บท 68: Shadowing You
It's 8 o'clock in the morning and Jack is now rushing out of his apartment. He is running late for work. When he gets to the police records department office, he sees Bob sitting there at the desk already, of course.
"Hey there, Good morning," Bob greets.
"Good morning." Jack answers, looking groggy.
Bob gets up and walks to Jack's desk. He examines Jack's face. Jack looks a bit tired, but he doesn't look upset.
"Hmm. Interesting. Although you're not the employee of the month, I haven't seen you late for work." Bob snickers.
"Come on, Bob. don't give me such a hard time. I'm only 12 minutes late." Jack puts his keys and badge down on his desk. He doesn't like to sit down with all these things in his pockets.
"Nothing to share with me? I just know you looked quite jealous when you left the pub."
Jack is a little surprised that Bob seems to have observe something. Or does Jack have some idiotic facial expression on his face because he is... um... in love? Shit..., he doesn't want to admit it. It sounds super stupid in his head already. But, Jack wants to talk to Bob about something anyway.
"Bob, I admit, I... I met up with Nitte after we left the bar and came back. She... she showed up at my apartment."
"OK. I see. Very good." Bob sneers.
"The important part is, after she left my apartment, she went to see Jie Ai."
Jack then describes what he heard last night. Jack leaves out the part where a bedroom activity has occurred. Bob doesn't need to know about that. But Jack tells Bob about everything else. Especially about what Keith is doing. Jack also mentions that Nitte is looking for "the Legend."
Bob is quiet for a moment, thinking. "That is quite odd."
"Yeah. What do you think?"
"I think it's good you stayed low and listened to the whole thing. We should figure out who exactly Jie Ai is. I think he has to have some special power, not just simply because he speaks Chinese and he overhears an old Chinese guy telling him stuff. And really, I'd like to know what exactly he knows about "the Legend." I'm also curious why he wants to work with Nitte. Last time I check, he is becoming an accountant soon. He is going to be making a lot of money steadily. He probably doesn't have to work for NYPD to make extra income anymore. He doesn't strike me as a thrill seeker or adventurist. He seems to be someone who just wants to live a conventional life. I see no motivation for him to help Nitte, a girl he barely knows."
Jack blushes. In a way, he has no reason to help Nitte either. He also barely knows Nitte. But the reason he now wants to help Nitte is because he just slept with her and he is now hooked. He is infatuated with her. He wants to do things for her. Like an idiot.
Shit. Does that mean Jie Ai is trying to help because Jie Ai is in love with Nitte, too? Damn it. Did Jie Ai sleep with Nitte?
Now Jack feels his rage in his chest and he wants to get out and question Jie Ai right now.
"Hmm, as for Keith," Bob's voice pulls Jack back to the conversation, "I think Keith is directing attention to Middle Eastern community because he probably is covering for his boss. You say he works for some politicians, right? So, maybe his politician boss or bosses need a scapegoat for oil price rising. Maybe, he is planning on getting more budget for the fuel infrastructures. By saying someone is going to place bombs and destroy the oil pipelines, maybe he can get more security and money from the government. I don't know yet. That is just my guess."
"Yeah. Keith says he's been scaring people off so that his boss can buy large quantity of lands in the remote areas. So, maybe after acquiring the lands they want, his boss is trying to scare off some foreign oil competition. So his boss can gain control over the oil market."
"And now that Kasim Bashar is arrested..., I don't know if anyone is still investigating anything about it. That's what Keith wants. He doesn't want a real probe into the problem. Keith's boss or bosses will now be able to do whatever they want without anyone investigating them."
"That's bad." Jack touches his chin, thinking, "Well, I think I'm going to keep quiet and keep working for Keith. This way, I can find out more. Now is more important than ever that I try to earn Keith's trust. And hopefully, when I gather enough evidence, I can tell another special detective or the FBI. Disrupt Keith's plan."
Bob smiles, "Very good. I'm glad to see you have grown." Bob pats Jack on the shoulder.
Jack scoffs, "What? Are you patting me like I'm a pet? And what did you mean, I've grown?"
Bob laughs and explains, "Because you used to just rush to things. I feel like you've slowed down and tried to think with your head a little more. I'm also glad to hear that you didn't say you're just going to beat Keith up and get some information from him."
"Keith is connected to people in higher positions that we don't know about. But, I will not rule out confronting him physically one day. If reporting his shady business to other authorities doesn't work, I have to take care of it myself then." Jack sighs. He has a bad feeling that maybe asking another detective or even the FBI will not work. He is looking to keep Keith in check... for Nitte.
Jack then looks over at Bob's desk. "So..., are you actually going to be working as a detective now? Your desk still looks the same though."
"Well, they did approach me again," Bob sweeps his hair back, "I tell them I will only be working as a detective on a supporting basis. Like, I will only step in if they really need another detective. Otherwise, I will still be working here and sit my ass here."
"Ha ha ha ha." Jack laughs. "That's great. I am so glad you will still be here."
"Did Keith contact you again with any new assignment yet?" Bob asks, but he looks extremely distracted. Jack is now looking over towards the office door, as if someone is standing by the office door.
Jack looks over at the door, but no one is there.
"Um, no. Keith hasn't sent me any new assignment yet." Jack replies.
And then, Jack hears a chime from the elevator in the lobby. And then some high heels clicking on the floor. And then a knock on their office door.
It's Rosanne.
"Hello, gentlemen." Rosanne greets, smiling. Her red hair is pulled back in a pony tail today. She is wearing black capri pants.
"Hello." Bob seems to already know she is coming. Jack wonders why.
"Sorry to drop by so suddenly without calling first."
"No worries. This is the records office. Any NYPD employee can stop by anytime." Bob says.
"Well, Bob, I thought it might be easier to tell you... in person. Um, the Police Chief wants you to be on detective duty, and--"
"Yeah, I know," Bob cuts her off.
"Well, let me finish. He wants you to be shadowed."
"Oh. To help a rookie cop?"
"No... as a precaution, you will have to let me follow you for your first few assignments."
"What?" Both Bob and Jack are shocked.
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