Chapter 38: The Car Is Full of Corpses

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Car Is Full of Corpses

There was a hint of surprise in the Chief’s voice, as if he hadn’t expected to see the man here.

Sean Hughes looked over and saw that the man the Chief called Quincy was almost completely soaked in blood.

Bandages were wrapped haphazardly around his body. One glance was enough to tell it was Zoe Sawyer’s handiwork, but at least the bleeding had stopped.

His face, originally caked in dust and blood, had been wiped clean, revealing a weathered face.

The doctor trailing behind the group had no time for pleasantries. She pushed her way in, medical kit in hand, and immediately started treating the wounds.

The Chief recalled the brief report Zoe Sawyer had given over the phone, and his expression turned grim.

’A whole team went out on a mission. Why was he the only one who made it to rescue? Did something go wrong, or was the mission a total failure?’

However, this wasn’t the place for an interrogation. No matter how many questions he had, the Chief could only hold them in for now, planning to ask for details later.

Heath Hale’s gaze, however, was fixed on Zoe Sawyer.

"Come over here. Tell me what happened again, in detail." Heath Hale beckoned to Zoe Sawyer, telling her to repeat the story.

Facing Heath Hale’s stern gaze, Zoe Sawyer swallowed hard. Evan Keller and Sean Hughes, standing beside her, gave her a look that said they couldn’t help her either.

Knowing her silent plea for help had failed, Zoe Sawyer sighed, stepped closer, and recounted the entire incident from start to finish.

In much more detail than on the phone.

As Heath Hale listened to Zoe Sawyer’s account, his initially stern expression softened slightly.

’There were still many shortcomings, and her methods were amateurish, but compared to before, she had definitely made significant progress.’

"Not bad. Your handling of the situation was adequate under the circumstances," Heath Hale nodded.

Zoe Sawyer’s expression brightened at his words. She looked up, about to say something, but then Heath Hale continued.

He first affirmed her methods, then criticized her lack of vigilance.

She was lucky this time to have run into a real ally.

If the enemy found out about her ability and disguised themselves as a friendly to trick her the same way, the consequences would be far more severe!

Meanwhile, over with the Chief, Quincy’s wounds were professionally dressed, and he was quickly moved to a more secure location.

Zoe Sawyer thought she was done, but Heath Hale brought her along anyway.

"What happened? I remember asking about you before. Your superior said you were on a mission. How did you end up in this state?" the Chief asked, staring at Barry Quinn on the hospital bed, his expression grim.

Of course, he hadn’t asked his superior for details directly, but had instead figured things out from an extremely veiled reply.

Barry Quinn had once been the most capable man under his command. Later, he had made a name for himself, relying on his own skills to successfully join a more dangerous department.

He was always heading to the front lines.

Aside from the anonymous narcotics officers, their unit was the one with the highest level of secrecy.

"The mission is classified, so I can’t say much. As for why it ended up like this, it’s because there was a mole they deliberately planted among the civilians we rescued."

Barry Quinn clutched his chest, his expression bitter.

’To think that the people he and his teammates had risked their lives to save were now trapped forever in that dark dungeon, all because of a few moles.’

’When his team had infiltrated the place, they had seen a group of people covered in wounds. Almost every single one of them bore fresh lash marks.’

’Other than their emaciated faces, the skin on the rest of their bodies could only be described as a gruesome sight.’

’Who would have thought there’d be a mole in a situation like that!’

’And his teammates... he had no idea how many of them had escaped.’

Hearing this, the Chief didn’t press for more information.

’It was a classified mission. He really shouldn’t ask too many questions.’

Zoe Sawyer, who had been trailing behind the group the whole time, couldn’t help but peek out. ’The mission failed because there was a mole among the civilians? They were betrayed?’

"Alright. You’re safe here. Besides us, no one knows you’re here. Focus on recovering. I’m going to contact your superior," the Chief said, not adding anything more. He just patted Barry Quinn’s shoulder before getting up to leave.

Before leaving, he glanced at Evan Keller, the meaning clear.

The doctor did one last check, and after confirming that Barry Quinn didn’t need her for the time being, she also gathered her things and left.

She had other work to attend to and no time to linger.

Barry Quinn looked at Zoe Sawyer and the others still in the room, a questioning look on his face.

But when his eyes met Zoe Sawyer’s, his previously cold expression softened. "Thank you for saving me today."

Zoe Sawyer quickly waved her hands, telling Barry Quinn not to worry about it.

Evan Keller took the opportunity to place a document on Barry Quinn’s bedside table. "Quincy, we need your signature. Today’s incident must be kept confidential, especially the method we used to bring you back."

Only a small number of people knew about Zoe Sawyer’s ability. Until the situation was fully understood, secrecy had to be paramount.

Barry Quinn didn’t say anything, simply signing his name without a second thought.

He understood the importance of such matters.

Zoe Sawyer’s group of four stayed in the room a little while longer before getting up to leave.

The patient needed plenty of rest to recover properly.

Walking down the hall, Heath Hale raised his wrist to check the time. It was still early.

"Zoe Sawyer, let’s go. This is a good time to debrief today’s events." Heath Hale patted Zoe Sawyer on the head, signaling for her to follow him.

’Wait!’

’Isn’t today my day off?!’

Zoe Sawyer opened her mouth to ask something, but after seeing Heath Hale’s expression, she silently swallowed her words and shot a pleading look at her two friends beside her.

Evan Keller and Sean Hughes, who had been about to chat with Zoe Sawyer, both took a synchronized step to the side.

This was one situation where they were powerless to help.

With no rescue in sight, Zoe Sawyer hung her head and trudged heavily behind Heath Hale toward the conference room.

They had just sat down, before they could even begin the debrief, when they heard a commotion outside.

From the sound of it, even people still inside the station were running out to see.

Heath Hale frowned. ’What’s happening outside?’

"I’ll go see!"

Zoe Sawyer volunteered and dashed out the open door.

As soon as she was outside, she saw Officer Lee clutching a laptop and rushing toward the entrance.

"What’s wrong? Why is it so noisy all of a sudden?"

Zoe Sawyer grabbed Officer Lee’s arm, her voice full of confusion.

’Don’t tell me some lunatic criminal forced their way in?’

Turning and seeing it was Zoe Sawyer, Officer Lee’s tense body relaxed slightly.

He hesitated at her question, but then, figuring she would find out from someone else soon enough, he told her what had happened.

"Someone drove a van straight in. And... the van is full of bodies. Their faces... they’ve been skinned..."