Old Parker was efficient this time. By evening, Hunter had received the promised $30,000 severance.
Along with the remaining $10,000 from Charlie's van modification job, his bank account was looking healthy.
Hunter spent the afternoon wandering around the city. His mood was pretty good.
He bought a new phone and a burner SIM card.
Then, he picked up a decent laptop.
Total cost: just over $2,000.
But he didn't just shop for electronics.
He wasn't ready to replace his old motorcycle yet.
Back at the garage, Hunter had sandblasted the rust off the frame during off-hours and swapped in some scavenged parts.
But there were still critical components that needed replacing. Before, he was broke. Now, he had cash.
He found a large auto parts store near the garage area.
"Welcome!"
As soon as he walked in, someone greeted him.
Hunter nodded with a smile and turned to the white-haired man behind the register—likely the manager.
"Hi. Where are the motorcycle parts?"
"Over there!"
The old man pointed to a corner. The shop focused mainly on car parts; bike parts were relegated to the back.
Worried Hunter might not find what he needed, the manager shouted.
"Brian! Take the customer to Aisle B4!"
At the sound of the name, a young, well-dressed white man walked over from the shelves.
"Got it, Harry!"
Hunter looked at the young man, and his expression flickered for a split second.
That handsome, boyish face...
It was Brian O'Conner. The undercover FBI agent.
So, he was already here.
Brian was working at "The Racer's Edge" (Harry's shop).
This confirmed that the FBI had officially started their investigation into the highway hijackings.
Dom's crew had been hitting trucks carrying DVD players, cameras, and electronics worth millions. They never killed the drivers, but they left plenty of witnesses.
The FBI specialized in intelligence gathering. Hunter wasn't surprised they had zeroed in on Dom.
Honestly, he was more surprised that the LAPD had spent years investigating without catching them.
"Hello, sir. Follow me, please."
Brian noticed the young Asian customer staring at him. He didn't think much of it—people often stared at the new guy—and flashed his signature charming smile.
Hunter quickly composed himself.
He knew Brian was a fed. He couldn't act suspicious.
He smiled back and asked casually, "New here?"
"I haven't seen you before."
Brian hadn't even opened his mouth to answer when Harry, the manager, chimed in.
"Brian just started the day before yesterday. But he knows his stuff."
"If you have any questions, ask him."
Hunter nodded at Harry and didn't say more.
Brian led him to the motorcycle section.
Hunter didn't chat much with the future "Buster."
He picked up several cans of spray paint to give his bike a new look.
Then, he selected a high-performance crate engine and replacements for the finicky parts that had been bugging him.
The total came to over $5,000. Enough to buy a cheap used bike.
But Hunter knew it was worth it. With his Lv 4 Mechanics skill, he could tune these parts to outperform factory sportbikes.
He paid cash and carried the heavy boxes out himself.
Looking at his load, he realized he really needed a car.
He couldn't just shove engine blocks into his Personal Inventory on a public street.
Hunter walked several blocks away from the shop, checking for cameras. Once he found a blind alley, he stashed everything into his inventory.
Then he circled back, hopped on his bike, and rode off.
It was too late to find a permanent apartment today. He decided to stay at a motel.
American cuisine was mostly fast food. Hunter had bought a stash of canned goods earlier—pickles and Spam—but a motel room wasn't a kitchen.
He found a Turkish kebab place nearby and had a hearty dinner.
Afterward, he checked into a clean-looking motel.
After a shower, Hunter sat on the bed in his boxers.
He thought for a moment, then pulled out his new phone and dialed Mia.
She answered quickly.
"Hello? Hunter? Where are you?"
Seeing Brian today had triggered a warning bell in Hunter's mind. Brian's mission was to infiltrate Dom's crew, and his primary tactic was seducing Mia.
Hunter wasn't about to let that happen. He called to solidify his position.
But just as he was about to speak, he heard distinct, heavy breathing on the other end.
He paused.
Speakerphone. Someone was listening.
A quick deduction later, the answer was obvious.
Dom.
Hunter smirked. Perfect.
He softened his voice.
"I'm still looking for a new place. I'll let you know when I settle down."
"By the way, Mia... I need to tell you something."
"Tell your brother to be careful. Someone is watching him."
The moment the words left his mouth, Hunter heard the breathing on the other end hitch sharply.
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