Chapter 243: Dispatch

Only three people from the FBI arrived; the main force arresting the unlicensed doctor was dispatched by the LAPD. No one believed arresting a doctor would pose any problems; the only concern was whether they could seize the illegal funds at the same time.

However, this was ultimately a Black neighborhood, so no one dared to approach unarmed, relying solely on an arrest warrant. Thus, everyone kept their guns ready to prevent any accidents during the process.

The reason for such a grand display was simply that the terrain of this location was quite complex, with passages leading in all directions. It would require a large number of personnel to completely seal it off.

After all, no one wanted to let that six hundred thousand dollars... er, I mean, the suspect escape their grasp.

As the on-site commander gave the order via radio, the assault team immediately moved out. Even the two other FBI agents, besides the supervisor, followed at the very rear of the formation rather than all waiting in a safe place for the results.

Everyone wore bulletproof vests with the clearly visible words "POLICE" or "FBI" and charged into the alley in a single file line.

At the end of the alley, the half-drawn iron shutter of the target clinic, just as reported, bore the street graffiti "Fixman."

Although the target should pose no threat, everyone still followed CQB tactical principles, positioning themselves where the enemy could not attack immediately. They did not, like in movies, have a whole group crowd in front of the door in a line, waiting to be shot.

Once everyone was in position, those standing on either side of the iron shutter patted the shoulder of the officer standing first. The two who understood raised the shutter from left and right, opening the door completely in one go.

Immediately, an officer with a battering ram smashed open the partition door leading to the rear room. Everyone shouted, "Police! Everyone, don't move!" and filed into the room.

Then, what shocked the group of armed police were several half-grown Black children.

Some were sleeping on a nearby bed or on the floor, while a few who were awake sat on the sofa in front of the television, taking turns playing the Super Nintendo game Super Mario World, commonly known as the fourth installment.

With a group of children like this, the oldest was probably just graduating from elementary school. Inside the room, besides the television and the game console, there were only a few empty pizza boxes and soda bottles. Forget flour or leaves; they couldn't even find a single pack of cigarettes.

Now, not only were the police and FBI agents dumbfounded, but the children, with guns pointed at them, were so frightened that their limbs trembled involuntarily.

The children who had been woken up were no better off; the moment they opened their eyes, they saw a bunch of police officers holding guns. Some even thought they were dreaming and rubbed their eyes.

Immediately, a smell of urine hit their noses; someone had been so scared they wet their pants.

"Tucker! What are you doing here? Why didn't you go home?" Among the attacking police, a Black officer stepped forward and shouted, pointing at one of the children.

One child, who had been shrinking his head and trying to hide like a quail but was dragged out, said, "Dad, this is Reef's secret base. We just came here to play games."

"You've been playing games here since morning?"

"I've been staying here since yesterday..."

"What? You actually didn't go home!"

"Mom knows I'm staying at Reef's house. We just aren't staying at Reef's house; we came to his secret base."

The child who had been named several times by now was also shrinking his head, trying to reduce his presence.

"How come I don't know about this?" the father, a police officer, shouted excitedly.

The child, however, seemed to have grown a backbone and replied in a raised voice, "You didn't go home yesterday either. How was I supposed to tell you?"

Andrew Saxon's criminal gang, totaling nearly a hundred people, were all arrested and brought to justice.

Just taking individual statements kept all the police and FBI agents incredibly busy. They also had to assign personnel to guard the Tinkerer and Andrew Saxon while they were under medical care; one could say everyone was operating at overload.

Under these circumstances, which police officer could go home and get a full night's sleep? Of course, they were all pinned at the police station working overtime.

They needed to finish the procedures quickly and send the people to the detention center. Otherwise, with over a hundred people crammed into the police station, not to mention the noise, if they started causing trouble, wouldn't that be a mess?

But these were things a father couldn't complain to a child who hadn't even reached adulthood. His mind was playing out various "fuck" scenarios, yet he couldn't vent them on his own son.

The assault team commander made an immediate decision, saying, "Everyone, check the rooms and remain on high alert." He himself holstered his gun and approached a clearly older child, asking, "Are there only you all here?"

These children had not yet acquired the street temperament; facing armed police, they were very restrained and respectfully said, "Yes, sir, it's just us."

"No adults have come here?"

"Um, only the pizza delivery guy. He should be an adult, right?"

"You said you all stayed here; did anyone come and then leave?" the police squad leader asked sharply.

"Yes, Mike, Shaw, Allen..." The child rattled off several names, not thinking at all to cover for his companions, showing a distinct lack of loyalty.

Hearing there were so many more people, the police squad leader's head swelled. He asked again, "Who are these people?"

"Our classmates. Some are in the same class, some are from the same school, but I know them too."

"Which school?"

"Aspco Elementary, sir."

This was almost answering every question asked.

Meanwhile, the officers searching everywhere were now returning to the hall. Everyone holstered their guns and shook their heads in regret.

The squad leader leading the team looked speechless at the two FBI agents; the two sides stared at each other. It seemed this trip was for nothing.

At this moment, a child tremulously said, "Sir, will you arrest us?"

Could they arrest them? The police station was already chaotic enough; taking all these children back would only add to the trouble!

The police squad leader said with a serious face, "That depends on you, children. First tell me, whose place is this?"

"Reef..." "Reef." The terrified children answered eagerly. At the same time, they looked at the older child who had tried to hide.

The child, betrayed by a crowd, could only steel himself and step forward, saying, "Sir, this is my uncle's house. He told me it was empty and that we could come play here."

"Then where did these things come from?" The police squad leader pointed to the television and game console in the room, which were obviously beyond the children's means to buy, and asked.

One child raised his hand and said, "The television was discarded by my dad. We got a bigger TV at home."

Another child said, "The game console I brought. My dad bought it."

The police squad leader noticed that the clothes of these two children were of good quality; they might be from well-off families, making theft unlikely. He had to ask again, "Then where did the money for food and drink come from?"

"My allowance..." "I contributed too." "Me too..." Several children reluctantly raised their hands halfway, looking utterly aggrieved.

At this moment, a question from the on-site commander outside came over the radio. He asked, "This is the captain. Have you caught any suspects? Please report. Over."

(End of Chapter)