"Look, there's a car driving in. Time stamp says 10:30," Alvin pointed at the monitor. "Five people just jumped out of the car. It would appear that they know Mike."
"I can't hear what they are saying. Does this thing have volume?" Decker asked, leaning in closer to the monitor. Alvin fiddled with the controls. "Yeah, give me a moment, let me turn it up ."
The camera captures a car pulling up to the location. Five individuals exit the vehicle, appearing to be familiar with the surroundings.
The Audio Feed:
Mike: (approaching the car) "Boss Josh, what've you got for me?"
Boss Josh: (handing over keys) "A sweet ride. Let's discuss the price."
Mike: (examining the vehicle) "It's a nice car indeed. But I gotta tell you, I'm only gonna be able to offer you guys five grand for it. It's stolen, right?"
Boss Josh: (nervously) "Five grand? We'll take it."
(The transaction is completed, and the five men depart.)
Crew Member 1: "Dude, your killin' it! They took five grand for this beauty?"
Crew Member 2: "Right? I've seen some desperate sellers, but these guys were on a whole other level."
Crew Member 3: "Hey, Mike, ain't this a 2017 GTC Dodge Viper? I remember seeing these go for a pretty penny."
Mike: "Yeah, you're thinkin' of the right car. These babies go for anywhere from $190,000 to over $320,000, dependin' on the condition and all that jazz."
(The crew laughs and begins dismantling the vehicle.)
"Well now it Looks like Mr Griffin's operation is more than just a legitimate business," Decker said, his eyes scanning the scene. "Let's get to work, Alvin. We've got a lot to process here."
Alvin nodded, his expression grim. "I've got the VIN numbers running through the database. Let's see if we can match this car to any reports of stolen vehicles."
As they began to investigate, the sound of sirens echoed in the distance, growing louder. Mike's crew looked around nervously, realizing their operation had just been blown wide open.
Decker's eyes locked onto the car as he turned to Alvin. "Before we run the VIN, I want to make sure we're on the right track. Let's get some confirmation."
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "I'm going to call Mr. Oliver Wright, see if his son drove a car matching this description."
Alvin nodded, understanding the plan. "I'll get the VIN ready to run while you make the call."
Decker waited for the call to connect, his mind racing with possibilities. When Mr. Wright answered, Decker asked, "Mr. Wright, this is Detective Decker. I need to ask you about your son's car. What kind of vehicle did he drive?"
"Mr. Wright, this is Detective Decker. I need to ask you about your son's car. What kind of vehicle did he drive?" Decker asked, his tone professional.
There was a pause before Mr. Wright responded, his voice laced with concern. "He drove a...a 2017 Dodge Viper. It was a new car my father gave to him. Why? Do you have news about...about what happened to him?"
Decker's expression turned serious. "Thank you, Mr. Wright. We appreciate your cooperation. We'll be in touch if we need anything else."
Decker hung up the phone and turned to Alvin, his eyes locked on the car. "It's a match. The victim's father confirmed he drove a 2017 Dodge Viper."
"Alvin, let's get a team to review the footage and run the faces of the five men through our database. See if we can get a match. And make sure to secure a copy of this video for evidence."
Alvin nodded, pulling out his radio to call for backup and start the process, still standing amidst the chaos of the crime scene.
As Alvin finished copying the data from the computer. They heard a commotion outside, Decker went to check on it. He saw a group of people approaching, led by a man in an FBI suit.
"What's going on here?" Decker asked, his eyes narrowing.
One of the men flashed a badge. "My name is Special Agent Peter Wayne. These are my associates. We will be taking over this crime scene from now on."
Decker's expression turned skeptical. "Who authorized you to take over?"
Agent Wayne's expression remained firm. "We've been briefed on the situation. We're here to handle it from now on."
Alvin stepped forward, his eyes locked on the FBI agents. "I'm not sure that's possible, Agent Wayne. We're in the middle of an investigation here."
Agent Wayne's gaze shifted to Alvin. "I don't think you understand, Detective. This case is now under federal jurisdiction. We're taking over."
Agent Wayne's expression remained firm. "Mr. Michael Griffin had ties to the underworld, such as gambling, money laundering, drug trafficking, human trafficking... So, you see why we're taking over this case."
Decker's eyes narrowed. "That may be, Agent Wayne, but we have jurisdiction here. We were investigating a homicide, not a federal case."
Agent Wayne's voice remained calm but firm. "The victim's connection to Griffin's operation changes everything. This is now a federal investigation."
Decker's expression turned skeptical. "I'm not aware of any evidence linking the victim to Griffin's operation. What makes you think that?"
Agent Wayne's eyes seemed to gleam with confidence. "Let's just say we have reason to believe the victim was involved with Griffin's organization. We're taking over, Detective. I need you to step aside and let us handle it."
Alvin's voice was laced with tension. "We're not just talking about a simple homicide here, Agent Wayne. There's more to this case than you're letting on."
"You know what the crime scene is yours. We're leaving, Alvin," Decker's voice was firm. "You know the drill. Let's go."
Alvin nodded, following Decker as they began to pack up their equipment. "Yeah, let's get out of here. It's clear the FBI's taking over."
As they walked away from the crime scene, Decker's expression remained tight with frustration. "This isn't over."
"Do you still have the copy of the recording?" Decker whispered to Alvin as they got into their car.
Alvin pulled out a flash drive from his pocket. "Yeah, I've still got it."
"Let's head back to the station and run these faces through the database, see if we get any hits," Decker said, already starting to dial a number on his phone.
Alvin nodded, turning the key in the ignition. "I'll get us there ASAP."
"The warehouse is no longer our problem," Decker added, his voice firm, as they pulled away from the curb.