Jack didn't expect to convince Helton to release Chloe right away. Until Stephanie was found, Chloe was Helton's only bargaining chip, his lifeline.
Jubal, however, had plenty of options to work with on-site. For instance, he could keep Helton updated on the investigation's progress to build mutual trust. He could also engage him in conversation, helping him relax and fostering empathy toward Chloe.
Jack's real concern wasn't whether they could find Stephanie—it was what would happen if, after three weeks, they found only her body. Would Helton break down and take his own life, or worse, kill Chloe first in a final act of despair? It was impossible to predict.
If not for procedural restrictions, Jack would have strapped cameras to himself and Hannah to livestream their progress for Helton. Watching them weave through New York's rush hour traffic at nearly 60 miles per hour might just convince him of the FBI's sincerity.
Fortunately, the operations center analysts scored another win. By enhancing and cross-referencing the dashcam footage with nearby surveillance, they retrieved part of the suspect vehicle's license plate. Combined with the make and model, they identified the car's original owner.
Jack and Hannah were now en route to Brooklyn to follow this lead. The car's registered owner, Alfonso Gomez, was in his sixties—clearly not the young man seen abducting Stephanie in the video. However, since there was no record of the car being stolen, it was highly likely Alfonso had a connection to the kidnapper.
Jack turned off the sirens and concealed police lights on his Dodge Hellcat two blocks from their destination. That was the beauty of an unmarked car—it attracted no unnecessary attention.
When they knocked on the door of an apartment on the top floor, an elderly white man answered. It was Alfonso Gomez, the car's previous owner.
After hearing the FBI's purpose—that his car was connected to a kidnapping—Alfonso looked embarrassed. "About a month ago, I sold that car to a young man named Sergio. He had been renting a room from me, but when I found out he was a drug addict, I kicked him out that same day."
Hannah didn't waste time questioning why Alfonso sold the car without transferring ownership—likely to save on fees. Instead, she cut him off.
"Mr. Gomez, please tell us how to find Sergio. This is extremely important. Does he have any friends nearby or places he frequents?"
Though annoyed at being interrupted, Alfonso replied, "If you're in such a hurry, just wait downstairs for a bit. He comes here around this time every day."
"What for?" Jack raised an eyebrow. Hadn't Alfonso said he kicked Sergio out?
"He keeps a pigeon coop on the roof. Don't ask me why a junkie would keep pigeons—it's probably some form of therapy. I let him keep it. Who knows? Maybe it'll help him quit."
Jack and Hannah quickly thanked Alfonso and left, too pressed for time to indulge his rambling.
On their way downstairs, Hannah finally voiced her frustration. "I still can't wrap my head around why the NYPD ignored Helton's case."
Since arriving in New York, whether through her own experiences, Jack's stories about attending the Reagan family dinner, or overhearing gossip about Beckett and Castle, she struggled to reconcile these with the injustice Helton had faced.
Jack, however, wasn't as indignant. His time with the LAPD, especially seeing how old-timers like Smitty handled complaints from everyday citizens, had long since shown him the disparity.
Exceptional officers like seasoned cop John were rare, thanks to the unique structure of American law enforcement.
The federal government didn't have a centralized police force. States lacked unified state police departments, and state troopers reported to governors. In cities like New York, police were managed by the mayor or city council, while town-level officers answered to local officials.
This fragmented system meant police uniforms and badges varied widely, and even federal agencies like the FBI had to "negotiate" with local departments when handling cases.
Hannah's sympathy for Helton likely stemmed from her own painful childhood experiences, which bore some resemblance to his plight.
In contrast, in her homeland, law enforcement was centrally controlled, and citizens theoretically could escalate complaints all the way up. While corruption still existed, instances of unchecked local tyranny were relatively rarer.
Here, though, if town police colluded with local officials, victims had nowhere to turn. Jack understood this reality all too well, which was why he hadn't even considered using legitimate means to seek justice for Hannah in the past.
This lack of security in a fragmented system had shaped Jack's sense of caution since arriving in this world. Transitioning from a country where police were seen as protectors of life and property to one where local autonomy could leave cases like Helton's ignored was like being thrown from a safe pasture into a dark jungle.
Even if the FBI leaked details of Helton's case to the media, the officer who dismissed it would likely face minimal consequences. Technically, he hadn't violated protocol. The problem was Helton's lack of wealth and connections, unlike Chloe's father, who had direct access to an FBI deputy director.
This social dynamic left most people resigned, muttering, "That's just how the world works," instead of voicing their outrage. Only someone like Hannah, who had endured such injustices firsthand, instinctively recognized the wrong but couldn't pinpoint its root cause.
For now, philosophical debates could wait. Jack called the operations center, instructing them to work with the NYPD to investigate Sergio. Though they only had his name, as a drug user, he likely had a criminal record. Combined with the enhanced footage, identifying him shouldn't take long.
After hanging up, Jack wrapped an arm around Hannah, pretending to be a couple sharing an intimate moment while standing near the apartment entrance. In reality, they were carefully monitoring their surroundings.
Alfonso's information proved accurate. Within ten minutes, a short young man appeared across the street, yawning and twitching as he walked over.
"Is that him?" Hannah whispered, leaning into Jack's ear, her legs instinctively wanting to wrap around his waist as she held onto his neck. She barely managed to restrain herself.
"Looks like it." Jack noticed her movement but kept his composure, turning to kiss her cheek with a small grin.
Maintaining their affectionate pose, they waited until Sergio passed by. Then, Jack reached out and grabbed him by the neck.
"What the—?! What are you doing?!" Sergio yelped, feeling an iron grip clamp down, forcing him to his knees in pain.
------------------
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.
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)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]