deeply. What a mess. "This is like every terrible teenage drama rolled into one. Let me guess—the nosy apartment manager probably helped Stephanie keep it a secret from Helton too?"
"'Girl helps girl'? I've tried reaching out to Stephanie's cousin. Did you contact her?" Dana, who had a teenage daughter herself, looked both angry and frustrated at the situation.
"That's the real problem," Hannah said, rubbing her temples. "I contacted Stephanie's cousin in Fort Lauderdale. She confirmed the argument between Helton and Stephanie and said Stephanie planned to come to her. But Stephanie never showed up."
"That doesn't make sense," Jack said, spotting the contradiction. "Stephanie's a minor. Didn't her cousin think to contact Helton or the authorities?"
"No, because the cousin received a text on the day Stephanie was supposed to arrive, saying things had calmed down between her and Helton and that she'd stay in New York," Hannah explained, holding up her phone. "I verified the number—it belongs to Stephanie. I also checked surveillance footage at the Queens bus station from three weeks ago and sent it to the command center."
In the video call, Dana turned and shouted, "Do we have results from facial recognition yet?"
"Yes, ma'am. We've just confirmed Stephanie purchased a bus ticket to Fort Lauderdale," an analyst replied.
"So she bought a ticket but didn't make it to Florida. What happened to her? This isn't a movie—she didn't just meet her prince charming and live happily ever after. Pull up all incident reports near the bus station that night. I want to know what happened," Dana ordered, visibly irritated. She then turned back to the screen.
"Jubal, can you buy us some time?"
Jubal looked troubled. "We've verified Helton's story, but we have no leads on Stephanie's whereabouts. Contacting him now could agitate him further, putting the hostages at risk."
"What about the SWAT team's assault plan?" Dana asked Jack.
"They're still figuring out how to neutralize the suspect after breaching the ceiling to maximize hostage survival. So far, the odds are grim. Even with the use of flashbangs in an enclosed space, followed by a rapid descent and gunfire, the chances of saving the hostages are below 50%. They need more time."
Jack had just spoken with the SWAT team leader; this was the latest update.
"Fine. We'll wait another 15 minutes. If there's no progress, notify the SWAT team to prepare for an assault," Dana said, ending the call with a grim expression.
"Should I try talking to Helton again? Maybe I can buy us a little more time," Jubal suggested, though he sounded unsure.
"Let's wait 15 more minutes and hope for a miracle," Jack said helplessly. His last option was to personally step in for the SWAT team, but even he wasn't fully confident of success.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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