While listening to the conversation and trying to recall more details, Jack looked at Zoe and asked, "Captain Anderson, how many gang mbers does that 'Southern Front' have?"
Zoe had been secretly observing Jack since arriving, only secretly relieved to see he wasn't injured. Now, hearing him ask her a question, she could finally look him in the eye in front of everyone.
"In all of California, about five or six thousand, and at least two thousand in the greater Los Angeles area."
Commander Gray looked at Nolan, "So the most important thing now is to protect your safety. I'll temporarily transfer you out of the street patrol team. I suggest you rest at ho for now. A team of officers will be stationed near your ho around the clock."
Seeing that it was about ti, Zoe offered to escort Nolan ho. Clearly, in her mind, no matter how arrogant the gang was, they wouldn't dare to lay a hand on her, a captain.
Jack's internal alarm bells were ringing, but in a public place, questioning his direct superior's orders was unwise, let alone trying to stop his superior's superior's decision.
Suppressing his anxiety, he smiled and said, "I'll co too. I'll stand guard at Nolan's tonight. I warned him when he was attacked at ho last ti, and with this incident, I don't mind making him owe even more. You know, I'm short a decorator for my new house."
Nolan patted him gratefully on the shoulder, "You should have asked for help sooner. I knew you couldn't handle your super luxurious kitchen by yourself."
Given that the old Ford pickup truck was in terrible shape, Nolan got into the police car Zoe had driven, while Jack followed in his secondhand Chevrolet. Fortunately, they arrived at Nolan's house safely.
Zoe exchanged a few words with Nolan and was about to leave when Jack called out to her from outside.
"Captain Anderson."
Zoe smiled and turned back, her high ponytail swaying beautifully in the night.
Jack hesitated, wanting to remind the mature woman to be careful, but unsure where to begin. Zoe at work was quite different from her gentle and charming deanor in private. Calling her domineering might be an exaggeration, but she was certainly confident and assertive.
Perhaps this was an essential quality for a woman to beco a leader in a male-dominated police system.
Commander Gray, also a forr military officer, respected his young female commander not rely because of their rank. As a low-ranking commander who had risen through the ranks from street patrol, he certainly knew how to handle an incompetent superior.
But Jack had never seen Commander Gray show Zoe any perfunctory attitude, not even verbally.
He rembered Zoe ntioning that Commander Gray had reservations about her recruiting the veteran rookie Nolan, but aside from a few initial attempts to test Nolan's resolve to join the force, the stern-faced commander gradually developed a fondness for this rookie of his own age as Nolan's performance beca increasingly outstanding.
This stemd from both Nolan's performance, which gave him hope for dealing with his own midlife crisis, and his admiration for her eye for talent.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through Jack's mind, a vague concept gradually taking shape, but now wasn't the ti to voice it; he needed to figure out how to convince Nolan first.
"Uh, I have so ideas, but they're not quite complete yet. Could you provide so information about the Southern Front? I'll report to you first thing tomorrow morning."
Zoe seed a little surprised, but imdiately nodded, her beautiful eyes filled with affection: "I'll send it to your email when I get back. Be careful tonight."
This wasn't a suitable occasion for intimate gestures; not only was Nolan inside, but a police car on a protective mission was parked across the street.
Jack resisted the urge to pull the beautiful, mature woman into his arms, only whispering into her ear as he slightly licked her ear lobe, "You too."
Zoe blushed, giving the audacious guy a playful glare, and continued, "My parents will put Hannah on the plane to Quantico tomorrow. You can just go back to the station and report for duty."
After saying goodbye, Jack returned to Nolan's room. The old rookie had thoughtfully laid out a blanket in the living room, with a pot of coffee and a box of five Cohiba long-barreled cigars on it.
"Wow, you've got so good stuff hidden away." Jack happily picked up a cigar, slled it, and found the rich aroma intoxicating.
He wasn't addicted to smoking, but he loved the rich aroma of Cuban cigars when lit. When he was feeling restless or needed to think for a long ti, he would light a fine Cuban cigar, like burning incense — very rustic, yet very luxurious.
Nolan skillfully cut off one end with a special cigar cutter, lit it with a long birchwood match, and handed it to Jack.
The fragrant aroma spread through Jack's mouth, swirling on his tongue before slowly escaping. Jack's mood relaxed, and Nolan, sitting opposite him, also wore an expression of enjoynt.
"Thank you for saving my life again, Jack. I don't know how to thank you enough," Nolan said earnestly.
Jack waved his hand dismissively. "Didn't we already agree to help fix that damn kitchen? I've already wasted almost $100 worth of ingredients."
Nolan chuckled, then his brow furrowed again. "I can't go to work like this tomorrow, can I? I an, I'm endangering everyone within five feet of right now."
"Weren't we always in danger ever since we beca street patrol officers? We might get shot by a bullet coming from around the corner any day," Jack retorted, sowhat amused.
"So, you beca a rookie cop at 45 because you thought this job was more comfortable than your previous job as a construction contractor?"
Nolan asked doubtfully. "You an I should just go to work tomorrow and pretend the gang's kill order doesn't exist?"
Jack's tone was perfectly matter-of-fact. "Shouldn't they be afraid of us? We're the ones who make these social scum tremble."
"I think if this gets to the higher-ups in the police force, those big shots will be even angrier than I am. This is a police state; when did gangs get the right to challenge the authority of the police?"
But Jack imdiately changed his tone: "But ultimately, it depends on you. You have a family, and your colleagues will understand any decision you make."
Nolan nodded. "Captain Anderson thought so too, so I've decided to go to work as usual. They'll definitely be short-staffed tomorrow."
Just then, Jack's phone beeped twice. He picked it up and saw that Zoe had sent him a bunch of docunts.
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