Hotel suite, in the early hours of the morning.
"Big trouble?"
Hearing this, Luo An frowned. Reesi and Michelle are from the Special Investigation Team, why didn't they co to him, the deputy team leader, first when they faced a problem? What's going on with seeking Mona?
"It's not about work, it's their personal issues."
Seeing Luo An seem to misunderstand, Mona quickly explained:
"Do you rember Reesi's actress landlady?
She returned to Los Angeles yesterday and sold that house. As compensation, she gave the motorcycle to Reesi for free.
The new landlord is no longer renting out the house and hopes Reesi moves out soon. Reesi had no choice but to temporarily store her belongings at Michelle's place; they've been busy with it all day."
Reesi called Mona to ask for the landlord's phone number of the house she and Luo An were renting together because Reesi wanted to inquire if there were any suitable houses available from the landlord.
"OK."
After listening to Mona's description, Luo An's expression relaxed, and he smiled:
"If I had known this would happen, I would have kept you in Los Angeles; our rental could have stored so of Reesi's things."
Michelle's rental is small and filled with many books; storing all of Reesi's things there… It's a problem how the two of them will sleep tonight.
"Life always brings unexpected events."
Mona shrugged her shoulders then suddenly rembered sothing else and continued:
"By the way, Reesi ntioned on the phone that not long after we boarded the plane to Washington, a man went to the Special Investigation Team's office area."
Luo An showed a puzzled look. Mona added that the man was John Rodriguez, who ca specifically to see Luo An. Hearing that Luo An was not there, he left, saying he would return when Luo An was back at the Special Investigation Team.
After this incident, Mona looked a bit tense:
"That kidnapping case might still have unresolved issues."
"It shouldn't."
After pondering for a while, Luo An slowly shook his head:
"If there were further developnts in the case, John would have contacted us directly by phone, there's no need for him to make a personal visit."
"What's going on then?"
"Don't know, no need to rush."
Luo An was calm. After all, the review at the Washington Headquarters was completed today, and he and Mona could return to Los Angeles tomorrow. When problems arise, they will handle them as they co.
"There are six more hours until we should get up. Let's rest first."
Luo An pointed to a clock nearby and got up walking towards the bed:
"It's my first ti entering the Washington Headquarters; we should make a good impression on those people."
"OK."
Mona closed her laptop and walked with Luo An towards the large bed nearby.
————
Monday, 7 AM, John Edgar Hoover Building, FBI Washington Headquarters.
Dressed in a suit, looking very fresh and energetic, Luo An walked into the building, glanced around - the interior and exterior decor felt quite rugged.
Following the directions Vireness had given him earlier, Luo An quickly found Vireness sitting on a sofa in an office, and also saw an elderly Caucasian sitting behind a desk.
Seeing the face of the elderly Caucasian, Luo An's eyebrows slightly raised, and he smiled:
"Good morning, Mr. Clent, Chief Vireness."
The elderly Caucasian is Vireness's powerful supporter, the Director of the FBI Washington Headquarters and a special advisor to the bureau chief, Mr. Clent.
"You are welco, please take a seat."
Mr. Clent smiled slightly, gestured for Luo An to sit, and then said:
"Vireness is right, you indeed are a rare handso fellow... it seems this is our first ti eting."
Luo An nodded; they had many indirect interactions through Vireness before, but this was indeed their first face-to-face eting.
Mr. Clent didn't talk much with Luo An. After briefly complinting Luo An's performance, he left the office with his secretary and headed to the White House with the FBI director, looking like he wouldn't return for a while.
Seeing no sign of Vireness leaving the office, and since neither Mr. Clent nor the secretary had said anything, Luo An stayed put and turned his head to Vireness with a smile:
"The boss seems a bit tired, he should really take good care of himself."
"Mm."
Vireness sat on the sofa, picked up the coffee from the table and took a light sip, speaking softly:
"I've reviewed the case files you handled after going to Los Angeles, and you did very well."
"Thank you, boss."
Facing the relatively familiar Vireness, Luo An spoke more relaxedly. After a brief chat, he asked about the information he had received from Essen Patel the day before:
"Boss, there's news that the Washington Headquarters plans to dissolve the Special Investigation Team, is that true?"
"Half true, half false."
Vireness put down her coffee cup and said straightforwardly:
"Most people at the Washington Headquarters are very satisfied with most of the Special Investigation Teams, and a small part of the dissenting voices have been suppressed.
However, another view has erged, which is to further promote the investigative authority of the Special Investigation Teams, expanding from federal main cities to an entire state.
Washington Headquarters has basically set the tone now; they plan to select three out of the ten Special Investigation Teams to handle cases within a single state.
Due to funding issues and indeed so teams performing diocrely, the headquarters plans to dissolve two to three Special Investigation Teams and return them to the standard investigation teams."
"I see."
After hearing Vireness's explanation, Luo An narrowed his eyes slightly. It appeared that Essen Patel's information source was not entirely accurate, only knowing half the situation.
Moreover, these three Special Investigation Teams seem to have significantly increased in responsibilities, authority, and stature, which greatly expands the power of the team leaders.
However, inter-regional law enforcent is always a challenge; even within the sa state, the federal system is such that apart from state governnt and counties being hierarchical, other agencies are independently operational.
This brings about a federal characteristic:
The President can visit any state or city, and the Governor and Mayor just go about their own business since they are not in a hierarchical relationship.
"It looks like these three Special Investigation Teams have a lot more power, but the local police, local FBI, and other local law enforcent departnts will all have conflicts with these three teams.
The cases handled by these Special Investigation Teams will beco the complex and old cases that the aforentioned departnts couldn't resolve..."
Luo An shook his head repeatedly, his appetite was small, he couldn't handle such a blessing, and this prominent opportunity was better left to others.
Essen Patel, for example, seed like soone capable of handling significant matters.
"Very well."
Hearing Luo An's stance, Vireness wore a pleased smile, knowing well that Luo An was a clever person who could clearly see the pros and cons of the situation.
Now, both Vireness and Luo An had the sa goal, to use this opportunity to promote Luo An from deputy team leader to team leader.
After all, Luo An was still young, and there would be plenty of opportunities to climb higher, step by step was the most prudent approach, no need to rush.
As for whether Luo An could be officially promoted, Luo An did not ask, and Vireness did not say, but the fact that Mr. Clent made a special point to et Luo An today already spoke volus.
Ti quickly reached eight-thirty, with half an hour remaining until the nine o'clock review ti specified in the notification, Luo An stood up and left the office with Vireness.
They hadn't walked far when Luo An encountered several acquaintances.
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