Additionally, there's something else I need to tell you.
Tonight, the department is throwing you a celebration party."
"Wow, isn't that a bit much?"
"You're the only one in the Detective Bureau who has received this medal, it can't be too grand. Get ready, tonight you're the star."
"Why didn't you say so earlier? I would have dressed to look sharper."
"Telling you now isn't too late, you're already looking sharp.
If you look sharper than Frank, he might have an opinion about it."
"The chief is coming too?"
A little after seven in the evening.
The Hilton Hotel, second-floor banquet hall.
The room was huge, measuring around four to five hundred square meters.
To the left of the hall, white long tables were set up, and the staff had already placed food and drinks on them.
One by one, plainclothes officers and those in uniform walked into the hall, chatting in groups.
"Hey, our big hero has arrived."
No sooner had Luke walked into the hall than he was surrounded by a group of people.
"Captain Luke, welcome back."
"Luke, how was the tax-funded vacation? I'm so envious."
"Where's your medal? Show it to us for a bit of enlightenment."
"With you being so good-looking, how many young ladies from the special district did you charm? Did you bring one back?"
The crowd hooted and hollered all around.
"There it is, I knew it. While I was gone these past days, you guys have been plotting against me.
Though there are many girls in the special district, and they are impressive, I still prefer the girls from Los Angeles."
Captain Jones said, "Tell us about your award experience this time, let us learn a bit too. Maybe one day we'll get a chance to go to the district to receive an award."
Luke countered, "What do you mean? Didn't you watch my award ceremony?"
Captain Jones slapped his forehead, "I tried not to watch, but I was forced to at least three times. Now when I close my eyes, I still see you receiving the award."
"Haha..." The crowd burst into laughter again.
Luke said with a smile, "Hearing that makes me feel much better."
Chen Kelin from Robbery and Murder Department's second squad asked, "Luke, I saw a civilian award recipient being arrested by the FBI, what was that about?"
"It's a long story." Luke spread his hands.
David said, "There must have been someone causing trouble. That civilian award recipient just stole a TV set, and even the local police couldn't be bothered to catch him.
The FBI from the district really has nothing better to do, meddling in such trivial matters."
The chief of the Economic Crime Department, Harvey Simmons, asked, "I heard that an award recipient firefighter from Las Vegas was also arrested, do you know him?"
"I've met him twice."
"Did that guy actually visit prostitutes, or was he set up?"
Luke spread his hands again, "By the time I saw the news... I was already on the flight back to Los Angeles."
Harvey Simmons took a sip of red wine, "To be honest, I kind of feel sorry for that guy. He had just become nationally famous, and then he got embroiled in such a scandal.
It wasn't easy for him to win that medal. I heard he went into fire scenes eight times and rescued seven people and a dog, burning his back in the process.
And then to be brought down by something so minor...
Everyone present nodded in agreement, knowing as officers how hard it was to earn that medal.
Just then, a commotion arose from a distance.
Senior officials from the Detective Bureau accompanied a man into the hall, a tall figure with a serious and composed demeanor, it was none other than the Los Angeles Police Chief, Frank.
"Good evening, Chief."
"Chief, I'm glad to see you."
"Everyone, I'm also glad to see you, but I'm not the star today. Luke is, you should all be crowding around him."
Frank responded with a smile, then picked up a glass of champagne and raised it towards Luke, "Luke, welcome back."
Now that everyone had arrived, the celebration officially began.
Police Chief Volawi Cologne, an elderly white man, acted as the host for the evening's celebration. He gave a brief speech, then invited Luke to the stage to speak.
Luke was prepared; after thanking everyone and saying a few pleasantries, he made a couple of jokes and stepped down.
People ate and drank, gathering in small groups to chat.
As the boss of the Los Angeles Police Department, Frank's attendance was a show of respect for Luke.
Luke specifically went over to toast him, "Chief, it's good to see you."
"Me too." Frank clinked glasses with Luke.
Luke whispered, "Before returning, I met with Trist Sig. He asked me to send his regards to you."
"Speaking of Trist Sig, I've been meaning to have a chat with you.
Come on, let's find somewhere else." Frank led Luke out of the hall and into the lounge across the corridor.
Frank sat down next to the sofa, took out a box of cigars, clipped off the tip, lit one, and handed it to Luke, "This matter is more complicated than we thought. Trist Sig has been in contact with me."
"Thank you." Luke accepted the cigar and took a puff.
Luke could smoke, but this was his first time having a cigar. He didn't inhale deeply, just let it linger in his mouth for a while before gently blowing it away.
The taste of the tobacco remained in his mouth and was richer than that of a cigarette.
Aside from being a bit strong, it was quite pleasant.
Frank also lit a cigar for himself, took a puff, and said slowly, "You did very well in the district. You handled things appropriately.
I've seen a lot of excellent officers who work hard and solve significant cases, but they tend to pick up certain bad habits, often making mistakes over trivial things.
Like women, personal interest, getting into fights, and the like.
Managing relationships and personal life well, knowing what should and shouldn't be done, can greatly assist your work.
You're doing very good."
Luke smiled, "Chief, did you call me here just to praise me?"
Frank continued, "That drunk who provoked you, Hansar Pasha, has been arrested by the FBI.
After interrogation, he confessed to being hired to target award recipients, and he also named two accomplices. One of them is the silver-peddling woman Laura.
She had initially targeted you and even deliberately engineered an encounter, but you ignored her, so she turned to firefighter Fatou Brandi instead.
Another person is their boss, the mastermind behind targeting the award recipients—Josh Biddle."