Chapter 111: If everything goes as expected, it should be an unexpected event.

Veronica's words fell, and the entire fifth investigation group fell into deep thought. Augustus was no exception either, for Veronica had not informed him of this.

Roan flipped through the materials in his hands, pondered for a few seconds, and then raised his head to ask, "Chief, what is the relationship between this Ivan-Davis and our FBI?"

Veronica shook her head. "As far as I know, there is none."

Mona, beside her, thought of something and asked with an unnatural expression, "Then is this Ivan-Davis related by blood to some official in Washington?"

"The file does not indicate this."

Veronica understood Mona's meaning. After shaking her head, she said with a serious face, "Everyone, this mission is merely a routine task. We only need to investigate whether the accidental car crash Ivan-Davis experienced last night was truly an accident. Do you understand?"

All the investigators from the fifth group nodded in unison. "Understood!"

Veronica tilted her head toward Augustus. "The rest will be left to you."

"No problem, Chief."

Seeing Augustus agree with a solemn tone, Veronica nodded in satisfaction. After sweeping a glance at Roan, she turned and left the fifth investigation group's office area.

"Very well, everyone. This case does not appear overly complex..."

After Veronica's figure had completely vanished from the fifth investigation group, Augustus casually tossed the folder in his hand and prepared to arrange the next steps when Roan and Lacy suddenly raised their hands, signaling they had something to report.

"What's the matter?"

Augustus raised an eyebrow. "You two discovered clues so quickly?"

"Indeed, they are clues, but not related to this case."

Roan smiled and cast his gaze toward Lacy.

Lacy wasted no words. She directly picked up the notebook on her desk and briefly recounted to Augustus the incident of having seen Ogden late the previous night.

"You have good fortune, Lacy."

After listening to Lacy's description, Augustus was stunned for a moment before breaking into a grin. "You didn't have time to purchase several powerful ball lottery tickets last night?"

"I'm planning to buy them after this."

Lacy shrugged her shoulders and then inquired, "What should be done with Ogden?"

"Of course, we must immediately apprehend him."

Ogden's bounty was a staggering four hundred thousand dollars—how could anyone dislike extra money?

After a moment of contemplation, Augustus patted Leed's shoulder and then turned his head to address Lacy. "You two go together. Be cautious and exercise great care."

"Understood, Chief."

The pair nodded in agreement.

"Roan."

Observing Leed and Lacy heading toward the equipment room, Augustus turned to Roan and said, "Assigning you and Mona to investigate whether the car accident was accidental."

"No issue."

Roan nodded and then let out a sigh.

It was not that Roan also wished to arrest Ogden; the clues concerning Ogden had originally been discovered by him, and he would still receive a share of the reward once the man was captured. The cause of Roan’s sigh was the car accident case.

Upon seeing this accident report, Roan had developed an intuition: unless there was some unforeseen complication, this car crash should not have been an accident.

—

At the residence of Ivan-Davis.

"The NYPD informed me that Ivan was driving last night when he swerved to avoid a sudden animal crossing the road and collided head-on with a large tree by the roadside."

In the living room, Ivan's wife Tanya's eyes were swollen and red-rimmed as she sobbed while speaking. "I had already prepared a midnight snack and was waiting for him at home, but I never imagined..."

The location of last night's crash was in a secluded forest area on the outskirts of New York. Ivan had crashed his vehicle into a massive tree along the roadside, the hood crumpled upward, the driver sustaining a head injury that proved fatal on impact.

"Sorry."

Mona, seated beside Tanya, extracted a tissue and handed it over. With Tanya's permission, Roan entered Ivan's study.

After comforting Tanya for a time, Mona noticed her emotions beginning to settle and asked gently, "Tanya, what was Ivan's profession? Did it involve any connection with the government?"

"Ivan was a photographer."

Tanya lifted the tissue to wipe away her tears and continued softly, "We've only been married for a year, and he rarely spoke of his work with me..."

Tanya's account aligned closely with the information previously compiled by the fifth investigation group.

After a brief pause, Mona continued in a low voice, "Did Ivan have any conflicts with anyone during his life? Or did he mention to you that someone intended to harm him?"

"Ivan had a gentle nature and never lost his temper—that is precisely why I married him."

Tanya shook her head repeatedly. "Ivan maintained excellent relations with his colleagues. I met each of them, and none appeared to harbor any grudge against him..."

Mona frowned slightly and pressed on, "May I know what Ivan's recent work entailed?"

Upon learning Ivan's occupation as a photographer, Mona formed a conjecture: he had likely captured something he should not have, after which he was silenced.

"I mentioned earlier that Ivan rarely discussed his work with me. Recently, he had only completed one assignment, lasting less than a week..."

As Tanya spoke, her expression shifted dramatically, and she suddenly realized something. "Wait—why is your FBI inquiring about these matters? Why investigate this car accident?"

Seeing Tanya clutch Mona's shoulders in agitation, Roan emerged from the study and offered a gentle explanation, "Please calm yourself, Mrs. Davis. These are merely routine inquiries. All right?"

"...Okay."

Tanya fell silent for a moment, released her grip, and gave a slow nod.

After several additional questions, Roan handed Tanya his business card and instructed her to contact him if she recalled anything further.

He then departed Ivan's home with Mona.

"Based solely on what Tanya has shared, this does appear to be an ordinary accident."

Seated once more in the passenger seat of the SUV, Mona tapped away at her laptop while inquiring, "What about you, Roan? Did you uncover anything?"

"No useful information was found in the study, and Ivan kept his laptop with him at all times."

Roan, in the driver's seat, started the vehicle and shook his head. "However, Tanya mentioned that Ivan had been on a recent trip. We should investigate the destination and circumstances."

"I'm on it."

Mona gestured at her computer, indicating she was engaged in the task.

Checking his phone, Roan raised an eyebrow before saying, "I've just received two messages. Ivan's crashed vehicle has already begun transferring to the Jacob Federal Building, but his body remains at the NYPD. Therefore, we should proceed to NYPD first to examine the remains, then take his laptop back to the Jacob Federal Building to inspect the vehicle."

"No problem."

Mona tossed Roan an OK gesture, her fingers dancing rapidly across the keyboard. Roan immediately pressed the accelerator, sending the black SUV racing toward the NYPD.

—

"This gentleman's cause of death is straightforward."

In the NYPD autopsy room, the elderly white medical examiner spread his hands upon hearing Roan and Mona's inquiry. "The car accident inflicted severe trauma to his head and chest, ultimately resulting in death."

Roan propped his chin with one hand, pondering for a few seconds before tilting his head. "What about the blood test? Any results?"

The old examiner smiled and snapped his fingers. "Excellent question!"

(Chapter End)