pjbooks Chapter 201 A Lone Hero, Venturing Alone into the Demon's Lair
Chapter 201 A Lone Hero, Venturing Alone into the Demon's Lair
Chapter 201 A Lone Hero, Venturing Alone into the Demon's Lair
"Sir, thank you for your special treatment."
After thinking for a moment, Ma Jieke continued, "However, I still need to trouble you with a small favor, which is not a difficult thing for you."
"Tell me about it." Dave smiled slightly. Since the murder had been changed to suicide, the case wouldn't be included in the crime statistics, which would make his report look much better.
"I need a list of the Aryan Brotherhood's top members in Los Angeles, along with their addresses," Ma Jie said, then added, "The more detailed the better, ideally including vehicle information, criminal records, and where their lovers live. Don't tell me you don't know this organization."
It's obvious what's going on. Ethan is a strong, muscular black man. Who would target him for robbery? Any normal person would avoid him.
If it wasn't a robbery, then it must be a revenge killing. But what kind of grudge would lead someone to commit such a deadly act?
Moreover, the timing is exactly last night, which is absolutely related to the conflict that occurred on the yacht yesterday afternoon.
Upon hearing the Beggars' Sect leader's request, Dave hesitated for a moment before saying, "Of course I know about this infamous organization. I've even personally sent them to prison. But you should understand that they only truly go home the moment they enter prison. The real leaders of the Aryan Brotherhood are all in prison, remotely directing operations through encrypted letters. Their members make up less than 1% of the American prison population, yet they are involved in more than 20% of prison murders."
"So, Sheriff Dave, are you trying to make me back down?"
Faced with the old fox's evasive attitude, Ma Jieke knew that he was trying to pass the buck again.
"No, young man, I just don't want you to start a street war on my turf."
Dave said with a stern face, "I don't care what grudges you have between you. I can understand if you want to avenge your brother, but similar shootings cannot happen in my jurisdiction again. Whether I can be promoted to police inspector this year is directly related to the crime rate in Poor Street. So, if you want to fight, go fight outside. Don't cause me any trouble."
"OK, I can guarantee that." MaJack didn't hesitate at all. "So the more detailed the information you give me, the more discreetly I can operate. This is beneficial for both of us, don't you think, Sheriff Dave?"
Dave didn't respond immediately. Instead, he lit a Marlboro and put it in his mouth. After about two minutes of silence, he slowly said, "Okay, send me your email address. Remember, don't spread what I send you. It's encrypted internal police file."
"No problem, it's a pleasure doing business with you, Sheriff."
The two extended their hands and shook hands, a true exchange of favors.
Ma Jieke pulled up the police tape and walked out, looking at the onlookers who were discussing the matter: "Disperse, disperse, everyone disperse. What's so interesting about a dead person? Go do what you're supposed to do."
After they had mostly driven the people away, Max anxiously walked over and asked, "Jack, when did you become so familiar with the police? Did you find out any clues?"
"We'll talk about that later." Ma Jie glanced at Jimmy, who was still immersed in sadness, and then at the time on his watch. "Don't be sad, kid. That's enough. Now tell everyone to put down what they're doing and meet at the camp in half an hour. I have something to say to everyone."
Jimmy wiped his red, swollen eyes with the back of his hand, took out his phone, and, as an administrator, tagged all members in the social media group.
"An accidental death due to a drug overdose?" Inside the RV, after listening to Jack's account, Max's eyes widened as if he'd seen a ghost: "Jack, you actually believe Sheriff Dave's nonsense? He's just trying to use his special statistical methods to embellish his image. Have you ever seen a drug addict with holes in his body from drug use?"
"Exactly, he's a complete fraud, why did you believe him?"
Jimmy chimed in, feeling a deep sense of unease at Ethan's unexpected death, and was unable to calm down for a long time.
"Okay, you all make a lot of sense." Ma Jie responded expressionlessly: "Even if I were to assume that the police took over this case, what would happen? Do you think they would stand up for a homeless man and seek justice for him? Let me tell you clearly, the police don't want to get involved, and they can't. They would rather go to great lengths to find a lost pet dog from a rich person's home than think that the life of a black homeless man is that important."
"So Ethan died for nothing?" Jimmy glared angrily, his voice almost roaring, "I think you've gotten a sense of superiority from being a boss. You don't care about your subordinates at all. They treat you like brothers, but what do you treat them as? Slaves, or money-making tools? Do you even think I can be replaced at any time?"
Anyway, there are so many homeless people in the slums, and everyone wants to join the Blue Hair Squad. What's the big deal if one nobody dies?
"Oh Jimmy, you can't talk about Jack like that. Jack isn't that kind of person."
Before MaJack could respond, Max had already transformed into a learned scholar: "I know you and Ethan are good friends, and his death has been a big blow to you, but you can't just spout nonsense without knowing the facts, understand?"
"Is that so, kid? In your eyes, I'm just a cold-blooded animal without any feelings?" Looking at Jimmy's fierce eyes, MaJack's lips curled into a bitter smile: "You say I don't care about him? Then let me ask you, do you remember why Ethan became a homeless person?"
"Of course I remember. He had a big fight with his father and ran away from home in a fit of anger."
"No, the argument was just a minor trigger," Ma Jie sighed. "The real reason is that he was born in a small place called Carbon County in Wyoming. Children born there can only follow in their fathers' footsteps and become coal miners. He was unwilling to live like that, so he decided to try his luck in the big city. As a result, he encountered a heartless boss and did not receive any pay after starting work. He ended up destitute on the streets, relying on welfare meals to fill his stomach."
"I'm not saying this to prove how good my memory is, but to tell you that I don't treat people as tools for making money, as you say. Does your crying and wailing prove that you care about the dead, or that others hiding their grief means they are heartless?"
"Then why did you lie to us and say that Ethan wasn't murdered?"
"It's simple." Ma Jieke chose to tell the truth: "Because I want to avenge him, I have to use this as leverage to exchange some necessary information with the police, so that his death will have value."
"Wait a minute." Max, sensing something amiss, quickly asked, "You mean, you already know who killed Ethan?"
"It's impossible to pinpoint the exact individual, but it's almost certain that the Aryan Brotherhood was behind it."
"The Aryan Brotherhood?" Upon hearing the infamous name of this organization, Sandy, who had been silent all along, spoke up: "Jack, these people are not to be trifled with. As far as I know, they operate on a blood-for-blood principle. To join, you need to kill someone, and to leave, you must commit suicide. Although they are few in number, they are all desperados."
"I've heard of this organization too." Max's face was full of question marks. "But why would they come to the slums to kill people? Is it because Ethan has a personal grudge against them?"
"No, this wasn't a murder targeting an individual, but a random killing." Now that things had come to this, Ma Jie didn't want to hide anything anymore: "Because of the recent surge in popularity of Poor Street, it touched the interests of the Aryan Brotherhood, causing a large number of street performers who originally performed in their territory to come to our area. In addition, I got into a conflict with these people yesterday afternoon while trying to help a friend, which led to this retaliation."
"I see." After listening to Ma Jie's explanation, Max sighed and, unusually, showed pessimism: "Jack, the other side is too powerful. If all else fails, let's ask someone to negotiate peace. We shouldn't risk our lives fighting a bunch of murderers."
"Make peace?" Ma Jie sneered. "Sorry, I won't make peace with anyone. There are already countless examples of failure. If you take one step back, you'll have to take countless steps back. Trying to scare me like this is wishful thinking."
"Remember, if you can't win on the battlefield, no matter how you negotiate at the negotiating table, the result will be the same."
"So you're planning to go to war with them?" Max's face was full of surprise. "My God, I think you've gone mad. I know you have a few very good friends who would go through fire and water for you, but is it worth it? The risk is too great."
"Risk?" Ma Jieke's expression remained unchanged: "There's an old Chinese saying: 'The bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish.'"
As the group chatted, a large number of camp members, numbering over a hundred, had already gathered in the open space outside the RV, loudly discussing the news of Ethan's death.
When Ma Jieke pushed open the car door and saw his pillar of support, the scene gradually quieted down.
After carefully considering his words, Ma Jie slowly began to speak: "I know everyone is concerned about Ethan's death, and there are rumors that he was shot, but I saw his body with my own eyes and found no bullet holes. According to the police's preliminary deduction, he probably died suddenly due to damage to his cardiopulmonary function caused by taking a large amount of illegal drugs."
As soon as the words were spoken, everyone looked at each other, each thinking they had misheard.
After all, the first person to discover Ethan's body was not a police officer, but a scavenger who was searching through the trash cans, and there was more than one eyewitness.
"Boss, could there be a mistake? I remember Ethan doesn't have a drug addiction."
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! Someone saw the bullet holes in his face with their own eyes!"
"Excuse my bluntness, Boss, but did you make some kind of deal with the police?"
"Quiet, quiet!" Listening to the chaotic arguing among the camp members, Max, at MaJack's signal, shouted, "Listen to me, everyone. This result is correct, so relax. Go back and do what you were doing before. Don't spread rumors anymore, because it has a very bad influence. If anyone maliciously spreads rumors to create panic, don't blame me for turning against them. Do you all understand?"
When Max said the same thing, everyone had no choice but to believe him unconditionally.
Otherwise, why would you go against your boss? If the boss says one thing and you say another, if the boss beats a dog and you defend a chicken, wouldn't you lose your job? Wouldn't that be incredibly unfair?
Although Ma Jieke knew in his heart that this policy of keeping the people ignorant was somewhat unethical, in this world, those who do not know the truth tend to live more comfortably than those who do.
In other words, if a lie is never exposed, then it is not a lie.
After getting everything sorted out, Sheriff Dave was quite efficient and quickly sent an encrypted file to his designated email address.
While Ma Jieke was alone in his bedroom, reviewing the detailed information provided in the files, a call came in from an unknown number.
After a few seconds of pause, he picked up his phone and pressed the answer button. A familiar voice came through the receiver: "Ma Jieke? It's nice to meet you."
"Johnny?" Ma Jie immediately recognized him; this was the blond guy he had beaten up on the yacht yesterday, and he was still alive.
"Yes, it was me." Johnny's voice turned incredibly furious: "You bastard, you broke my leg with the sofa! My doctor told me that even if I recover, it will turn into a tumor!"
"Oh, congratulations, you've unlocked a whole new lifestyle."
Ma Jieke's voice sounded calm, but his words carried a clear hint of sarcasm.
"Haha, are you mocking me?" Johnny let out a chilling laugh. "Are you satisfied with the gift I gave you? By the way, just so you know, tomorrow after dawn, a second unlucky guy's corpse will be found in a dumpster. You filthy beggar, you want to play with me? Well, I'll play you until you break down!"
"Collapse? Why should I collapse? You can send people to my territory to kill and burn, and I can send people to your house to drop bombs. Who can't hurt each other?"
Faced with MaJack's threat, Johnny was silent for a few seconds before his voice returned to normal: "Don't give me that nonsense. If you want to save the lives of those around you, then you have to listen to me. Come to Warehouse 5 of the South Los Santos Slaughterhouse in an hour. Remember, you can only come alone, no helpers."
"Don't worry, I won't do anything to you. I just want to sit down and talk. If I don't see you by the time the time is up, a second innocent person will die because of this. I mean what I say!"
After saying that, Johnny hung up the phone before Jack could respond.
It is obvious that this is likely a trap, but for Ma Jieke, it is a breakthrough point for counterattack.
As night fell, a blue Ford pickup truck sped along the city's expressways.
As the target drew closer, Ma Jieke subconsciously took a few deep breaths.
Turn the steering wheel into the open slaughterhouse gate, park the car in front of warehouse number 5 as indicated, and walk inside.