Jessica and the injured Luke returned to the detective agency and informed the client, Kate O'Hara, of Wald's death.
"How could this be?! How did it happen so suddenly…?" Kate O'Hara froze in a daze, murmuring in disbelief.
"Ms. O'Hara, the reason we're telling you this is also because we want to learn in detail whether Mr. Wald had any close contact with unfamiliar people recently.
Perhaps we can find clues from that and identify the murderer who killed Mr. Wald," Jessica said, waving her palm in front of Kate O'Hara's eyes.
Kate O'Hara nodded, her gaze sharp as she looked at Jessica and said, "I'll definitely cooperate and tell you everything I know.
But no one would kill Wald for no reason. Tell me honestly — was Wald involved in the attack on Stark Industries Tower?"
Jessica remained silent and nodded in confirmation.
"So he really did take part in the terrorist attack, and that's why he was silenced." Kate O'Hara sighed, her expression complicated.
She glanced at Jessica and then began to describe in detail everything she knew that might be useful.
...
On the New York Police Department's side, before an official wanted notice had even been issued, they received news from S.H.I.E.L.D. that Wald was already dead.
With no other choice, George had to temporarily cancel the operation they had been preparing for Wald.
"Since the matter is already resolved, there's no need for us to keep pursuing it," the deputy commissioner said to the visibly unwilling George.
George shook his head. "But how exactly did Wald die? What was the cause, and whether there are deeper connections behind it — we have no idea.
We haven't even seen the body. Are we just supposed to let it go like that?"
Naturally, Wald's body had been taken away by S.H.I.E.L.D. for research. The NYPD had indeed never seen it.
The deputy commissioner sighed and said softly, "This incident has caused far too much of a stir. Ending it earlier does us no harm.
If it drags on without a conclusion, that will hurt the NYPD's credibility instead.
Besides, they have authorization from higher-ups. We have no grounds to stop them."
The matter of the Gaia Memories was not something only Nick Fury wanted to investigate.
Pierce also wanted to use this opportunity to find the organization responsible for selling Gaia Memories, so he fully mobilized his connections to help Nick secure the authority for S.H.I.E.L.D. to handle the matter conveniently.
If S.H.I.E.L.D. found any information, it was basically equivalent to Pierce's Hydra faction obtaining that information as well.
On this point, Pierce naturally spared no effort in assisting Nick Fury.
George sighed and had to admit that the deputy commissioner was right.
"Fine. Let them handle it — as long as the harm caused by the Gaia Memories can be contained."
...
After organizing the information obtained from Kate O'Hara, Jessica really did find a useful lead.
In the days before Wald disappeared, he had been meeting a mysterious person at a fixed time and place.
Kate O'Hara had asked him about it, but Wald refused to say anything, and she knew very little. The two had even had a big argument over it.
Jessica and Luke realized that this mysterious person was highly suspicious, but Kate O'Hara only knew the general area where Wald met that person.
To find them, they would need sufficient authority or technical capability to pull all surveillance footage from that area, plus enough manpower to filter through it and track Wald's movements in order to identify the mysterious person.
A tiny detective agency with only two people like Jessica and Luke Cage obviously couldn't do that, so they immediately contacted Frank, hoping he might have a way.
Frank then notified Nick Fury, who had S.H.I.E.L.D. mobilize personnel and resources to identify the mysterious person who met with Wald.
Nick Fury had S.H.I.E.L.D.'s technicians filter the surveillance footage, eventually locking onto the person and quickly identifying her.
"She looks like quite a beautiful lady," Tony said lightly while looking at the photo Nick Fury sent him.
Nick Fury's face darkened. The person in the photo was very likely someone who, like Wald, intended to act against Tony and possessed the power of a Gaia Memory — someone who had to be treated with extreme caution.
"Elsa Lanster!" Pepper exclaimed when she saw the picture.
"You know her?" Tony looked at Pepper in surprise.
"You really are…" Pepper rolled her eyes at Tony, sounding rather helpless.
Tony shrugged. "I really don't remember. But it sounds like she has some connection with me?
Since she's a beautiful woman… don't tell me I had a one-night stand with her?"
At this point, Tony suddenly felt inexplicably guilty and glanced at Pepper without making it obvious.
Pepper nodded expressionlessly.
Tony gave a faint, awkward smile and didn't quite dare to ask for details, only declaring firmly, "That was all in the past. I've already turned over a new leaf."
Pepper suppressed her complicated feelings. She also knew clearly that Elsa Lanster was now very likely a dangerous person, and that Tony was her target — this was not the time for emotional quarrels.
After thinking for a moment, she said to Tony, "I remember it was about three years ago. You brought this Elsa Lanster back to the villa. After one night, I was the one who had to send her away.
But she didn't really want to leave and even made a scene in the villa for a while. She was one of the more troublesome women you brought home, so she left a deep impression.
I wonder if Mr. Stark has remembered… now?"
The last words were spoken slowly, one by one, with a long, meaningful trailing tone.
Tony gave a dry laugh. "I really don't remember very clearly…"
Pepper glanced at him and said, "JARVIS's database should have information on this woman."
Nick Fury coughed twice and put on a serious expression. "That should be why Elsa Lanster is targeting Tony — love turning into hatred."
Tony's eye twitched as he glared hard at Nick on the screen.
"Since you know who she is, why don't you just arrest her directly?"
Nick shook his head. "Even though we know her identity, we still can't determine her whereabouts for now.
And she definitely has a Gaia Memory. We don't know what abilities hers has.
If her Gaia Memory has extremely destructive power, a single mishandled action could cause massive damage and casualties."
"So what? What do you want to do — have me help?" Tony asked, hearing the implication.
Nick smiled. "I think the best way to deal with this kind of target is to prepare in advance and lure her into our trap.
Since her target is you, you're naturally the best bait."
(End of Chapter)