ca-book #240 - Unable to face
#240 - Unable to face
Lynn leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the Manhattan nightscape outside the window. His thoughts churned, and a disturbing notion surfaced in his mind: if Cohen Industries' influence could reach law enforcement, who could he trust? Was there any chance of winning this battle?
Suddenly, his phone vibrated on the desk, displaying Kate's name. Lynn answered, Kate's voice urgent: "Lynn, I just received information that someone is trying to destroy some sensitive documents belonging to Cohen Industries. They might know you're investigating."
Lynn straightened up, his voice low and calm: "Are you sure the information is reliable?"
"Absolutely," Kate said. "My informant says they'll be clearing it out tonight at a warehouse on the West Docks. If we miss this opportunity, that evidence might be lost forever."
Lynn's mind raced. He knew this was an opportunity, but it was also fraught with risk. The operation had no search warrant, and it might touch the taboos of those in high places. But if he gave up, he would lose the key to exposing Cohen Industries.
"I'll handle it," Lynn said in a deep voice. "But Kate, you must promise me, stay away this time."
Kate paused on the other end of the line, then replied softly: "I understand, but please be careful. They won't let that evidence fall into your hands easily."
After hanging up, Lynn quickly assembled a trusted squad. He didn't report to his superiors, but instead directly ordered preparations for an unofficial operation. He knew this might put him on the edge of danger, but he was even more certain that if he continued to wait, he would lose his last chance to uncover the truth.
In the darkness of night, Lynn led his team quietly towards the warehouse on the West Docks. They saw several trucks parked outside the warehouse from afar, and several people in black were carrying boxes filled with documents, clearly preparing to destroy them.
"Action," Lynn commanded in a low voice. The team quickly surrounded the warehouse, approaching silently. Lynn led the charge into the warehouse, raising his gun and pointing it at the people, shouting sternly: "FBI, everyone down!"
Those people panicked. Some tried to resist, but Lynn's team quickly subdued them. Lynn looked around, his gaze falling on an industrial shredder that was running, its insides filled with shredded paper. His heart tightened, and he immediately ordered the technicians to examine the remaining documents.
The technician took out a few undestroyed documents from the boxes, quickly flipped through them, and looked up to say: "Detective, these documents contain Cohen Industries' fund flow records, and part of it directly points to 'Dawn's' account. This is the evidence we need!"
Lynn's gaze sharpened. He ordered all the documents to be collected, and the suspects to be taken into custody.
The next day.
Lynn led his team quietly into the core stronghold of the "Dawn" organization—an abandoned building deep in Manhattan's industrial district. The entire building had been meticulously transformed into a secret command center, surrounded by surveillance and guards. Clearly, this was the hub where the "Dawn" organization planned its series of operations. A tense atmosphere was mixed in the night wind. Lynn's headset transmitted a low voice from the technical team: "Detective, we've taken control of the outer cameras. We've confirmed at least twenty armed personnel inside the building, and several high-heat signatures, suspected mutants."
Lynn nodded and made a few simple gestures to the team behind him. The task force split into groups, moving simultaneously from different entrances of the building. Lynn personally led the main assault group, quickly passing through a side door and entering the building's interior.
The lights inside the building were dim, with only faint warning lights illuminating a few corners. Lynn leaned against the wall, gesturing for the team to move forward. A tense sense of oppression permeated the air, each step feeling like stepping on a taut string in the dark.
Suddenly, a low clicking sound came from ahead—someone cocking a weapon. Lynn reacted quickly, gesturing for the team to take cover, while pointing his gun in the direction of the sound. The other party had obviously noticed their presence. A sharp alarm instantly rang throughout the entire building, followed by gunfire and explosions erupting in the darkness.
"They've found us!" Carter's voice came from the headset.
Lynn commanded in a low voice: "Squads provide cover, prioritize controlling the outer armed forces, and don't let them have a chance to escape. Main assault group, follow me, we must find 'Flameheart'!"
The battle instantly escalated. Members of the Dawn organization poured out from all corners. They were well-equipped, and some even directly launched attacks with their mutant abilities. A mutant with rock-like skin covering his arms charged towards Lynn's group, his immense strength smashing a piece of cover into pieces. Lynn quickly opened fire, accurately hitting his knee, forcing him to stop. The team seized the opportunity to subdue him with a special restraint device.
The sounds of gunfire and roars echoed in the narrow corridors, the entire building seeming to transform into a battlefield. Lynn and his team advanced floor by floor, finally arriving at a steel double door. A low buzzing sound came from the other side of the door, as if some kind of energy was pulsing.
Lynn signaled the team to retreat, cautiously pushing the door open himself. A wave of scorching heat rushed towards him. A familiar figure stood in the center of the room—Marcos Ramirez, "Flameheart." Behind him was a huge vortex of flames, his entire body shrouded in intense red light, as if fused with the flames.
"Detective Lynn," Marcos turned around, a cold smile on his lips. "You're finally here. I thought you'd send these small fries to die."
"Marcos, put down what's in your hands," Lynn's gun was pointed directly at the other party, his tone deep but firm. "You know this battle will only hurt more people. This isn't the result you want."
"Result?" Marcos's smile became even more mocking. "Do you think I still care about any results? They destroyed my life. I'm just letting this society taste the pain they gave us. I want to see Manhattan burn. Only then will these people face us squarely!"
"Is this what you want, or what Dawn wants?" Lynn tried to calm him down. "I know you're being used. They're using your anger and abilities to achieve their own goals, and these higher-ups don't care about your life or death at all."
Marcos's smile froze for a moment, but was quickly replaced by anger. He waved his hands violently, and flames instantly spewed out, rushing towards Lynn's direction. Lynn quickly rolled to dodge, while firing to try to suppress the other party. But Marcos's flame abilities were obviously far beyond ordinary people. Every wave of his hand would set off rolling waves of heat, igniting everything around him.
"Lynn, retreat quickly!" Carter's voice came from the headset. "His heat value has exceeded the safe range. This place could explode at any time!"
Lynn didn't retreat. He knew that if Marcos continued, this building and everyone inside would be engulfed in flames. He switched to a special tranquilizer dart, aiming at Marcos's shoulder during a break in his attacks. After a gunshot, Marcos's movements paused slightly, but he quickly gritted his teeth and stood firm, roaring and releasing even more intense flames.
The entire room began to shake, flames jumping on the ceiling, gradually spreading to the surroundings. Lynn gasped for breath, quickly analyzing the situation. He saw that although Marcos's abilities were powerful, he was too dependent on emotions. Each outburst would leave him in a brief period of weakness.
"Marcos!" Lynn shouted loudly. "Do you want to let those who are using you succeed? The people you're killing now, the city you're destroying, that's all the result they want! You're their pawn, and I can help you break this game!"
Marcos's gaze wavered violently for a moment, and the intensity of the flames also weakened. But the next second, he gritted his teeth again, his eyes full of pain and struggle: "You can't fool me! You're all the same! There can be no peace!"
Lynn seized the opportunity, suddenly rushing forward and striking Marcos's abdomen directly with a stun gun. The huge current caused Marcos to kneel on the ground in pain, the flames around him instantly extinguishing. He gasped for breath, his hands on the ground, staring angrily at Lynn, but was no longer able to fight back.
"It's over," Lynn said in a low voice, while signaling the team to come forward and fasten the special ability suppression device on Marcos's wrist.
The entire room fell into dead silence, only the ashes after the fire were gently falling in the air. Lynn stood in place, looking at the subdued Marcos, but there was no ease of victory in his heart. He knew that this battle was just the tip of the iceberg. The true core of Dawn was still hidden in the darkness. And Marcos's anger was just a product of the cruel reality of this system.
Lynn turned to order the team: "Clear the scene, take away all the evidence. We're not done yet." His gaze was cold, seeming to penetrate the smoke of this battle in the night, looking into the deeper darkness.
On the other side.
Kate stood outside the abandoned building, holding a tape recorder tightly in her hand. The photographer beside her had already evacuated, leaving only her and the chaotic battlefield under the night sky. Gunfire and explosions came from inside the building, shaking the ground slightly. She had originally promised Lynn not to get close, but the instinct of a news person made her unable to retreat. She knew that everything that happened here would be key to changing public opinion, and she had to witness it firsthand.
Just as she was about to approach to take more pictures, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the alleyway. Several Dawn members holding weapons suddenly appeared in front of her, obviously remnants escaping from the battle. Kate's heart tightened, instinctively retreating, trying to avoid their sight.
"Stop!" one of them shouted sternly, his gaze keenly locking onto her. Kate knew she had been discovered, and could only brace herself and stand still, saying in a calm tone: "I'm a reporter, I'm just recording the event."
"Reporter?" the leading man sneered. "Do you think your identity can save you? You're cooperating with the police, we know."
Kate's heart skipped a beat, understanding that her reports had attracted their attention. She subconsciously turned to run, but as soon as she took a step, one of them grabbed her arm. She struggled, but heard the sound of metal colliding, the sound of a gun being cocked.
"Take her back, maybe she'll be worth something," another voice said, low and cold.
Kate closed her eyes in despair, her heart beating so fast it felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. However, just as she felt the pulling force increase, a crisp gunshot pierced the air, followed by the man's roar and the muffled sound of falling to the ground. Kate opened her eyes abruptly, seeing Lynn rushing out of the shadows, the gun in his hand accurately pointed at the remaining Dawn members.
"Let her go!" Lynn's voice was low and full of menace. His gaze was as sharp as a knife, staring directly at those people, his finger already steadily on the trigger.
The Dawn members hesitated obviously, the weapons in their hands shaking slightly, but still trying to resist. Lynn didn't give them a chance, and with another gunshot, a man who tried to approach Kate fell to the ground in response. Seeing this, the remaining people turned and fled into the night.
Lynn quickly stepped forward, pulling Kate behind him, his eyes filled with anger and worry: "Didn't I tell you to stay away from here?"
Kate hadn't fully recovered from the shock, her voice trembling slightly: "I... I just wanted to record everything that happened, I didn't know they would appear."
Lynn cursed under his breath, holding her shoulders, his tone becoming even lower: "Do you know you almost died? These people aren't ordinary thugs, they won't let go of a target like you."
Kate looked up at him, forcing a wry smile on her lips: "But you came."
Lynn was stunned, looking at her with a complex expression. His hand loosened slightly, but still didn't completely let go of her shoulders. He said in a low voice: "Kate, I can't always make it in time. This time it was luck, but what about next time?"
Kate was silent for a moment, then said softly: "I know you're worried about me, but I also have my responsibilities. This matter is too important, so important that I can't retreat."
Lynn looked at her, a trace of struggle flashing in his eyes, finally sighing: "Okay, I know I can't stop you. But from now on, no matter where you go, I'll make sure you have protection. This isn't a negotiation, it's an order."
Kate's gaze softened a little, she looked at Lynn, and said softly: "Thank you, Lynn. I know you won't leave me alone."
Lynn didn't answer, just nodded. He reached out and wiped the dust off Kate's face, his movements inadvertently becoming gentle. He said in a low voice: "We have to leave here, this place isn't safe yet."
The two quickly left the alleyway, Lynn always protecting Kate by his side. Although the night was still full of danger, Kate felt a strange sense of security, as if no matter what happened, with Lynn around, there was nothing she couldn't face.
When they reached a relatively safe area, Lynn finally breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to look at Kate, his eyes filled with unspeakable emotions: "You must promise me, if there are any more dangerous situations in the future, contact me immediately, don't act on your own."
Kate smiled softly: "I promise, but you also have to promise me, don't face all the dangers alone anymore."
Lynn was stunned for a moment, then the corners of his mouth raised slightly: "Okay, deal."
(End of this chapter)