Selina was surprised. “Transferred?” She had thought that Brad was going to be promoted.
After all, given his capabilities and achievements, there had always been rumors that he would be promoted as LAPD’s Deputy Commissioner.
“Yes.” Dustin had another mouthful of juice and nodded. “If he’s transferred, he’ll need a team of trustworthy and familiar people to take control quickly. Do you understand?”
Both Luke and Selina nodded.
This was the regular approach.
It would prevent Brad from being impeded by his new subordinates.
While it wouldn’t be hard for Brad to take care of this problem, for him to take control peacefully would take a few months at least.
That wouldn’t be an ideal start for Brad as a new leader.
“So, I’m here to ask if you want to be transferred.” Dustin gazed at Luke and Selina and said, “This is only what I’ve been thinking, and you’re completely free to say no. Director Brad doesn’t know about this. However, we’ve been cooperating well in the past few months, and you’re the best candidates I could think of, besides Elsa.”
Elsa turned her head aside and couldn’t be bothered to look at Dustin.
She knew that if she and Luke weren’t close and that bringing her along might increase his chances of success, Dustin would’ve probably bypassed her to talk to Luke and Selina alone.
Luke and Selina weren’t surprised.
Dustin staunchly supported Director Brad; it was understandable that he would go over to help Brad establish himself.
Luke and Selina in turn supported Dustin, so he wanted them to come with him.
Dustin and Brad might hold different positions, but they had the same approach. After that, Dustin thought for a moment before he added, “Also, if you want to be transferred, you better talk to Stark Industries first.”
He was actually quite reluctant to say this, because he didn’t think that Luke and Selina were in favor of this plan.
Selina didn’t say anything, while Luke asked after a short pause, “Can I ask, where’s the big boss being transferred to?”
Dustin hesitated for a moment before saying, “Keep this to yourself: Director Brad will be transferring to New York to become the First Deputy Commissioner.”
Both Luke and Selina were stunned. “New York?”
Luke hadn’t expected Brad to be transferred from the West Coast to the giant mire that was New York on the East Coast.
NYPD’s First Deputy Commissioner was appointed by the Commissioner. This was on the same level as the Police Commissioner, who handled practical issues and was above most people in NYPD. This transfer was definitely a promotion for Brad.
Brad was going to New York, a financial and cultural center, and to NYPD, the biggest police department in America; this wasn’t as simple as an increase in ranking.
Being promoted from a three-star Bureau Chief to a four-star First Deputy Commissioner was like a soldier in ancient times becoming an administrative official.
It was like the old Chinese saying: “He who rules lives by mental perplexity; he who is ruled lives by physical labor.”
Brad would be on his way to becoming a Commissioner from this point on. By then, he would no longer be a policeman… but a politician.
That was partly the reason why Dustin dared to ask Luke to come with him.
One of the best choices was always to stick with the big boss.
But Dustin wasn’t certain if Luke would do it.
At just eighteen, this young man already had more money than most police officers could make in their entire lives. He also had never been interested in a promotion despite his pile of achievements.
Even without Dustin and Brad’s support, Luke would do very well if he stayed in Los Angeles.
There was also Tony Stark, Luke’s true backer.
In the face of the L.A. superpower that was Stark Industries, a mere First Deputy Commissioner of NYPD wasn’t worth mentioning
After contemplating for a moment, Luke asked, “I need to think about it. Is that alright?”
Naturally, Dustin had no problem with that. “Of course.” Looking at his face, Luke asked with a smile, “Is it very urgent?”
Dustin revealed another piece of information. “You have until October; it won’t be as easy to act after that.”
Luke knew that he was implying that Brad’s transfer would be after October, probably in November or December.
Whoever wanted to go with the big boss had to let him know in advance so that he could keep the posts open for them.
New York wasn’t that attractive to Luke, but it was different for most other police officers in Los Angeles.
Anybody who went with Brad would definitely be considered his loyal supporters.
As long as Brad was promoted again and became head of NYPD, they would definitely benefit a lot.
There were inevitably very few people Dustin could ask about a transfer; Brad wouldn’t be bringing a lot of people with him. Those who went were bound to be ostracized by the local NYPD officers, so they had to be strong mentally and also have enough achievements.
Dustin’s old buddy Roger, for example, had a family and a history of heart disease, so he wouldn’t be on the list.
That was the end of the business talk.
Dustin had come specifically about this matter. Now that they were done talking, he got up and was ready to leave.
Luke urged him to stay. “Boss, the D.A. and the judges told us to take it easy. Why don’t you have dinner here before you go?”
Dustin shook his head. “There’s a pile of things I need to do; all of you go ahead.”
As he said that, he noticed his trusted subordinate was still lying on a deck chair and showed no signs of getting up. He found it odd. “You’re not leaving?”
Elsa: “I haven’t had a vacation in a long while. I’m here specifically to take a bath and to catch some rays.”
Dustin was even more surprised. “Take a bath?” What was that about? Had Luke conquered even this iron lady… “Cough, cough!” He hurriedly put a stop to his wild imagination.
Selina was still here; that thought had purely been a natural reflex.
Elsa didn’t notice Dustin’s strange expression. She simply pointed at one side. “It’s Selina’s spa. It’s been a few months since I last enjoyed it. How I miss it.”
Dustin looked in the direction she was pointing, and saw an oval pool three meters in diameter. “A… spa?”
Suddenly, his confidence at persuading Luke to go to New York plummeted another 10%.
Disappointment flashed across his solemn face, but he still started walking to the front yard.
But Luke stopped him and pulled him over to the grill nearby. “Boss, since you’re here, you can wait a bit to take some food back with you.”
Dustin didn’t decline again. After all, he had eaten pastries and takeout from Luke more than once.
They went over to the grill. Luke picked up a food box nearby, lifted the lid on the grill, and put the things from the grill into the box.
He asked casually, “Boss, do you want me to pack food for two?”
Dustin replied just as casually, “Okay.”
Shortly after that, he realized something wasn’t right. “Wait. Why did you ask that?”
As the boss of the Major Crimes Division and with years of experience as a detective, his intuition was very sharp, and he realized that Luke’s question was very strange.