Chapter 2: The Spirit with the Red Obsession
Manhattan Police Precinct.
"Good morning, George. Good morning, Lynn!"
As the two of them entered the precinct, the friendly greetings didn't stop.
A pretty girl with a blonde ponytail, wearing a blue police uniform, walked right over.
She handed him a coffee and a paper box. "Lynn, try the coffee and cake I made myself. Don't worry, I made it just how you like—not too much sugar."
Looking at Jennifer's bright, youthful smile, Lynn Hall took them and grinned. "Thanks. Perfect timing, I haven't eaten breakfast yet."
"You know, Jennifer, for someone who loves their blankets, getting a 'wake-up-or-die' call first thing in the morning is a total nightmare."
Hearing Lynn's witty remark, Jennifer laughed and covered her mouth.
"You must have woken up late again. Captain Stacy wouldn't be like that otherwise."
"See that? That's what you call a reputation!"
Up ahead, George Stacy stopped and turned to look at Lynn Hall. "That is the power of a good reputation!"
"Tsk. Jennifer, I can't believe you're taking George's side. That's cold."
"Oh? And what kind of compensation were you looking for?"
Her light blue eyes fixed on Lynn, Jennifer reached out and straightened his shirt. "How about I take you to a movie tonight?"
"We'll see. I have to help that old stick-in-the-mud organize files. No idea if I'll even have time tonight."
Giving Jennifer a wink, Lynn Hall headed straight for the office.
Watching Lynn's retreating back, Jennifer clasped her hands behind her back, a smile all over her face.
Nearby, Sean, who had been silently watching the whole exchange, saw Lynn turn Jennifer down.
He immediately walked over. "Jennifer, are you free tonight? I bought two movie tickets, so I was wondering if you'd like to…"
"Sorry, Officer Sean, I already made plans to have dinner at my parents' house tonight."
With that, Jennifer turned her back on Sean without a second thought and walked away.
"See that? This is all your fault!"
At the office doorway, having watched the whole thing, George Stacy said, "Sean's been chasing Jennifer for almost three years. Then you show up, and her attitude toward him instantly freezes over."
Hearing this, Lynn shrugged. "What's that got to do with me? I swear on the fluorescent lights in this precinct, I've never laid a hand on Jennifer."
"It would've been better if you had! At least then Sean could give up for good!"
Opening the office door, George Stacy took off his jacket and sat down in his chair.
He then handed Lynn a file from his desk. "Take care of this. You solved the case, so get it ready for archiving."
Lynn took the file and glanced at it. It was a murder case from last week.
Unfortunately, the victim's spirit wasn't a high enough level, so he couldn't absorb any death energy from it.
Taking off his own jacket and tossing it on a chair, Lynn also got to work.
An unknown amount of time passed before George's phone suddenly rang.
He answered it, his brow furrowing.
After shooting Lynn a glare, George said right into the phone, "Got it. I'm bringing my team to the scene now."
Hanging up, George stood and grabbed his jacket. "Looks like what you said this morning came true again. Is this that 'jinx' you're always talking about? Though I still don't get what that has to do with crows."
"But come on. They found a body over at the Hudson River."
Hearing there was a body, Lynn's eyes lit up instantly.
***
In the car.
As they drove toward the Hudson River, George Stacy asked curiously, "Lynn, I don't get why you get so excited every time you hear about a murder, a homicide, or even just a body."
"Can you tell me why?"
Lynn was just about to speak when George Stacy cut him off. "And don't give me any of that bullshit about 'self-worth' or 'purpose in life' to shut me up."
"I know you'd much rather be enjoying life."
"Then I guess I have nothing to say!"
Shrugging, Lynn picked up a donut and took a bite. "Jennifer is too extreme. I hate donuts with no sugar!"
"George, if I go back and give this box of cakes and donuts to Sean, you think he'll be eternally grateful to me?"
"Oh, come on, Lynn. Try being a decent human being for once!"
Giving Lynn a speechless look, George Stacy slammed on the accelerator.
***
By the Hudson River.
The police line had already cordoned off the scene, and a few officers were holding back the gawkers.
A couple of officers were questioning the person who first discovered the body.
In fact, rubbernecking is a universal human trait.
As long as there's no gunfire and their personal safety isn't at risk, even Americans love to crowd around and watch.
Just like that guy who'd clearly just finished a run and was now mixed into the crowd.
Lynn gently nudged George Stacy, who was about to duck under the police line.
George, who had just lifted the tape and was about to duck under, turned his head. "What?"
"Look. Your idol is over there in the crowd, watching the show."
"Who?"
"Steve Rogers. The Captain America whose virginity status became a tabloid poll for hundreds of thousands of netizens."
Hearing this, George Stacy's eyes lit up.
He instinctively glanced into the crowd. "How come I didn't see him?"
"The one in the baseball cap and the tight t-shirt."
His Super-Sense ability allowed Lynn to spot Steve Rogers in the crowd immediately.
While George Stacy was distracted, Lynn lifted the police tape and entered the scene.
"Detective Lynn!"
Seeing Lynn's badge, a uniformed officer walked over. "We got a report that someone found a suitcase floating by the riverbank. He pulled it ashore, opened it, and found the body of an adult male hidden inside."
"We've swept the area, but there are no signs of a struggle, a fight, or any drag marks."
"It's possible any tracks were washed away by the rain last night."
Lynn nodded, listening to the officer's report.
His gaze, however, fell on a translucent, half-naked man wearing only underwear, who was standing right next to the suitcase.
Obviously, this male spirit was the deceased from inside the suitcase.
Using his Eye of Death to scan, he discovered the man's obsession was actually red!
Normally, a spirit's obsession was divided into white, green, blue, red, and purple.
Only levels green and higher allowed him to absorb death energy.
And the deeper the obsession, the more bountiful the death energy he would receive!
At this thought, Lynn Hall took a step forward, pretending to fix his gaze on the corpse inside the suitcase.
But in reality, he was using his [Phantasm] ability to communicate with the spirit telepathically.
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