Luke hung up the phone, returned to the restaurant, and said, "I know some friends at the FBI. I'm planning to visit them, maybe they can help."
"FBI?" Yao Xin spoke with a tremble, the organization gave her a bad impression and instinctual fear, "Are they also investigating Will?"
"No, but their sources are pretty extensive."
Li Zhaonian didn't quite get it, but he had no choice but to rely on Luke, and he was willing to trust him, "Go ahead, we'll wait at the restaurant."
Luke nodded, "Call me if anything comes up."
Li Zhaofeng chased after him, "Luke, take my car, be careful on the road."
"Got it." Luke took the keys and drove off.
The FBI's New York office was also in the Manhattan area, about a ten-minute drive from Chinatown.
Luke drove to the entrance, but the barrier didn't lift.
A bald white old man poked his head out of the booth, asking, "Hey, kid, who are you looking for?"
"FBI New York Office Supervisor, Negan Thomas."
"Oh, so it's you. You remind me of myself when I was younger."
Luke smiled, "You know me?"
"Of course, the recipient of the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor, who took down the shooter in the Las Vegas shooting, you're a hero."
"I didn't know I was so famous."
The bald man asked, "Are you joining the FBI too?"
This question really stumped him.
The bald man waved his hand, "No need to say it, I get it.
Someone as capable and famous as you is surely suited for a bigger stage, a broader horizon." The bald man whispered,
"The guys in the bureau have been idle for too long, it's time someone shook them up.
"Thank you." Luke forced a smile.
What else could he say?
"Beep beep..." A car behind started honking, urging him to move.
The old man suddenly remembered something, "Right, who did you say you were looking for?"
"New York Office Supervisor, Negan Thomas."
"Once inside the building, past the security, there's an elevator on the right, head straight to the seventh floor, his office is on the east side."
"Thanks, what's your name?"
"Shaq, folks in the bureau like to call me Old Shaq."
"See you another day, Old Shaq."
By the way, I like your hair.
I used to have a thick head of hair when I was young too." Old Shaq rubbed his bald spot.
Luke looked at his shiny bald head, tempted to say, we're not the same, really not the same...
Luke drove into the FBI's courtyard. He'd been to the FBI's Los Angeles office before, which was bigger than this, and the buildings were lower.
Luke drove to the parking lot and found it was divided into front and back sections, separated by an iron fence. The parking lot he was in was at the front.
Luke got out of the car and entered the building. There was a security checkpoint in the lobby. Luke took out two pistols, verified his identification, registered, and then was allowed to enter the building.
Luke suddenly doubted the effectiveness of this security check.
What were they checking for?
Following Old Shaq's directions, Luke went up to the seventh floor, found the supervisor's office, and next to it was the assistant's office. A white woman with glasses asked, "Sir, who are you looking for?"
"Do you have an appointment?"
The white female assistant gave Luke a once-over, then knocked on Negan Thomas's door.
The assistant opened the door, "Sir, Mr. Luke Lee is here."
The assistant invited Luke into the office and closed the door behind him.
A man in his forties approached, "Hey, Luke Lee, I know you."
"Supervisor Thomas, nice to meet you."
"May I call you Luke?"
"Of course." Although there was no subordination between the police and the FBI, as the supervisor of an FBI office, Thomas was much higher in rank than Luke.
Anthony was only the deputy supervisor of the Los Angeles office, mainly handling interstate or major criminal cases.
The two sat by the sofa.
"Knock knock." The assistant entered carrying two cups of coffee, placed them on the table, and left the office.
Negan Thomas picked up a coffee cup and took a sip, "I heard you encountered some trouble, could you tell me about it?"
"A few days ago, I flew to New York for Chinese New Year, on the evening of January 21, I noticed I was being followed by a car, which made me uneasy.
In Los Angeles, I'm used to taking the initiative, but in New York... it's very passive.
So, I contacted Anthony, hoping he could help me get a temporary identity with the FBI." Luke paused for a moment, then continued,
"This morning, my cousin got involved in a murder case, and the troubles keep coming, making me very uneasy."
Negan Thomas nodded in understanding, "As a law enforcement officer myself, I understand the feeling of being passive.
Anthony mentioned this to me, hoping I could arrange a temporary identity for you.
If you're willing, you can temporarily serve as a criminal investigation consultant for the FBI's New York office."
"Thank you," Luke expressed his gratitude sincerely, contemplating for a moment, "Though I shouldn't ask, I still want to know, why are you helping me?"