8:00 p.m.

Mezke Bar.

Luke was chatting idly with a few officers while holding his drink.

Luke said, "Jones, is that grey pickup outside your new purchase?"

"That's right, the latest Dodge RAM 1500, with a 6.2-liter Hemi V8 supercharged engine, maximum power of 712 horsepower, coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission—the handling is, without a doubt, worth owning."

Jones took out his keys and jangled them, "Want to give it a try?"

"Captain Jones, are you doing an advertisement here?" Black joked.

"Yeah, I'm talking to you—time to swap out that sissy car of yours!"

Black "..."

"Ha ha..."

A burst of laughter erupted from everyone.

With a grin that was more forced than genuine, Chen Kelin tugged at the corner of his mouth and walked over to Luke, "Luke, I want to have a word with you."

"Okay." The two stepped aside, and Luke asked, "Is it about Olive Browning?"

"Yes." Chen Kelin nodded, "Let's find a quieter place. I'll buy you a midnight snack."

"Sounds good."

...

One Pot Beef Restaurant.

This was a Chinese restaurant, with red lanterns hanging at the entrance, Chinese menus and posters on the walls, and a Chinese-style décor.

It was now 9:00 p.m., and only two tables of customers remained in the restaurant.

Chen Kelin and Luke sat at a stall near the entrance, and a Chinese waiter approached them, asking, "What would you like to eat?"

Chen Kelin gestured for the menu to be handed to Luke, "Luke, you decide."

Luke looked over the menu. It was a restaurant that specialized in beef dishes. He said, "Let's go with your house special, the One Pot Beef, a plate of peanuts, a plate of cucumbers."

Luke then passed the menu to Chen Kelin, "You choose something."

Surprised by Luke's standard accompanying dishes for drinks, Chen Kelin laughed, "Can you handle century eggs?"

"Of course."

Chen Kelin had brought the liquor, retrieving a bottle of Guojiao 1573 from the trunk of the car.

As the only new table of customers, the dishes were served quickly: three cold dishes and a pot of beef.

In the pot were beef brisket, tendon, tripe, and pizzle, plus beef balls, all sprinkled generously with chopped green onions and cilantro.

Smelling the aroma, Luke commented, "Looks good."

Chen Kelin introduced, "This place has been around for decades, and their handmade beef balls are a signature dish."

Luke picked up a piece of pizzle first, "Tastes good."

Chen Kelin smiled, pouring a glass of the liquor for Luke, "I'll drink to you, thanks for the new leads you provided on the case."

Luke sniffed the glass before taking a sip, "This is my first time drinking Guojiao, it's quite nice."

Chen Kelin set down his glass, "I heard you've got two cases of Wuliangye in the back of your car, is that true?"

"Who told you that?" Luke was surprised.

Chen Kelin shrugged, "There are no secrets at the Detective Bureau."

"This liquor's good; next time I might put a case of Guojiao in there too." Luke ate a bite and asked, "Clint, there's more to you asking to meet today than just saying thanks, right?"

Chen Kelin poured another drink for Luke and said gravely, "I was hoping you'd take over the Olive Browning kidnapping case."

Luke asked, "Why?"

"This morning, Chief Reid and I met with the victim's parents. Since the last ransom demand by the kidnappers was unsuccessful, they've lost trust in the Second Squad.

They've heard about you, know you've solved quite a few major cases, and they'd like you to take over the investigation."

Caught off guard, Luke had never before had victims' families specifically request him to handle a case. "There are regulations in the bureau for which department takes on a case, and I think we should still take an integrated approach.

The victims' families only know some of the surface details and are not familiar with the internal affairs of the police department.

Moreover, the Second Squad has handled Olive Browning's case before and would be more familiar with it."

Chen Kelin said helplessly, "You're right.

But the problem now is that the victim's family no longer believes in the Second Squad's ability to handle the case.

If the Second Squad continues with the investigation, it will make them uncomfortable, and the squad will be under pressure.

On the other hand, the First Squad can start fresh, and if needed, the Second Squad will provide assistance."

Luke said, "I'm still just an acting squad leader.

Having a seasoned squad leader like you assist me in investigating doesn't seem quite right."

"Some things aren't as they appear on the surface. Although you're new to this, your ability is undeniable.

You have a great future ahead of you, and a promotion is only a matter of time if you merit it.

As for me... I'm quite satisfied with my current position," Chen Kelin trailed off.

Though Chen Kelin didn't spell it out, Luke understood he meant the so-called 'glass ceiling'—something that, apart from a few exceptional Chinese individuals, most Chinese encountered.

Raising his glass, Luke clinked it with Chen Kelin's, "I'll seriously consider it."

...

The following morning.

Reid had a formal talk with Luke, hoping the First Squad would take over the case.

With things having come this far, Luke no longer hesitated and agreed to take on the Olive Browning kidnapping case.

He began to understand the case from multiple perspectives.

First off, Luke went to the Second Squad to meet with Chen Kelin, to learn about the case, and to get the case files.

In the afternoon, Luke invited Olive Browning's parents to the station to give their statements.

A black couple entered the conference room, and Luke stood up and said, "Mr. and Mrs. Browning, I'm the acting squad leader of the Robbery and Murder Department's First Squad, and I'll be in charge of investigating the kidnapping of Liv Browning.

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