As the voice fell, Winslow and Chenier furrowed their brows, and Reesi also realized, frowning:

"The opponent wants you to handle this case, is their real target you?"

Luo An's mouth cracked into a smile and said:

"That's why before today's operation started, I wasn't in a rush to act. Instead, I had Mona take Michelle to carefully check the surveillance in this area to verify my guess."

"We entered this community with so many people, the two black members of the Reed family couldn't possibly be unaware."

Chenier suddenly understood and said:

"Under normal circumstances, knowing that the FBI is coming to catch them, the two from the Reed family wouldn't possibly just sit tight.

But we've been sitting outside for so long, and they didn't move at all, so this building is definitely a trap."

"Exactly."

Luo An nodded and continued:

"Considering the explosion at the design company before, I suspected the mastermind was very likely still planning to use a bomb.

Thinking from their perspective, a time bomb is too risky for unexpected issues, so I had someone bring a signal jammer in advance."

While speaking, Luo An took out a rectangular, cellphone-sized black box with several buttons from his pocket and handed it to Reesi:

"After Mona called, I became even more certain that this was a trap, so I changed the plan on the fly, having my people take the high ground.

During the wait, I observed the surroundings, and just now that building, the rooftop was a very good lookout point for observing street activity, so I led you there to inspect the situation."

"Then on the way upstairs, we ran into those two suspicious men and women."

Winslow also guessed the crux of the matter upon hearing this, adding:

"The bomb that exploded in the street while we were halfway up the building was used by that pair to divert and attract our attention."

"Just like that."

Luo An pointed to the black box that Reesi was fiddling with and continued:

"This is the remote control we found near the building when you and Winslow walked into the building to arrest the two from the Reed family. I and Chenier were searching nearby.

It proves my guess was correct, they indeed intended to use a remote-controlled bomb, but realizing something was amiss, they discarded it."

"That guy never imagined that you not only brought a signal jammer but also found him, and even captured him."

After listening to Luo An's narrative, Reesi was enlightened and gave Luo An an admiring thumbs-up, and Winslow took the small remote to study. Chenier pondered for a moment with a questioning tone:

"Why would the two blacks from the Reed family execute such a plan? If those bombs were to explode, they wouldn't survive either.

Where is Adam Avalos from the gun ban organization?

And who are the black pair that we caught, just what is their identity, and why did they want to move against you?"

"I have some guesses, but I'm not certain yet. However, I've already instructed Mona and Michelle to investigate the identities of that black male and female."

Luo An shook his head, then he smiled slightly, looking at the bombs being cleared away not far away, and chuckled:

"Besides, the people have been caught, we have time to interrogate slowly."

————

The next day, at 9 a.m., the FBI Washington Headquarters, Investigation Team 13 office area.

All agents sat at their workstations handling documents, Mona led Michelle to gather information on the black couple, while Reesi, while handling other documents, occasionally grabbed some snacks to munch on.

Not far away, the interrogation room door opened, and seeing Chenier walk out, Reesi hurried over:

"How is it, did you get any useful information?"

"No, they aren't saying a word."

Chenier rubbed her forehead, her face showing a helpless expression.

She and Luo An were the first to interrogate the bombmaker Elaine Reed, a 50-year-old black man who had just recently been released from prison.

After the raid operation yesterday, the FBI's forensic science unit found materials for making bombs, blueprints, and other information in a room at Elaine Reed's residence, which is why Luo An and Chenier decided to start interrogating him first.

But due to an incident with black gangs thirty years ago, Elaine Reed didn't even dignify cooperation with the FBI, so whatever was said, it was useless, and in the end, Luo An decided to stop wasting time on him.

Chenier patted Reesi's shoulder helplessly and said:

"Luo An asked you and Winslow to take this guy back to the temporary prison and bring Hasim Reed up instead."

"OK."

Reesi gestured to Chenier to change shifts with Winslow, and Chenier walked over to the break area to pick up the coffee pot before returning to the interrogation room.

In the interrogation room, Luo An was sitting in the chair observing his notebook. Chenier poured Luo An a cup of coffee and said:

"Wasted over an hour for nothing, didn't get a single clue."

"Thank you."

After taking the cup and expressing his gratitude, Luo An took a sip and shook his head:

"No, there were some clues."

"???"

Chenier's face was full of question marks as Luo An chuckled, indicating that while he had been asking questions earlier, he was carefully observing Elaine Reed's facial expressions, and he did manage to glean some information, more or less.

"Like that bomb for the three-story building."

Luo An pointed at the note in the notebook as he spoke:

"When I asked other questions, Elaine Reed's face showed some disdain or indifference.

But when I mentioned the bombs that could level a building, his face showed no change, no signs of shock or surprise, which indicates he knew about it."

Microexpressions were just one of the reasons Luo An had; what really made him draw that conclusion were the "emotional perceptions" in his mind. You can choose not to speak, but the emotional fluctuations when you think about something can't lie.

Chenier was somewhat surprised by Luo An's conclusion, but soon she noticed something else:

"If your judgment is correct, does that mean Elaine Reed no longer wants to live?

Is Hasim Reed the same? But he's only 36 years old this year and hasn't been in prison like Elaine Reed, and there's no record of him adhering to or joining a cult."

Luo An smiled, closed the notebook, and responded:

"No need to guess blindly here, we'll find out when Reesi and Winslow bring him in for questioning."

After a short while, the black man, Hasim Reed, who had given the courier one hundred dollars to deliver the bomb, was brought into the interrogation room by Winslow and Reesi.

"Good morning, Hasim Reed."

Chenier took out a pen and paper to start taking notes, Luo An grabbed his coffee for a sip, and said with a smile:

"Elaine Reed has confessed everything, saying that you've been in charge of this case all along, that you're the mastermind.

Well, is there anything you'd like to argue?"

"What?"

Upon hearing Luo An's words, 36-year-old Hasim Reed's eyes immediately widened, and after a few seconds of dumbfounded silence, he suddenly relaxed, waved his hands, and chuckled:

"Come on, bro, your lie is too amateur.

I know Elaine, and he would never cooperate with you guys; I won't be fooled."

"You know Elaine very well?"

Luo An smiled, folded his arms, leaned back in the chair, and said:

"Then you should know that Elaine has been in prison for over thirty years, and he's only just been released. He's tasted the breath of freedom, eaten food from the outside world, and now he has to go back in... Do you think Elaine would make that choice?"

Hearing Luo An's words, Hasim's face immediately became uncertain, and after a long moment of contemplation, he looked up and said:

"Elaine has a grudge against you FBI guys; he wouldn't cooperate with you."

"Which is more important, vendetta or life and liberty?"

Watching Hasim's eyes drifting, Luo An chuckled and said:

"Still, Elaine is 50 this year; how many years does he have left?

Do you think he would accept ending up dying in prison?"

Hasim Reed fell silent for a while, then spoke up:

"I'm not the mastermind behind this."

Chenier's eyes slightly brightened, but Luo An's expression remained unchanged as he asked:

"Do you have evidence?"

"I have videos and photos!"