30
Chapter 30: Don't Shoot, I'm a Hostage
**Outside the Textile Factory**
The New York Police Department, faced with the wreckage of the textile factory that appeared to have gone through a small war, drew their weapons and stood ready.
"George!"
Inspector Kate Beckett, arriving three minutes behind George, got out of her car, body armor on, and hurried to his side: "How is it?"
George pointed to the car still burning in front of the textile factory. Amid the occasional firecracker-like pops, the license plate was barely visible, but the four letters stood out clearly.
It was definitely the real Audi R8.
Obviously.
Another one scrapped.
George found it slightly amusing but was also worried. His daughter had ridden in Locke's Audi R8 before. Given Locke's penchant for wrecking cars, he couldn't help but fear that one day his daughter might be in one when it was scrapped.
... Wait!
George shook his head to clear the thought.
No.
Locke was just unlucky.
At this moment, the New York Police Department's special service team arrived on the scene in an armored vehicle, accompanied by their distinctive alarm bells.
"Prepare!"
George instructed the officers bustling around: "The criminals we're dealing with are extremely dangerous, so be careful!"
"Understood!"
"Received!"
"Move out!"
The two teams, a total of 16 heavily armed members, advanced towards the textile factory under the cover of bulletproof shields.
But...
Upon entering, they were stunned by the scene.
The textile factory wasn't exactly empty, but corpses littered the floor like a river of death.
"Ugh!"
"Ugh!"
Several less experienced officers, confronted with the blood-soaked scene, couldn't help but retch.
All the officers were on edge.
Yet, despite the carnage, the factory was eerily quiet.
"Special team, advance!"
"Roger!"
"Kate, take a team to the left. I'll lead a team to the right!"
"Got it."
George gestured to the team behind him and cautiously moved to the right.
Both George's and Kate's teams encountered nothing but bodies.
When the three groups reconvened, their attention was drawn to a warehouse-like building ahead.
Inside was the textile workshop meant to disguise the factory's true purpose.
It was a mess, strewn with corpses and wrecked textile machines.
"My God."
Kate couldn't help but exclaim: "Could this be the work of the crime hunter alone?"
It seemed impossible. No matter how skilled, one person couldn't face off against this many foes.
George said grimly: "There's no evidence the crime hunter works with a team or enjoys teamwork."
The crime hunter had been active in Texas for two years, always operating alone.
If there was any help, it was likely coerced.
But...
George had started to doubt the FBI's psychological profile of the crime hunter, which described him as a loner between 25 and 35, living alone, perhaps in his parents' house, unnoticed due to his solitary nature.
George's personal encounters with the crime hunter suggested otherwise.
At this moment.
Boom!
The officers raised their guns towards the third floor where a noise had erupted.
George exchanged glances with Kate and the special service leader.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The special service team stormed into the room of the Destiny Loom with explosion-proof shields.
In the next moment, their guns were aimed at Locke, who was bound hand and foot to a water pipe, his mouth gagged with a cloth.
The noise had come from Locke banging his head against the pipe.
"Locke?"
George's eyes lit up upon seeing Locke. He shouted and then motioned for the others to secure the room before rushing to Locke's side with Kate.
"Ah!"
After George removed the gag, Locke gasped heavily.
"Hold on."
Kate reassured Locke and shot the handcuffs: "Bang!"
Locke flinched at the gunshot.
"Clear!"
"Clear!"
"Clear!"
The special service team reported back, confirming there were no enemies left.
Apparently.
They were too late.
The crime hunter had escaped.
Locke chimed in: "He left about ten minutes ago. Why did it take you so long?"
George's face darkened.
Damn.
They'd been played.
At this point, as Kate helped Locke up, a booklet and a phone fell from his clothes.
Then...
"Ring Ring!"
The phone rang.
George and Kate exchanged looks.
Locke explained: "That guy stuffed this booklet and phone into my clothes when he left. I thought it was a bomb and didn't dare to move."
George bent down and picked up the phone.
"Don't answer it," Kate warned, fearing it might be a remote-controlled bomb.
But...
George answered it.
The surrounding officers tensed but relaxed when no explosion followed.
George had the phone on speaker.
A synthetic voice chuckled: "I thought you wouldn't dare answer."
George and Kate signaled to trace the call.
But...
The voice continued: "There were too many sinners this time, not enough cards. The booklet explains everything. Remember, I never kill innocents." Then it hung up.
...