Chapter 213

Seven o’clock in the evening.

Old Sichuan Flavor Hot Pot Restaurant.

This hot pot restaurant was located in Luke’s neighborhood, and the main focus of this restaurant was authentic Sichuan flavor hot pot.

Luke had eaten over here twice, he couldn’t say whether it was authentic or not, after all, he wasn’t a Sichuanese in his last life.

But the flavor is really good.

Of course, since it was opened in Los Angeles there would be some improvements, for example, in addition to the spicy flavor, there were other flavors of pot bases here.

A windowed booth on the second floor was filled with people from the Robbery and Murder Division’s First Squadron, eight of them sitting around a large round table with a small mandarin duck pot in front of each of them.

Luke ordered the butter and curry one, most of the others had one spicy flavor and one non-spicy flavor, only Blackie ordered two non-spicy flavors, one curry and one mushroom soup.

While the waiter was serving the food, Luke introduced everyone, “Didn’t you guys always say you wanted to eat real Chinese food? Well, I’ve brought you all here.

This is the hand-cut lamb, both the texture and flavor are the best, this is the tripe, it’s best when it’s shabu-shabu in a spicy pot, and this is the Spreading Beef Balls ……,” Luke introduced the dishes on the table one by one.

The lieutenant said, “It looks pretty good. But what day is it today that you kid is treating us.”

“Haha ……” Luke laughed, “Vice Squad, don’t dig a hole for me, I didn’t say I was going to treat myself, the usual AA system.”

Blackie couldn’t wait to clip a chopstick of mutton and put it into the soup pot, “Chinese food is not cheap, and the gathering has to have a theme, right, because solving the case?”

Luke pointed to Jackson on the side, “This is the first case Jackson solved after he came to our Robbery and Murder Division, think of it as a welcome dinner for him, and I’ll pay for his share.”

Jackson smiled, “Thanks, Lieutenant Luke.”

“Wow.” Black was a little envious and gave Jackson a look, “It’s me you should be thanking, rookie.”

Jackson rolled his eyes, “I’m not.”

Susan picked up the glass of beer next to her, “Jackson, it’s been a good run, cheers.”

“Thanks Captain.” Jackson picked up his glass and took a sip.

“I’m also more than happy that I’ve joined the Robbery and Murder Division, I feel like my current job is much more meaningful …… Of course, I’m not saying that being a patrolman isn’t meaningful, I just feel like investigating cases is more suitable for me.

Besides, I really didn’t expect the murderer to be the wife of the deceased.

This case is very deceptive and very different from my previous experience as a police officer.

Thanks to everyone for taking care of me during this time, including Detective Marcus.

I’ve learned a lot.

I salute you all.”

Black frowned, “What do you mean, including Detective Marcus? You boys are obviously talking out of your ass.”

Jackson denied, “It’s literal.”

“Absolutely.”

“No.”

Luke turned to the others, “Guys, don’t mind them, we can shabu-shabu.”

Susan took a bite of the shabu shabu, “Very good, what is this dip? I like the strong flavor.”

“Sesame sauce.”

Jenny pointed to Luke in front of her, “Why do you have three dips and what are the other two?”

“This is the oil mixture;

There’s also a compound dip, a variety of small ingredients and various sauces blended together for a unique flavor.”

Jenny said, “That sounds pretty good, I’ll have to mix one myself later.”

The group chatted as they ate the hot pot.

The lieutenant said, “Actually, in cases like this, when one spouse is murdered, the other is often the key suspect.

Guys, always remember that.”

Luke laughed, “Speaking from experience.”

“Haha ……” The crowd laughed.

The lieutenant didn’t retort, just spread his hands helplessly.

Luke wiped his mouth, “Captain, I’d like to take a few days off.”

“Why?”

“I’ve been feeling rather tired lately and want to take a break and go out for a walk.”

The lieutenant asked, “Kid, saying you’re more tired in front of me, an old man in his sixties, you really can say that.”

Susan nodded, “If there are no new cases, you can rest.”

“Thanks.”

Blackie asked, “Where do you want to go for a break?”

“Las Vegas.”

“Wow.” Blacky grinned widely with envy, “I want to go too.”

Luke laughed, “I’m not taking you.”

“Does that lawyer girlfriend of yours have time?”

“I’m just going to go alone, and I’m not taking you.”

Blacky “……”

The lieutenant suggested, “Guys, after dinner, how about we go to the bar for a drink?”

Luke said, “Not tonight, I have a date.”

Jackson said, “I’m meeting a former coworker for a drink, SORRY.”

“Ringing ……”

Black’s cell phone rang, he pulled it out and looked surprised, “I’m going to take a call.”

The vice squad shook their heads, “What a bunch of annoying guys, they’re ruining my excitement.”

Blackie exited the booth and scanned the surroundings, “Hey beautiful, what made you think of me?”

“Congratulations, Detective Marcus, I heard you solved the car robbery murder case.”

“Haha, not bad for a well-informed reporter. You didn’t call just to talk about that, did you.”

“I’d like to ask you out for a drink tonight, do you have time?”

“Uh …… before, someone already asked me out.”

The woman on the phone sounded a little lost, “It’s the first time I’ve ever been rejected.”

“Huh.” Xiao Hei smiled, “Seeing that you are so sincere …… where is it?”

An hour later, the crowd finished their hot pot and went their separate ways.

Luke went to pick up Daisy from work to discuss a vacation to Las Vegas.

Blackie hitched a ride with Luke to Savage’s Bar, which was only three blocks from the fondue place.

Blackie got out of the car, said goodbye to Luke, and turned into the bar.

The lights in the bar were shining, some people were twirling their bodies on the dance floor, some were drinking alone, some were talking with friends.

At a table for two sat a black woman with a nice figure from the back, “Hey Reporter Jones, you look pretty today.”

“Thanks, Detective Marcus, have a seat, I’ll buy you a drink.”

“No, it should be me buying you a drink.” Black sat down and asked for a whiskey for himself and a glass of red wine for Parley Jones.

“Reporter Jones, what can I do for you?”

“Call me Pari.” Pari Jones corrected, clinking glasses with him, “I’ve been a little upset by some recent work, and I’m a little distracted, so I’d like to find someone to talk to.”

“Why me?” If any other woman had said that, Black wouldn’t have asked such an unsettling question, but he was wary of Parley Jones.

“Why can’t it be you?”

Blackie wasn’t being vague, “Because of the Dracula’s Bar vampire murder case, you were almost sent to jail, although it has nothing to do with me personally, but after all, I’m also a member of the Robbery and Murder Division, and thought that you would hate me.”

Parley Jones took a sip of her red wine, her demeanor tinged with a bit of booze, “You’re right, I did get a little angry when I first found out and felt like I’d been played.

But I calmed down and thought about it differently, what would I do if I were you?

I would probably make the same choice as you, and since that’s the case, what reason do I have to complain about you.

As I said before, there are no eternal enemies.

There is no conflict of interest between the two of us, I’m a reporter and you’re a cop, we can be friends and even good collaborators.”

Black pursued, “How to cooperate?

“For example, if you’re in charge of investigating a case and it’s a good news topic, you can give me some information appropriately.

I also have my own channels, so if I find out something useful about the situation, I will also tell you first.

We can all benefit from each other.”

Black shrugged, “The police have a confidentiality agreement.”

Pari Jones said, “It is impossible to keep any case completely confidential, even if the police don’t say anything, reporters can still learn about it through other channels, it will just waste some time and resources.

You’re just helping me save some time and resources, it doesn’t count as a violation of the confidentiality agreement.

Because those aren’t considered secrets at all.”

Seeing that Xiao Hei didn’t say anything, Pari Jones continued to persuade, “In fact, I’ve worked with other police officers before, and I have an understanding of their way of investigating cases.

Generally speaking, there are three levels of secrecy in a case.

The first, as I just said, the reporter can also investigate from other channels as long as he spends some time, in fact, this kind can be completely unclassified, there is no loss to the police, and it does not affect the police investigation of the case at all.

But it is different for reporters. By reporting earlier, they can get higher ratings.

The second type, gray area.

This type of information, can be said not to say, belong to the more valuable, if you can provide this type of information, I would be very grateful.

Will also be appropriate to make a return.

The third kind, is the key information in the case, is also the need for absolute confidentiality, you do not say, I will not blame you.

It won’t make things difficult for you, much less make you make a mistake because of it.

What do you think of this mode of cooperation?”

Xiao Hei stroked his chin and said, “Why does it feel like I’m at a bit of a disadvantage.”

“I just said my needs, I can also provide you with some help, for example, I also have my own investigative channels, no matter what situation I investigate, I can guarantee that I will tell you at the first time.

Secondly, the police sometimes need to disclose some information to the public, don’t care if it is true or false, I can help.

Thirdly, if you can give some valuable information, the TV station can also pay some fees.”

Blackie waved his hand, “I won’t take this kind of money, it’s too hot.”

“You’re right, I don’t suggest you take it either. As long as we can grasp the right scale, the cooperation between us can be said to be mutually beneficial.

Believe me, having a journalist friend is definitely not a bad thing.

If you suffer any injustice, I can also help you.

Consider it as one more friend, there’s nothing bad about it.” Pari Jones’ tone was very sincere.

Blackie pondered for a moment, “I have to think about it.”

“Sure.” Pari Jones raised her wine glass and clinked it with Xiao Hei: “To our future cooperation, cheers.”

Blackie squeezed his eyes, “It’s a bit early to talk about cooperation, I do think we can start as friends first.

Just like how we were in Dracula’s Bar before, didn’t we have a good chat?

I really liked you back then ……”