What kind of building is this?
How to say it.
Lake looked at the obviously old and dilapidated building in front of him. He would believe it if someone said it was about to collapse.
"Where is this?"
"A former mental hospital in Brooklyn."
"…Why didn't I know about this place before?"
"Have you ever been outside of Manhattan?"
"Are you talking about work or daily life?"
"daily?"
"No."
"…"
The excitement of New York lies in Manhattan. Lake is so bored that he goes to play in areas outside Manhattan. Manhattan has what other places have, and Manhattan also has what other places don't have.
and...
Frankly speaking, the quality of women in Manhattan is also No. 1.
So, Lake couldn't understand why he had to go to Manhattan.
George pointed at the abandoned mental hospital and said, "It seems that this mental hospital had some kind of accident back then. After it closed down, it was abandoned for some reason. After that, it became a shelter for some homeless vagrants or children who didn't want to go to the shelter."
Lake looked at George with disdain: "So, you know, there are a bunch of kids growing up here and not doing anything."
George looked at Lake expressionlessly: "The problem here is the problem of the Children's Department. What can we do? If something goes wrong during the cleanup process, do you believe that the Children's Department can sue the New York Police Department into bankruptcy?"
Lake shrugged, "Okay."
That's the truth.
What the UN Children's Agency hates most is law enforcement agencies intervening in their work, but unfortunately, the work of the UN Children's Agency is often coordinated with law enforcement agencies.
Even if the New York Police Department took over this place, the children could only call the Children's Bureau for help. They are all minors, and the New York Police Department has no right to guard or detain them.
You know.
Here, as long as you are a minor, the New York Police Department cannot handcuff you. It is even illegal to interrogate minors in the absence of your parents or guardians.
The so-called children's paradise?
That's right.
But that only applies to children who have families. For those like Skye who don't want to go to foster homes or the Children's Department, staying alive is the goal of this group of people.
Entering this abandoned building, the darkness inside instantly replaced the light across the door. It seemed that the inside and outside of the building were like two different worlds.
Thin!
At the end of the corridor on the first floor, a figure seemed to stand up after seeing Lake and George come in, and hurriedly walked into a room, then closed the door with a bang.
seem...
The figure was worried that Lake and George were here to take the room.
Even here, there are some kind of social rules. For example, the homeless people living in this building follow a simple rule.
First come, first served.
Of course.
If you are strong enough to beat up everyone who previously occupied the room, then you can become the new room owner after beating them up.
So this is a first-come, first-served society where only winners are eligible.
George took off his sunglasses: "Does it say which floor it is?"
Lake took out the note and took a look at it, then looked at George: "It's under the sink in the bathroom on the left side of the corridor on the second floor."
Good job.
You are in such a mess that you don't even have a room to stay in, why don't you go to the shelter?
Lake thought so in his heart.
In Lake's eyes, although the rescue center was also chaotic, at least it was a place to stay.
The rescue center will not forcibly expel any minor. They will not kick you out before you are eighteen years old.
Go up to the second floor.
The wooden stairs under his feet creaked, as if in a mysterious state of being neither up nor down, leaving Lake with no doubt that if he exerted any force, a big hole would appear in the stairs.
Second floor.
A few homeless people and homeless children who were leaning against their doors in the corridor and talking dirty, after seeing Lake and George, just like the people on the first floor, chose to close their doors with a bang.
moment.
The second-floor corridor was empty.
Lake and George took a look, shook their heads, and followed Skye's note to find the legendary bathroom on the left side of the corridor on the second floor.
only?
All the doors are closed, how can I see where the bathroom is?
Lake looked at George: "Have you been here before?"
George shook his head.
All right.
Lake thought to himself, looked at a door on his left and knocked.
"Get lost."
A burly voice rang out from inside the door: "There's someone in this room. Get out of here, or I'll shoot."
Lake raised an eyebrow.
Bang!
Kick the door hard.
The door shattered, revealing the owner of the house who was also kicked into the house. He was an African-American man who was skinny and looked like another drug addict.
Lake tilted his head and smiled: "Can you tell me where the bathroom is on the left side of the second-floor corridor?"
You don't need the gift.
What else could Lake do? He could only use military force.
Be polite before using force.
Lake has always insisted on doing so.
The black poisonous insect coughed, listened to Lake's words, looked at the Glock in Lake's hand, and pointed to the room next to his own with a trembling finger: "The second room."
Lake nodded: "Thank you."
Go out.
George said to Lake, "They are all a bunch of pathetic people."
Lake glanced at George and said, "Poisonous insects are never worthy of pity."
The poor people who went bankrupt because of the financial crisis are indeed pitiful, and Lake will also sympathize with them.
but...
Poor poisonous insect?
hehe.
What is there to pity about such a person?
fortunately.
Lake's foster family had surprisingly consistent views on this matter. Both Thaddeus and Karen taught Lake and Betty that there was nothing to be done with this stuff. Even the anesthetics that were popular on campus at the time were banned.
Every night Karen would give a special class, using pictures and text, and use PPT to explain the consequences of smoking to Lake and Betty.
Betty was depressed at the time.
Lake didn't, he just treated it as a rare relaxing activity after dinner every day, drinking Coke and looking at these pictures, which were particularly delicious.
In the end, both Lake and Betty were taken to see a psychologist. One needed to be checked to see if he had any mental problems, and the other needed a psychologist's help to relieve her stress.
After Lake came out of the drug addict's room, he took a few steps, pointed at the door that was also closed, and looked at George: "Is this the room?"
George nodded: "Yes."
Lake was too lazy to knock on the door this time. It was useless to knock. The people here were so impolite.
Raise your foot and kick.
Bang!
"ah!"
The disheveled couple living inside screamed. It was unbelievable that the couple could turn the bathroom into a bedroom.
Don't you think the smell is pungent?
Lake walked over expressionlessly, went straight to the side of the sink, reached down with his right hand, and felt nothing.
Where are the things?
Lake stood up, his eyes fell on the lonely couple in front of him, he glanced at them, and directly pulled out his gun: "What's down there, three seconds, hand it over."
Another poisonous insect.
Oh my god.
This is really an excess of freedom. By the way, why didn't I see anyone using this thing when I was in Manhattan? All the friends Lake knew were against this kind of thing.
The disheveled woman tremblingly took out a blue backpack from behind her.
Lake took over, unzipped it, and took a look.
There were a few notebooks, some folded papers, and a few crumpled clothes. Although they were very old, they were very clean and had no special smell.
This backpack...
That's all Skye has had in the past thirteen years.
Lake looked up at the man and woman.
Turn around and leave.
He did want to compensate for the damage caused by the broken door, but that should be paid to the director of this bankrupt mental hospital.
New Amsterdam Hospital.
In the elevator.
Lake looked at the backpack in his hand, thought for a moment, and said to George, "George, is what you said in the bar last time true?"
George looked at Lake: "What?"
Lake said, "Can I adopt?"
The environment in that mental hospital is so sad, and there are so many poisonous insects. My God, it's a miracle that Sky didn't get infected.
Lake then thought to himself.
like...
Adoption is not a big deal. It just requires providing Skye with a comfortable and stable environment, tidying up the guest room at home, and then having an extra pair of chopsticks for eating every day.
It doesn't seem to be that difficult.
Kindness needs to be spread.
Lake thought about what Karen had said to him after returning to Washington this time, because Lake had talked about adoption with Karen on the phone last time.
If Karen could adopt him, why couldn't he adopt Skye?
George glanced at Lake and said, "Skye doesn't have any relatives. All Skye needs is her consent, and then the city government will sign it, and then you will be her guardian."
bite!
The elevator door opens.
Lake walked out of the elevator and said to George, "Do you know anyone in the city government? Can you help me contact them?"
George said, "Why don't you ask Skye's opinion?"
Lake thought about the scene that day when Skye refused to go for surgery, smiled, and looked at George: "She owes me money, she will definitely agree."
George: "…"
In the ward.
Skye wiped his mouth and thanked Martha who brought him breakfast.
Lake walked in and greeted Martha: "Excuse me, Martha."
Martha put away the bowl and spoon and looked at Lake: "I know it's troublesome, just give my Jack a few days off."
Lake laughed heartily. "How about I give him a month's paid leave so he can spend some quality time with you?"
Martha was not shy: "Thank you."
Martha talked to Lake these days and she is trying to have a third child. Unfortunately, Jack always makes the excuse that he is busy with work and has no time.
Lake certainly doesn't intend to take the blame.
Jack's action team is his exclusive team. He is idle all day running around the hospital. Jack tells Martha that he is busy. This will leave a bad impression on people.
soon.
Martha left the ward.
Lake then looked at Skye lying on the hospital bed and said, "How about coming home with me after you're discharged?"
Skye opened his mouth wide, and once again looked at Lake with the same look as after waking up: "..."