Chapter 456: Another Job

Chapter 456: Chapter 456: Another Job

If that doesn’t work, then a temporary transfer!

’I have to find a way to keep Sawyer here longer. Then, bit by bit, maybe she’ll become one of ours!’

The leader’s eyes gleamed with envy as he thought about the day’s operation and the contributions Zoe Sawyer had made.

"Sawyer, we’re going to need your cooperation on the follow-up for this. This case is just massive.

With your abilities, things will definitely go much faster. Why don’t you just stay with my team for a while? Besides, Heath Hale and Barry Quinn are injured and need to rest up.

I have plenty of good young men and women here, too. Young people should get out there and make friends, expand their social circles," the leader said, his expression one of magnanimous righteousness.

As his former subordinate, how could Barry Quinn not know what the man was thinking?

But before Barry Quinn could speak, Heath Hale couldn’t resist cutting in. "Sir, whether Zoe Sawyer can stay is something you’ll have to discuss with our Chief. We can’t make that decision on our own.

You have a lot to handle here, so we won’t disturb you any further. If you need any help down the line, feel free to give us a call."

’You’d think being close would give me an advantage, but she’s completely clueless!’

Heath Hale not only had to fend off others who had their eyes on Zoe Sawyer, but he also had to constantly make his presence felt around her. Otherwise, on some future mission, he might let his guard down for a second and someone else would beat him to the punch.

As for her making friends, Heath Hale didn’t really have a problem with it.

Zoe Sawyer was a living, breathing person, and people need to socialize.

He couldn’t let his own selfish desires stop her from making friends.

The leader shot Heath Hale an irritated glare. ’That little brat. Does he really think I can’t see what he’s up to?’

Zoe Sawyer touched her cheek, a little embarrassed. "Sir, how about this? If you run into any issues later and need my help, just give me a call.

The door is here, after all, so I can come over and help anytime."

’Staying here permanently... yeah, no thanks.’ Zoe Sawyer preferred to stick to her own familiar turf.

Since the person in question had spoken, the leader couldn’t very well press the issue, no matter what he wanted to say.

He could only wave a hand in acknowledgment. "Then it’s a deal. If I need your help with today’s case, you can’t turn me down."

The two groups exchanged a few more words before finally going their separate ways.

The arrests had taken place late at night, and they had been working ever since. It was now nearly midnight.

Once she confirmed there was nothing else for her to do there for the time being, Zoe Sawyer used the door to take her colleagues from the police department back to rest.

Watching Zoe Sawyer and the others vanish, the leader sighed, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked away.

’My attempt to poach her failed. I’ll have to think of another way.’

’Besides, I have to take advantage of this time difference to wipe out the networks of Patrick Miller and the Matriarch. I’ve got plenty of work to do. Better go check on our current progress.’

Over the next two months, the leader and the military joined forces with the official authorities within the spheres of influence of Patrick Miller and the Matriarch. With unprecedented speed, they launched precise strikes against their strongholds.

It was only then that Zoe Sawyer learned the full extent of it. The Matriarch ran a factory staffed by the families of traitors or people who had been trafficked from their home country.

The Matriarch and her people were utterly deranged. Whenever they were the slightest bit displeased, they would go there and take their knives to people.

She also had numerous other factories, all filled with trafficked women and children.

The Matriarch’s business was extensive. Whether it was a personal blood bank or organs for some wealthy foreigner, she could procure it according to the client’s needs.

Countless families had been torn apart and destroyed because of her.

With her capture, numerous victims were rescued from her black-hearted factories. Those who were from their country were brought back, where authorities would verify their identities and arrange for them to be sent home.

Of course, whether they actually returned home was ultimately up to them.

It was the same story with Patrick Miller’s operations.

The case of the father and his two sons, however, was far more complex.

Due to the businesses and influence the trio wielded, the authorities met with considerable resistance when they finally made their move.

However, the local government was determined to excise this malignant tumor. With covert assistance from the leader’s team, and despite some casualties, the final outcome was a success.

And as collaborators, the leader’s team reaped significant rewards as well.

By following the leads in the seized documents, they identified and located numerous drug traffickers and producers within their own country’s borders.

They shut down several production lines and, in the process, also managed to catch fugitives who had been in hiding for years.

"It’s finally over. For a while there, even eating felt like going to war. Now I can finally sit down and have a proper meal," Zoe Sawyer said, slumping wearily at her desk, her voice full of lament.

For the first week or so after the arrests on the cruise ship, Zoe Sawyer hadn’t had much to do.

But as time went on, she was needed in more and more places.

This was interspersed with the occasional case the door would suddenly foresee, or a sudden trip to a live scene.

For over a month, Zoe Sawyer hadn’t had a single proper day of rest.

Now that the bulk of the work was finally done and she wouldn’t be needed over there anymore, Zoe Sawyer was incredibly relieved.

"You’ve worked hard. You should get some rest." Heath Hale walked over and placed a drink he’d already prepared in front of Zoe Sawyer. "The Chief just said you’ve had a tough month, so he’s giving you a few days off to spend with your family."

To protect Zoe Sawyer and her family, the Chief had moved them to a safe place near the station early on and had even arranged jobs for them according to their preferences.

Even though her family was so close, she had been too busy with work to see them. Plus, to avoid revealing their location, Zoe had only been able to squeeze in the occasional phone or video call.

She’d been thinking she’d be lucky to get half a day off to catch up on sleep. She never expected the Chief to be so merciful as to give her a few days’ vacation!

"Yes! Since they’re close, I don’t even need to pack. I’ll go give them a big surprise right now!" Zoe Sawyer jumped up excitedly. She grabbed her phone, but just as she reached the office door, her expression shifted, and she froze in place.

Heath Hale noticed her expression and her sudden stop. A bad feeling inexplicably crept over him. ’Don’t tell me...’

With a pained expression, Zoe Sawyer nodded at Heath Hale. Without another thought, she turned and strode quickly toward the office next door.

’A new case. I guess vacation will have to wait.’

Grasping the doorknob, Zoe Sawyer opened the door.

A towering skyscraper filled her vision. Before Zoe Sawyer could figure out if this was a premonition or a live scene, two figures slammed into the ground right in front of her.

The surrounding pedestrians froze for a second, then a bloodcurdling scream erupted from the crowd.

Blood pooled out from under the two children.

"Someone’s dead!"