Action One

Over the next few days, Jack and his two companions opened anonymous accounts at different banks, each holding one, though their accounts were also under Mo Fei's surveillance. Then, separately, they purchased the items Mo Fei had requested at various locations across New York. It wasn't until the evening of February 20th that Jack received a call from Mo Fei.

"Rest well. We move early tomorrow morning. At 4 AM, have Jerry steal a car—just make sure it's in working order. You three bring two large travel bags, and pack everything you need for leaving the country into your own car. I'll call again when the time comes."

"Understood." Jack let out a sigh of relief. It was finally starting. This Ghost really knew how to bide his time. He then notified the other two. None of them slept well that night, their nerves taut with tension. They all got up before 4 AM, prepared individually, and began the operation.

Jerry left home with a large backpack, driving his pickup truck to Jack's house first. He loaded his things into Jack's car, and then the two of them set off in two vehicles.

After picking up Roy, the three returned to Jerry's home. Jerry parked his own truck, got into Jack's car, and they started scouting for a target. A four-door Mustang caught their eye.

"Let's go with this Mustang. Looks pretty new, shouldn't have any mechanical issues. It's got a thick layer of dust—probably hasn't been driven in three or four days. With luck, it might not be used today either," Jerry said.

He had some experience with car theft, being a street racer himself. Jerry got out, glanced around, walked straight to the car, pulled out a flat steel ruler, and jammed it into the top of the window seal—a smooth, fluid motion.

Just then, Jack's phone buzzed again. "Drive. Follow my directions." Mo Fei was now at the New York Traffic Monitoring Center, and this time he was using a landline there to communicate with them. If anyone picked up that phone, they'd hear nothing but a dial tone.

Following Mo Fei's instructions, they soon arrived outside a narrow alley. "Park the car by the roadside. Get into the one Jerry stole, and keep going." The legal vehicle was left behind, while they drove the stolen car, loaded with guns and prepared gear, taking a roundabout route that brought them out at the other end of the alley.

"The middle section of this alley is blocked off. After you finish, follow my directions to get here, cross the blocked area, change clothes, and drive away. Understood?"

"Understood. But what about the bank's security?"

"No need to worry. Everything is under control. I'll patch through to all three of your phones. Park the car here for now and find a place to grab breakfast. Today is Friday. Traffic peaks start at 8 AM. We strike at 8:15, when the bank has the most cash on hand. You'll have five minutes."

"Got it."

The three left with their gear, leaving the stolen four-door Mustang parked in the alley. They didn't return until 7:45 AM. As soon as they got in the car, their phones rang simultaneously.

They put on Bluetooth earbuds and answered. Mo Fei said, "Put the nuts in your mouth, one on each side. Put on the swim goggles, then the masks. Insert the insoles into your shoes, and tie your laces tight."

Without a word, they followed Mo Fei's orders. Though saliva kept building up in their mouths, they swallowed it, keeping their lips sealed. The car started, and Jerry drove straight to the bank. Jack and Roy checked their pistols.

"Screech—" A sharp braking sound. Jerry drove unimpeded to the bank's entrance. Jack took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and stepped out. Under the stunned gaze of the security guard at the door, he walked right up to him, his pistol keeping the man from making any sudden moves.

There were few pedestrians around, and no one seemed to notice. The three of them herded the guard into the bank.

Going back to the moment they started driving, Mo Fei used different landlines at the monitoring center to call in false reports, pulling all patrol units away from the area around Wall Street Bank. Then he controlled the traffic lights, turning every intersection's signals red, gridlocking all the streets. At every crossroads, all four directions showed red, trapping every vehicle in place. Meanwhile, Jack's car had a clear path straight to the bank, where traffic was sparse.

It was somewhat lucky that no one saw them, but even if someone had, the nearby patrols couldn't get there in time. That gave them their five minutes.

"Jerry, the third window on the left counter. That slightly plump woman. Point your gun at her and walk over. Jack, go straight to the VIP room on the right. There's only one person there—he has a set of keys hanging from his left hip. Roy, guard the door, ready to fire if needed. Don't be nervous. They're all afraid to die. No one will rush you." Under Mo Fei's direction, they moved into action.

At first, the people inside the bank didn't react, going about their business. Then someone screamed. But by then, the three were in position. Jerry aimed his gun at the plump woman at the third window on the left, repeating Mo Fei's words through the phone: "Ma'am, step back. Don't try to hit the alarm."

The location of the alarm button was confidential, unknown to most people, and pressing it triggered a silent alert. The plump woman froze for a moment, then trembled, scrambling backward. Her legs gave out halfway, and she fell, but she didn't dare delay—she crawled a few steps to get far away.

Jerry was satisfied. The bank was in chaos, but Jack had already trained his gun on a bank manager in the VIP room, the one handling all VIP clients. He was also the bank's manager, and the keys to the vault hung from his left hip. Roy stood at the entrance with his gun, keeping everyone back. Jack walked out and said, "Everyone, get down. We won't hurt anyone—as long as you don't do anything stupid."

Everyone crouched down, trembling. The bank had only just opened, so there were only a few customers inside, mostly staff. With so few people, there wasn't much commotion.

Jack headed straight for the back of the bank. A massive alloy door loomed before him. He inserted the key, then entered the code as Mo Fei instructed. With a click, the lock opened. Jack pushed the heavy door open. The sight of the money inside stunned him—row after row of neatly stacked bundles of dollars. He felt dizzy.

"Get to work. Don't panic. Fill all six bags. Move fast." Mo Fei's voice snapped him back. He quickly unzipped his backpack, spreading out six empty travel bags, and methodically began packing the stacks of cash inside.