Starting from South America, speeding through the world

Chapter 306 The temptation of the female prosecutor

(Previous chapters: 240-242)
Alameda County, California.

There were hardly any cars on the street anymore, with only the occasional sound of ambulance sirens in the distance.

The prosecutor's building was unusually empty after midnight.

The long fluorescent tubes lit up only a few meters apart.

The office door at the end of the corridor was ajar.

A heavy paper folder lay open on the table.

This includes, of course, several preliminary autopsy reports from the police department.

Detective Kate Rivers, wearing a shirt with the collar unbuttoned, sat next to her boyfriend.

She held a ballpoint pen in her hand, staring blankly at the enlarged photos in front of her.

Zhao Wanpeng's body lay curled up on the floor, head turned to the side, blood flowing into the corner.

The other group is even more eye-catching.

Four male corpses were piled up in a car outside the nursing home.

The blade was clean and neat, just like an illustration in a textbook.

"You know this technique, right?" Kate asked softly.

“I’ve read the report,” her prosecutor boyfriend said wearily, rubbing his temples.

"The forensic doctor said the perpetrator's method was very steady. An ordinary person? Impossible."

“These are trained,” Kate said, biting the cap of her pen. “People from the army.”

Andrew didn't answer, but reached into the folder and pulled out the detention record.

—Name: John Hernandez Garcia
—Date of birth: 11-02-1977
Florida driver's license is valid.

Temporary address: 385 Fourteenth Street

"A Latin American surname, but the person is Asian." Andrew was a little surprised. "Are you sure it's not a fake identity?"

“The Florida DMV has proof that the photos match.” Kate paused for a moment, hesitated slightly, and then added, “It’s just that… for someone with his background, he’s too clean.”

Andrew nodded, made a brief note, and picked up the next document.

Military archives.

It started out normal.

He joined the army in 1996.

After BCT, I completed the skydiving school and the RIP program [1].

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment, stationed at Lewisburg.

Kosovo Protection Operation in 1999.

Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, 2001-2003.

Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003-2006.

After this point, the page is largely covered by black ink bars.

In the end, only two lines remained.

Retirement date: 2010

— Rank: Sergeant First Class (E-7)
Kate immediately narrowed her eyes.

Have you ever seen a regular retired soldier's file look like this?

“No.” Andrew shook his head calmly. “Normal files are not blacked out unless they involve special missions or are classified as secret operations.”

Kate's breathing became a little rapid.

"So, he's a special forces soldier? How did you get all this?"

Andrew shrugged.

“Sometimes, the system will temporarily ‘malfunction’,” he said.

"For example, someone made a phone call in Washington."

Kate paused for two seconds before she realized what was happening.

She stared at her boyfriend and asked in a low voice, "Is he your uncle?"

Andrew neither denied nor admitted it, but pushed the documents a little closer to her.

"Keep reading."

Excerpt from personnel records.

DD Form 93/SGLV 8286.

—Emergency Contact: James Carter
—Emergency Contact: Maria Hernandez Garcia
Upon seeing this, Kate couldn't help but smile and comment.

"That explains the surname 'Garcia'."

However, the relaxed atmosphere came to an abrupt end when turning to the next form. The entire page of "Psychological Assessment" was blacked out.

Only two fragmented, adjacent sentences were revealed.

—. Exhibits recurrent, intrusive memories related to [deleted] death.
— Childhood [deleted] Significant impact
In the upper right corner, three lines of cold text are printed.

—Sealed in accordance with Title 50, §3024(i) of the United States Code
—Information sources and methods
—Under the Category 1 and Category 3 exemptions of the Freedom of Information Act

"What is this?" Andrew asked, looking bewildered.

Even with his extensive experience and knowledge, he could hardly imagine that so many confidential elements could be concentrated in one person.

“Childhood? Death?” Kate blinked.

"Perhaps it's related to the passing of his loved ones?"

“After all, neither of his two emergency contacts are Asian.”

"That's possible, who knows?"

As Andrew spoke, he quickly tucked the form under the other documents.

"But these gossips aren't important; we need to get on with the case first."

Upon hearing this, Kate unconsciously frowned.

"What are you planning to do? Prosecute him? For trespassing? Or drag him into the murder case? Will the jury really accept that?"

Andrew leaned back in his chair, interlaced his fingers in front of his chest, and remained silent for a long while before speaking:

"Four people were murdered, and he was caught red-handed at the same time and place."

"The worst part is that he couldn't even explain why he was there."

"Can you find a more suitable suspect than him?"

Kate swallowed hard, but didn't answer immediately.

Andrew noticed her hesitation, sighed, and took the woman's hands in his.

“This will be a big case, Kate, and it’s our opportunity,” he said.

"Look, multiple people were murdered, the methods were swift, and there was even a veteran with extensive experience at the scene."

"Do you know what this means?"

"If the case can be substantiated, the media will swarm in."

"Because this is one of the hottest topics recently."

"The public is constantly questioning whether veterans returning to society are a ticking time bomb, whether the government's resettlement policies have failed, and whether judicial rulings have been too lenient."

"Even more so, should we withdraw our troops from the Middle East at all?"

"Republicans are taking the opportunity to hype up the threat of terrorism and border security."

"Democrats are forced to address veterans' medical and psychological issues."

"No matter which side it is, they cannot avoid this nationwide debate."

"By then, everyone will know our names."

“Or,” Kate paused, taking a deep breath, “he’s someone we can’t afford to mess with.”

Andrew's lips curled slightly, a smile playing on his face.

"Doesn't that just prove this case is significant?"

"Didn't you always say that if you want to climb up the ladder quickly, you have to take a gamble?"

"This is the opportunity. If you succeed, the bureau will remember your contribution."

His eyes gleamed under the light, revealing a kind of ambition unique to young people.

"And if I could get the case escalated to the federal level..."

"Not only the state attorney general, but the next stage, even the next stage, the political stage, will open up to me."

After he finished speaking, the office fell silent, with only the low hum of the air conditioner compressor remaining.

Kate got up, walked to the window, and ran her fingers across the cold glass.

The parking lot was completely empty.

"But what if it doesn't work out?" Her voice betrayed a hint of unease.

Andrew slowly exhaled.

“That’s alright,” he said confidently.

"The worst-case scenario is that the case will be suppressed."

"No one will let it cause a big fuss."

"In the eyes of the elders, this is nothing more than a young person's fearless attempt."

"No one will blame us."

(End of this chapter)