"I don't know."
Dirk Carter said.
Lauren Radford's expression shifted slightly.
However, she still controlled her emotions and said, "Dirk Carter, don't play dumb with me. It's impossible to muddle through. I've just spoken with your leader, and your issue is serious. I'm not joking with you."
Dirk couldn't help but smile inwardly.
Could Delilah Goodman really speak ill of him?
Same old trick, merely trying to bluff him.
"An issue? What issue do I have? I merely punched Victor Ford. That guy was cheating with my girlfriend; anyone would have taken action."
This response.
Left Lauren momentarily stunned.
It was obvious.
She was also surprised that there was bad blood between Victor Ford and Dirk Carter.
"We're not here to talk about Victor Ford."
"Then it's about Dylan Tate?" asked Dirk Carter.
Lauren's eyes lit up with surprise.
She nodded and said, "Tell us."
Dirk Carter pretended to ponder for a moment.
He said, "Although I'm Dylan Tate's adopted son, I don't know much about his affairs. There is one thing, however, that I heard him mention."
Seeing Dirk so cooperative.
The three people in the dimly lit room exchanged glances.
It was evident.
They were a bit excited.
"What thing?"
Dirk Carter suddenly shifted his gaze to Lauren.
And it was a piercing gaze.
He slowly said, "Last July, concerning the Environmental Bureau's Hilliard Hall, the ins and outs, the whole story—I'm clear on all of it, including..."
Dirk wanted to continue.
But at that moment, Lauren couldn't sit still anymore.
She abruptly interrupted Dirk and said, "We have already grasped the situation regarding Hilliard Hall. Dirk Carter, think again. Is there anything else?"
Regarding Lauren's interruption.
Dirk felt secretly happy.
It hit the mark. It seems Dylan Tate's notebook truly is a lifesaver.
He pretended to contemplate and said, "Well, I need time to think about it carefully."
"Alright, we'll give you that time. Little Li, you two go out and take a break; I'll handle it here."
Lauren told the other two.
Since it was the team leader's order.
It must be followed.
After the two turned and left, Lauren got up and turned off the recording DV machine.
Then.
She nervously asked, "How much do you know about the Hilliard Hall matter?"
"I know everything that should be known, and of course, I also know that after Hilliard Hall was dealt with, Team Leader Radford became the deputy director of the Bureau against Corruption."
Leaving it at that.
Dirk Carter stopped talking further.
With just one short sentence.
Lauren's body began to tremble slightly.
You could clearly see that her forehead was dotted with fine sweat.
What Dirk Carter spoke about was her secret.
A massive secret.
Last July.
A media outlet from the province exposed that the Rosewood Gardens Plastic Particle Processing Plant in Stillwater County was recklessly discharging sewage, polluting over 100 acres of farmland, and resulting in a failed harvest.
The city's prosecutor's office required the county's Bureau against Corruption to conduct an investigation.
The Deputy County Head Vincent, who was in charge of the Environmental Bureau, approached Lauren Radford, the head of the first investigative division responsible for the case.
He told her that the deputy director of the Environmental Bureau, Hilliard Hall, would voluntarily surrender.
As long as Lauren pinned all the charges on Hilliard Hall.
He would lend her a hand in matters of cadre evaluation and promotion.
Lauren knew well enough that Hilliard Hall was merely a scapegoat, but for the sake of her career, she eventually agreed.
After the case concluded.
Lauren was successfully promoted to deputy director of the Bureau against Corruption.
Not many people knew about this. Dylan Tate wasn't involved at all throughout, but how on earth did Dirk Carter know about it?
No way, she had to test a little more—what if this guy was just bluffing?
Thinking of this.
Lauren sneered and said, "Dirk Carter, regarding Hilliard Hall's case, the evidence is overwhelming. I think you'd better think about other matters."
"Heh heh, whether the evidence is overwhelming, Team Leader Radford knows, and Deputy County Head Vincent knows. I just don't know if the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection would be interested."
Dirk Carter's words made Lauren's heart leap to her throat.
He unexpectedly also knew Shane Vincent.
That means Dirk Carter must certainly hold some secrets.
If he really reported to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.
If the higher-ups extracted a confession from Hilliard Hall, her life would likely be over.
She worked hard to calm her restless heart.
Asked, "What do you want?"
Dirk Carter didn't hold back.
He said, "I'm not afraid of being investigated, nor am I afraid of being detained; mainly, I'm worried that if I've got nothing to confess, I'd have to talk about Hilliard Hall's stuff, Team Leader Radford, what do you think I should do about that?"
Scoundrel!
He clearly wanted her to release him.
But he said it so righteously.
Lauren really wanted to slap him.
But she did not have the courage at the moment.
After a pause.
She opened the door to the small dark room.
Then the two staff members who had initially brought Dirk Carter in arrived at the doorway.
They whispered a few words at the door.
Lauren turned around and walked back in.
With a righteous air, she said, "Dirk Carter, you can leave now, but when our task force needs you, you have to come at any time."
"Of course, that's my duty, after all."
Dirk Carter smiled.
And walked out of the small dark room.
Having just gotten his phone back.
He found more than a dozen missed calls on it.
All from his good brother, Darius Young.
He returned a call, and Darius told him that the Bingham Fisher issue was all settled.
The photos taken from him would be sent to his apartment soon.
The Bureau against Corruption building wasn't far from his apartment.
Dirk Carter decided to walk back.
He hadn't walked far.
A Nissan car slowly pulled over to the roadside.
As the window rolled down.
A charming face appeared, none other than Lauren Radford, now in casual clothes.
"Get in."
Dirk Carter didn't waste words and bent down to open the passenger door.
Once Dirk Carter was in the car.
Lauren hit the accelerator and drove off.
Once the car left the city, it entered a country road and then stopped in a dense small forest.
Throughout the entire ride.
Dirk Carter did not speak.
Even when the car stopped in this pitch-dark environment.
He showed not a hint of fear.
Lauren, somewhat puzzled, asked, "Aren't you scared?"
"Scared of what? Scared that Team Leader Radford would eat me up? If you really swallow me up, Team Leader Radford, being so beautiful, I'd certainly be the one profiting."
Flattery never goes out of style.
No woman dislikes being complimented by a man.
Lauren giggled coquettishly and said, "You sweet talker."
Then, she took her bag and pulled out a set of keys.
She said, "I heard you're still renting a place. This is a property I have vacant in the county town. You can stay there as long as you like. If you like living there, I'll transfer it to you."
This was an attempt to buy him off.
A house in exchange for Dirk Carter's silence, though it pained her a bit.
But compared to her future, it seemed insignificant.
Dirk Carter took the keys and scrutinized them, saying, "A house in Rosewood Gardens isn't cheap. Such an expensive gift, I wouldn't dare take it."
After saying so.
He handed the keys back.
Lauren, flustered.
She said, "Dirk Carter, let's be upfront with each other. As long as you don't spill anything, you can make a request, and if I can manage it, there won't be a word from your sister."
Dirk Carter rubbed his chin.
Squinting at Lauren.
After work, she had changed into casual clothing.
The top was a black V-neck inner layer, paired with a thin blouse.
The bottom consisted of shorts.
Her fair legs, exposed under the light, were a bit dazzling.
Although her outfit seemed casual, it couldn't conceal the striking sight at her chest.
Lauren also noticed Dirk Carter's gaze.
She felt uneasy.
Fearing that the boy sought herself.