Legendary FBI Detective

Driving unhurriedly back to the "Insomnia Building," the 800-meter distance was swiftly covered at the press of the accelerator, as Luo An rode the elevator upward, silently pondering over how to draft the report concerning 1.4 million US Dollars.

"Everyone, I'm back."

Entering the special investigation team's office area, Luo An greeted loudly.

The usual responses that filled the air were missing today. Luo An looked up only to discover that everyone had gathered around a small television at the front of the office.

Luo An furrowed his brows and quickly approached:

"What happened?"

"Something's gone wrong on Wall Street."

Reesi swallowed nervously, turned around to make room for Luo An, and said with a complex expression:

"Have you heard of Bernard Madoff? The former NASDAQ chairman, he's been arrested.

For the past several decades, this guy has been running a Ponzi scheme."

On the television, a live broadcast showed Bernard Madoff being escorted away.

Numerous reporters around him were holding microphones, frantically shouting questions at Bernard Madoff, all blocked by the surrounding NYPD, while Madoff himself kept his head down, saying nothing.

Beside him, escorting Bernard Madoff, was a white man — a familiar face to Luo An, Supervisor Elmer.

"Wow."

Luo An raised an eyebrow and exclaimed, recalling how just a few days ago they had met to discuss Madoff's selling financial products at low prices, not expecting action to begin today.

"Almost 50 billion US Dollars, one of the largest funds in the world, and it's empty inside! The entire fund was just a Ponzi scheme..."

On the TV, a blonde female host, her face filled with shock, ceaselessly cried out "God".

Behind her, many people also shouted "God," while others cursed loudly, hurling various insults at Bernard Madoff and his family.

"This is really..."

In the office area of the special investigation team, Chenier and Winslow clicked their tongues, struggling to find the right words, while Michelle next to them scoffed and said:

"That's why I say, there are no good people on Wall Street, it's all filled with fraudsters and maniacs."

Reesi, however, was more concerned about something else, she asked with a frown:

"How did such a Ponzi scheme last for over twenty years without being discovered?"

As someone privy to the entire situation and who had been guiding events from behind the scenes, Luo An calmly said:

"No, we shouldn't say it wasn't discovered, rather, it's only now being exposed."

With Supervisor Elmer alone, naturally, it wouldn't have been possible to drive this case and the arrest forward, hence previously Luo An had introduced Mr. Clement and FBI Director Robert to him.

The two discussed the matter with the Director of the IRS, and later they involved some other top officials from different departments, collaborating across departments to finally expose the affair, with Supervisor Elmer merely being the spearhead in the public's eyes.

That's also why Luo An had chosen not to get involved in this matter: its backers are complex and factions abundant, making it difficult at times to distinguish enemies from allies.

Luo An was still young and unlike Supervisor Elmer, who lacked strong influential backing and significant achievements, Luo An would have plenty of opportunities in the future and didn't need to get mixed up in this.

Moreover, Luo An had also suggested a plan to Supervisor Elmer that would protect as much as possible the funds of the deceived middle-class families.

Though not all the defrauded funds could be retrieved, it was still better than in Luo An's previous lifetime, where almost nothing was recovered.

The live broadcast on the TV continued, with the reporter's exclamations and background street heckling intermingling, as the special investigation team's office remained silent, everyone deep in thought.

In the following days, the front pages and headlines of major media outlets were almost entirely dominated by this shocking Ponzi scheme case.

While the special investigation team's agents were surprised and continued monitoring the developments of the case, they still carried on with their work on the explosion case + Sarls case.

On Friday, at 4:30 PM, after a busy work segment, the agents began to take a break, waiting for the office clock at the front to indicate the end of working hours.

As the team leader, Luo An naturally led by example, so he too came out from the leader's office, starting to chat and goof off with the agents.

"Everyone, everyone! Look at me, look at me!"

Just then, Reesi suddenly coughed a few times, stood up, clapped her hands to draw everyone's attention, and loudly announced:

"I have something to declare!"

Luo An, stuffing a nut into his mouth, asked with a smile:

"What is it? Are you getting married?"

"Pretty close, not far at all."

Reesi chuckled mischievously and suddenly pulled out some photos from behind, shouting loudly:

"Everyone! The house I bought has been decorated and finished!

Tomorrow, Saturday night, let's all come to my villa! We're having a party!"

"So soon?"

"When is it?"

Winslow looked surprised, Chenier and Michelle were also quite shocked, while Reesi chuckled, hands on her hips, clearly proud.

In the US, there isn't a strict notion of new versus old houses; the same property can go through many owners.

For instance, Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman and her husband bought a house that had already been through three generations of owners before them.

The house Reesi bought wasn't new either; there had been an owner before her, so after buying it, Reesi had all the previous owner's decor removed and let the decorating company replace it with her own preferred style and decor.

While everyone in the office was frolicking, Reesi grabbed Mona's arm and grinned at Luo An:

"Tomorrow I'll borrow Mona for some help, I'm the only one in that house, we need to prepare for the party, I need manpower."

Luo An spread his hands, since Mona agreed, he naturally wouldn't say anything, but then he suddenly thought of something and asked:

"Besides our investigation team, have you invited anyone else?"

"Of course!"

Reesi nodded as if it were obvious, she also had her own social circle.

Luo An raised an eyebrow:

"Not all women, right?"

"How could it be?"

Reesi looked annoyed:

"Just because I'm lesbian doesn't mean I don't befriend men, OK?"

"OK."

Seeing Winslow sneakily eating Reesi's snacks nearby, Luo An smirked and nodded slightly.

————

In the western part of Washington D.C., a villa community, each villa here not only has its own lawn and trees, but also plenty of distance between them.

Saturday, 8:30 PM, at one of the villas on the southernmost end of the community, vibrant music is buzzing and booming.

Dressed in androgynous attire, Reesi stood by the pool, microphone in hand, and shouted loudly:

"Ladies, let's get lit!"

"Oh oh oh—"

"Reesi! Reesi! Reesi!"

On both sides of the pool, over thirty modestly dressed beautiful girls were clapping and cheering wildly.

Reesi laughed loudly, threw down the microphone and dashed into the crowd like the wind, hands waving around, and the air immediately filled with the girls' screams and teasing laughter.

"..."x2

On the other side of the pool, sitting in beach chairs, Luo An and Winslow had perplexed expressions.

In the huge villa, aside from Luo An and Winslow, the only males were a pet dog brought by someone unknown and a casually dressed white man in his sixties with white hair, wrinkles, and wearing sunglasses even at night.

Luo An picked up a beer and clinked it with the unfamiliar man, smiling as he asked:

"Let's get acquainted, my name is Luo An."

The man took off his sunglasses and smiled:

"Call me Piero, I'm a friend of Little Reesi, and I'm a priest."

"?"