North America Gunman Detective

Chapter 1279 - 699: Counter-Surveillance (Part 2)

Frank was perplexed about why the FBI managed to find him.

They had cut off all signals after leaving Washington, D.C., switched cars three times, and arranged for two FBI agents to be dealt with, ensuring there were no bodies to be found. How had the FBI pinpointed their location so precisely?

Going over everything that had happened, they never revealed their identities. The cars they used had been meticulously cleaned of any fingerprints. Even if the FBI found the vehicles, the most they could trace would be the blood of the shot agent, not enough to link back to them.

Frank hadn't found a phone in the previous room, but he did find some loose change. Since he couldn't open the small safe due to a lack of skill, he only took a little cash, which wasn't enough to buy an untraceable phone.

As for his home and office, the FBI definitely had eyes on them by now. Returning meant falling into their trap. It was time to activate his backup plan and seek help.

Those in smuggling knew the risks involved, and Frank had prepared some emergency funds and materials for an escape and hiding from the authorities.

But he needed time, as his stash was in southern Baltimore, while his company's warehouse was in the northeast. He had to cross the whole city without being noticed by police or the FBI.

The car he was driving was not an option since he didn't know when it would be reported stolen. If it had been reported, he'd be directly under police surveillance. If the location of his stash was exposed, he'd have to survive in the wild.

Surviving in the wild wasn't the issue, but on the populated East Coast of the United States, there were no wilderness areas close by for safely hiding. He couldn't possibly eliminate everyone who saw him.

Soon, Frank spotted a large supermarket and drove around its parking lot. He quickly found a car with an open window, stealthily approached, jumped out, opened the car door through the window, rummaged inside, and returned to his car to drive away.

He repeated the same maneuver in two other parking lots, finally gathering enough cash to buy a prepaid phone at a secluded shop, which allowed him to relax a little.

The car he was in was no longer usable. Frank searched for another target, successfully swapped cars, and while driving south, opened the phone to call and check the current status.

The FBI had issued a warrant for Frank, with news channels airing the sudden news, showing his picture and name. He had no idea about this because he was constantly on the road or in parking lots and hadn't checked the TV.

He was now cornered and made another call to secure an escape route.

Retrieving documents and resources from the warehouse went smoothly. In the United States, mini-warehouses and private storage units were quite common, and most lacked significant monitoring. After obtaining his backup resources, Frank swapped cars again and headed to a countryside safehouse, needing to wait there for updates. The smuggling channel couldn't immediately get him aboard; he had to wait for further notice.

Jimmy and Hope were stuck in the Baltimore office, waiting for news. Unfamiliar with Baltimore, they couldn't rush to any scene even if informed. Morrison and his subsidiary support agents were mainly dealing with the leads.

Frank's concern was valid. Soon after he left, the owner of the stolen car reported the theft. Since it fell within Morrison's perimeter, both patrol officers and FBI agents were dispatched to investigate, tracking the vehicle's trajectory.

The parking lots Frank passed through lacked surveillance, hindering the investigation and wasting valuable time trailing him. If it weren't for someone noticing a car with its door ajar by the roadside, they'd need hours to find a lead on Frank.

This discovery was a gain for the FBI, as the car contained Frank's fingerprints he hadn't cleaned. The forensics team started examining it, which would later be evidence used to prosecute Frank.

Around this car, the FBI started inquiries on other lost vehicles and surveillance checks. The car's movement after arriving nearby would be scrutinized, and collating these investigations, they would determine which car to track.

The investigation also revealed the car's previous presence in a neighborhood with only one phone shop. When faced with the FBI, the store manager quickly admitted someone had bought a phone there, matching the person on the FBI's warrant.

The shopkeeper hadn't registered the phone number, but this was easily resolved. Contacting the company over the phone shop, the FBI wielded a powerful tool: an urgently issued search warrant, compelling the company to provide procurement information and the shop's phone allocation records.