Chapter Four: White...Black Radish

New York Presbyterian Hospital, Lower Manhattan Branch.

“The patient’s condition isn’t serious. A month of rest should be enough.”

“Alright, thank you, doctor.”

As the doctor turned to leave, Chief Broson of Investigation Team One shifted his gaze toward the hospital room. He saw Fisher lying on the bed, loudly wailing, his legs propped up, and his expression darkened. He muttered under his breath,

“A whole group of people couldn’t beat one guy. Useless!”

With Augus protecting Roan Greenwood, Broson felt it wasn’t wise to make a move just yet. According to his subordinates, Roan Greenwood was currently investigating that park murder case...

“As long as he doesn’t find the killer in three days, things will be easy.”

Not bothering to meet his unlucky nephew Fisher, Broson turned and left.

...

Investigation Team Five’s office area, Chief’s office.

Roan sat in a chair, calmly watching the large-bellied Black man behind the desk. After leaving the interrogation room at the training department, Mona had brought him here. Roan quickly deduced that this was the officer who had transferred him, likely impressed by his previous confrontation with Fisher and the others.

As for the man’s silent scrutiny, Roan felt nothing; it was just a simple show of dominance—he thought of him as a turnip, well, a black turnip.

Augus, the black turnip, grew more fond of Roan’s composed and respectful demeanor with every glance. Without wasting words, he said directly,

“I’m Augus, Chief of Investigation Team Five. To be honest, Roan, I like you.”

Roan frowned, feeling something was off about that sentence.

“But your current situation is troublesome. Fighting is never the right answer.”

Roan nodded inwardly. Here it comes—the carrot and stick approach.

Augus sipped his coffee and continued,

“These are some materials from the park shooting murder case. It’s now noon—twelve o’clock. I’m giving you three days to catch the killer. If you succeed, I’ll transfer you into Team Five immediately and make you a full agent. If you fail,”

Augus tossed the folder on the desk to Roan, smiling,

“I’ll still transfer you into Team Five, but for the next six months, you’ll be in charge of filing paperwork and writing case reports. Understood?”

“OK.”

Roan nodded, then looked up and asked,

“If I solve the case, how’s the reward split?”

“If you solve it yourself, the reward is all yours.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Roan wasted no more words, picked up the folder, and left the office.

Watching Roan’s upright figure, Augus nodded in admiration, exclaiming,

“Young, handsome, sharp-minded, decisive, and polite… just like I was in my youth!”

Amid the curious and puzzled gazes of the other agents, Roan walked out of Team Five’s office area without a change in expression. He patted Mona, who was waiting by the door, on the shoulder and smiled,

“Let’s go, partner. We have three days to earn that reward.”

“What, you think three days is a long time?”

Mona rolled her eyes at Roan, took the folder, and headed for the elevator, reading the materials as she walked.

“So where are we headed next?”

“First, to get weapons.”

...

In the equipment room, Mona requested a bulletproof vest and a Glock 19. After she finished, she turned to look at Roan’s gear and was stunned.

Roan was dressed in a pitch-black combat suit, holding a tactical helmet, a plate carrier vest strapped to his chest, and several pouches on his waist stuffed with smoke grenades and flashbangs. His holster carried two Glock 18 machine pistols, and Mona noticed he had six extended magazines.

“Each extended magazine for the Glock 18 holds thirty-three rounds, and you took eight of them!”

Mona felt she was losing her mind and loudly demanded,

“This is New York! We’re investigating a case! Do you think you’re going to war?”

“Precisely because it’s New York, I brought so much gear.”

Roan spread his hands, helpless,

“If the equipment room allowed, I’d have taken a few grenades and submachine guns too!”

“…Fu-k!”

Mona pressed her hand to her forehead and muttered,

“I must be crazy, agreeing to team up with someone like this.”

Roan explained earnestly, “Listen, Mona, you only have one life. I don’t want to lose it before I’ve even earned any money. Let’s go. We have just three days.”

Watching Roan stride away and seeing the surprised looks from passing agents, Mona’s mouth twitched. After hesitating for a few seconds, she still followed him.

She just didn’t dare lift her head the whole way.

...

Central Park, 3 p.m.

The two arrived by car at the path where the incident occurred. It was daytime, and the park was filled with tourists leisurely strolling.

Seeing Roan fully armed, passersby instinctively avoided him. Several patrolling officers approached to question him, but Mona, brandishing her FBI badge, dismissed them.

Enduring the curious and bewildered stares around them, Mona forced herself to keep calm and tilted her head to ask,

“What are we doing here? The NYPD has already photographed and searched the scene. There’s no evidence left.”

Roan stood at the spot where Mike’s body had been found in the photos, deep in thought. Hearing Mona’s question, he replied,

“No, the location of the body is the biggest clue.”

“?”

Seeing Mona’s confusion, Roan spoke seriously,

“Have you ever wondered why the killer chose this spot to kill Mike?”

“Uh, because at the time, apart from the killer and the victim, no one else was here?”

“That’s just one reason.”

Roan nodded and continued,

“More importantly, this spot is hidden, and after committing the murder, it’s easy to escape.”

Roan gestured around as he explained to Mona,

“To the west is a river and a lake. None of the witness testimonies mention the sound of boats passing, so the killer couldn’t have escaped via the river. To the south and north are paths leading to the street, and to the east is a large forest. The case report shows the NYPD found no useful evidence in the woods, so…”

Mona’s eyes lit up, and she interjected,

“So the killer escaped via the southern or northern paths?”

“No, the killer escaped through the woods.”

Roan shook his head and continued,

“In the testimonies, the witnesses heard gunshots while walking on the north and south paths near the scene. So the killer could only escape through the woods.”

Mona thought about it and realized the testimonies matched Roan’s statement. She asked,

“But the NYPD searched the woods with police dogs, and they found nothing…”

“Dogs couldn’t, but I can.”

“???”