Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Yoger Gerard slowly took off his hat, revealing a head of gray curly hair.

According to Luke's understanding, the shooter who attacked Hamidi Shawn on the cruise ship's ninth floor was a medium-built white man with gray curly hair, matching Yoger Gerard's appearance perfectly.

According to Hamidi Shawn's bodyguard's description, the shooter's left arm was hit by a bullet.

Luke grabbed the left arm of the person.

"Hiss..." Yoger Gerard gasped, gritted his teeth tightly, and jerked his arm back.

In just an instant, beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

Luke asked, "Are you hurt?"

Yoger Gerard took a step back and replied, "Yes, I accidentally injured my arm when jumping off the cruise ship into the sea just now."

Luke nodded, "I happen to know how to treat external injuries, roll up your sleeve, and I'll bandage it for you."

"Thanks, but there's no need. I can find a cruise doctor for treatment."

Luke placed his right hand on his gun, "I order you to roll up the sleeve of your left arm."

Several SEAL team members also noticed something unusual and held their guns alertly at Yoger Gerard.

Yoger Gerard's expression was solemn, his forehead covered with cold sweat, and facing Luke and the well-trained SEAL team, he had no room for resistance and slowly rolled up his sleeve.

A bandage was wrapped around the upper arm, with red blood faintly seeping through.

Luke said, "If the injury was just from jumping into the sea, you wouldn't have had time to bandage it.

Tell the truth, how did your arm get injured?"

"I... accidentally fell."

"Since it was a fall, why did you lie?"

Yoger Gerard remained silent.

Luke said to the SEAL team members, "Arrest him first. I suspect he's also an accomplice of the terrorists and wanted to use the lifeboat to escape to the Mexican coast."

The other three passengers who jumped into the sea with Yoger Gerard all looked panicked.

One of them defended, "I swear, I have nothing to do with the terrorists and didn't even know him before. I thought the cruise ship was still hijacked by terrorists, so I listened to his nonsense and used the lifeboat to escape."

"Me too, I didn't know him at all before, I just met him on the deck.

If I knew he was a terrorist, I wouldn't have left with him."

Luke reassured the three and recorded their identification information.

At this time, more and more passengers gathered on the deck, causing some chaos.

Luke climbed to the second floor of the cruise ship, took out a megaphone, and shouted, "Ladies and gentlemen, please be quiet for a moment.

I know you have a lot of questions in your minds, and I will briefly introduce the situation on the cruise ship.

First, let me introduce myself, my name is Luke Lee, and I am the Deputy Minister of the FBI Los Angeles Anti-Terrorism Department.

A number of passengers have already met with me in the cruise ship's buffet restaurant earlier.

In the crisis, several brave friends stood up and, at great risk, helped me defeat the robbers. Their courage and dedication are admirable."

"Clap, clap..." Luke led the applause.

The passengers on the cruise ship also began to applaud.

The applause died down.

Luke continued, "Now, the robbers on the cruise ship have been captured, and the SEAL team defeated their accomplices; you are all safe now.

The cruise ship will soon turn around and return to Los Angeles.

Except for being a day later than scheduled, there will be no differences.

The security of this ship will also be taken over by the FBI and SEAL team, so there's no need for concern about safety issues.

That's all I have to say, everyone can fully enjoy the rest of the journey."

Suddenly, another round of applause and cheers erupted on the deck.

The name Luke Lee was remembered by everyone.

Not far away, Nami Inoue was recording the entire scene with her phone.

She had been immersed in excitement as the luxury cruise ship with hundreds of passengers being hijacked was undoubtedly a massive global event.

As someone who experienced it personally, she had obtained first-hand information. If she could report this news in time, not only could she secure a permanent position, but she would also gain some fame in the industry, and might even consider writing a book.

With fame comes benefits.

For an intern journalist, this was an irresistible temptation.

After leaving the deck, Luke found Hamidi Shawn and his bodyguard, asking them to identify Yoger Gerard.

Hamidi Shawn and the bodyguard confirmed that Yoger Gerard was indeed the shooter who attacked them.

Subsequently, Luke took Yoger Gerard into a closed room for interrogation.

Luke asked, "What is your name?"

"I already told you."

"I'm asking for your real name?"

"That is my real identity."

"Why did you attack Hamidi Shawn on the ninth floor of the cruise ship?"

"I don't know what you're talking about? I haven't attacked anyone."

"The victim just identified you."

"I swear, he must have been mistaken."

"OK." Luke questioned, "Then tell me how you got your arm injured. Don't brush me off with some lame excuses.

I can confirm that the wound on your arm is a gunshot injury, not a so-called fall injury."

Yoger Gerard looked down at his wound, "I was shot by the robbers on the cruise ship."

"What did the robbers look like?"

"I didn't see clearly."

"Was the robber male or female? Where did they attack you?"

"It should have been a male, on the sixth floor of the cruise ship."

"Have you ever been to the ninth floor of the cruise ship?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Very well.

We found some drops of blood in the stairwell on the ninth floor of the cruise ship. Based on the scene, we suspect it might be blood left by someone injured after the heist.

If the blood matches your DNA, that would be interesting.

Moreover, if the FBI wants, we can dig into your identity completely. You don't have a chance to escape.

You know this too, so why not face reality?"

"I don't know what reality you're talking about.

But I know very well what to say and what not to say. Otherwise, I'd end up dead in prison under mysterious circumstances before I even get to court."

Yoger Gerard's words clearly suggested there was a mastermind behind this, and Luke said, "If you're willing to cooperate with us in the FBI, we'll naturally protect you.

Yoger Gerard shook his head, "I don't trust you, nor do I trust the FBI.

But I know them well. If I cooperate with you, they will definitely kill me."

"Even if you don't want to cooperate with us, we can still find out the truth using your identity.

They'll also think you betrayed them.

Without FBI protection, you'll die faster and more miserably."

Yoger Gerard said indignantly, "Are you threatening me?"

"No, I'm just telling it like it is. Cooperating with me is your only chance to survive.

You should be the one who's anxious, not me." Luke stood up and left the interrogation room.

Luke contacted the FBI's Los Angeles division to report on the situation here and asked them to investigate the robbers' contacts in Los Angeles and Yoger Gerard's background.

Luke was now the de facto person in charge on the cruise ship, with many matters to attend to. By the time he was done, it was already ten o'clock at night.

He returned to his room on the ninth floor and saw Nami Inoue waiting at the door.

Luke shrugged, his voice a bit weary, "Good evening, beautiful. I hope you're not here to talk about work."

"Sorry, I am here to talk about work, and it's very important."

"Everyone says that." Luke sighed lightly, opened the door, and walked into the room.

Luke took a bottle of red wine from the wine cabinet, poured himself a glass, and asked, "Care for a glass?"

"No, I need to stay sober, so I can work better."

Luke took a sip of wine and sat on the sofa, "Go ahead, I'm listening."

Nami Inoue also sat on the sofa and said, "When the cruise ship was docked off the coast of Mexico, my phone got a signal.

I contacted the TV station's news director and told them about the hijacking of the cruise ship.

If I'm not mistaken, it should already be on the news by now."

Luke nodded; there were too many passengers on the cruise ship. Even if Nami Inoue didn't contact the TV station, others would spread the news through various channels.

"Congratulations, you're about to get a promotion." Luke raised his glass in acknowledgment.

Nami Inoue moved closer to Luke, her face full of excitement, "Luke, you should know.

This hijacking incident is major news. Broadcasting it would be beneficial not just for me, but for you as well.

I hope we can discuss releasing news that benefits both sides, what do you think?"

In the past, Luke might have wanted to keep a low profile, but now his mindset had changed somewhat.

Before, solving cases and accumulating merits would lead to promotion, but now as his position rises, the rules of the game have changed a bit.

In the upper ranks of the Robbery and Murder Department, positions are limited, and diligently solving cases doesn't yield as much tangible benefit anymore.

Thus, Luke began to value fame, as it brings benefits on its own; it's a shortcut.

Luke said, "Haven't you already told the TV station about the hijacking? What more do you need from me?"

"That's far from enough. I hope to do an exclusive interview with you. You were the one who actually saved the cruise ship's passengers from the hijackers.

If you accept the TV interview, the effect would be sensational.

I'll portray you as a hero who saved America."

Luke thought about it; accepting an interview as the person actually in charge of the terror attack would indeed cause quite a stir, raising his fame even more.

From the perspective of the TV station and Nami Inoue, there was no issue.

But for Luke himself, it wasn't the best plan. Accepting an interview would be like patting his own back; even if he spoke the truth, it would seem excessive.

The best praise should come from others' mouths.

Luke asked, "Did you capture footage of me apprehending the robbers in the restaurant?"

"Of course, don't doubt my professionalism."

"Did you get footage of my speech on the deck?"

"Yes, you spoke well; in a few years, you might consider running for Mayor of Los Angeles."

Luke said, "Using real footage as news material is better than me boasting about myself.

Also, you could interview some of the cruise ship passengers; I don't think they'd be stingy with their praise for me.

That would have a better effect than me giving an interview."

Nami Inoue thought for a moment, "You're right, this angle on the news is also good."

Actually, Nami Inoue preferred doing an exclusive interview with Luke, as being able to interview the central figure is also a reflection of a journalist's ability.

However, she knew very well who was actually in charge between the two of them.

"There's still one issue: the cruise ship has left the coast and sailed into the deep sea, and the phone signal is lost again.

Until the communication issues are fixed, I can't contact the TV station."

Luke nonchalantly said, "Just do your interview, leave the rest to me."

Nami Inoue smiled, "No problem, I'll pick a handsome photo of you for the cover. Trust me, the ladies of Los Angeles will be captivated by you."