The others were also drawn to the news on television, their gazes fixed on the scene. Apparently, with the exception of Jack and John, all the Detroit locals had heard of Marino Bishop.
"That's a bit strange. The news said Bishop was arrested after murdering undercover detective Ray Botnot in a church. I remember Botnot was Marcus Duval's operative.
How could someone from their 'anti-gang' unit go undercover? And targeting a big shot like Bishop? They must have known each other all along," Ronick frowned, puzzled.
"Who knows? Maybe we just happened to run into each other at church and recognized each other. You know how the media can be these days? They can spin a rumor into a storm."
Old Officer Jasper, with a nonchalant attitude, extended his hand to Alice. "Now, young lady, may I ask you for a dance? To celebrate my retirement."
"Of course," Alice said, taking the old officer's hand. "I'm sure I'll miss you, old man."
This little incident, which had nothing to do with them, didn't provoke much discussion. The singing and dancing continued until night fell. Jack temporarily extinguished the charcoal in the grill and brought in a case of "room-temperature" beer from outside, drawing cheers from the crowd.
"I have to admit, I'm a little fond of you two Los Angeles people. I heard it's sunny there all year round and never snows, right? It sounds like heaven,"
Ronnick muttered, curled up on the sofa. His voice was a little slurred, as if he was a little overwhelmed.
John, holding a "room temperature" beer, frowned and gently shook it, patiently waiting for the ice inside to slowly melt. He smiled in response.
"You're talking about Hawaii, Jack, you just came back from there. Los Angeles winters can still be quite cold, especially after the rain, but it's definitely much more comfortable than Detroit."
"Maybe I should make my retirement the first stop in Los Angeles, the second in Florida, and then return to the North when I'm completely tired of the sun and the beach."
Veteran police officer Jasper was out of breath after two dances and was now savoring the bottle of Irish whiskey that was said to have been stored in the evidence room for 30 years.
"Was Hawaii fun?" Alice asked Jack curiously.
Jack subconsciously touched his waist. The piercing had been completely healed by the healing magic he used when he left Los Angeles.
"Not bad. A pretty girl like you would be very popular there, especially in a bikini on the beach."
"Then my New Year's resolution is to go on vacation to Hawaii next year. To do that, I can swear to quit smoking, never be seduced by bad boys again, and have a normal relationship."
Before she could finish her words, Alice pulled out a pack of women's cigarettes, lit one for herself, and asked Alex if she wanted one.
Alex rolled her eyes at her. "Didn't you swear to quit smoking?"
"Yeah, it's still early before midnight. I have to finish the rest of this half pack, otherwise it'll be wasted," Alice replied confidently.
"Okay, then maybe we should be thankful there aren't any bad boys like you mentioned here," Alex said, glancing at Jack, and the two women began to giggle inexplicably.
I have to say that alcohol is sometimes a good thing. Although everyone drank very restrainedly, they were inevitably a little drunk. Even Alex and Ronnick, two guys who didn't get along well before, were no longer so hostile.
But the harmonious atmosphere didn't last long. A sudden crackle of noise erupted from the radio, followed by a call. After speaking briefly, veteran Officer Jasper, who had just picked up the intercom, looked at his young captain with a strange expression.
"What's going on?" Ronik struggled to pull himself from his comfortable couch and stepped forward to take the intercom, but the call ended and the voice was gone.
"That son of a bitch, Bishop, is being sent to us. Command said the highway is closed due to the snowstorm, and the prisoner bus will be staying at our station overnight."
Veteran Officer Jasper, oblivious to Ronik's sudden scowl, continued to speak to himself. "I'm going to teach that bastard a lesson, that cop killer!"
Jack glanced at John and sighed silently. He knew nothing good would happen if he followed this guy out. Wasn't this a sign of trouble?
John, evidently thinking the same thing, stared at him with wide eyes.
A
blue and white prison bus with yellow stripes slowly emerged from the night, braving the snow. The driver's cautiousness was evident from its speed alone.
Even so, the bus slid slightly sideways as it stopped, a truly unsettling sight.
Veteran police officer Jasper opened the door, his mouth choking on a heavy snowfall. He turned to Ronnick and gave him a wry smile. "What do you think of this New Year's gift?"
"Not really," Ronnick followed him out dejectedly, shivering with cold. Jack and John helped hold the door open, while Alice, who had come to watch the fun, nimbly slipped under their arms.
"What are you doing here?" Ronnick shouted at Alice. The wind howled outside, making normal conversation difficult to hear even face to face.
Alice rubbed her hands, shivering with cold as well, but she remained stubbornly on the steps. "I'm just curious. I've heard so many rumors about Bishop over the years, and I want to see him in person."
"I thought you just swore you wouldn't be drawn to bad guys again. Go on inside. There's nothing to see." Ronick glared at her.
"There's still nearly three hours until New Year's, Boss." Alice raised an eyebrow at him with a cheeky smile.
The bus door had already opened, and a black officer in a state police uniform, his hat pulled down, approached Ronick and shouted a greeting. "You must be Sheriff Ronick. Nice to meet you."
"No offense, Officer, but I'm very concerned about this. Precinct 13 is closing soon and is understaffed. Can't you find a dedicated detention center?"
Ronick's words met the black officer's expectations. There was a serious criminal on the bus, and unless it was absolutely necessary, he didn't want to spend the night in this dilapidated precinct that was about to be razed.
"The road is closed due to the snowstorm. The command center said we can only stay here for one night. If you have any objections, go ask the higher-ups yourself."
Seeing that the two were about to argue, the old police officer Jasper quickly stepped forward to
smooth things over. "Okay, Sheriff, you can't really kick them out in this weather. We just provide a room with iron bars. They will do their own thing. There will be no problem. Come on, come on, come in and warm up."
"Okay, okay, but they are still under the responsibility of you and your people. My people and I will never get involved in this mess." Ronik finally agreed with a pinch of his nose.
The old police officer Jasper smiled and patted him on the shoulder. He turned and called to the black state trooper, "Bring everyone in the car down and let them all come in."
(End of this chapter)