Elsa said, “I’m a Los Angeles police officer, alright?”
Luke said, “Do you think they can really see your badge from there? Just flash it and order them to stop.”
Elsa did so doubtfully.
As it turned out, the A8 went even faster after Elsa showed them her badge.
Elsa was lost for words. “…Bell, drive past them and pull the cab over. I’m going to force them to stop.”
Bell asked, “What the hell? You’re not trying to make me stop them American-style, are you?”
Elsa said, “This is a cab. I’m saying that I’m going to get out and force them to stop with my gun, okay?”
Bell was relieved. “No problem at all, just watch.”
A moment later, Elsa was standing in the middle of the road, a gun in one hand and her badge in the other, as she signaled for Vanessa to pull over.
Vanessa frowned. She had been stepping on the gas pedal, but couldn’t accelerate as fast as the car could go.
At their current speed, it would be very easy to be hit by a bullet.
Elsa certainly wasn’t a benevolent person. Nobody in the Major Crimes Division could be.
Seeing that the car wasn’t slowing down, she decisively opened fire.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
She fired four times consecutively.
Vanessa’s car swerved, but two bullets still hit the side mirrors and blew them off.
Luke found it awkward, but he aimed at the running A8 again from the backseat.
Just now, he had shot twice when Elsa opened fire.
So, he was the one who had actually knocked off the side mirrors.
Vanessa gritted her teeth. If her car hadn’t swerved just now, the bullets might’ve hit her.
Staring at the cold officer in the middle of the road, Vanessa didn’t dare take any more risks.
The closer they got, the more accurate the officer’s shooting would become, and she would definitely be aiming at Vanessa, the driver.
Vanessa spun the wheel abruptly and managed to turn the car around, before she drove back the way they came.
Elsa put her gun down. “Let’s go, Bell. Just follow them. There’s no need to push them too far.”
Since the robbers had decided to turn back, things were easier.
She and Luke had forced them to turn around, and they gave NYPD their location. As long as they were in New York, NYPD could only blame themselves if they couldn’t capture them.
Elsa’s phone rang. A woman said, “This is Marta, head of the NYPD Major Crimes Division. Am I speaking to Detective Elsa?”
Elsa said, “Yes.”
Marta asked, “We’re now on our way to your location. What’s the situation?”
Elsa looked at the A8 up ahead and said, “Everything is under control.”
There seemed to be an argument on the other end of the phone, before Berit’s voice came through. “Elsa, what are you doing? My sources tell me that Sergei was there and was in a gunfight with the bank robbers. You’ll be held responsible if he escapes.”
Elsa looked at Luke in the rearview mirror and found it absurd. “Alright, Sergeant Berit. Why don’t we take responsibility and you retire from this case?”
Berit didn’t know how to respond, which made Marta even angrier.
Marta was specifically in charge of sorting out the bank robberies. She didn’t care about Berit’s conflict with the two detectives from Los Angeles. She had to settle the bank robberies first.
Everything was a mess, and Berit wasn’t helping at all.
To shift the blame or steal credit was all well and good, but only after the case was solved.
Now, they had yet to see either the money or the criminals. Berit was truly stupid to be threatening them at such a crucial moment.
Marta grabbed the phone and said, “Detective Elsa, Sergeant Berit’s personal attitude has nothing to do with the Major Crimes Division. Let’s talk about the bank robbers. What’s the situation now?”
Elsa looked ahead and said, “Well, they’re escaping in the direction of Queens.”
Marta was rendered speechless.
Elsa said, “We passed them earlier and forced them to go back. If you’re on your way, you better pay attention in case you miss them.”
Marta asked, “Huh? What are they driving?”
Elsa watched as the four robbers forced a Benz to stop and kicked the driver out, before they stole his car and fled.
She finally said, “Well, they just stole a black S-class Benz. They’re pretty fast. Don’t let them escape. I don’t think we can catch them in our lousy car. They’re all yours.”
Bell’s eyes widened until the whites could be seen. Have I ever lost a single race? My baby isn’t lousy at all!
Luke, however, gave Elsa a thumbs up. Bell immediately knew that they had to be lying.
She asked Luke a question with her eyes, and Luke gestured for Bell to stop next to the Audi A8.
Luke got out and circled the A8.
Coincidentally, he noticed that the unlucky driver whose car had been stolen by the bank robbers was making a call. “Honey, I’m really not lying. My new car was just stolen in New York. By whom? I have no idea! Those women abandoned an A8 and robbed me of my car! Huh? Are they beautiful? Did they point a gun at my head? No, no, honey, I really didn’t go to any of those cosplay nightclubs. They were holding real guns…”
Luke was amused. He approached him and said, “Sir, do you need my help?” Bewildered, the man raised his head. “Huh?”
Luke took the phone and said, “Hello, I’m a police officer. I can verify that a bunch of robbers just robbed this gentleman of his car. You can watch the news tonight if you don’t believe me. It was the Manhattan bank robbers who robbed him.”
After that, he tossed the phone back to the man.
The man was delighted. “Honey, you finally believe me now, don’t you? What? He’s not my friend, or an actor. Is he really… a New York police officer?” He grew doubtful himself.
How could NYPD hire such a young officer?
Luke smiled and showed his badge. “LAPD!”
The man was lost for words.
A woman shrieked on the other end of the phone, “Jerk, you’re lying to me! A police officer from the West Coast has come to the East Coast to vouch for you? Go to hell! I’m divorcing you!”
After the call was cut off, the man looked dazedly at Luke and felt like cursing him.
Luke shrugged and said, “If she’s still suspicious after she watches the news, you should really reconsider your relationship. After all, you really were robbed, and I really am a police officer.”
After a long silence, the man finally said, “Thank you.”
Luke chuckled and waved at Bell.