Returning to the Wilshire Police Departnt after nearly a year felt like coming ho. Besides the familiar faces, he also saw Tyler Kelly, the beautiful news anchor from Channel 8, peering at him.
However, she wasn't dressed like a news anchor today; she only wore light makeup and wasn't accompanied by a caraman.
Most people hadn't returned yet. For example, Commander Grey was still on-site managing the situation, dealing with the swarming dia, and many officers remained to maintain order.
In this kind of mass shooting suspected of being a terrorist attack, both the DHS and the FBI had to get involved, and the LAPD officers had to helplessly follow their orders.
But coming ho truly felt like coming ho. Shortly after being ushered into the break room, various people ca over to greet Jack under various pretexts.
Even the old hand Smitty showed up, practically patting his chest to assure him that all the cell phones that clearly captured Jack and Hotchner's faces at the scene had been collected as evidence.
Tim personally took statents from the two n, finishing in less than an hour. They didn't have much to say, aside from the details of their cooperation in killing the gunman; they knew almost as much as the LAPD.
Hotchner made a few phone calls, mainly to reassure his wife in the hospital and to check with the FBI. The BAU wouldn't be following this case; all leads indicated it was an unorganized shooting.
When Tim packed up to leave, the small table in front of Jack and Hotchner was piled high with snacks and drinks, brought by officers who had visited the two heroes.
"I didn't expect you to be so popular here," Hotchner remarked, a little hungry, as he unpacked a bag of chocolate wafers.
It was no surprise; almost everyone at the Wilshire precinct had tasted Jack's cooking, including the cleaning staff.
Jack's culinary skills were entirely honed through practice. Every day at work, besides preparing a hearty lunch for himself and his partner, he would put any extra food into the large refrigerator in the patrol officers' break room, labeling them with "take it or leave it" notes. Over ti, finding sothing to eat in the refrigerator whenever they were hungry or craving sothing delicious beca a habit.
Even the usually laid-back Smitty, unusually, didn't give up, scrambling to secure a small sum from the union's funds to get a new refrigerator for the patrol officers' break room.
Even after Jack left, filling the refrigerator in the patrol office with food remained a tradition. Every so often, families from the community would visit with their children, bringing various treats.
Of course, this police-community relationship was also inseparable from the charitable organizations that Kara was involved in and the efforts of Zoe during her tenure.
Sufficient funding, full manpower, and providing assistance to citizens during patrols — these were the resources and corresponding requirents that this female police captain, backed by a long-established California political family, had secured.
After Commander Grey took over, these traditions were well maintained. Every day, soone was specifically responsible for collecting uneaten food and sending it to several relief centers in Wilshire.
Jack didn't know about other places, but within the LAPD, apart from certain affluent areas, Wilshire Police Station was probably one of the areas with harmonious police-community relations.
Previously, it was always the public who brought food to the fire station; as for the police station, not spitting on the street was considered a good relationship.
"Hi, mind doing an interview?" Tyler Kelly, unusually dressed today in a pink dress, poked her head out from the doorway, waving two bottles of soda at the two people in the break room.
"Of course," Jack nodded with a smile. "...Not, we've already asked the LAPD to keep our identities confidential."
"Anonymous interviews are possible. I promise not to reveal your identities. I didn't even bring a caraman today." Tyler Kelly pouted her pink lips, putting on a resentful look.
"With our relationship, can't you even grant such a small request?"
"A relationship that turns on you?" Jack hadn't forgotten how this girl tried to use him to bully Hannah after he saved her.
Speaking of which, he wondered if her little war with Hannah had ended during the six months he was away; it was worth gossiping about later.
Tyler gritted her teeth in anger, turning her gaze to the sowhat bewildered Hotchner beside her. "Agent Hotchner, is it acceptable?"
"Sorry, the identities of BAU team mbers are strictly confidential. I am responsible for all external affairs. Here is my business card."
JJ, in high heels and a professional office lady outfit, strode quickly to the door, handing Tyler a business card.
Although she was smiling, her aura instantly overshadowed Tyler, who was only wearing light makeup today, appearing as a girl next door, intending to play the emotional card with Jack. While Jack wasn't going to agree to the interview, having soone take care of a nuisance is a very good deal for him.
Seeing JJ arrive to pick them up, Hotchner and Jack got up to say goodbye. Passing by Tyler, who looked utterly dejected, Jack winked at her.
"If you weren't here in your professional capacity, I'd be hosting a party at ho tomorrow. Co and hear the stories."
Tyler wasn't the only one curious; it'd been a while since they'd had a party, and while the BAU team wasn't too busy yet, they might as well have a small get-together and catch up.
Of course, tonight was out of the question. He already had dates with two mature won, and besides, while the aftereffects weren't as severe as before, shouldn't he pretend to be more serious at a ti like this?
Lost in thought about how Zoe and Maureen would reward him, their hero, Jack didn't notice the curious glances JJ occasionally cast his way.
Back at the FBI building, Jack and Hotchner received a hero's welco from the rest of the team.
Reid's computer was still playing a shaky video on repeat — the only footage of the incident circulating online.
It was probably fild by a civilian at the scene, about a hundred ters away and slightly behind the two, using their mobile phone.
Because it was so blurry, and due to the angle and the obstruction by vehicles, people who didn't know the two very well wouldn't be able to recognize them at all. This is probably why the video was released.
"In less than two hours, the video on YouTube reached 5 million views, and many people are asking about your real identities."
"By the way, soone has already nicknad Jack 'Starbucks God.'"
Garcia, who ca from the technical departnt to join the gossip, was very excited. As one of the earliest insiders, she had been helping to block online information.
"What about Hotchner?" Jack asked curiously. From the video, Hotchner's performance was clearly more impressive; the way he wielded dual pistols and fired was exceptionally cool.
After all, most people couldn't tell who made the kill from the blurry, shaky video.
"Dual-gunner, suit-wearing hero?" Reid looked down at the comnts under the video. This tacky nickna made even the usually poker-faced Hotchner frown.
User Comments
0 comments from readers