Chapter 18: The Eve of a Fierce Battle

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Chapter 18: The Eve of a Fierce Battle

Watching Zoe drive away, Jack didn't rush to start the car. Instead, he called Lucy on his phone and informed her of what had just happened. He reassured her that John wasn't in any life-threatening danger, which finally calmed her down from wanting to visit the hospital. He promised to go with her tomorrow after work and then hung up the phone.

Driving back home, Jack couldn't stop shaking his head, thinking about how he, a 21-year-old future elite in the police force, ended up becoming everyone's confidant. Dealing with these emotional messes was nothing like the fun of chatting with Zoe, the mature sister, or receiving benefits from Hannah, the cute girl. Oh, and he almost forgot about the bespectacled girl, Morin.

Back at home, it was nearly midnight. Hannah was startled by the bloodstains on Jack's clothes. He briefly explained what had happened and then went upstairs to take a shower in his own bathroom. He came out and made some wontons for supper, chatting with Hannah as they ate.

"Why can you stay calm every time you encounter such situations? You don't seem like a rookie at all. Even when I'm around, I can't guarantee I'd handle things as gracefully as you do," Hannah expressed regret for not going out with Jack tonight so that she could play games at home.

"Get some rest, don't stay up too late. Tomorrow might involve a big operation," Jack finished washing the dishes and noticed the slightly swollen pink lips of Hannah from the chili oil. He couldn't help but lean down and kiss her.

Seeing the mist forming in Hannah's watery eyes, Jack felt something wasn't right. Even though there were no gunshots today, it seemed like there were some lingering effects. Now, he couldn't escape from being seen as a two-timer.

"You shouldn't eat spicy food. Next time, have less of it."

Quickly retracting his right hand that was about to reach a peak, Jack awkwardly offered a strange explanation and fled in embarrassment.

Hannah blushed and stood still, dumbfounded, for a moment before falling onto the sofa, smiling foolishly with her head buried in the cushion, emitting a sound akin to a little cat's whimper.

The next day, Jack drove to the police station. As he approached the briefing room, he saw Zoe and Chief Gray, whose eyes were bloodshot, conducting a roll call inside.

"What happened?" Jack stopped Lucy, who was about to enter the briefing room.

"Tim's wife, Isabella, was found shot in the head in an alley two hours ago. She's currently in surgery," Lucy quickly explained. "DEA has identified the suspect's hiding place, and the station is preparing to arrest the guy."

A few minutes later, everyone gathered in the briefing room, and Chief Gray began the situation update: "The suspect's name is Vance Marcus. He's likely hiding in a storage facility in the South Gate area. DEA agents Wolf and Westley, along with local patrol officers, will search that area."

Then, his eyes turned to Jack and the others: "The rest of you will go to the Bronson Building. The tip says Vance's girlfriend, Celia Oliver, lives there, but we don't have the exact apartment number. It means you'll have to go door-to-door for questioning."

Zoe added, "Be cautious during the investigation. Vance is a big drug lord, and his criminal gang is heavily armed. They won't easily cooperate with the police. So, watch out for each other and prioritize personal safety."

"Also, I called the hospital earlier. John's bullet has been removed, and he's expected to recover in about two weeks with no lasting effects. But due to his absence, Hannah will temporarily take his place, partnering with Bishop. Lucy and Jack will continue with their respective instructors. The building has many residents, so it's not recommended to carry rifles, but each of you can take two extra magazines and prepare your backup weapons."

"People received their orders and set out. Jack collected his equipment from the armory, and Hannah handed him a shoulder holster. 'I made this using the best cowhide from my family's farm. Give your Python a try with this,' she said.

Jack's heart trembled; he felt undeserving of her kindness. Despite being a scumbag yesterday, she was still good to him. However, the situation didn't allow for any appropriate response, so he quietly reminded her to stay safe and quickly caught up with Angela.

Today, Angela drove while Jack began preparing the gear. He inserted a ballistic plate into his bulletproof vest, donned the shoulder holster, and adjusted it. Hannah's craftsmanship was impeccable. The Magnum that Hunter had given him fit perfectly, without hindering his movements.

Angela paid little attention to the exquisitely crafted shoulder holster, completely absorbed by the Magnum. This tomboyish woman was even more enthusiastic than most men.

"Damn, where did you get this fantastic thing?"

Since Jack showed off his exceptional handgun shooting skills in the parking lot, Angela hadn't gone shooting with him again. Nevertheless, she still shamelessly asked her to treat him to lunch, attributing it to her special coaching in the past few days. And to not appear boastful, he had never shown off this custom-made masterpiece in front of others.

"Rick Hunter was an old friend of my parents. When I visited him recently, he said I needed a backup gun and gave me this."

"You actually know that legendary old cop. Unbelievable! These custom-made high-quality items are priceless and scarce," Angela's big eyes almost turned into hearts.

"Hunter said it cost over $2,500 when it was custom-made. Now, the price has doubled or more."

Saying that, Jack handed the drool-worthy Magnum back to Angela. He took a box of .357 Magnum rounds and loaded all five speed loaders before placing them into the pouches on his belt.

"Are you preparing for a war?" Angela glanced at him. Each of them carried four spare magazines, in addition to the rounds already in the Glock 22. They had 75 rounds of .40 S&W ammo each, and Jack prepared an extra 30 rounds of powerful .357 Magnum ammo for his backup gun—quite exaggerated.

"Against the drug criminals, no amount of bullets feels enough." He had some impression of today's scenario, and after it was over, there was no way he could avoid taking three days of administrative leave.

"You never seem to take out your backup gun. What model is it?" Jack was curious.

Angela reluctantly handed back the Magnum and patted her trembling chest. "It's a Beretta 950. I gave it to myself as a coming-of-age gift when I turned 16."

Noticing Jack's slightly strange gaze, she smirked. "I have a specially-made BRA that holds the gun perfectly."

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