"Okay. He said, "I believe in you. Is there anything I can do to help?"

She thought for a moment: "Every building in your commune is marked on this map?"

"No," he said, "there are three new houses on the west side, just over the orchard, but please speak softly, one of them has just given birth. ”

"Okay. ”

A middle-aged female agent named Sally walked up. "I think we've searched all the buildings here," she said, "and there's no trace of a suspect." ”

Zhu Yuting said: "There are three houses on the west side of the orchard, have you found them?"

"No," said Sally, "I'm sorry, I'm going to search right away." ”

"Move gently," Zhu Yuting said, "and a family has just given birth. ”

"Understood. As Kossali left, the man in the blanket nodded his head in thanks.

At this time, Zhu Yuting's mobile phone rang. She answered the phone, and the voice of Agent Tan Zhixiang came from the other end of the phone: "We just searched all the buildings in the Magic Mountain Commune. No suspects were found. ”

"Thank you. Over the next ten minutes, the leaders of the other raiding teams called her one after another. They all brought the same news.

Ren Lian seemed to be unable to find it, and Zhu Yuting fell into the abyss of despair.

“FK。 She said, "I messed up. ”

Shang Ji-geun was also depressed. He said anxiously, "Will there be another Commune that we have missed?"

"Either that's it, or she's lying. ”

He looked thoughtful. "I just thought back to what it was," he said, "and I asked her where she lived, and it was the man who answered. ”

Zhu Yuting nodded: "I guess he lied. He's just that cunning. "I remembered his name. Shang Zhigen said, "She called him Liu Zhan." ”

Liu Zhan was still sitting in the car listening to the news an hour ago, and California was already in a panic. The airport was surrounded by mobs, the highway was blocked, and all were trying to flee the neighborhoods and cities near the San Andreas Fault. Governor McRae has already dispatched the National Guard. The Vice President is on a plane to Felicitas to inspect the damage. A growing number of people, including members of both houses of the state legislature, various mayors, community leaders, and journalists, are urging the governor to compromise with Earthhouse House.

But the problem is that since returning from Felicitas in a Toyota pickup truck driven by Wu Ming last night, Ren Lian has not spoken to him.

He knew she was angry, upset about the earthquake. He hadn't found a chance to calm her emotions.

She said, "I'm going to the police station to turn myself in!" Liu Zhan was shocked, and Ren Lian hated the police extremely much, "You're crazy." He said.

"We killed yesterday," she said, "and I listened to it on the way back in the car," "People have lost their homes, they have lost everything, not just the rich, but the poor as well." And that's all caused by us. ”

"But, I've already let Summer take care of it. ”

Liu Zhan held her hand tightly and said, "Do you think I want to kill?"

He looked remorseful: "I was happy because the vibrator worked, so that our words were depressing, but it wasn't my intention to hurt people. I knew there was going to be a risk, and I decided to take that risk, because the survival of the world is so important compared to that. I thought you made the same decision. ”

"I made the same decision, but it was a terrible decision, a very evil decision. Tears welled up in her eyes, "Please, don't you see what's wrong with us?" We are people who believe in love and peace, but now we are killing others! You're like Johnson, who bombed the Vietnamese and whitewashed his actions as legitimate. We all say he's a piece of, and he is. I've been trying all my life not to be like him!"

"So you feel like you've made a mistake," Mr. Liu said, "and I can understand that." It's hard for me to accept that you want to punish me and the whole Donglong in order to redeem yourself. You want to betray us and join the police. ”

"I didn't think so," she said, "and I don't want to punish anyone." ”

She fell into his trap all at once, "And what the hell do you want?" He didn't give her time to answer, "I think you're trying to make sure this is over." ”

"I think so. ”

Zhu Yuting was on her way back to San Francisco when she was called to Sacramento. The governor has a meeting to attend at eight o'clock. She slept in the car for another three or four hours, and by the time she got to the Houses of Parliament, she felt like she had regained her strength and was ready to take on all odds.

Clive and Charlie had flown in from San Francisco, and the director of the F.B.I.'s Sacramento bureau had joined in. At noon, they gathered in the governor's office, the "horseshoe" conference room. Ambaniel has taken his seat.

"Interstate 80 has been stuck in traffic for 12 kilometers, and it's full of people trying to escape the San Andreas Fault all the way," Ambanier said. ”

"The president called the FBI director and asked about policing," Cliffor said. He looked at Zhu Yuting, as if it was her fault. He also called Governor McRae. Ambaniel said.

"So far, we haven't faced serious policing issues," Cliffor, there are reports that there have been robberies in three neighborhoods in San Francisco and one in Oakland but this is an isolated phenomenon and the governor has summoned the National Guard and he is at the headquarters of the state forces. It's just that we don't need them yet. But if there is another earthquake..."

This thought made Zhu Yuting feel uncomfortable, "There will be no more earthquakes. She said. Everyone looked at her.

"Zhu Yuting!" Zhu Wu looked sarcastic: "Do you have any ideas?"

I have an idea, but it's not a good idea, but they're in a desperate situation now. "I can only think of one idea. She said, "Set a trap for him." ”

"How?"

"Tell him that Governor McRae wants to talk to him privately. ”

"I don't think he's going to fall into a trap," Cleaver said. ”

"I can't tell. Zhu Yuting frowned, "He is very smart, as long as he is a smart person, he will suspect fraud." But he's also a psychopath, and psychopaths like to control people, to get people to pay attention to them, to pay attention to their actions, and then to manipulate people and situations. Negotiating privately with the governor would make him feel like a face, and it would be a big temptation for him. ”

Ambaniel said: "I guess I'm the only one who's ever met him. ”

"Yes. "I've seen him and I've talked to him on the phone, but you've been in the same car with him for a few minutes. What is your impression of him? ”

"You're roughly right about him, a clever psychopath. I think he was angry because I didn't value him. He probably thought I should have been a little more respectful. ”

Zhu Yuting couldn't hold back a laugh, There are not many people who can make Ambaniel respectful, and Ambaniel continued: "He also understands that his request will encounter great political obstacles. I told him that the governor would not compromise with extortion. He's thought of that, and he's ready to speak. ”

"What's the rhetoric?"

"He said we can deny insider trading. Announcing the shutdown of the power plant, and then telling the public that it has nothing to do with the earthquake threat. ”

"Is this possible?" Zhu Yuting asked.

"Probably, I wouldn't give this advice, but if the governor gives me this as a matter of business, I have to say, it can be done. However, this is only purely theoretical. In practice, McRae wouldn't have done that, I know him. ”

• But he can be pretentious. Zhu Yuting said.

"What do you mean by that?"

We can tell Liu Zhan that the governor is willing to announce a shutdown of the power plant, but this is conditional, because he must protect his political future. He wanted to discuss these conditions privately with Liu Zhan. ”

Cleaver interjected: "The Supreme Court has dictated that law enforcement officers may use deception, trickery and lies when necessary. The only thing we can't do is to blackmail the suspect by taking away the suspect's child. If we promise not to be prosecuted, then this promise is legally valid, and we will not be able to prosecute the suspect, but Zhu Yuting's suggestions are definitely something that can be done, and we will not break the law. ”

"Okay. "I don't know if it's going to work, but I guess I'll have to give it a try." So be it. ”

Liu Zhan and Ren Lian drove a crashed Cadillac to Sacramento. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and the city was crowded.

Liu Zhan heard John's voice on the car radio, but it was not the time for his show to air.

"Now for a special message, the recipient is a mysterious person. John said that identity was the one that Liu Zhan used to participate in the F.B.I. press conference.

And the so-called junior high school was made up by Yuan Xiaohua herself, and when Liu Zhan realized that this message was for him, John said, "Call the following number to contact me." ”

"They want to make a deal with me. Liu Zhan said to Ren Lian, "That's right, we won!"

As Ren Lian drove through the crowds of traffic in the city center, Liu Zhan made a call on her mobile phone. He reckons that even if the F.B.I. could track the call, they wouldn't be able to lock down his car in the middle of traffic.

Listening to the phone ringing, his heart was already in his throat. I've won the lottery, and now I'm going to redeem my ticket.

It was a woman who answered the phone. "Huh?" She sounded a little guarded. Maybe after John posted the message, she had already received a lot of harassing phone calls.

"I'm the mystery man. ”

The other party immediately responded: "I'll give you a call from the governor's cabinet secretary Ambaniel right away." ”

That's great!

"But I need to confirm your identity first. ”

"How do you know for sure?"

"Can you tell me what was the name of that student reporter you brought with you a week ago?"

Liu Zhan remembered the name that Yuan Xiaohua had said to him, and he said it vigilantly, the fake name that Yuan Xiaohua used at that time.

"I'm getting you through now"

Not a trap, just to be on the safe side. Liu Zhan anxiously scanned the street to see if there were any police cars or FBI around

Approaching his car, he sees only shoppers and tourists.

After a while, Ambaniel's deep voice rang on the other end of the phone: "Mr. Liu Zhan?"

Liu Zhan cut to the chase and said: Have you thought about it? Do you want to take the bright road?"

"We're going to talk, and the governor wants to see you today to talk about a solution to this crisis. ”

Liu Zhan said: "Is the governor willing to accept our request and announce the suspension of construction?"

Ambaniel hesitated for a moment and said, "Yes," he said reluctantly, "but there are conditions."

"I told you in the car that the governor can't compromise with racketeering. And you mentioned political means. "

"Yes. ”

"You're a smart guy, and you know that in this case, the governor's political future is at risk. The announcement of the closure of the power plant must be handled with great care. ”

Liu Zhan thought triumphantly, Ambaniel had changed his tone. The arrogance of the past has disappeared, and he has learned to respect his opponents, which is very satisfying. "That said, the governor has to whitewash it, and he wants to make sure I don't poke him out. ”

"You can look at it that way. ”

"Where is the meeting place?"

"Here in the Capitol Governor's Office. ”

"You've got water in your head. ”