Chapter 114 - Renting a Place and Becoming Familiar with the Environment
Luke would kill the drug dealers, collect their money, and destroy their goods; they would lose everything
As they talked, Bell led him to an old apartment.
Bell opened the garage with a remote and drove the cab inside.
Luke was a little stumped. “You’re not trying to rob me, right? I’ve only been working for a few months. I don’t have any money.”
Bell laughed and thwacked his shoulder. “You’re fun, kid. Get out. Let me show you a temporary rental.”
They left the garage and climbed the iron fire escape outside the building to the third floor, where Luke saw a few rooms.
“This is my boyfriend’s place. He modified the third floor into single-unit apartments. Two of them happen to be empty right now,” said Bell
Luke remarked, “…You’re definitely going to be rich!”
Bell was amused. “Aren’t you sweet, kid? For your sweet mouth, I’ll give you a lower rent.”
Luke said, “That’s unnecessary. I’m on a work trip, and the police department is paying for this.”
Bell grimaced at him. “Hehe, isn’t that even better then? You can save some money for yourself. You know…”
Luke couldn’t help but laugh at the funny expression on her face.
“No, Bell. My colleague is the one in charge of the money. So, you know…” Luke said “helplessly.”
Bell sighed regretfully. “How about 120 dollars a day for two rooms?”
Luke smiled. “Make it 150. We can afford it on our allowance.”
Bell chuckled and patted his shoulder in satisfaction.
Thirty dollars wasn’t a lot, but she was happy that Luke had volunteered to increase the amount.
However, a man suddenly interjected from behind them, “Damn it, Bell, did you fall in love with a white boy? And you’re flirting with him in my place?”
Luke and Bell both turned around.
Luke saw a tall and handsome black man standing behind them, devastation all over his face.
Bell immediately jumped one meter away to show that there was nothing between her and Luke.
Luke rolled his eyes. Bro, what’s your problem? Your girlfriend is at least thirty-five, and I’m twenty at most. Why do you think your girlfriend is cheating on you?
Several minutes later, however, Luke realized that the black couple had only been teasing each other.
After pretending to squabble for a while, they returned to being lovey dovey.
Hearing that Luke had decided to rent the apartments for 150 dollars a day, the man named Jessi was finally reassured. “So, you’re really here to rent rooms.”
Luke said, “Yes. My colleague is a woman, and she has a higher rank than I do. So, you don’t have to worry about me and Bell.”
Jessi, however, wasn’t embarrassed. “Please forgive me. I love Bell too much. She’s my treasure.”
Luke got goosebumps all over his body when the couple kissed again. He said in a hurry, “Bell, can you give me the key and drop me back first? I need to give the key to my colleague.”
The couple finally say goodbye to each other unwillingly.
Luke put the bags in his room and asked Bell to drop him back at the police station.
Elsa found it strange when Luke returned so quickly. “So soon?”
Luke told her how Bell had rented them her boyfriend’s apartments. Elsa was astonished by how enterprising Bell was.
Elsa asked for the price, and didn’t say anything about it.
If they were going to be here a while, it would’ve been enough to put aside 1,500 dollars a month for a suitable apartment.
Since they weren’t going to be here for more than ten days, however, 150 dollars a day wasn’t too outrageous.
The price was within her budget, so Elsa didn’t really mind.
Luke gave Elsa a key and wrote down the apartment address for her before he left.
He told Elsa that he needed to familiarize himself with the environment here first.
Elsa didn’t really care.
They had rested enough in Iowa in the last two days; she preferred to remain at the police department and read Sergei’s files.
As to why Luke was going out, she didn’t think too much about it.
She had realized that Luke was much more reliable and sophisticated than he appeared.
It might really be beneficial for them if Luke explored the environment first.
Elsa had spoken with Dustin before coming here. She was well aware of Luke’s history.
For example, the young officer had killed more than twenty tough Mexican gangsters since starting his job half a year ago.
Two days ago, he had killed a terrorist again.
Elsa even felt that had Luke been armed on the plane, he might’ve started another killing spree.
Luke was devoted, ambitious, and ruthless. Elsa certainly didn’t dare underestimate such a partner.
Considering Luke’s history, she wouldn’t doubt it if Luke said that he could catch Sergei on his own.
Although it was highly unlikely, Luke’s past deeds made her optimistic.
So, she simply told Luke to keep an eye on his cell phone for possible updates before he left.
This time, Luke had to resort to public transport.
He went to Brooklyn by subway first, before he roamed the area on a bus.
On his trip, he recorded down all sorts of information in his notebook.
He was mainly connecting the information which Bell had given him on the drug dealers to what he was seeing in reality.
This task couldn’t be completed in a day or two, but Luke didn’t intend to wait until everything was clear to him, either.
He would choose a gang in two days at most, because Berit had said that it would take three to five days to plan Sergei’s arrest.
He wouldn’t be as free to stage a “robbery” three days later.
Just like that, Luke roamed about for two days and helped out some people in passing.
Of course, Luke didn’t move against anyone openly, since he didn’t have any law enforcement power here.
