Xiao Ran and the others did not leave the Philadelphia Museum of Art until the museum closed in the evening.
At this time, David already had a cooperation agreement in his briefcase.
After some talks, Xiao Ran reached an agreement with the Philadelphia Museum of Art and decided to cooperate.
As for the conditions for cooperation, it is the second plan proposed by Xiao Ran before.
If he can recover the stolen art from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, he will own 50% of the art.
However, Xiao Ran would not take away half of the artworks.
If the Philadelphia Museum of Art wants to get back its 50% interest, it must exchange its collection of Chinese antiques and art.
Those Chinese antiques and artworks are what Xiao Ran really wants.
After signing the cooperation agreement, Timothy asked privately about the situation of the two art thieves.
As before, Xiao Ran remained silent and said nothing.
For the next time, they stayed in the museum to visit.
Xiao Ran didn't take people out of the museum until it was closed.
After a while, they had successfully returned to the hotel.
After entering the presidential suite, washing and disinfecting, Xiao Ran called David and Sam over to prepare to discuss the next action.
When David and the others entered the study and sat down, Xiao Ran immediately got to the point.
"Marvin, tell me about the whereabouts of that guy McCann after we left the gallery."
"Okay, Sean."
Marvin nodded in response and immediately began to introduce the situation.
"About one o'clock, the guy McCann drove out of the gallery and went to a restaurant on another nearby street, seemingly to eat there."
"But the waiter who followed later discovered that the guy was not in the restaurant and had gone somewhere. Nearly an hour later, he walked out of the restaurant."
"Technicians analyzed his cell phone signal and found that during that time, he went to an old apartment building not far behind the restaurant."
"While staying in the apartment building, he called the gallery clerk and inquired about the gallery. It was that call that revealed his true location."
"Just ten minutes before McCann left the gallery, Miles also left the music store and also went nearby, but disappeared from a closed music classroom."
"It can be inferred from this that they have been in contact, probably using disposable mobile phones, so we have no idea. They should have gone to the old apartment and discussed some things."
While introducing the situation, he took out an iPad and called up a map of Philadelphia.
Then the movement trajectories of McCann and Miles were marked on the map, as well as their galleries and music shops, as well as the locations of their respective residences, etc.
After listening to the introduction, Xiao Ran pondered for a moment, then nodded with a smile and said:
"It can be seen that these two guys are very cautious. After being art thieves for so many years, these two guys have become old foxes!"
"This kind of opponent is interesting. I really want to know what amazing secrets and how many priceless top-level works of art are hidden behind these two guys."
"That secluded old apartment should be a meeting place for them. There may be some secrets hidden there. It's worth exploring!"
"What happened today probably shocked these two old thieves, so they went to the old apartment to meet to discuss some countermeasures."
Hearing this, David and the others all smiled and nodded.
The next moment, Marvin continued:
"Sean, do you want me to take someone over there and install some monitoring equipment inside and outside that old apartment? Monitor the place."
Xiao Ran shook his head gently.
"No, that might alert the snake. If I'm not mistaken, there should be surveillance cameras and alarms inside and outside the apartment."
"Those surveillance cameras and mechanisms were naturally installed by McCann and the others to prevent anyone from discovering and breaking into the place."
"Just keep staring at these two guys, McCann and Miles, and don't make any more moves to avoid being discovered by the two old foxes."
After the words fell, Marvin nodded immediately.
"Understood, Sean, leave it to us."
After giving this guy a few more words, Xiao Ran asked him to leave the study.
Next, he said to Sam:
"Sam, after dinner, I'm going to leave the hotel and use the cover of night to check out the situation of McCann and Miles."
"You go out with me. If I find an opportunity, I will leave alone to investigate the situation. You don't have to follow me. Just wait for my call to be answered."
"At 11 o'clock at the latest, I will call you, meet you, and then return to the hotel together. Any later will arouse some people's suspicions."
"You are responsible for diverting the FBI agents and other spies downstairs, but don't let them see that I am no longer in the car. You are taking those guys around..."
"Hahaha"
David and the others all laughed.
Then, Sam smiled and nodded and said:
"Don't worry, Sean, we will definitely complete this cover mission."
They had long been accustomed to Xiao Ran going out alone to investigate the situation and were no longer surprised.
As for Xiao Ran's safety, they were not worried at all.
In their opinion, there was nothing that Xiao Ran couldn't do, and no one could threaten his safety.
Next, they discussed for a while before ending the meeting.
After David and Sam left, Xiao Ran introduced the situation to Elaine and Fang Yufei.
He said that he was going out for a while in the evening and asked them to stay in the hotel and not to worry.
Elaine and the others have seen this situation many times, and have long been accustomed to it, and no longer worry about it.
While we were talking, it was already dinner time.
Xiao Ran immediately took Elaine and the others out of the suite and went to the restaurant to eat.
…
Around 7:30 pm, it got completely dark.
Under the freezing weather, the streets became even more deserted and desolate.
At this moment, three bulletproof SUVs suddenly drove out of the underground garage of the Four Seasons Hotel and drove forward along the street.
Seeing this scene, the two FBI agents guarding the exit of the underground garage couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
In a moment, they had reacted.
"It's already dark outside. Sean, this guy, suddenly left the hotel. What is he going to do?"
"Don't he know? Almost all the gangsters in Philadelphia are eyeing this super fat sheep, and they dare to go out at night."
An FBI agent said in surprise.
Before he finished speaking, another guy immediately said:
"You still have to ask, the reason why Sean is out at this time must be to investigate those art theft cases."
"This afternoon, they just signed a cooperation agreement with the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This is enough to prove that the two art thieves are in Philadelphia."
"They may be looking for the two art thieves. Follow them immediately. The reward on those two mysterious thieves is definitely more than 10 million US dollars!"
Before he finished speaking, the SUV parked on the side of the road started to drive out, following Xiao Ran's motorcade.
While tracking, the FBI agent in the car also informed his immediate superior of the news.
This group of FBI agents was not the only one who discovered Xiao Ran's motorcade.
Two Philadelphia police officers standing nearby also saw the eye-catching motorcade.
There were several other informants from some forces who also saw this scene.
The next moment, several more cars followed.
At the same time, the guys following the car took out their mobile phones and started reporting the news.
In the motorcade, Sam's voice came over the intercom.
"Sean, as you expected, the guys from the FBI's Art Crime Unit followed up, and it was the Lincoln SUV behind the convoy."
"In addition to those old friends, there are other guys, including some guys from the Philadelphia police and local gangs, who obviously have bad intentions."
Upon hearing the announcement, Xiao Ran sneered first, then picked up the walkie-talkie and replied:
"It doesn't matter, just let those guys follow. Those old friends from the FBI should know about our cooperation with the Philadelphia Museum of Art."
"The convoy will follow the established route. When we find the right place and time, I will get off the car and leave, and you can just take those idiots in circles."
As he said that, he turned his head and took a quick glance back.
The moment he turned his head, he had secretly turned on the perspective, preparing to explore the situation behind him.
The next moment, his sight penetrated directly through the rear window glass, penetrated the darkness, and saw the following cars.
He could clearly see the guys sitting in those cars, the documents and equipment they had on them, and the weapons and ammunition placed in the cars.
In an instant, he had grasped the identities of those guys and saw their faces clearly.
When Xiao Ran withdrew his gaze and turned back, he glanced at the night sky above the car roof again.
There are no drones tracking in the night sky, which undoubtedly reduces the possibility of exposing his whereabouts.
While talking, the convoy drove through two streets one after another.
Then he adjusted his direction again and headed towards the historical area.
At this moment, a crossroad suddenly appeared ahead.
On the street on the west side of the intersection, not only are the lights dim, but there are also many big trees.
Even better, there aren't many surveillance cameras at this intersection.
There are even fewer surveillance cameras on the street west of the intersection.
Some of the surveillance cameras had long been smashed with rocks and bricks.
Seeing this situation through perspective, Xiao Ran made a decision instantly.
The next moment, he quickly picked up the walkie-talkie and said:
"Guys, turn right at the intersection ahead and take the street on the west side."
"The car behind you should turn on the red light and suppress the following vehicles behind you. Don't make it too obvious."
As soon as the words fell, a response came from the intercom.
"Copy that, boss"
By the time he finished speaking, the convoy had arrived at the crossroads.
At this time, the traffic light at the intersection happened to be green.
The two bulletproof SUVs in front made a smooth right turn and drove onto the street on the west side.
When the SUV at the end of the queue reached the intersection, it paused and then stopped at the intersection.
At first glance, it looks like the bulletproof SUV suddenly broke down.
At this moment, the traffic light at the intersection also changed from green to red.
Seeing this situation, the vehicles following behind could only step on the brakes and wait patiently.
At this time, Xiao Ran had issued another order.
"Do you see the small street 50 meters ahead? When passing there, slow down a little and take cover. I will get off there."
As he spoke, he put on the backpack placed next to him.
This backpack is bulging, and it contains some clothing, weapons and equipment, as well as other things that are needed for tonight's operation.
In the blink of an eye, two bulletproof SUVs arrived at the intersection of the small street ahead.
At this time, the place was deserted and not a single person could be seen.
Moreover, there is a big tree at the intersection. Its thick trunk blocks the view from behind and blocks the shooting angles of several surveillance cameras on the street.
When two bulletproof SUVs passed through this intersection, they suddenly slowed down a little.
At this moment, a dark shadow suddenly flashed out of the second SUV and quickly entered the dim street on the side of the road.
"boom"
When the car door closed again, the black shadow had disappeared, as if it had never appeared.
