Chapter 316: Miss Thompson, Would You Cooperate With Us and Put on an Act?

Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Miss Thompson, Would You Cooperate With Us and Put on an Act?

As Hannah Thompson watched in confusion, Evan Keller pushed the phone in front of her and continued, "After you lent her money the first time, she found a way to get her hooks into you.

"Then she’d use all sorts of methods to threaten you into giving her more money, even resorting to emotional blackmail. For instance, she might claim that if you hadn’t lent her the money, she wouldn’t have been able to buy drugs and might have just toughed it out and quit."

"If she’s more unhinged, the moment you refuse even once, you’ll be on her hit list. Don’t underestimate a junkie. Some people will do crazy things for their next fix."

Recalling her deskmate’s personality, Hannah Thompson nodded, still shaken. "Knowing her, she would definitely say something like that."

Evan Keller then asked Hannah Thompson several more questions.

For instance, whether there were any secret codes when she made the purchase, and whether she had ever seen the delivery person.

He also asked if, aside from on video, she had ever met Vivian Jills’s sister.

After getting his answers, Evan Keller looked directly at Hannah Thompson and said, "Miss Thompson, I’m going to need you to do me a favor."

"What kind of favor?" Hannah Thompson looked bewildered.

"Message this dealer and tell them you want a batch of something with a stronger effect." Evan Keller pointed at the phone. "We can’t just arrest one person. It’s best to follow the vine and round up everyone in the entire chain."

Since Hannah Thompson had made two purchases without ever seeing the courier, it meant they were extremely cautious.

To get more intelligence, their only option was to set up an ambush near the Thompson residence. Once the courier arrived, they could tail them discreetly.

Hannah Thompson, of course, agreed immediately.

However, people like this were extremely cautious. Hannah Thompson had just bought her third "course of treatment" today. Suddenly asking for a larger dose would definitely make the dealer suspicious.

Evan Keller thought for a moment and quickly made a decision.

They would go to the Thompson house!

Even if the dealer grew suspicious and asked Hannah Thompson to start a video call or take a picture with a specific pose, being at home was much better than being at the police station.

However, Evan Keller wasn’t just going to take her home rashly.

Noting that it was the end of the workday, Evan Keller arranged for a few of his team members to pretend they were heading home.

In reality, they would first go to a nearby mall, then take a roundabout route to the Thompson residence to scout the surroundings and check for any lookouts.

Once they confirmed it was clear, they would take up positions nearby. That way, if anything went wrong, they could provide immediate backup.

The other officers involved in the case were to leave in batches, making sure not to attract the attention of the lookouts posted nearby.

Hannah Thompson and her mother would leave with the second group to return home and cooperate with the police operation.

The moment the courier showed their face, an officer assigned to "accidentally" bump into them would make their move, planting a tracker on their clothes to make them easier to follow.

If all went well, they would be able to arrest every single one of them!

"Okay! I’ll cooperate!" Realizing she had almost been ruined by these drugs, Hannah Thompson agreed without a second’s hesitation, promising her full cooperation.

When Evan Keller walked out of the interrogation room, he saw Zoe Sawyer, Sean Hughes, and Beau waiting outside.

"I want to go too!" Zoe Sawyer stepped forward to make her case. They were making arrests; she could help!

Besides, once the courier returned to their turf, she could use her door ability to transport all the officers to a nearby location.

They could catch the whole gang in the fastest way possible!

It was a wonderful idea, but in reality, Zoe was turned down.

"There’s no need. We’re just arresting a few people; we don’t need to call in the big guns yet.

"Besides, if too many people leave at once, it’ll be easy to alert the lookouts." Evan Keller waved his hand dismissively, rejecting Zoe’s request to come along.

Zoe Sawyer stomped her foot in frustration. "Those lookouts are so annoying! When are we finally going to arrest them!"

Evan Keller patted Zoe’s shoulder reassuringly. "Soon, soon. We’re already investigating the clues they left behind. When the time is right, we’ll catch them all in one fell swoop!

"Once we’ve arrested them, you’ll be able to go outside again."

Arresting them piecemeal would just spook the others.

Knowing there was no hope of her going on the mission, Zoe Sawyer leaned dejectedly on Sean Hughes’s shoulder.

Meanwhile, Evan Keller was pressed for time and had to rush off to get things set up.

He shot Sean Hughes a look, signaling for her to comfort Zoe, then hurriedly left with Hannah Thompson.

"There, there. Once they’re caught, you’ll be able to go out normally again," Sean Hughes said, patting Zoe’s arm comfortingly.

Zoe mumbled, "I’m not angry about not being able to go. I just feel like I’m not helping again."

’My ability could do so much, but my hands are tied because of those people outside. I can only let Evan and the others run around on their own while I’m stuck at the station, unable to do a thing.’

The thought upset her.

Once she understood why Zoe was unhappy, Sean Hughes actually let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, is that all? Don’t worry about it. Just think of it as a well-deserved break.

"You were opening doors and transporting people so often before. This is the perfect chance to get some proper rest."

Beau also sidled up, mimicking Sean Hughes’s actions to comfort Zoe.

It had only been a momentary surge of emotion, and with her two friends comforting her, Zoe quickly cheered up.

Just as the three of them were about to return to their office, a young officer rushed over and told them to hurry back, saying a case was waiting.

Zoe and the others didn’t waste any time, returning to the office at top speed.

As soon as they walked in, they saw Heath Hale sitting in a chair, his brow tightly furrowed.

Several photographs were spread out on the table in front of him.

"What’s going on? You sent someone to get us in such a hurry," Sean Hughes asked with a confused expression as she entered the office.

Heath Hale looked up, and seeing that both Zoe and Sean had returned, he beckoned them over. "You two, come take a look at this."

Zoe and Sean walked over and picked up the photos on the table, finding images of an extinguished bonfire.

Surrounding it were messy footprints and scattered piles of black powder.

"What is this? Did someone build a fire to keep warm because it was cold at night?" Sean Hughes asked, frowning in confusion as she examined the photo.

Then, as if she’d noticed something amiss, she held the photo closer, staring at the very corner. Her voice was laced with suspicion. "In the corner of the photo... does that look like a grave?"

Startled, Zoe leaned over, trying to see the grave Sean was talking about.

Before she could get a clear look, she heard Heath Hale’s voice. "That’s right. It is a grave. One that was dug up not long after the burial."

As Zoe and Sean stared in shocked disbelief, Heath Hale pointed to the corner and continued.

"And the person buried in it was a major junkie who died from an overdose."