Chapter 496

“Hey guys, what’s the chatter? So happy.” Reed approached with a glass of beer.

Luke laughed, “We’re listening to stories about Superman’s dad.”

The lieutenant poured a glass of rum and handed it to Reed, “Put down your glass of sugar water, this is what a man should drink.”

Reed smiled, picked up the glass and took a sip, “Nice drink.”

“My choice.” The lieutenant took a sip as well.

Reed raised an eyebrow, “I remember the last time we got together, Panna said your body couldn’t drink hard liquor.”

Luke didn’t know who Panna was, but figured it would be one of the Vice Squad’s ex-wives.

The Vice Squad was unimpressed, “Come on, at my age, that’s about as happy as I’m going to get. Drinking makes me happy, happiness makes me healthier, and overall it’s good.”

Seeing that Reed was going to say something else, the lieutenant waved his hand, “Don’t worry about it, my body, I understand.”

“OK,” Reed said no more and chatted with the others.

After sitting with the crowd for a while, Reed tapped Luke on the shoulder, “Let’s go over there and talk.”

Luke got up and walked over to the remote corner with his glass, “Chief, what can I do for you?”

“Do you remember Vice Mayor Li Mei?”

“Yes.

Last year, her daughter Betty was kidnapped and we were the ones who rescued her.” Luke rescued Li Mei’s daughter, but the two sides never contacted each other again, it wasn’t that Luke didn’t know how to be human, it was just that the two sides were completely in two circles at that time.

“Mayor Li is holding a party tomorrow night, but she doesn’t have your contact information, so she could only ask me to pass it on.” Reed pulled a blue invitation out of his pocket, “Here you go.”

Luke took the invitation and opened it to view it, it said he was invited to a party tomorrow night, along with the time and place, and in the bottom right corner was Li Mei’s name.

“Why did she remember to invite me?”

“You’re getting a reputation now, pulling you in early won’t do her any harm, maybe one day she’ll run for mayor and ask for your help.”

Luke shook his head and lost his smile, “I don’t see how I can be of much help other than votes and donating a hundred dollars to the campaign.”

“Hey, you’re due for a change in that thinking.

You’re now the captain of the Robbery and Murder Division, you’ve solved many sensational cases, and many citizens know the famous Captain Luke, and have made a name for yourself in the police force.

You’re not the same person you used to be.”

Luke teased, “Am I to understand that I have a use for it.”

Reed laughed, “As uncomfortable as that sounds, it’s true.

Welcome to the world of adults.”

Luke wondered, “Hypothetically, I mean hypothetically, what can I do to help if Mayor Lee is running for mayor?”

“Police support is good for the stability of Los Angeles and helps a lot in municipal elections.”

Luke said, “That should go to Frank, he’s the boss of the police department.”

Reed swept his gaze around and said softly, “Frank is not going to take a stand easily.

And as the LAPD’s rising star, you have a certain amount of influence and popularity among the citizens of Los Angeles, so if you can help the candidate take a stand, it will be very effective.

Of course, I didn’t say that I must let you support anyone, just as an example.

Getting in touch with this circle early is not a bad thing for you.

As for how to choose, that’s for later.”

“I see.” Luke nodded, the invitation was in his hand, how could he say no?

Reed clinked glasses with Luke and looked him up and down again, “Dress formally tomorrow.”

Luke laughed, “Will the police department reimburse the cost of the costume?”

“If you’re planning on wearing a swimsuit at the party tomorrow, I’ll consider it.” Reed dropped the comment and walked away with a grin.

“Scrooge.”

Luke didn’t know much about politics, but he could sense that Li Mei had a good relationship with the police, and if the other party did become the mayor of Los Angeles, it would help Luke’s career.

Luke has been to parties before, but this level of party is the first time, after all, it is the first time, the heart is a little unsettled, need to prepare a little.

The next morning.

Topeka Shopping Center.

This place is somewhat similar to the domestic shopping street, only on a larger scale and in a better environment, the street is closed, lined with flagship stores of high-end goods of various brands.

Inside a high-end suit store, Luke stood in front of the mirror and had already tried on several suits in a row.

Linda had just returned from vacation and was in a beautiful mood, standing on the side and praising, “This suit also fits, super handsome.”

“Mom, you say that about every suit.”

“I’m telling the truth. The girls at the party are going to be attracted to you, and I think I should help you clean up the house first.”

Luke “……”

Linda was unimpressed, “It’s normal for you at your age now, nothing to be embarrassed about, I’ll leave after cleaning.”

“No,” Luke politely declined, “I’ll go to the hotel if I need to.”

“Wow wow, you’re a lot more romantic than your dad.”

“STOP, I’m not interested in your story.” Luke interrupted Linda and continued, “Which set should I choose?”

Linda asked, “What do you think of this pink set?”

“It’s too flirty for me.”

“Also. I think the black one and the dark blue one are good too, you can buy them both, you’re not short of money anyway.”

“Let’s have the black one then, and customize a set later when we have time.”

Linda asked, “What about a bow tie?”

“No, I’m not going to wear that, I’m not a gentleman in the first place, a suit is good enough.”

After shopping for clothes, Luke bought a new pair of leather shoes.

As for the watch, there was a black dial Rolex from Daisy.

Luke felt that this outfit was already fine, just like what he just said, he was not a gentleman, it was almost enough.

Luke accompanied his mom to shop for a while more, and bought her a new backpack.

In the afternoon, the two shopped at the furniture store.

At the end of May, Luke’s new home is built, need to purchase matching furniture and appliances, Luke has no experience in this area, also have no time, at that time also have to let mom help.

He is not good at, and does not like this kind of tedious work.

The main body of the house has been built, but has not yet been decorated, so the two also just roughly look at the style, type, price, to do the heart.

Only after the interior of the house was decorated would they determine the style of the furniture and appliances.

In the evening, the two had a simple dinner, and Linda went home.

Luke, on the other hand, wore his newly bought suit to the party.

Eight o’clock in the evening.

Four Seasons Hotel.

Luke walked into the lobby, showed an invitation to a waiter, and was then taken to the hotel’s open-air bar.

This place had been chartered in its entirety as a venue for the party.

At this moment, the party was playing melodious music, and quite a few guests had already arrived.

Luke scanned and saw a few familiar figures.

Li Mei was chatting with a blonde white beauty.

Reed was also chatting with a glass of wine, and when he saw Luke, he waved, “Luke, over here.”

There were two other people standing beside Reed, one of them was the superintendent of the Western Division, Mercedes Marceau.

The other was a white man in his mid-forties who looked familiar to Luke, but couldn’t recognize him.

Reed introduced, “This is Darnic Smith, the Los Angeles City Attorney.” He pointed to Luke, “Luke Lee, Captain of Squadron One of the Robbery-Murder Division.”

Luke made a handshake, “DA Smith, I’ve heard a lot about you, nice to meet you.”

Luke had heard of his name, but there had been no direct contact, Luke usually communicated with the assistant or deputy prosecutors.

Danik Smith shook Luke’s hand, “I’ve heard of you too.

You’ve done well on the force, young man.”

Luke then looked at Mercedes Marceau on the side, “Superintendent Marceau, it’s been a long time.”

Mercedes Marceau laughed, “Although we haven’t met, John often mentions you.”

Luke was a bit surprised, not realizing that John, that old rookie, was actually quite familiar with Superintendent Marceau.

Flirting with himself, he said, “The two of us do rather stink.”

After Luke chatted with these two, he took the opportunity to drag Reed aside.

“Chief, what’s the theme of today’s party?”

“Didn’t I tell you yesterday?”

“No.”

“Sorry, I forgot.” Reed said softly, “Mayor Lee used to join the Elephant Party, did you know that?”

“Knew.”

“Today is the first day she quit the party, she belongs to no party now.”

Luke was a little confused, “This calls for a party?”

Reed patted him on the shoulder in a you-get-used-to-it kind of way.

“Do I need to congratulate her?”

“There’s no need to be too intentional, it’s just a reason to socialize, what you need to do now is meet some more ‘valuable’ friends that you might be able to use later.”

“Get to know each other how? I don’t like awkward conversations.”

“No one’s asking you to make awkward conversation. If there’s someone you know, go over and say hello, and he’ll introduce you to the acquaintances around you, and we’ll all naturally get to know each other.

If you hear people talking about a topic of interest, you can join in too.

It’s not fundamentally different from the parties you’ve been to before.” Reed picked up a glass of whiskey from a nearby table and handed it to Luke, “Have a drink, you’ll fit into the atmosphere more easily.

Go on, you’ll encounter more similar occasions in the future.”

Reed said and left.

“Hey Luke.” An Asian woman in a floral cheongsam walked over, it was the first Chinese female deputy mayor of Los Angeles.

“Mayor Lee, good evening.

I like your cheongsam, it suits you.”

“Thanks.” Li Mei revealed a touch of apology, “I’m sorry for not being able to personally invite you because I don’t have your contact information.”

Luke handed the other party a business card, “Now you have it.”

Li Mei took the business card and handed Luke one of his own as well, “Next time, I’ll send the invitation directly.”

Luke felt that someone was looking at him, his gaze swept unobtrusively and casually asked, “Betty didn’t come?”

“She’s too young for today’s occasion.

I didn’t tell her that you’d be at the party, otherwise, she would have come.”

Luke laughed, just listen to this, although he was the one who saved Betty, but when he saw Luke, the other party would be equally reminded of the kidnapping, Li Mei might not want the two to meet.

At the door of the party, a new guest arrived and waved in Li Mei’s direction.

Li Mei said, “Luke, if you’ll excuse me for a moment, I’m going to go greet the new guests.

I’m glad you could make it.”

Luke nodded with a smile.

Luke then sat down at a table to the side and drank while watching the partygoers.

He was new to this level and didn’t know many people, so sitting here was more or less boring.

He stood up and was about to go get some fruit to eat when a white woman in her twenties sat down across the table.

“Sir, can I sit here?”

Luke sized up the other party, the young woman was very beautiful looking, with blonde hair, blue eyes, pale skin, and a blue dress, very much like the image of an elf in European movies and TV dramas.

“Have we met before?”

“No, I’ve seen you on TV, you solved a lot of big cases and are a famous detective in Los Angeles.”

Luke secretly said, could it be that his mom was really right, he was super handsome in this outfit, so soon his peach blossom luck came?

“My name is Luke, nice to meet you.”

“My name is Lilith.” The blonde raised her glass in a gesture, “Captain Luke, you’ve worked on so many thrilling cases, can you tell me about them?”

Luke said, “Sorry, I signed a non-disclosure agreement and can’t disclose it to the public.”

Lilith’s small mouth curled up slightly, seemingly a little disappointed, “Any other more exciting adventures? Like an expedition of sorts.”

Luke asked rhetorically, “Are you referring to adventure treasure hunting?”

“Yes, I grew up listening to my elders tell stories about treasure hunting.”

Luke laughed, “Have you heard of Finn’s Treasure?”

“Yes, I’ve heard that story about an old man who liked to bury treasure around and was very funny.

Do you like treasure hunting too?”

Luke smiled and replied, “No, I’m too busy working to have time for treasure hunting.”

Lilith “……”

Me ……

How is this even a conversation?

Luke asked, “You’ve been paying attention to me since I first came to the party, why?”

Lilith denied, “You misunderstand, I’ve been looking in the direction of the door.”

Luke continued, “Right after we met, you asked me to tell you about the thrilling case. You knew there was no way I was going to tell you.

So, your real purpose is to ask me about adventure treasure hunting?”

Luke stared at the other party’s delicate features and continued, “Also, you called Finn a funny old man, a tone that sounds like you know him well.

So, you came here for Finn’s treasure?”

“Clap ……”

Lilith clapped her hands and laughed, “Not bad for the most famous detective in L.A. It feels like such a defeat to have you see through me so quickly.”

Luke was wary, “What do you do?”

Lilith ruffled her blonde hair and removed an earring from her ear and placed it on the table in front of Luke.

Luke picked up the golden earring that was still warm, and because of the hair covering it before and the similar color of the blonde hair, Luke didn’t see it.

Now looking closely, the workmanship of the golden earrings was exquisite and familiar: “This is Finn’s treasure, where did it come from?”

Lilith’s face was a bit odd, softly said, “Bought at …… the auction.”

Luke “……”