Chapter 57: Successful Capture

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Successful Capture

Perfect!

Zoe Sawyer’s and Heath Hale’s eyes lit up at the news.

This news couldn’t have come at a better time!

"Did the informant say what the man in the surveillance room is called? Or what he looks like?" Zoe Sawyer asked, her voice tinged with excitement.

’If I have this information, the chances of a successful lock-on will be much higher!’

’Maybe I can even catch him quickly and take care of this problem for Evan Keller’s team!’

Officer Lee shook his head. "He didn’t dare to look for long. He only caught a quick glimpse but remembered the basics.

He said the man is about five-foot-seven, a bit heavy-set, and wears black-framed glasses. He has small eyes and a fair complexion. As for a name, he only overheard a surname: Zhang."

’That’s enough!’

’Compared to the nothing we had before, this is incredibly detailed!’

"I’m trying again!" Zoe Sawyer said, looking at Heath Hale with determination in her eyes.

’There’s no way I’ll fail this time!’

Heath Hale said nothing, but his silent presence by her side was all the support she needed.

Officer Lee clutched the file and waited with them, ready to help in any way he could.

This attempt took longer than any of the previous ten.

As Officer Lee listened to the chatter from his earpiece, he glanced at Zoe Sawyer, his expression betraying a hint of anxiety.

’If she doesn’t get a lock-on soon, Evan Keller’s team is going to link up with backup!’

As Heath Hale and the others waited anxiously, Zoe Sawyer opened the door once more.

This time, the result brought a smile to all four of their faces.

They had appeared in a room, directly behind a man!

Across from them, an entire wall was covered in monitors. The display was split into countless panes, each showing a different scene.

The largest monitor, dead center, showed Evan Keller’s team in a standoff with the researchers inside the factory.

"Damn it, why won’t they take the bait? Maybe I should just have my guys kill one of them right in front of the cops.

Yeah, that might work. If I piss them off, maybe they’ll get reckless and just charge in?" The man fumbled for a nearby chocolate bar, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth, muttering to himself.

"Or I could just blow the whole place up. If this drags on any longer, they might track me down. It’s unlikely, but I should still avoid the risk.

Even if I can’t kill them all, getting one is better than none. Yeah, that’s the plan. I can’t keep stalling, or I’ll have hell to pay."

As he spoke, the man reached for a button just a short distance away.

His words made the four people behind him burn with fury.

Seeing him move, Heath Hale immediately drew a tranquilizer gun and fired a dart into the man’s neck.

A second later, the man clutched his neck and collapsed, a look of pure shock on his face.

’What’s happening? Is someone else in the room?’

Before he could make sense of it, he passed out completely, lying motionless.

"Liam, get over here and help me move this guy so we can tie him up!" Heath Hale ordered as he stepped into the surveillance room, gesturing for Officer Lee to assist.

Aside from Zoe Sawyer, who had once again been ordered to stay put, Barry Quinn also moved forward.

The three men quickly bound the man named Zhang. They then swept the entire surveillance room as fast as possible. Once they confirmed there were no other cameras or threats, they immediately contacted Evan Keller.

They briefed him on the situation, letting him know the crisis was over and that he should wrap things up quickly.

With his new orders, Evan Keller coordinated with the backup team that had just arrived. They stormed the location, surrounded the factory, and subdued the researchers inside with incredible speed.

Researcher Lee, who had been slacking off in a corner, realized things were going south. He quickly shed his white lab coat and rolled on the ground a few times, covering himself in dust to look as pathetic as possible.

He then huddled in a corner, trying to pass himself off as one of the hostages.

As he squeezed in among them, Researcher Lee shot a vicious glare at the other hostages, using the intimidating presence he’d cultivated during his experiments to cow them into silence.

Soon, all the other fleeing researchers in the factory were captured.

Sean Hughes approached with a squad of officers, his voice gentle and reassuring. "Everyone, the police have apprehended the criminals. You’re all safe now."

At the same time, the officers behind Sean Hughes moved to gently help the hostages to their feet.

Researcher Lee followed their lead, keeping his head down as he obediently stood up to walk out.

He had only taken two steps when someone tugged on the hem of his shirt. A faint female voice came from behind him. "That one’s a bad guy! He’s one of them!"

’I’m screwed!’

The thought flashed through Researcher Lee’s mind, and he instinctively hunched over, trying to make himself smaller.

"That’s right! I saw him roll around on the ground! Then he pushed his way in with us, trying to blend in and escape!"

Another voice, this one male, piped up from the side. It was quiet but firm, laced with deep-seated resentment.

The other hostages remained silent, but their glares were sharp enough to tear Researcher Lee apart.

Sean Hughes’s gaze sharpened as he stared at Researcher Lee. Following the survivors’ pointing fingers, he spotted a white lab coat that had been kicked into the far corner.

He grabbed Researcher Lee’s hand and saw several calluses on his palm.

In that specific spot. They were the kind a person would get from holding a scalpel for long periods.

Sean Hughes also sensed something was off. Compared to the listless, dead-eyed stares of the other survivors, this so-called "survivor" was completely different.

Despite his attempts to hide it, his energy and alertness were a world apart from the people beside him.

The dust on his clothes also looked superficial.

Sean Hughes gave him a firm pat, and the dust flew off, revealing clean, neat clothes underneath.

"Playing innocent? Posing as a hostage? Why don’t you go explain yourself over there?" Sean Hughes yanked the man out and shoved him into the group of researchers being watched by Evan Keller.

While some officers escorted the survivors and researchers back to the station, the remaining teams began to sweep the area, using the factory as their center point.

They discovered and dismantled numerous bombs around the factory, quickly neutralizing the threat to the old industrial district.

Meanwhile, back in the surveillance room, Heath Hale’s team finished collecting evidence, then carried the unconscious man out with Officer Lee.

"A total victory! I’ll have someone take him to an interrogation room. Zoe, could you please bring Evan Keller and his team back?" Heath Hale said, looking at Zoe Sawyer with an invigorated expression.

"Okay!" Zoe Sawyer agreed without hesitation. ’The sooner I get them back, the sooner we can solve this case!’

Elsewhere, a man, unable to get in touch with the surveillance room, furiously slammed his phone onto the ground.

"A bunch of useless trash!"