60: Chapter 60 New Case

In the afternoon, Shaun walked out of the office and headed toward the parking lot.

The sunlight shone on him, feeling warm and cozy.

He took a deep breath; the air smelled of coffee, gasoline, and that unique humid, lazy scent of New Orleans.

A patrol car was parked in a spot, and Otis was leaning against the door, already waiting for him.

Seeing Shaun, he tossed the keys to him. "You drive."

Shaun caught the keys. "Why?"

"Because you're young and have good eyesight." Otis opened the passenger door, sat inside, adjusted the seat back, and stretched his legs out. "I'm old; I need to take it easy."

??

What happened to letting me rest?

Shaun complained inwardly as he got into the driver's seat and started the engine.

The car pulled out of the parking lot and merged into traffic.

Otis leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed. "Shaun, tell me, is handling these big cases lately tiring?"

Shaun thought for a moment. "It's tiring."

"And are they giving you a raise?"

"No."

Otis opened his eyes and turned to look at him. "Then what's the point of doing them?"

Shaun agreed, but with the existence of the golden book, it wasn't like he gained nothing. He smiled and said, "It's not like I have a choice."

Otis sighed. "That's how this job is. The more you do, the more work there is. The more work, the more tired you get. And the more tired you get, the salary stays exactly the same."

Too real!

It seems the whole world is the same!

Just as Shaun was about to join in on the complaining, the car radio suddenly crackled to life.

"car 17, car 17, please respond."

Otis pushed his hat up and reached out to press the talk button. "car 17 receiving, go ahead."

"There's a report near St. Louis Cathedral about a disturbance, sounds like a domestic dispute. You guys are close; go check it out."

Otis and Shaun exchanged a look.

"car 17 copies, heading there now." Otis released the talk button and tossed his hat into the back seat. "Let's go take a look."

Shaun turned the steering wheel, and the car veered into an alley, heading toward the cathedral.

Otis straightened his seat and checked the sidearm at his waist. "Cathedral disputes are usually just someone drinking too much at a wedding or people arguing at a funeral. Nothing major."

Shaun didn't speak.

He gripped the steering wheel, eyes on the road ahead.

The spires of St. Louis Cathedral had already appeared in his field of vision, gleaming white in the afternoon sun.

That cathedral...

It suddenly reminded Shaun of something...

The first time he met Nell was on the steps in front of that very cathedral.

That night, she was wearing a nightgown, sitting on the steps, shivering all over.

How long ago was that?

It seemed like a long time ago.

Yet it also felt like it was just yesterday.

Speaking of which... is Nell still living in Madison's apartment?

While Shaun was lost in thought, Otis looked at him and asked, "Shaun? What are you thinking about?"

Shaun snapped out of it. "Nothing."

He parked the car by the curb across from the cathedral and turned off the engine.

Several people, both men and women, were standing at the cathedral entrance, their voices loud as if they were arguing.

A middle-aged man in a suit was pointing at another man's nose and shouting, while a woman beside them was crying and a young man was trying to break them up.

They looked... like normal people.

Well... our Shaun was a bit jumpy lately, especially when coming to places like a cathedral; he was being extra cautious.

Otis pushed the car door open and said, "Let's go, let's see what's happening."

Shaun followed him out of the car.

The afternoon sun hit the white exterior walls of the cathedral, the glare making it hard to keep one's eyes open.

On the steps at the entrance, the dispute was still ongoing, the voices getting louder and louder.

Shaun walked over.

Inside his mind, the golden book stirred slightly.

[Primary Magic - Passive Activation]

There was something, very faint, but he felt it.

Danger...

Hmm?

He couldn't feel it for the moment...

He glanced at the cathedral.

Sunlight hit the spires, and the crucifix cast a faint shadow.

Everything looked normal.

But that trace of a feeling was still there...

"Shaun!" Otis shouted from ahead. "What are you dazing off for? Get over here!"

Shaun withdrew his gaze and walked over quickly.

The dispute appeared to be just a common verbal argument.

At least, on the surface.

...

By the time Shaun walked over, he could clearly see the situation.

Five people were standing on the steps of the cathedral entrance.

A middle-aged man in a gray suit was red-faced, pointing at a man in a jacket and shouting, "Who do you think you are? Why the hell are you at my sister's wedding?"

The man in the jacket wasn't backing down either. "I'm her friend! She invited me!"

The woman in the bridal gown beside them was crying, pulling at the man in the gray suit as she sobbed, "Brother, please don't do this..."

An elderly couple stood nearby, watching helplessly.

Otis had already stepped forward.

He stood in the middle and raised both hands.

"Alright, alright, that's enough shouting." His voice wasn't loud, but the authority of a twenty-year police veteran made everyone fall silent for a moment.

The man in the gray suit turned around, and upon seeing Otis's badge, his aggression softened slightly, though he was still agitated. "Officer, you be the judge. My sister is getting married, and this fucking guy shows up uninvited..."

"I'm her friend!" the man in the jacket interrupted. "She invited me!"

"She invited you? She's about to get married, and you're still pestering her!"

"Brother!" the woman in the bridal gown rushed forward and grabbed the gray-suited man's arm. "Stop it! I invited him. He's my friend, and I wanted him to be here..."

The man in the gray suit looked at her, then at the man in the jacket, his chest heaving.

Otis stood in the middle, looked at both sides, and asked, "Let me ask one thing: has anyone gotten physical?"

No one spoke.

"Is anyone injured?"

Still, no one spoke.

"Has anything been broken?"

The man in the gray suit shook his head.

Otis nodded and made an immediate judgment. "Then it's just a verbal dispute."

He looked at the man in the gray suit and asked, "You, were you the one who called the police?"

The man in the gray suit blinked and nodded.

"You reported a disturbance?"

"Yes, he—"

"Did he get physical?"

"...No."

"Did he threaten to get physical?"

The man in the gray suit opened his mouth. "No, but he—"

Otis raised a hand to interrupt him. "Sir, I understand how you feel. Your sister is getting married, and you're worried about her. That's normal."

"But this gentleman is a guest invited by your sister. He hasn't laid a hand on anyone, hasn't made threats, and hasn't damaged anything. You called the police; what can we do?"

The man in the gray suit was stunned.

Otis looked at him, his tone softening slightly. "I suggest you all talk it out yourselves. A wedding is a happy occasion; don't ruin it. If this actually goes to the station, it won't look good for your sister either, right?"

The man in the gray suit fell silent for a while.

He glanced at his sister; her eyes were red as she looked at him with a pleading expression.

He took a deep breath, exhaled, and turned to the man in the jacket, his voice much lower. "You leave as soon as it's over. Don't cause any trouble!"