Chapter 31: Federal Express (Please keep reading)

Chinese Forum, another triumph for WeChat! Their reputation spreads across America!

It turns out these platforms are not merely for arranging casual meetups—they can accomplish serious feats!

After the meeting ended, the officers split up their assignments. One team changed into plain clothes and drove their own cars to stake out the block where the shipping label address was located, watching residents and passersby, snapping photos of anyone suspicious. The other group headed to the FedEx facility in Temple City, seeking cooperation for the police investigation.

Participation was voluntary; anyone could choose which team to join, since the tasks focused on investigation and gathering evidence.

Ao Xi considered his options and decided to check out FedEx. Surveillance just meant waiting idly in the car, which was far too boring.

FedEx had a distribution warehouse in Duarte. Couriers and parcels converged there, and it was conveniently within Temple City Police Department’s jurisdiction. If it were outside their zone, coordination would be a hassle.

The officers drove over. Inside, the warehouse was bustling—dozens of couriers sorting and loading parcels, curious about the arrival of seven or eight police officers but not crowding around, only occasionally glancing up.

Carles led his team to the FedEx manager and explained their purpose. The manager denied everything outright: “Our employees are all good people. They’ve undergone rigorous training, are highly professional, and strictly abide by laws and company regulations. They would never steal clients’ packages! We have professional inspectors who thoroughly check any suspicious parcels and intercept any attempt to ship drugs through our channels.

If we find a suspicious package or address, we send a control box to the recipient and arrest them, handing them over to the police. You can trust FedEx; we have absolutely no problems!”

Ao Xi understood the manager’s concerns. Using their channels to ship drugs, or couriers stealing packages, would be a major stain on their reputation. If he were the manager, he’d deny it too.

But really, calling these burly, tattooed men—many with red criminal marks on their heads—good people? If someone said they were gang members, he’d believe it.

Carles wasn’t about to let him off easily: “Is that so? My coming here means I have concrete information. If you’re so confident, I’ll call in the K9 unit. I hope you won’t regret it.”

LASD's Special Enforcement Bureau in Los Angeles County has a dedicated K9 unit. Trained dogs assist in tracking suspects, detecting drugs, and searching for missing persons.

Upon hearing Carles mention the K9s, the manager’s face changed instantly. California is notorious for illegal marijuana cultivation, with leaves shipped nationwide from here. Who knows how many pass through FedEx channels? Why else have an inspector system, if not to cover their tracks?

Normally, no one investigates, but if the K9s show up, something will definitely be discovered.

The manager pulled Carles aside. “I know you—you’re Carles from Temple City PD. We could have a great personal relationship, you know.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Carles sneered internally. So you know who I am, but you spoke so forcefully earlier? Don’t I have any pride? If I leave empty-handed in front of so many subordinates, I might as well quit.

Little does he know, everyone knows there’s a problem here. Usually, without evidence, nothing can be done. But now, with this opportunity, he’d be remiss not to press hard.

“I have a good personal relationship with your chief and many officers at headquarters.”

Carles pulled out a little notebook. “Really? Tell me who you’re close with.”

The manager immediately fell silent; naming names would be suicidal. No one would help with everything, and favors are reserved for more critical occasions.

“Not talking? Should I call in the K9s?”

The manager grabbed Carles as he tried to leave. “Damn it, what do you want?”

Carles grinned triumphantly. “Our department’s budget is really tight lately. Officers can barely get paid.”

“If you’re short on money, just issue tickets! A parking violation is $200, speeding $300, running a red light $500—quicker than robbery!”

“Diversifying sources is important.”

The manager, breathing heavily, saw Carles unmoved and suddenly calmed. “Fine. I’ll talk to Mesa and make sure you’re satisfied. What do I get in return?”

“That’s right, buddy. I need you to call the courier responsible for Las Tunas Avenue in Temple City. Have him help us identify suspicious individuals. In return, we won’t concern ourselves with your other affairs here. But remember, watch your turf. Next time, you might not be so lucky.”

“I’ll call him over. But stay out of my business—I’ll handle my own turf,” the manager replied sourly, knowing he’d have to shell out a considerable sum to appease the police.

He shot Carles a fierce glare and shouted to a courier in the distance, “Sam, come over here. You have the day off, no work today—go help the officers.”

A burly Black man approached, looking to the manager for explanation.

“Go, Sam. Just help them recognize someone, nothing else.”

“Okay, boss.”

Ao Xi was speechless. In his own country, no one would dare speak like this in front of the police. America really was different.

With their needs met, they loaded Sam up and sped off.

FedEx is no small company. With many employees in Los Angeles and substantial annual taxes, it's hard to touch them. So a side deal, showing the police’s presence and getting courier cooperation, was the established goal.

Carles notified the department, instructing Night Angel Zhang Yue to place another urgent order on WeChat, demanding same-day shipment.

They drove to Las Tunas Avenue to rendezvous with the officers already there, waiting quietly.

Soon, the department reported that Night Angel Zhang Yue had successfully placed the order, and the seller promised to ship promptly.

A few minutes later, Sam, the courier in the police car, received a call to hurry to Las Tunas Avenue for a pickup, with a generous tip offered.

Sam readily agreed and waited in the police car. Feeling it was about time, a Black plainclothes officer posed as an intern courier, accompanying Sam to a Hyundai Elantra parked by the roadside to collect the package.

Everything went smoothly. Once Sam realized he wasn’t the target, he cooperated fully, eager to extricate himself.

Back in the car, the police opened the package: as expected, it contained marijuana leaves, matching Zhang Yue’s order in both quantity and variety.

Sam confirmed every shipment came from this individual, whose frequent deliveries had made a strong impression.

Carles quickly dispatched a plainclothes officer to follow up and notified the department to investigate the Hyundai Elantra’s license plate and owner details.