There was no pain, no sudden enlightenment. It was as if a pane of frosted glass had been removed from Jack's vision, making the world instantly clearer. This was the best metaphor he could think of.
The smells in the air, the sounds from the street outside, and every corner of the room could be discerned and observed clearly if he focused. Jack took a sip of the cool water from the table, frowning slightly. Despite the high-end water filter installed in Hannah's house, and the water having been boiled, his taste buds told him the filter cartridge needed replacing.
This reminded Jack of a movie he had seen in his previous life, where the protagonist swallowed a small pill called NZT48, which greatly enhanced his senses and intelligence, making him almost omnipotent. Jack's current state felt very similar.
Excited, he ran up to the attic and pulled out a calculus problem from his old college textbooks that had troubled him for a long time. He started writing and solving it. Ten minutes later, Jack threw down the pen, giving up in frustration.
Alright, what he didn't know before, he still didn't know. Improving mental strength didn't equate to increasing IQ. It seemed he wouldn't conquer the mountain of mathematics in this lifetime.
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Three days of administrative leave ended, and Jack returned to the police station, continuing his routine of clocking in for work, practicing shooting after hours, and occasionally observing John and Lucy's drama. Their underground romance was clearly on the rocks.
Finally, one night about a month later, Jack, who had been dragged out for drinks, witnessed their official breakup.
"If it's not working, why not take a break until your rookie period ends? One of you could apply to transfer to another precinct," Jack suggested, unable to stand their melodrama.
Their looks of incredulity made him shrug. "Forget I said anything. Let's drink."
After finishing a bottle of Budweiser, Jack was about to get up and grab a few more when he suddenly heard a rapid alarm from the herbal medicine shop across the street. Three guys with zombie face paint burst out of the shop.
"Shit, LAPD, freeze!" Jack was the first to draw his Glock and rush out of the bar, with John and Lucy close behind.
The three robbers, shocked to see the police right outside, bolted. Within 200 meters, John and Lucy had each apprehended one, while the third, clutching a cash box, fled into a subway entrance. Jack called out to the others and followed him, not wanting to miss out on the experience points.
A subway train happened to be arriving. The panicked robber dashed inside, and Jack managed to squeeze in just as the doors closed, shouting "LAPD" to announce his identity while continuing the pursuit.
Though the train wasn't crowded, the confined space made Jack wary of injuring bystanders. Seeing that the robber wasn't armed, he holstered his Glock, intending to subdue him barehanded.
After chasing through several carriages, the robber, exhausted, tripped and fell, sending the cash bag flying to the feet of a frail-looking white man near the door.
Jack stepped on the robber's coccyx, handcuffed him, and pulled him up just as the train arrived at the next station. Looking up, he saw the cash bag and the white man had vanished.
"I can't imagine someone being dumb enough to steal loot right in front of a cop. Are they not afraid of going to jail?" Jack discussed this with Angela the next day at work, unable to figure it out. Angela seemed unfazed.
"A fool or someone desperate. With the economy bad these past few years, I've heard Manhattan Beach is almost overrun by homeless people."
Jack scoffed. Since his mental strength had surpassed 20, his observational skills had greatly improved. From his brief glimpse, the white man who took the money didn't look like a down-and-out homeless person. After dropping the robber off at the station, he had submitted relevant information to the detective unit. With the subway surveillance footage, they should soon find out more.
Sure enough, after patrolling for just a few rounds and issuing a single ticket, the command center sent over the address of the suspect who took the stolen money.
The cash bag was the day's takings from the herbal medicine shop, with no bills larger than five dollars, totaling less than two thousand dollars. Naturally, the detective unit wasn't eager to take on the task. Given Jack's earlier request, they handed it over to him.
Originally, it was a pleasant surprise to arrest three small-time thieves after a night of drinking, earning some easy experience points. However, losing the key evidence under his nose had led to Commander Gray publicly mocking him in the morning briefing.
Although the daily ridicule of the rookies was common and usually good-natured, Jack, as the LAPD's rising star, still had his pride.
Following the address from the command center, Jack parked in front of a white two-story house, noting the children's bicycle leaning against the porch wall, making him frown.
Angela signaled Jack to cover her, climbed the steps, and knocked forcefully on the door. "LAPD, open up!"
The frail white man emerged from inside, hands raised, looking fearful.
"I see you. Don't make me break down the door!" Angela shouted.
The man hurried to open the door. "I'm sorry, I'm very sorry."
Angela entered first, drawing her gun and pointing it at him. "Hands up."
Following close behind, Jack sidestepped Angela's line of fire, moving behind the man. "Hands on your head, fingers interlaced."
The man complied, allowing Jack to search him thoroughly.
Finding no weapons, Jack shook his head at Angela, who holstered her gun.
"Where's the money you took?" Jack asked, standing next to him.
"I swear I wanted to return it. The money... I... I..." The man, flustered, led them to the living room, where the cash bag sat on the table.
"Did you use any of the cash?" Angela demanded. Jack checked the bag, confirming it was the same loose bills from the herbal medicine shop.
"I bought some necessities and paid the water bill. I'm sorry, I'll repay it all." The man stammered, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Life has been tough. My wife died last year, and I recently lost my job. I've never even gotten a parking ticket before."
Jack, feeling sympathetic, took out his handcuffs, ready to arrest him. His anger at the man for stealing had vanished, seeing him as someone driven to desperation.
Suddenly, a child's voice called from the stairs, "Daddy?"
Turning, Jack saw a five- or six-year-old boy standing there, looking at them in confusion.
The man froze, then shouted, "Jacob, go back to your room!"
Jack quietly returned the handcuffs to his belt and interrupted, "It's alright. Let him come here."
At the man's call, the boy ran into his father's arms.
The man looked at Jack in despair. "What will happen to my son?"
Angela explained, "Child Protective Services will come to take your son. Do you have any relatives in the city who can take him?"
"Yes, my wife's sister," the man said, eyes filled with helplessness.
"Provide her contact information. We'll ensure CPS can reach her," Angela continued. "But you need to cooperate with us now. Let's not make your son see you in handcuffs."
Jack gestured for the man to follow.
"Please, don't do this. I beg you..." the man pleaded.
"Sorry, you need to say goodbye to your son," Angela said firmly.
Watching the father and son embrace and cry, Jack felt a pang of sorrow. If he were a detective, maybe he could...
Leading the man out, Jack heard the boy's heart-wrenching cries as Angela comforted him. Outside, the man was already in tears, filled with regret.
"What have I done? I've ruined everything."
To those who enjoyed this chapter, please remember to bookmark it. I'm still working on improving my writing speed and have a bit of a backlog. Your support is greatly appreciated.
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