Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Early morning.

Far outskirts of Los Angeles.

This place is located to the north of Los Angeles, surrounded by dense woods, with beautiful natural scenery. However, since it's quite a distance from Los Angeles, not many people come here for leisure.

A road winds upwards along the east side, and at the end of the path stands a two-story vacation house. The house is made of wood and looks somewhat old, with signs of recent repairs.

A white girl sits on the steps of the vacation house, staring blankly at her phone.

"Maggie, breakfast is ready." A man's voice comes from inside the house.

Maggie stands up, gazes into the distance, and then turns around to enter the vacation house.

Inside the house, there are three people. Maggie's father is wearing an apron, cooking in the kitchen.

Maggie's aunt is setting the table in the dining room, and a man with a bandaged left hand sits at the dining table.

Maggie sits absent-mindedly on a chair, still fiddling with her phone.

Maggie's father comes over, serves his daughter a fried egg, and reassures her, "Honey, don't worry too much, everything will be fine."

"Dad, I'm not worried..." Maggie waves her phone, "I received a message from Luke. He knows we're in danger and said he's willing to help and wants me to contact him."

Walker Baruch is taken aback, "When did he send the message?"

"Yesterday afternoon."

Walker Baruch turns to look at the other two people and asks, "Agent Sabina Dodd, Agent Sidney Burn, what do you two think?"

The female agent, acting as Maggie's 'aunt', says, "Isn't he the cop we met on the field?"

Maggie nods, "Yes."

Agent Sabina Dodd says, "I remember the last time he called, you already told him there was nothing wrong, you were just out recuperating.

Why does he think you're in danger?"

The male agent takes a sip of coffee, "Indeed, it's quite odd and worth pondering."

Maggie says, "Luke is a very skilled detective who has solved many major cases. Maybe he sensed something."

Sabina Dodd frowns and says, "If he sincerely wants to help us, that's great, but what if he doesn't?"

Maggie shrugs, "What do you mean?"

Sabina Dodd says, "The last time he called, shortly after we were attacked, Sidney was injured. Isn't that a bit too coincidental?"

Maggie retorts, "You suspect Luke is connected to the people who attacked us?"

Sabina Dodd says solemnly, "Maggie, don't get agitated. I'm just saying it's a possibility we need to consider."

Maggie shakes her head, "Luke is my boyfriend's brother, he wouldn't harm us.

Besides, I'm friends with Luke. We often dine together. He's not the type of person you think."

Sabina Dodd grabs Maggie's hand with her right hand, "Maggie, I'm not targeting Luke, but rather suspecting everyone.

We've even reduced contact with the marshal's office, and no one knows the four of us are here. But if we hastily contact others, there's a risk of exposure.

Do you understand?"

Maggie nods and says in a softened tone, "I understand.

But I still want to trust Luke one more time.

He's an LAPD officer and also the deputy director of the FBI's counter-terrorism division. With his help, our danger would decrease a lot.

And we wouldn't be so passive like we are now."

Sabina Dodd studies Maggie for a while and says, "Alright, you can contact Luke, but you have to do it by my terms."

...

Luke handed over the suspects to the FBI agents in Las Vegas, then returned to Los Angeles.

He had just returned home, taken a shower, and received a call from Maggie. She admitted she was in danger and asked Luke not to reveal her location to anyone else.

An hour later, Luke drove his pickup truck to the designated location.

The scenery here was nice, but the location was remote, and he barely saw any cars along the way. It was indeed a good place to hide.

Luke thought he might come here with a camper van once things settled down.

The pickup truck wound east along the road and parked beside a wooden vacation house, similar to the one Maggie described over the phone.

Luke got out of the car and scanned the surroundings, seeing no one. The area was quiet, with only the occasional bird call.

"Creak..." The door of the vacation house opened, and a white woman stepped out.

Luke recognized her as Maggie's 'aunt', though he had guessed this role was likely fake.

Maggie's aunt said, "Let me formally introduce myself, I'm Sabina Dodd, an agent from the Marshal's Office Witness Protection Unit."

Luke replied, "Luke Lee, Deputy Director of the FBI Los Angeles Division's Counter-terrorism Unit."

"Did you come alone?"

"Yes, where's Maggie?"

"My task is to ensure the safety of Maggie and her father. So, before I take you to see her, I want to ask you a few questions."

"Okay, go ahead." Luke looked around but didn't spot anything suspicious.

"How did you know Maggie was in danger?"

"Someone was following my brother and deliberately led me to Las Vegas. I caught two suspects. They said Maggie and her father had entered the witness protection program, and their purpose this time was to capture or kill Maggie and her father."

Sabina Dodd nodded, "You're right. Maggie and her father did join the witness protection program. We are here to protect them.

Maggie trusts you a lot, but I have to be cautious. We were attacked not long after your last call, and my partner got injured."

"I understand.

If I were in your position, I would do the same."

Sabina Dodd placed two fingers in her mouth and let out a whistle reminiscent of a birdcall.

After a while, three people emerged from the distant woods.

It was Maggie, her father, and a wounded man.

Maggie waved and greeted, "Luke."

Maggie's father, Walker Baruch, also expressed his gratitude, "Officer Lee, thank you for coming to help us."

Luke smiled and said, "No need to thank me, I'm a good friend of Maggie's.

Furthermore, ever since you left home, Jack has been very worried, and he'll be thrilled to know you're safe and sound."

Walker Baruch sighed, "About Jack, I'm very sorry. He's a good kid, treats Maggie well, and respects me.

But for his safety, I had to make Maggie break up with him."

Maggie's eyes reddened slightly, "Is Jack okay now?"

"He was being followed before, but don't worry, I've sent people to protect him."

Walker Baruch said, "I'm sorry, due to confidentiality agreements, I couldn't tell him the truth, which indirectly involved him.

In fact, we didn't expect things to turn out this way."

Luke glanced at Sabina Dodd and Sidney Burn, "I'm a police officer, I understand."

"Thank you."

"Mr. Baruch, I want to know why you joined the witness protection program?"

Walker Baruch nodded and gestured, "Let's talk inside the house."

Luke and Maggie's father entered the vacation house, while two agents stayed outside.

Maggie carried five cups of coffee over, first handing coffee to Luke and her father, then carrying the tray outside.

Walker Baruch said, "Three years ago, I worked for a cryptocurrency trading platform where our users could trade Bitcoin. I initially thought it was a safe, innovative, efficient, and professional company.

But I later discovered that the company's owner was embezzling clients' investment funds, and the amount was enormous...

This was clearly illegal. I had two choices: one was to pretend I knew nothing and continue to earn a high salary.

The second choice was to report to the police.

I chose the latter.

Then, I was threatened. Concerned about Maggie's safety, I joined the witness protection program.

Three months ago, a co-founder of the company was extradited to America, and the federal government filed fraud charges against him. I'll be testifying against him in court then.

The trial will be held in New York, and considering Maggie's safety, I don't plan to take her with me. The Marshal's Office has sent two agents to protect us, and I want Maggie to get familiar with them ahead of time.

Just a few days ago, two suspicious individuals attacked my home, and the agents repelled them.

I suspect these are probably hitmen sent by that co-founder to prevent me from testifying.

Afterward, we moved to an apartment near Maggie's school, which I had prepared as a safe house in advance.

Four days ago, we noticed suspicious individuals around the apartment, suspecting it might be the same hitmen. We planned to escape at night.

But they spotted us, and another shootout ensued, with Agent Sidney Burn getting injured to protect me.

Fortunately, I had prepared in advance and was familiar with the surrounding roads, so we managed to escape here."

"Four days ago, the day I called Maggie."

"Yes."

Luke took a sip of coffee. No wonder Maggie didn't ask him for help; as soon as he called, they were tracked, and even if Maggie didn't suspect him, the two agents would suspect he had issues.

Luke asked, "During this time, besides me, have you been in contact with anyone else?"

Walker Baruch shook his head, "No."

Maggie walked in, pouted, "There was contact with the Marshal's Office."

Luke asked, "Does the Marshal's Office know your apartment's address?"

"Yes."

"Does the Marshal's Office know this address?"

"No, Sabina Dodd only informed the Marshal's Office that we escaped and are temporarily safe, without revealing the hiding place's address."

Luke looked at Walker Baruch, "When is the trial?"

"December 5th."

Luke said, "Although it's uncertain that the indicted co-founder is the mastermind, it's highly probable. As long as the trial hasn't begun, he has a sufficient reason to keep hunting you.

So, to thoroughly resolve this matter, we need to first deal with the killers in Los Angeles and then send you to New York to testify against them."

Walker Baruch agreed, "Yes, that's what I think too, but we have no idea about the killers' specific identities or whereabouts."

Luke thought for a moment, "Then let's have them come to us."

Walker Baruch spread his hands, "I don't quite understand what you mean."

Luke suggested, "Suppose, and I mean suppose, the hitmen have access to internal information from the Marshal's Office, we can proactively disclose our hiding place to them."

Walker Baruch questioned, "Wouldn't the hitmen become suspicious?"

Luke stated, "Agent Sidney Burn is injured, and we can use that as an excuse to request reinforcements from the Marshal's Office. At that point, the Marshal's Office will certainly ask for our address.

If those robbers do have internal information, they won't miss such a good opportunity.

We can ambush them here."

Walker Baruch looked at his daughter, concerned, "Wouldn't that be dangerous?"

Luke earnestly replied, "I can't speak for other places, but in Los Angeles, I can guarantee your safety."