"Luo An, I’ve looked into Imre’s spending history before his death."
On their way to a highway in the Southern Special Zone, Mona called Luo An and said:
"The bank card records show that, for nearly five years, Imre withdrew cash ranging from 500 to 1500 US Dollars every Monday to Friday, then drove to different streets in the Southern Special Zone."
Luo An’s mouth slightly curled, Reesi’s brow furrowed, noticing sothing:
"Different streets?"
"That’s right."
Mona on the other end of the line replied:
"There are a total of sixteen streets, including xxx..."
Mona briefly nad the sixteen streets and then added:
"The situation in that area is a bit special; I could only track that Imre drove onto those streets from Monday to Friday, choosing a different one each day at random.
As for where he eventually parked his car and where he went afterwards, I couldn’t find any information."
Reesi, at a loss for words, closed her eyes and massaged her temples, while Luo An chuckled:
"No worries, Mona, we know where Imre went."
Mona was quite surprised upon hearing this:
"Did you find clues at Imre’s company?"
"That’s right."
Luo An smiled and casually replied:
"Obviously, we’ve found an experienced patron."
"..."
After listening to the clue Luo An found, Mona hung up the phone speechlessly. Approaching the club’s location, Reesi checked her handgun and tucked it into the small of her back, asking:
"Luo An, it’s not easy to get into a private club like this without an introduction.
I’ve never been here before; do you have any good ideas?"
Luo An looked at Reesi in slight surprise:
"You’ve never been here?"
Seeing the look in Luo An’s eyes, the corner of Reesi’s mouth twitched as she said:
"... The places I go to are generally more legitimate, OK?"
To stay away from Amy and ensure personal safety, Reesi liked to engage in conversation herself, relying on her charm and skills to persuade pretty girls.
She always despised those short romances bought with money; she was a law-abiding and good FBI agent.
Arriving across the street from the private club, Luo An slowly parked the car by the roadside.
Reesi looked at the club and, as she suspected, the club’s door was tightly shut, with two well-dressed Caucasian bouncers standing at the entrance, barring entry to anyone who wasn’t a regular.
Reesi turned her head to Luo An and spread her hands, indicating she was helpless.
Luo An chuckled, patted Reesi’s shoulder to signal not to worry, then calmly took out his phone and called Edward at the club.
Without ntioning the specifics of the case, Luo An simply stated his needs, and a few minutes later traded a Gold Coin for admission to not only this club but also to the entertainnt venues on the other fifteen streets.
Watching Luo An confidently leading her into the inner part of the club, Reesi’s expression turned quite odd; Luo An casually asked:
"What’s up?"
"Nothing."
As Reesi surveyed the shabby surroundings of the club, she replied:
"I won’t tell Mona, really."
Luo An: "..."
After a brief exchange with the club’s manager and learning that Imre hadn’t visited this club recently, Luo An led Reesi away, and they drove to the rest of the entertainnt venues.
It wasn’t long before Luo An and Reesi encountered a young stripper who had just stepped down from the pole in another private club.
This young stripper not only knew Imre but also knew Ashiya. She indicated that Ashiya was a new waitress who hadn’t been here long and she also knew where Ashiya lived.
"This is it."
Purchasing information with two Franklins, half an hour later, Luo An slowly parked the car at the entrance of a small community in the southwest of Washington D.C. Reesi looked around and pointed at a nearby sign:
"That dancer ntioned a youth hostel called ’Millennium Inn.’"
"Good."
Luo An got out of the car and entered the hostel with Reesi, where a white woman in her forties was watching television at the reception desk.
"Hello, FBI."
Luo An knocked on the desk and showed his gold FBI badge to the woman before pulling out a photo of Ashiya and asking:
"Ma’am, do you recognize this woman?"
"Recognize."
Upon seeing Luo An’s gold badge, the hostel owner quickly stood up and asked:
"Her na is Natasha, what do you want with her?"
Hearing another fake na, Luo An and Reesi exchanged a look. They didn’t dwell on this topic and went straight to the point:
"Take to her room."
"OK."
The hostel owner nodded, fetched the keys from behind the desk, and led Luo An and Reesi upstairs while explaining:
"Natasha is one of our long-term residents here, has been living for about... six months now. She’s a very honest girl."
Considering the hostel owner’s description of "honesty" and thinking of Imre, who had his throat slit, Reesi’s mouth twitched without saying anything. anwhile, Luo An was observing the surroundings and asked:
"Is it common to have long-term guests like Natasha here?"
"Not particularly common, but there are so," the hostel owner casually remarked.
"After all, this is Washington D.C., and the rent is not cheap. Living in a youth hostel is generally more cost-effective than renting an apartnt."
While speaking, the hostel owner stopped in front of a room door, took out the key, and opened the door.
Entering the room, they saw a window, four bunk beds made of iron, and eight standing lockers.
"This room can accommodate eight people but currently there are only three; business hasn’t been great lately."
The hostel owner pointed to the bed labeled number three and said:
"That one is Natasha’s bed."
The bed was tidy and the bedding neatly folded, which stood out in stark contrast to the disheveled beds of the other two occupants.
Reesi searched the bed but found little of significance. Luo An turned towards the lockers and inquired:
"Which one is Natasha’s locker?"
"The one on the far left."
The hostel owner stepped forward, quickly found the key, inserted it, and turned to unlock it, then stepped aside to give Luo An room.
Luo An scrutinized the locker, finding simple clothes on the top shelf and, bending down to check the lower shelf, he quickly ca across a tal box the size of an A4 sheet of paper.
The tal box had a built-in lock requiring a key to open. After searching for a while without finding the key, Luo An shook the box, feeling there was sothing inside, but not much.
He handed the tal box to Reesi, asking her to contact the Trace Evidence section, then turned back to the hostel owner to inquire:
"What’s your relationship with Natasha? Do you know where she works?"
"We get along fairly well. Sotis she helps clean the hostel and I occasionally bring her so of the dinners I make," the hostel owner frowned slightly before continuing.
"As for Natasha’s job, she said she works as a cashier at a supermarket, but I’ve never seen her at any nearby supermarkets."
Ring ring--
Luo An was about to continue his questioning when his phone suddenly rang. He took it out and pressed the answer button, Chenier’s voice ca through:
"Luo An, Winslow and I have figured out why Leisha could use fake docunts to get into that lobbying firm."
"What’s the reason?"
"Leisha had an affair with an executive at the lobbying company."
"..."
Luo An’s eyelid twitched, but before he could speak, Chenier added:
"Also, Winslow and I found a tal box at Leisha’s residence."
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