Chapter 1118 An unexpected reunion
Tijuana's climate is similar to that of Los Angeles, and both are seaside cities close to the Pacific Ocean.
It was already early summer in June, and it was too hot to wear a T-shirt during the day. The streets were filled with tourists wearing Mexican straw hats and local vendors soliciting business.
Jack and Hannah wore short-sleeved T-shirts and sunglasses, with police badges and guns on their waists, showing their identities openly.
If they are in other countries, they will try their best to act in plain clothes, or at least cover up their guns to avoid causing resentment among the local people.
After all, although the United States is known as the world’s policeman, not everyone wants to see law enforcement officers from other countries appear on their own soil, especially in countries with painful colonial memories.
But Mexico is another story. Here, drug dealers can take to the streets with great arrogance, but the police have to be secretive. Even when investigating crime scenes, they wear black masks.
As early as the 1970s, the United States sent law enforcement forces and even used the military to help many South American countries, including Mexico, to suppress drug traffickers on many occasions.
"I thought only the police and soldiers who specialize in dealing with drug cartels like you mentioned would worry about being identified." Hannah opened the car door and looked at the Mexican federal police who were still dressed in black from head to toe under the bright sun. .
After leaving the medical examiner's office, they went straight to Plaza Delgado, where the crime occurred, where Jubal and Clay were already waiting for them.
"Any case here may be related to the drug cartel." Jack reminded, "Have you forgotten that we just detected the residue of cocaine in the child's fingernails."
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"But are there drug traffickers in Mexico who use sickles as murder tools?" Hannah pretended to be confused.
"The only one I know who uses a scythe as a weapon is the God of Death, but if it were Him, it wouldn't leave any wounds, but would directly harvest the souls."
Jack made a joke, and at the same time noticed that the man dressed as a Mexican SWAT officer who was talking to Clay not far away looked familiar.
"Is that you?" Recognizing the other person at first glance, Jack did not call out his name loudly, but took two quick steps closer and then lowered his voice, "Lieutenant Lopez?" (Chapter 600)
"Jack!" The stocky man hugged Jack enthusiastically, very hard, "It's so nice to see you again."
Jack was also happy to see old acquaintances when he first arrived in Mexico, but he was more confused, "I thought you had left this country."
While dealing with a drug cartel, Lopez's face was recognized, resulting in a death bounty being placed on the entire family.
After the case was concluded, the CIA provided him and his family with a full set of identity documents, and applied for green cards for his family in a manner similar to witness protection.
Therefore, in Jack's perception, this man should have started his new life in the United States long ago.
"Now I work for CBP, and they need someone who knows more about drug cartels. Now our whole family lives in San Diego, and we no longer need to live in fear."
Lopez had tears in his eyes, not only excited, but more out of gratitude to Jack.
If the kind-hearted FBI hadn't helped him, the best outcome would have been for him and Doza, the big drug lord, to die together.
"Lopez is the person sent by CBP to assist us, and he is also our liaison with the Mexican police." Clay had just chatted with Lopez for a while, and now he helped introduce.
"I'm glad to see you can still contribute to your motherland in this way." Jack's words spoke to Lopez's heart, and his happiness could be felt even through the mask. "Please come with me." After Jack finished briefly introducing Hannah, Lopez, a former Mexican Marine Corps lieutenant and current CBP agent, made an invitation gesture and led everyone to a big tree next to the square. Down.
The place has been surrounded by locals and tourists who love to watch the excitement. The Mexican special police wearing bulletproof vests and black masks are working hard to maintain the blockade.
"The owner of the store next door found the body when he opened the store this morning." Lopez pointed to the hemp rope still hanging on the big branch.
Seeing that everyone's attention was attracted by the crowd watching the fun outside the blockade, he explained knowingly, "This is a tourist area, and the security is usually pretty good. At least there has never been such a situation of hanging corpses on display."
Hannah took off her sunglasses, raised her head and squinted at the canopy of a big tree that was more than ten meters high, "Since it is so busy here, didn't anyone see how the body was hung?"
"Even the lively market square is deserted from early morning to dawn. That is not a time period suitable for good people to hang out."
Lopez pointed to the shops selling souvenirs behind the big tree, "I asked the nearby businesses before you came, and the gangs here are pretty well-behaved.
As long as they pay enough protection fees, they are still happy to maintain order around them. After all, their illegal businesses also need enough tourists to maintain. ”
Although Tijuana also has good sunshine and sandy beaches, California is most lacking in this.
The reason why American tourists flock to this city is not only the low prices and the drinks that attract teenagers, but also the red light district and drug addicts.
Therefore, local gangs and drug cartels also have a tacit understanding to stay away from tourist gathering areas. Even if they are fighting for territory, they will try to choose other places. Of course, this is only under normal circumstances.
Just now, Jubal and Jack were one step behind, after exchanging the autopsy results in a low voice, and now they walked over together.
"Since the murderer took advantage of this, it means that he is aware of the situation nearby and may even live nearby."
Jack looked down at the ground, "But obviously, this is not the first scene of the crime. The victim's carotid artery was cut off with a knife, and blood will spray everywhere.
But there were only a few drops under the tree, which showed that the blood had been basically drained from the body before it was hung up the tree. ”
Clay focused on another aspect, "Aren't you curious how the murderer did all this? It is difficult for one person to hoist the body to such a high place."
While he was speaking, Hannah had already easily climbed up to the crown of the tree in three or two movements along the trunk. After hearing this, she lowered her head and looked at the crowd, "What did you just say?"
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"Pretend I didn't say anything." Clay shrugged speechlessly.
"She's a Texas girl." Jack whispered, raising his smile and giving Hannah a thumbs up.
(End of chapter)