Zoey turned the laptop in front of her so the screen faced everyone.
"Max Gibson, only 24, but he's been with the 54th Street Gang for over 10 years."
"He was recently charged with aggravated assault and attempted murder in Victorville, and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The 54th Street Gang will stop at nothing to help him escape, including assisting him in fleeing to another state."
Tim, the local insider, nodded. "I have a contact in the 54th Street Gang who might give us some inside information."
Inspector Gray instructed, "Go talk to your contact."
Tim acknowledged and left with Lucy.
Zoey continued, "Next, we have Caleb Yost. In my opinion, he's the most dangerous."
"This man is 44, a former bank investor, sentenced to five years for securities fraud, and an additional eight years for resisting arrest and biting off a deputy's nose."
Everyone exchanged shocked glances.
Inspector Gray added, "The FBI believes Caleb hid a large sum of money before he was arrested. He will likely try to retrieve this money and flee to another state."
"So we need to use the FBI's clues to find where he hid the money, then wait for him?" John pondered.
"Exactly. Until Tim gets enough information from his contact, you all should visit Caleb's relatives and look for the cash stash."
Zoey waved her hand to dismiss everyone to their tasks.
Jack and Hannah visited Caleb Yost's first wife, a former model in her thirties who had remarried and seemed happy with her wealthy new husband.
After a brief conversation, they left and returned to the patrol car. Hannah used the radio to check the latest updates. The two fugitives were still at large.
However, Tim had bad news. His contact said Max Gibson likely wouldn't seek help from the 54th Street Gang because he had an affair with the gang leader Cohen's woman.
Jack nearly laughed out loud. "Why would he run? Doesn't he know he's safer in prison?"
Hannah shook her head. "Not necessarily. Victorville prison isn't high security. There could be gang members there trying to kill him."
"It'd be worse if he gets killed outside and they dispose of the body. Our task would get harder."
Jack shook his head and contacted John's team via radio.
"Hey, John, any findings on your end?"
John replied, "We just arrived at Caleb Yost's second wife's aunt's house. The community volunteer said she goes to church every day but didn't show up today, so…"
"Damn, I think we need backup. The door lock's been broken."
Jack and Hannah exchanged glances, located John's reported position on the police laptop, and started the patrol car with sirens blaring.
"John, stay safe. We're nearby and on our way."
Five minutes later, they arrived. During the drive, John had described the situation over the public channel.
Caleb Yost had hidden money in his ex-wife's aunt's fireplace. When John and Neela Harper arrived, Caleb had taken the unfortunate old woman hostage and was now cornered in the living room by the fireplace.
Jack and Hannah exited the car and prepared to enter the house to assist John. Zoey's call came through the radio.
Tim's contact, a retired gang lieutenant, had tricked the gang kid into his house and notified Tim to capture him. But 54th Street Gang members found out, and now the whole gang had surrounded the contact's neighborhood. Tim and Lucy were already there, but most of the police resources were now tied up at John and Jack's location, unable to provide timely backup.
According to Tim, about 30-40 gang members were there, determined to reclaim their boss's honor.
This was Jack's own interpretation; Americans don't use the term "wearing a green hat."
In any case, Tim's situation was more dangerous. A gang war would endanger the entire neighborhood.
Zoey ordered them to quickly resolve the hostage situation, while Tim would try to hold out until Jack and additional officers could arrive.
"Damn, everything's happening at once," Jack grumbled as he and Hannah rushed into the house.
Inside, the scene was more complicated than expected. It wasn't a typical hostage situation with a gun to the hostage's head, demanding to be let go.
John and Neela Harper were covering both the front and back entrances of the living room.
Former banker Caleb Yost was huddled by the fireplace, covered in soot, with piles of cash he'd pulled out. His right hand held a string attached to a shotgun's trigger, which was taped to the old woman's shoulder across the room, the barrel pointed at her head.
Well, technically, it was a gun to the hostage's head, just with extra steps.
John was negotiating with Caleb. "Caleb, it's over. You can't escape."
Caleb, looking desperate, raised his right hand with the string attached to the trigger, shouting madly.
"Get out, you cops, or I'll paint these walls with blood!"
John kept using his negotiation skills. "Right now, you're only facing aggravated assault charges. You might get a few more years in prison. But if you kill her…"
"Shut up!"
Caleb Yost pulled the string taut and screamed, "Stop talking! I hate prison. If I have a chance to escape, I'll take it."
"Back off, and get someone who can make decisions, or I'll pull the trigger."
"Heh, I thought tying Aunt Sally up with duct tape was silly, but now I'm glad I did."
Seeing the situation, Jack relaxed, quickly running through Caleb's profile in his mind, coming up with a plan.
He patted John and whispered, "Don't you think this guy talks too much? Let me handle it."
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