American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

Lynn and Sarah exchanged a glance. Although there was no specific name, the description reminded Lynn of Victor Rodriguez's organization.

"How did they find you?" Lynn continued to ask.

“Two weeks ago, Tony waited for me near my school,” Michael began. “He said he knew my family’s restaurant wasn’t doing well, and my parents were working very hard, so he wanted to give me a chance to earn money.”

"Then what?"

“At first, they just had me observe the school to see if any other kids were buying drugs,” Michael continued. “They said it wasn’t a crime, just gathering information.”

"Did they give you money?" Sarah asked.

“They give me two hundred dollars each time,” Michael nodded. “I tell my parents it’s money I earned tutoring my classmates.”

"Then things changed?" Lynn speculated.

“Yes, last week, Tony said he needed me to do more,” Michael’s voice trailed off. “He said it was just to help deliver some things, simple and safe.”

"You agree?"

“I initially refused,” Michael said, “but Tony told me they already knew everything about my parents, including the restaurant's address, my sister's school, and even my grandmother's address in Flushing.”

Lynn frowned. This method of threat was exactly the same as the one used in the Taren case.

"What exactly did they threaten?"

“Tony said that if I didn’t cooperate, there might be some ‘problems’ with my family’s restaurant, such as failing a food safety inspection or encountering some ‘accidents’,” Michael said, his eyes filled with fear. “He also said that my sister’s way to school might not be safe.”

"How old is your sister?" Sarah asked with concern.

“Thirteen years old, just starting middle school,” Michael replied. “She doesn’t know anything, and I can’t let her get hurt.”

Lynn understood Michael's predicament. A sixteen-year-old boy facing such an organized threat had few options.

"So you agreed to help them deliver the things?" Lynn continued to ask.

“Yes,” Michael nodded, “Tony said it was just a one-time thing, and he wouldn’t bother me again after it was done.”

"But do you know those things are drugs?"

Michael hesitated for a moment. "I guessed, but Tony said I didn't need to know the specifics, just follow instructions."

"What exactly happened last night?" Lynn asked.

“Tony told me to wait near the Brooklyn Bridge, that someone would give me a package, and then I would need to deliver it to another address,” Michael recalled. “He also gave me some cash, saying it was for ‘shipping fees.’”

"And then you got arrested by the police?" Sarah asked.

“Yes, I had just received the package and hadn’t even had a chance to leave when I was surrounded by plainclothes police officers,” Michael said. “I was terrified and didn’t know what to say.”

Lynn pondered this timeline. Michael's description suggested it might be a pre-set trap.

“Michael, I have an important question for you,” Lynn said seriously. “Do you think Tony genuinely wanted you to deliver the package, or did he deliberately let you get caught?”

This question stunned Michael. "You mean..."

“What I mean is, maybe Tony never intended for you to succeed in the first place,” Lynn explained. “Maybe your capture was part of their plan.”

"But why?" Michael asked, puzzled.

“To divert attention,” Sarah understood Lynn’s thinking, “while the police are busy with your case, the real drug deals are happening elsewhere.”

Lynn nodded. "This is a common tactic used by organized crime. They use a seemingly important but actually insignificant operation to draw the attention of law enforcement while carrying out real criminal activities elsewhere."

Michael's expression shifted from confusion to anger. "You mean, they planned to sacrifice me from the beginning?"

“That’s very likely,” Lynn said. “And even if you get arrested, they can still threaten you into keeping quiet because your family is still within their sphere of influence.”

“Those bastards!” Michael exclaimed angrily. “I risked my life to protect my family, and they treated me like a pawn!”

Attorney Jennifer saw an opportunity: "This further proves that my client is a victim, not a criminal."

“I agree,” Lynn said, “but the most important thing now is to ensure the safety of Michael and his family, while also catching the real criminals.”

“Can you protect us?” Michael asked earnestly. “I really mean protect us, keep those people from hurting my family?”

“We’ll do everything we can,” Lynn promised, “but you need to provide more information to help us find Tony and his boss.”

“I want to cooperate, but I really don’t know much,” Michael said. “Tony is always very careful; he never talks about specifics on the phone, and we always meet in public.”

“Can you describe Tony’s appearance?” Sarah asked.

“He was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, of medium height, and had tattoos,” Michael recalled. “He drove a black SUV; I didn’t notice the license plate.”

"What does the tattoo look like?" Lynn asked, as this could be an important clue.

“I have a big, prominent eagle tattoo on my right arm,” Michael said. “And some letters on my neck, but I can’t make out what they are.”

The eagle tattoo reminded Lynn of something. In cases he had investigated before, members of Victor Rodriguez's organization frequently used eagles as their emblem.

"What about that boss? Have you seen him?" Lynn continued to ask.

“I only met him once, in a car,” Michael said. “When Tony introduced me to him, the guy was sitting in the back seat, so I couldn’t see him very clearly. But he sounded older, maybe in his forties.”

“Did he say anything special?” “He spoke a few words to Tony in Spanish, then said to me in English, ‘Do a good job, we’ll take care of your family,’” Michael recalled. “His English had an accent.”

These details further confirmed Lynn's suspicions. Victor Rodriguez was of Hispanic descent, and his organization did indeed employ a strategy that combined threats and protection.

“Michael, I need you to think carefully. Besides Tony and that boss, have you seen anyone else?” Lynn asked.

“Once, there was another young man in Tony’s car,” Michael thought for a moment, “He didn’t look much older than me, maybe eighteen or nineteen.”

Did he say anything?

“No, he was on his phone the whole time,” Michael said. “But I heard Tony call him ‘Little Fish.’”

“Little Fish?” Sarah repeated. “Is that a nickname?”

“Probably,” Michael replied. “That guy looked nervous, just like me.”

Lynn realized that "Little Fish" might be another coerced young man. If so, they were facing a systemic problem: organized crime groups specifically recruiting and coercing teenagers into criminal activities.

“Michael, one last question,” Lynn said, “do you remember Tony mentioning any places? Like places they frequent, or addresses he mentioned?”

Michael thought for a moment, "He once said on the phone that he was going to 'Red Eagle,' but I didn't know what that was."

Lynn and Sarah exchanged glances again. "Red Eagles" was the name of the club they had discovered while investigating Victor Rodriguez.

"Is there anything else?" Lynn encouraged him to continue recalling.

“Tony once mentioned a warehouse in Queens, saying it was ‘headquarters,’” Michael added, “but he didn’t give a specific address.”

This information perfectly matches what Taren provided. Lynn is now convinced that Michael's case is directly linked to Victor Rodriguez's criminal network.

“Michael, you’ve done a great job,” Lynn praised. “The information you provided has been very helpful. Now I need to discuss protective measures with your lawyer.”

After the meeting, Lynn, Sarah, and lawyer Jennifer had a brief discussion in the hallway.

“Based on Michael’s testimony, he was clearly a victim of coercion,” Jennifer’s attorney said. “I hope the FBI will consider these circumstances.”

“We will,” Lynn confirmed, “but first we need to ensure the safety of Michael and his family. I suggest arranging protective measures immediately.”

"What kind of protective measures?" Jennifer asked.

“First, we will deploy plainclothes police officers to patrol the area around his restaurant,” Lynn explained. “Second, we will contact Michael’s sister’s school to increase campus security. If the threat escalates, we may need to arrange a temporary relocation.”

What about Michael's bail?

“Given his cooperative attitude and his status as a victim, I would recommend that the prosecutor grant him bail,” Lynn said. “However, electronic monitoring is necessary to ensure his safety and prevent him from being contacted again.”

Back at the precinct, Lynn immediately called a team meeting. In addition to Sarah, James and two other agents also attended the meeting.

“Based on today’s investigation, we have reason to believe that the Michael Chen case is linked to Victor Rodriguez’s criminal network,” Lynn stated bluntly. “This is not a simple case of teenage drug trafficking, but part of a larger conspiracy.”

He gave a detailed account of the information Michael provided, particularly the leads regarding Tony, the Eagle Tattoo, the Red Eagle Club, and the Queens warehouse.

"It seems our operation last night was successful, but we only destroyed one of their small strongholds," James analyzed. "Victor is reorganizing, and their tactics have become more cunning."

“Yes, they’ve started using teenagers as scapegoats,” Sarah added, “so that even if they get caught, it won’t have a huge impact on their core business.”

“What’s worse,” Lynn said, “is that if Michael’s case is widespread, then there are likely many teenagers being coerced into criminal activity. We need to find them, protect them, and at the same time use their testimonies to catch the real criminals.”

"What's the next step?" another agent asked.

“First, strengthen protection for Michael’s family,” Lynn said. “Second, investigate the identity of ‘Little Fish,’ who may be another victim. Third, reinvestigate the circumstances surrounding the ‘Red Hawk’ club and the Queens warehouse.”

"Do we need to apply for a monitoring order?" James asked.

“Yes, I will contact the prosecutor’s office,” Lynn replied. “We have sufficient evidence to request surveillance of these locations.”

At 3 p.m. that afternoon, Lynn personally went to Flushing to check on Michael's family restaurant. Flushing is one of the largest Chinese communities in New York, with various Chinese restaurants, supermarkets and shops lining both sides of the street, their signs a mix of Chinese and English, creating a rich Asian atmosphere.

Michael's family restaurant, called "Home Cooking," is located on a small commercial street on Northern Boulevard. It's a typical family-run Chinese restaurant with simple decor and seating forty people. Through the window, Lynn could see several guests dining in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Lynn didn't go straight into the restaurant; instead, he sat down at a nearby coffee shop, where he could clearly observe the situation. He ordered a coffee, picked up a newspaper, and looked like an ordinary customer.

Through observation, Lynn noticed a middle-aged Asian woman busy in the restaurant, presumably Michael's mother. She looked to be in her forties, and worked very quickly, constantly moving between the kitchen and the counter. A man of similar age was working at the cashier, likely Michael's father.

"They look like an ordinary immigrant family," Lynn thought to herself, "working hard, hoping to give their children a better life."

At four o'clock in the afternoon, an Asian girl who looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old entered the restaurant. She was probably Michael's younger sister who had come home from school. The girl was carrying a backpack and looked very well-behaved. After greeting her parents, she sat down at a table in the corner and began to do her homework.

Lynn continued observing for another hour but found no suspicious activity. Vehicles and pedestrians moved normally on the street, and no one loitered or monitored the area near the restaurant.

At 5 p.m., Sarah's voice came through Lynn's earpiece: "Detective Hall, I haven't found anything unusual near Michael's sister's school."

“Received,” Lynn replied. “Continue to monitor.”

Lynn knew the threat might not materialize immediately. Organized crime groups are usually patient; they wait for the right moment. But as a law enforcement officer, he had to remain vigilant; any negligence could result in harm to innocent civilians.

At six o'clock in the evening, the restaurant began its dinner service, and the number of customers gradually increased. Lynn noticed that Michael's parents were very busy, while his younger sister was still doing her homework in the corner, occasionally helping to carry plates or pour water.

Just then, Lynn noticed something unusual. A dark-colored van pulled up in a parking space across from the restaurant. No one got out, but the engine was running. The windows were tinted, making it impossible to see inside. (End of Chapter)