North America Gunman Detective

Jimmy: "Information? Have you investigated it?"

Charon nodded. Jimmy thought for a moment, since this person is an associate of the hotel, it's not convenient to approach directly as the FBI: "Can I ask her to take a look at this pattern? Just to confirm if she can provide any leads? If her clients are really all prominent figures, then this dismemberment case could spell big trouble."

Charon shook his head: "Judging by the number of tattoos she's done over the years, I doubt she can remember most of her clients because there are so many of us."

Jimmy was about to speak, but Charon continued: "However, I can pass the message along for you. If she recalls anything, I'll let you know as soon as possible."

Jimmy raised an eyebrow, "Oh, Charon, thank you. Winston is such a lucky guy."

Charon slightly bowed, and Jimmy said: "I'll send you the photo, please ask her for me."

-----------------

Jimmy left the hotel wearing sunglasses, and this time there was no need to take a cab. Charon had arranged for a hotel attendant to take Jimmy home. Winston was indeed a fortunate old man. How he wished to have Charon as his butler, so considerate.

At home, Nia looked at Jimmy's outfit in surprise and asked, "You didn't go to work today?"

Jimmy replied while taking off his coat, "Went to investigate something, did a bit of disguise. How was today? By the way, when is Chuck retiring?"

Nia: "Same as always, peaceful. As for Chuck, it should be next year. Thirty years, what a long time."

Jimmy: "That's pretty good, being able to retire smoothly and receive a full pension is the real deal. Now he probably just oversees newcomers or sits in the office, right?"

Nia: "Yeah, he's basically not going out on field duty anymore. But I heard some time ago that someone has already offered him a job, to work as a security consultant for a company after he retires."

Jimmy laughed. That approach was quite similar to Hughes, who received several invitations at home right after retirement, although Hughes' level is evidently much higher.

Jimmy: "Not bad, with a pension, and consulting fees on top, that should be enough for him to enjoy his later years."

Sitting on the sofa, "What are we having for dinner?"

Nia looked at Jimmy in surprise: "I thought you ate outside. When I got home, you weren't here. Hold on, the takeout I ordered will take a while yet."

After working all day, neither of them felt like cooking when they returned, so they either ate out or ordered takeout, ensuring they wouldn't go hungry.

Jimmy: "I came back to change clothes and headed out for the case, just something casual will do, didn't have a great appetite today."

Nia: "What's wrong?"

Jimmy: "Looked into a case today, the photos were quite unsettling."

Nia: "Forget it then, let's not talk about it, it'll affect the mood."

Jimmy shrugged, picked up the remote, and changed channels out of boredom, looking for an interesting show to pass the time.

-----------------

In the morning the next day, Jimmy walked out of the elevator and saw a worn-out David entering the elevator, "David, what's up? You look like you haven't rested all night."

David waved and entered the adjacent elevator: "Talk later, I need to catch up on sleep now. I've barely slept in the past two days."

Watching the elevator doors close, Jimmy turned and walked to his office. It seemed this smuggling case was significant, keeping David busy for two sleepless days.

Not sleeping for two days wasn't much of an issue for Jimmy. In fact, he could keep his energy with short naps. Sleeping regularly was now more of a habit, and he would wake up early, unable to sleep any longer.

In the afternoon, Jimmy received a call from Charon: "Mr. Yang, I've inquired about the information you wanted. Ms. Blackwood wishes to meet and chat with you. When would it be convenient to meet?"

Jimmy checked the time, "Meeting in person? Can I meet her directly?"

Charon: "Yes, she has agreed."

Jimmy: "Then 3 PM it is, send me her address."

This time, Jimmy didn't have time to change clothes, so he drove his Suburban with his suit and sunglasses to the appointed place.

In Jimmy's impression, tattoo artists were usually young people with strange attires, exaggerated hairstyles, large earrings or nose rings, the style he couldn't quite accept. However, meeting Aria Blackwood this time was completely different.

Blackwood was a middle-aged Caucasian lady. Though seemingly not young, her makeup was completely normal, like an office worker, without any of the stereotypes of a tattoo artist in Jimmy's mind.

As they shook hands, Jimmy noticed her hand was smooth and soft, seemingly well-cared for, without any nail polish, looking clean and fresh.

Blackwood: "Welcome to my little shop, Mr. Yang."

Jimmy: "Good afternoon, Ms. Blackwood."

Blackwood and Jimmy sat in the reception area of the tattoo shop. Jimmy first took a photo out of his pocket and said: "Ms. Blackwood, I think Charon has already mentioned it, I want to find information on someone with this tattoo."

Blackwood: "Yes, but that photo isn't very clear, and you can't determine the tattoo's position just from it, so I wanted to confirm with you once more."

Jimmy handed the photo to her: "Apologies, I don't have a complete photo here, as it was found on a dismembered body, part of an ongoing case. What we can confirm is that this photo was taken of the right leg, and the tattoo should be on the outer front side of the right thigh. By the way, may I see your original tattoo image?"

Blackwood took a portfolio from beside her, "This tattoo design is a variant of an iris flower. I could discern that from the photograph. Given the tattoo style, it should be a client from here. Of course, I can't rule out someone plagiarizing my design."

Jimmy took a glance at the tattoo photo in the portfolio that had been turned to, recognizing the iris, which was almost identical to Bartender Adi's tattoo and quite similar to the design in the case photo.

Jimmy: "Do you have a client list here? Are there any clients who got this pattern tattooed on their leg?"

Blackwood: "If you're sure it's on the right thigh, I can try to check. Please wait a moment."

Blackwood walked into the room behind the studio. Jimmy could see her taking something down from the cabinet inside and then began to search, clearly very familiar, and flipped through quickly.

Blackwood cooperating so well in this investigation was likely due to Charon's influence. Otherwise, a niche tattoo artist had no obligation to be so polite and cooperative with an FBI agent like Jimmy, especially now that he's asking for client-related information, which technically is private data that she could refuse to provide and cooperate.

Blackwood picked up her phone in the room and made several calls, chatting with someone inside for a bit before jotting something in a notebook, tearing it off, and coming back out.

Blackwood handed the paper to Jimmy: "Mr. Yang, I just contacted those who had irises tattooed on their legs under the guise of checking their tattoo's condition. Only these two individuals couldn't be reached. One phone number has been deactivated, and the other didn't answer."

Jimmy looked at the paper, Victoria Hart, Annie Foster, followed by their two phone numbers. He looked up at Blackwood, stood up, and shook her hand: "Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Blackwood. Sorry, I need to get back to continue the investigation, so I won't disturb you any further. Goodbye."

Back at the office, Jimmy investigated the two names and phone numbers in the system. Victoria Hart's number had been deactivated, making it irrelevant, but the second person, Annie Foster's number, successfully located her information in the system.