Jimmy excused himself from the motorcycle shop, claiming he needed some time to think it over. Although the Goldwing was a bit pricey, the cost wasn't the main issue for Jimmy. The real concern was that he often needed to see Nia, and driving a car would be more convenient. Not everyone enjoys riding on a motorcycle, after all.

Walking through the streets of Manhattan while smoking, Jimmy mused that you could find just about anything in this place— not just motorcycle dealerships, but also exclusive stores for all sorts of car manufacturers.

Jimmy picked up a Yellow Pages and found a Chevrolet 4S shop. He wanted to have a look at the Suburban; he had driven one previously at the Washington, D.C. headquarters, and it had been quite nice. But it seemed a bit excessive for personal use since Jimmy was single, and with Nia, they only made two people, whereas the Suburban seated seven.

The Chevrolet 4S shop was a bit far away, so Jimmy took a cab. He re-experienced the Suburban and found that driving it was no problem at all. The issue, as before, was that the car was just too much for his needs. It was settled then; he needed to find a sedan. As for the Corvette C5 in the showroom that caught his eye, well, that was a thought for another time. Jimmy wasn't a sports car enthusiast. If he didn't find a sedan he liked, then he would consider taking her home.

After visiting several 4S shops in a day— Cadillac, Lincoln, Audi, Mercedes-Benz— he ultimately chose the newly released Mercedes-Benz CLS 500. After touring around, Jimmy had decided on a sedan, and the recently unveiled CLS from Mercedes-Benz met all his requirements: a powerful engine, a 5L big V8, a brand-new 7-speed automatic transmission, a top speed of 250 km/h, a front hood lowered as much as possible, and a smooth, graceful line running from the rear window to the trunk. It was Mercedes-Benz's first generation of coupe-style sedans, unlike anything else on the market. (The real launch time was in April, at the New York Auto Show, and it went on sale simultaneously.)

The Mercedes-Benz CLS 500 also had high-level features, complete with various electric functions, keyless start, in-dash GPS navigation, and more. Although it was far from what would be available a decade later, it was already enough. It was the best car Jimmy had ever driven.

After a test drive, accompanied by a salesperson, Jimmy briskly swiped his card, signed the paperwork, registered his information, and purchased his first new car. All the paperwork was handled by the 4S shop, and Jimmy quickly received his temporary paper license plate. The official plate would be mailed to him later, and he would just need to replace it himself; no further effort was required on his part. Jimmy attached the temporary plate and drove straight out of the 4S shop.

Having acquired a new car, it was only right to enjoy the ride. He first filled up on gas and then drove straight to the police station.

In the detectives' office, Jimmy approached Nia, "Nia, any leads on yesterday's shooting?"

Nia looked up at Jimmy, "We're on it. One of the cars broke through a guardrail and went into the Hudson River. We've arranged for a salvage team, and another car has been confirmed as using cloned plates. We're still searching for it."

Jimmy nodded, "Keep me posted on any updates. Oh, and I bought a new car." He flashed the car keys in his hand.

Nia glanced at the emblem on the keys and whispered in surprise, "Are you out of your mind? With that salary of yours, how can you afford such an expensive car?"

Jimmy blinked, what's this about? Was she worried he couldn't make ends meet?

Jimmy said, "Oh, it's actually not that bad, the car cost just around 90,000 dollars, all included, and I've paid it in full."

Nia's mouth hung open in astonishment, "In full?"

Jimmy understood then. Apart from the FBI's OPR, Hughes, and Peter, no one else knew he was wealthy. Plus his usual clothing and such were only things the average middle-class could afford, so he didn't look rich at all.

Jimmy smiled and whispered, "It's nothing, I'll tell you about it later. Want to take it for a spin?"

Checking her watch and noting it was nearly lunchtime, Nia stood up, "Alright. Chuck, I'm off to lunch."

Chuck simply waved his hand off, knowing what Jimmy would say even before he came over, timing his visit to coincide with lunch.

It wasn't a problem to give Nia the chance to test drive the new car, Chuck however, would skip this one. He'd treat Chuck another time. Each visit to see Nia always had its perks for Chuck, and of course, as the one who introduced Jimmy and Nia, it was only right for him to enjoy the benefits Jimmy provided.

"Wow, what a beautiful car indeed." The CLS's design truly stunned both Jimmy and Nia. As they opened the door and sat inside, Jimmy took the passenger seat and let Nia drive. The new 7-speed automatic transmission freed up the right hand, which indeed took some getting used to for someone accustomed to manual transmission—but after driving a while, one couldn't help but realize how much more convenient an automatic was.

The powerful 5L V8 provided a thrilling driving experience, making the car feel incredibly sporty. However, after driving for a bit, Jimmy suddenly realized Nia seemed to be speeding, "Slow down, we're in the city."

Jimmy's timely warning allowed Nia to ease off the accelerator, maintaining a steady speed and circling the area. Nia drove the car back to the police station, and the two walked out for a meal, taking the chance to discuss the topic of Jimmy spending a year's salary on a car, wondering just what kind of spendthrift that made him.

While eating out, Jimmy didn't say much. Personal matters were better discussed in private, though it made Nia look at him as if disappointed at his lack of prudence.

Although Nia wasn't short on money, her car was still a mini cooper—compact, easy to handle, aesthetically pleasing, and well-suited for a lady.

In stark contrast to the spendthrift Jimmy, who went from never wanting to discard a few thousand-dollar second-hand Mercury to leaping at a $90,000 Mercedes CLS, he truly seemed to consider nothing else but the thrill of driving.

After the meal, back in the office, Nia spotted the photocopies on the desk and immediately rang Jimmy, asking him to come back.

A few minutes later, Jimmy went upstairs, "What's up, Nia?"

Nia handed him several printouts, "We've got a lead on the person from yesterday."

The car that had gone into the water was pulled out, and using the license plate and fingerprints left inside, they matched a person in the system—Mario Cole, an Italian-American born in New York, a made man of the Lenox Gang, previously sentenced to 20 years for second-degree murder but was paroled after just eight years.

The police did not find a body in the car, and due to the water washing away any traces, they didn't find blood or similar evidence inside.

Jimmy: "Is this all the information we have on this person?"

Nia nodded, "Lenox is a small gang, but they used to be under the Bonanno Family. They broke away a long time ago. I don't have more detailed information here."

Even though Chuck wasn't directly involved in their conversation, he was listening all along. After Nia finished speaking, he added, "The Lenox guys are probably over in Harlem now, not here in Little Italy."

Jimmy nodded, "Nia, make a copy for me. I need to check into this."

Nia furrowed her brows, "Just, don't do anything rash, okay? The higher-ups are watching this case closely. They were street racing and shooting last night, wounding several bystanders. It's had a very bad impact."

Jimmy patted Nia on the back, "Don't worry, I'm just lending you guys a hand. I'll let you know if there's any news."

Jimmy got in his car and left the police station, stopped to buy a Boston Pie and two lattes before heading back to the FBI office. Sigh, even on a day off, he had to come into the office, life was tough. But for Mercury, Jimmy was determined not to let them off the hook.

The ultimate utility man, Ruiz, couldn't help but let out a wry smile when he saw Jimmy walking in with a box and coffee, "Ah, Jimmy, what kind of bad luck brought you to me this time?"

Jimmy chuckled, "I'm here to bring you afternoon tea. This is the best Boston Pie around."

Jimmy placed the box on Ruiz's desk, then took out a plastic knife and plates from a bag, along with two cups of coffee. Ruiz just grumbled a bit; in truth, every time Jimmy came to visit him, it seemed to end up benefiting him, as Jimmy was largely bringing him glory on a platter.

Ruiz cut two slices of cake and hit the call button to let the people outside know to come and take away the rest; it was only right to share with the underlings.

Jimmy and Ruiz sat face to face without discussing anything serious, just chit-chatted casually. After finishing the cake, Ruiz finally turned to the main topic.

Ruiz, "Out with it, you're definitely here for a reason."

Jimmy, "There was a drive-by shooting in Manhattan yesterday. You heard about it, right?"

Ruiz nodded, "Heard something about it. Why? Is the case related to you?"

Jimmy, "I happened to be out for dinner with Nia, and then my car got shot up, it's still lying at the repair shop."

Ruiz raised an eyebrow, "The Mercury?"

Jimmy nodded, and Ruiz understood, "Looks like they're in for it now, go on."

Jimmy took out an A4 paper and handed it to Ruiz, "One of the cars was dredged up from the river. Found a lead on a guy."

Ruiz glanced at the file, "This Mario Cole doesn't ring a bell, nor does the Lenox Gang. Definitely not from a major gang."

Jimmy, "You got any files on them here? Help me look it up."

Ruiz nodded, pressed a button on his phone, and a young man, probably a new intern agent, came in. "I need a file search on this person and gang."

"Alright."

Having subordinates is great; you don't even have to do the work yourself, just command and it's done, Jimmy thought enviously as he watched the agent walk out.

Ruiz, snapping his fingers at Jimmy, "Stop looking. You've been here less than two years, now's not the time. Wait until you get promoted, then you can manage people too."

Jimmy pouted, "If we're talking casework, I've done enough in this past year to get promoted, but unfortunately, I still have to put in more time."

Ruiz chuckled, "You know it's about seniority. Otherwise, you wouldn't have left Homicide. By the way, how's Mahong doing?"

Jimmy, "He's out dealing with a prison break case, I came back to be on duty. They've got enough people to investigate."

After about fifteen minutes, the young agent from before came back with a file and handed it to Ruiz.

Ruiz, "Found it, but the information is pretty outdated, the last update was in 2002. Have a look."

Jimmy took the file. Information on the Lenox Gang was scarce. The gang's former boss was once a capo for the Bonanno Family and had parted ways with the Bonanno Family for unknown reasons without facing elimination. It seemed likely to be internal strife, and someone was likely protecting them.

Three years ago, the former boss died accidentally, and Tulio Penelli, who was then the second in command, took over. They weren't a significant force, with just over a dozen members and only operated within a few blocks, owning an underground casino and a legitimate bar. Their illegal dealings mainly involved acting as middlemen in trade and money laundering.

This small group, hardly even a gang, theoretically wouldn't keep records. However, they once had close ties with the Bonanno Family, so they made the list. Now with outdated information, it was impossible to understand their current situation.

After reading the file, Jimmy looked at Ruiz, "I remember you guys arrested the Bonanno Family's boss last year, right? What's the situation now?"

Ruiz, "The guy's been released on bail. It's tough to convict these big shots."

Jimmy noted down the gang leader Tulio Penelli's address and phone number, along with their two establishments, and handed the file back to Ruiz, "I'll go check it out. If there's any news, it would be good for you to update the records."

Ruiz, "You can investigate, but don't start anything. It's not the time to rile up the Bonanno Family. From what we see in the records, they must still have some connection."

Jimmy, "I understand. This isn't our case; I'm just helping the NYPD."

Ruiz, "Don't make it sound so noble; you just want revenge for your car."

Jimmy raised an eyebrow and shook his head, "I'm off then, goodbye."

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