North America Gunman Detective

Chapter 1294 - 706: Stronghold

Jimmy didn't continue to wait for Jack to deal with Slim; he's already got part of the intel, and naturally needs to proceed with investigating the photos and names.

Normally, he should keep interrogating Slim for everything about Hammer — personality, address, habits, residence, phone, etc. But for Jack right now, this informant or gang member clearly played him, and this is his way of getting back at him. There really aren't many chances to speak peacefully with such a gang about town. Getting this much is already quite good, at least better than before.

Jimmy also worked as a police officer, though less than two years, but he knows what kind of mess city police are. So now is not the time to delve into the details. If needed, he can find some other reason to contact Jack.

Driving away, Jimmy looked in the rearview mirror at Jack and Slim still in the small grove. Whatever, Jack probably won't go too far, let's pretend he didn't see it.

Calling Hope, Jimmy picked him up at the station and checked into a nearby hotel. Jimmy asked Hope to bring up the laptop and then handed him the photo he got from Jack: "These five people, the third one is our target, Allen Hammer, the info was given by the fifth person, nicknamed Slim."

Hope glanced at the photo, then looked up at Jimmy, "What about the other three?"

Jimmy: "I didn't ask, not necessary for our case to know extraneous details."

Hope nodded: "I got it, Allen Hammer, right?"

Jimmy: "Yeah, look into it. Also, I've got word that Hammer leaves here several times a year, each time for a few weeks to a month. He's been gone for nearly three weeks now."

Hope: "There are few clues."

Jimmy: "I know, just not the right time yet. We can pursue them further once we have more leads."

Hope raised an eyebrow, noting that Jimmy was quite busy during his absence, "You know I need to file a report later."

Jimmy: "Ah, Officer Jack assisted us in finding a gang member, and that's where we got the intel. Of course, we need to reimburse this informant fee. Can you handle reimbursing the informant fee? I can't deal with it from the Manhattan office."

Hope looked at Jimmy wordlessly, then nodded, "I'll figure it out. I need to go outside and scan this photo; it'll probably take some time to hear back."

Jimmy: "No problem, we've got some time."

Hope packed up the laptop, initially thinking about checking the name directly, but hearing the name Allen Hammer, he gave up. The likelihood of duplicate names was too high, he couldn't manage it quickly alone, better let the headquarters tech department deal with it.

After Hope left, Jimmy threw himself onto the bed, pulled out his phone to chat with Nia. Just waiting for news now, nothing else to do in this small town, better to rest in the room.

The headquarters tech department really was efficient; even with just a name and photo, they still sent Hope the results by evening. Allen Hammer's profile was scant — only info about being imprisoned in his youth with years of empty records thereafter, making things tough. The docs didn't even have his current address or phone.

This is troublesome. Jimmy initially thought he could pin down some recent evals or details from the collection of data owned by Hammer. But there's nothing recent, and the photo from a prison ten years ago looked very different from the one Jimmy brought back, taking time, for reasons.

Holding Hope's laptop and looking over the data, this is a pain. Their data's confidential, and not convenient to print using outsiders' printers or computers, "Tomorrow, let's head back to the station. Have them check local records, while I check back with Jack. Also, print out this data for me tomorrow."

Hope nodded: "Sure, get some rest."

The fact is, without any local help, Jimmy and his team, as outsiders, really find it hard to track a gang member with no registry info. Jimmy was quite eager to check details from headquarters, but now sees he was careless during the day and should have decisively had Jack interrogate Slim — should have yielded much more.

The next morning, Jimmy and Hope returned to the station. Hope went to meet Sergeant Ronald, print the data, and cross-check info, verifying they had any local reports on this person. Jimmy went to the parking lot, looking around for Jack's patrol car.

In smaller stations, patrol cars are allocated directly to personnel. Only larger stations require frequent personnel changes, needing arrangements where each day's vehicle is randomly assigned by higher-ups.

With no sight of Jack's patrol car in the parking lot, Jimmy frowned. Either Jack drove the patrol car home or was already out on patrol, making it tough.

After some thought, Jimmy went back to the station building and got Jack's phone number, dialing it, "Jack, it's FBI Agent Jimmy."

Jack was with a new recruit on patrol and, getting Jimmy's call, immediately flicked his turn signal and stopped on the roadside. Though not an emergency lane, no one would hassle him. "Agent Yang, what's up?"