American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop

Just as Jack was stretching and about to soak in a hot bath before bed, he suddenly froze, his expression changing. He reached out, and his FK7.5 instantly fell into his hand, aimed directly at the hotel room door.

A second later, there was a knock, followed by Jane's soft voice, "Jack, are you still awake?"

Jack only heard one set of footsteps, which meant there was no possibility she was being coerced. He relaxed, holstering his gun and walking over to open the door.

"Ta-da! Surprise!"

Jane stood at the door, holding a bottle of whiskey.

"Not really. Why are you up so late instead of going to bed?" Jack noticed her face was flushed, and she reeked of alcohol. It was clear she'd already had quite a bit to drink.

This budget chain hotel, similar to those back home, was one Jane had arranged. Theoretically, she was the only one who knew his room number.

Jane pouted, feigning displeasure. "Why do you sound just like my dad? You're younger than me, you know. Heh heh heh."

Jack mentally rolled his eyes. "Wanda" drunk wasn't all that different from a regular girl, laughing foolishly like a kid.

He reached out to take the bottle from her, but she used the opportunity to lean in, collapsing directly into his arms. Great, it seemed like she was trying to pull a fast one.

Jack bent slightly, scooping her up in a bridal carry. With a gentle nudge from his heel, he shut the door.

Just as he was about to set her down on the sofa, Jane suddenly grabbed his collar. "You're one lucky bastard, you know that?"

Jack let go, dropping her onto the couch with a thud.

Earlier, he had cast a long-lasting healing spell on her. Given her current age, there was no way she could be drunk unless she bathed in a barrel of whiskey. So what was this about?

"I'm so tired, Jack," Jane said, turning over on the couch, continuing her act.

No, you're not tired. You're questioning the System's abilities. Right now, you should be full of energy, strong enough to punch a bull to death. Physically, you're in the best shape of your life.

Jack didn't respond. He just sat on the other end of the couch, taking a small sip of the whiskey in his hand. It was a pretty standard drink, no more than 50 bucks a bottle, probably something she grabbed from a bar.

Jane wriggled closer, finally managing to rest her head on his lap.

"Who's prettier, me or Jiejie?"

Her voice suddenly took on a sweet tone, batting her eyes flirtatiously. Unfortunately, her neglected eyebrows, now resembling tiny caterpillars, and less-than-curled lashes made her attempt less effective.

Jack sighed, guessing her real intention, and shook his head. "No."

Jane blinked again, as if she didn't quite understand. "Huh?"

"The next mission will be dangerous. I don't think you should be part of it," Jack explained, his expression serious.

"You guessed it." Jane awkwardly sat up on the sofa, her earlier drunkenness gone.

"More or less," Jack thought to himself. This was the Scarlet Witch, in her mid-twenties and at the peak of her beauty. She had just tried to seduce him. In his previous life, he wouldn't have dared dream of something like this.

"Do you think that trap was meant for me and my team?" Jane asked, her voice tinged with disappointment. It was unclear if she was upset about her failed attempt to seduce him or because of the matter at hand.

"Quite likely," Jack answered bluntly, hoping to dissuade her from pursuing the idea.

"You and your team have been too effective lately, dealing significant damage to Manuel Diaz. Not only with the explosives but also with those bodies. It's all a form of intimidation, a warning from the cartel. 

Even the lead you received about that mansion might have been deliberately leaked."

"So that means I do have the right to be part of the next operation, doesn't it?" Jane countered confidently.

"Yeah, yeah. After being treated like a rookie at Wind River, getting a promotion you didn't earn, you felt unsatisfied. You transferred to Austin to deal with border issues, participated in a hostage rescue mission, and quickly grew into a leader. 

You've given a lot, even stopped seeing yourself as just a woman, fighting alongside the men on the front lines. Now, you've finally proven yourself, and your confidence is through the roof, right?"

Jack liked the straightforwardness of these interactions. He enjoyed being direct, especially with those close to him. He wasn't good at or fond of the roundabout games of guessing.

Jane was stunned by his words. She felt as if she were back in Wind River, where this guy had had her completely figured out. In front of him, she always seemed like the clumsy rookie.

"You... you..." Her large eyes welled up slightly, unsure if she should be happy that he understood her so well or angry that he was so blunt about it.

"Do you know why this anti-kidnapping unit was formed? Why a simple FBI special agent like you became its leader? Do you know how many similar units are operating under similar names across various border states?"

Jack's barrage of questions left Jane speechless. She opened her mouth but didn't know how to respond.

Jack sighed. He felt like he had slipped back into an older mindset, even though he had tried to keep things youthful. He wasn't trying to intentionally criticize her, but somehow, every girl he met seemed to have that same inner toughness. On the surface, they appeared sweet, but deep down, they were as stubborn as bulls that refused to turn around even after hitting a brick wall.

He then recounted everything he had been through recently and explained the grim reality behind the endless drug war at the US-Mexico border.

Jane took the file Jack handed her, staring blankly at the horrific photos within. It was as if her entire worldview had been shattered.

Execution-style gunshots to the head, women and children gunned down in pickup trucks, rows of bodies hanging from overpasses, dismembered corpses caught on barbed wire fences, and severed heads sewn onto basketballs.

"In the US alone, there are over 50 million drug users and addicts. They consume 80% of the world's cocaine and opioid drugs, with an annual market worth over $160 billion.

Such a massive market is what's caused the current situation. I'm just here to deal with Ian Doyle. Once that's done, I'm leaving."

Jack's voice was low as he explained. The proportion of drug addicts in the US had surpassed even that of late Qing China. Unless a miracle happened, this problem had no solution.

"What you saw at Wind River was just a forgotten wilderness. Across the border lies a forgotten abyss. Believe me, don't let curiosity lead you to stare into the abyss. Everyone who's done that has been swallowed by it."

Jane remained silent for a long time, her face in her hands as she flipped through the file. The room fell into a deep quiet.

Finally, Jane snapped the folder shut, breaking the silence, and then angrily questioned, "Did you and Jiejie break up? When did you hook up with Emily?"

"Huh?" Jack was confused. How did the topic change so quickly?

"Wasn't the terrorist Ian Doyle originally after her? You tell me not to stare into the abyss, but you're willing to risk your life for her. How many women do you have?"

"No, it's not—I—" Jack tried to deny it, but Jane cut him off.

"You also have a lover named Hannah in the Los Angeles office, don't you?"

"Hannah is my girlfriend, yes, but Emily and I are just partners, nothing more. We're comrades who rely on each other."

"Shut up, you two-timing bastard!"

"Don't come near me! You stink!"

"I'd rather smell bad than be as old as Emily! How could you like her? She's so much older than me."

"I'm picky, okay? And I really don't have that kind of relationship with Emily. I'm after Doyle because he blew up my house."

"Shut up and kiss me, you jerk!"

"Mmph—!"

Is this a bit cliché and cheesy? I did my best, but honestly, I couldn't stop smiling as I wrote the last part. Guess I was just having fun with it.

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