North America Gunman Detective

By a stroke of fate, Jimmy transitioned from an ordinary county police officer to an FBI agent, which also laid certain hidden dangers for his future promotions. While other agents could smoothly get promoted as long as they had enough years and merits, Jimmy needed to make up for what he lacked.

In the previous years at the Manhattan office, there was too much work and too little time, so he didn't consider further studies and wasted some time. Fortunately, it's still not too late; Jimmy needs at least 3 to 4 more years to be promoted to the next level of Supervisory Special Agent. (Note)

After thinking about his own matters in the office for a while, the agent responsible for investigating the surveillance footage came over with the results.

The Harlem district is one of the most chaotic areas in Manhattan. There are very few surveillance systems, and they are easily vandalized. Thus, the agents on-site didn't find much footage, only two tapes from the fire-affected block, and their resolution was poor, making it hard to see clearly.

After thanking the agent, Jimmy left with all the materials and began his own investigation point by point in the afternoon. The surveillance videos had already been converted, and the suspicious individuals inside had been marked and printed out. The next step was to verify with the neighbors around the fire scene to confirm whether the people appearing in the footage were their neighbors or strangers.

In the afternoon, Jimmy called Nia, and in the evening, they went to Nia's home together. Jimmy wanted to talk with Kevin. This kind of sudden notice might catch others off guard, but Nia's mother was a full-time homemaker, so it was nothing more than some extra preparation.

Kevin called Jimmy to the study after dinner, where most of their conversations took place. The room had an independent extractor fan, allowing them to enjoy cigars and drinks more comfortably.

Kevin: "So, has the policy in your bureau been settled?"

Jimmy: "It's more or less confirmed. Dave and Hughes told me around noon today, but I'm not sure when they will implement this policy."

Kevin: "Then start preparing. I'll get in touch, and once the time is confirmed, you can begin further studies promptly."

Jimmy nodded, "Yes, if everything goes smoothly, earning a master's in law would be ideal."

Kevin: "It's not a big problem. A bachelor's degree isn't hard, and a law master's usually takes only about a year. Consider doing it all at once. By the way, is the business in your bureau over?"

Jimmy: "Yes, according to the current arrangements, the previous senator-related issues have concluded. There will definitely be some aftereffects, but they should be within control."

Kevin: "And you?"

Jimmy: "Acting head of the Homicide Team; I was just promoted to Senior Agent two years ago, so I'm still some way from being a Supervisory Special Agent. It should take about 3 to 4 years, which coincides with finishing my educational pursuits."

Kevin: "Yes, this way is good too. These years are a time for you to accumulate experience. You are young, at only 30 years of age, and you have enough time to work your way up step by step. A stable foundation is crucial."

Jimmy: "Yes, by the way, Nia mentioned it to you, right? Our current apartment is a bit small, and we're considering moving later. Do you have any suggestions?"

Kevin: "Keep it close; I only have this one daughter."

Understandable, definitely understandable, with only one daughter, who wouldn't want her nearby. The overprotective father's standard thought process, although at least he hasn't done anything as drastic as breaking up the couple.

Jimmy nodded, "If it's close by, a detached house in Manhattan or Brooklyn near Manhattan is feasible, or we can go slightly further to Long Island or Jersey City. The former is closer, while the latter places offer bigger houses with gardens..."

Kevin: "You two can decide for yourselves, just leave a room for us two."

Jimmy said with a smile, "Absolutely, we will certainly prepare a room for you."

On the way back that night, Jimmy relayed Kevin's opinion to Nia, who also preferred staying close, so the garden and swimming pool Jimmy had imagined were not happening. This limited their choices significantly, leaving them with only Manhattan and Brooklyn near Manhattan to consider.

These options could be taken with patience; they had already decided to buy a house post-wedding, and considering their marriage wasn't far off, there was ample time to manage this.

The next day, Jimmy received an unfamiliar call from Luis Montero of the Rotariano Family. Driving to Harlem, Luis introduced him to an old woman beside him, "This is Marco's aunt, Melissa, the biological sister of Marco's father, his only relative."

Jimmy nodded; the father's biological sister's DNA information should match, given there were no closer relatives.

Jimmy greeted Melissa, then looked at Luis, "What other news?"

Luis smiled at Jimmy, "Agent Yang, there are some things better handled by ourselves. What I want most now is to give my brother a somewhat decent funeral."

Jimmy looked at Luis, his gaze shifting slightly, then nodded, "Don't create anything shameful. Mrs. Melissa, let's go."

Jimmy opened the passenger door for Melissa, helping her into the car, and then drove to the forensic doctor's office.

At the forensic doctor's office, he completed some paperwork, with further follow-up on the DNA comparison to determine which of the three deceased had a kinship with Melissa, thereby identifying Marco.

Returning to the office, Jimmy continued comparing the earlier footage and marking the unusual spots the agents hadn't found. These needed confirmation with Marco's neighbors, as identifying the strangers and unusual individuals was key to promptly determining who the killer was.

Jimmy spent much time verifying the surveillance videos and went to Harlem to question Marco's neighbors. The surveillance footage was a bit distant and very blurry, making it hard for many to recognize everyone in the videos.

By evening, Jimmy directly carried the case files back to the apartment. DNA matching needed time; even with expedited procedures from the forensic doctor's office, it would still take over a week to confirm, so patience was necessary.

The next morning, Jimmy received a call from Ruiz, "Jimmy, the case you've been investigating these past few days involves the Rotariano Family, right?"

Jimmy: "That's correct, why?"

Ruiz: "Last night, to be precise, around 1 AM, the 911 call center received a report of a gunfight in the Bronx. When dispatched patrol officers arrived, they found a person dead from a gunshot, a soldier from the Rotariano Family, under the command of Luis Montero."

Jimmy: "What happened exactly?"

Ruiz: "Last night, several people were involved in a gunfight near a pier in the Bronx. Witnesses called in, and when patrol officers arrived, they found three people. Two had fled, and one who had been shot was down. He didn't survive, declared dead at a hospital."

That bastard Luis, having just been warned not to create anything shameful, yet a gunfight erupts almost immediately, with fatalities involved.

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Note: Based on current FBI official website data, most Special Agents in Charge (SACs) at various offices have publicly available resumes. I haven't investigated too many individuals but from the dozen or so I've reviewed, the time from joining the FBI to becoming a Supervisory Special Agent ranges between 6-10 years, with some individuals advancing from entry to Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) within about 10 years.

These are among the most outstanding group of FBI agents; the promotion timelines for personnel in my design also mostly refer to their promotion periods.

Interested parties can check out their official website for more information.