Chapter 128 - Deadlock and Ambush
Bell was busy for another half an hour before she finally stopped. After a short break, she washed her hands and returned to the second floor.
Her sweetheart in the room was already snoring. Bell gritted her teeth to keep herself from kicking him off the bed.
The next morning, Luke was woken up by Elsa again.
This time, he didn’t answer the door until he was dressed.
He asked Elsa to sit down while he washed his face.
When he was almost done, Elsa asked, “What did you find yesterday?”
Luke shrugged and said, “Nothing new.”
Elsa wasn’t very disappointed. After all, they were already clear on the robbers’ plan.
Luke added, “However, I tampered with their car. I think it’s possible to stop the car at the right moment.”
Dazed for a moment, Elsa then got excited.
The robbers were important, but the eight million dollars even more so.
If she and Luke could find the money, their operation wouldn’t be for nothing, and NYPD would have to tolerate them because of it.
Luke finally asked, “Has the boss reached a deal with NYPD yet?”
Elsa shook her head. “They’re not giving in. It’s still a deadlock.”
Luke chuckled. “That’s fine. They probably will when the next bank is robbed.”
Elsa said, “Let’s hope that NYPD can’t afford a fourth robbery.”
Luke was rendered speechless by her gloating remark.
They acted exactly the same as before.
Elsa went to the police department as the liaison, while Luke kept an eye on the four women.
Wearing his earpiece, Luke had breakfast at the fast food restaurant near the robbers’ warehouse and eavesdropped on them.
From what he was hearing, the robbers wouldn’t take action until tomorrow.
At the moment, they were planning the operation in the warehouse.
After an entire morning, the four women finally had lunch and took a break, and so did Luke.
Luke returned to the apartment and greeted Bell, before helping her with car repairs again.
“Can we get it done by tomorrow morning?” asked Luke while he tried to help.
Busy with the work, Bell replied, “Yes, if I work all night.”
Luke asked, “How long do you need if I help out?”
Bell said, “In that case, probably by midnight.”
Luke said, “Alright, let’s make it so.” In any case, Bell’s car was only a backup, and might not be put to use.
That night, Luke took another tour of the four women’s warehouse, only to discover that they had already gone to bed.
Luke wasn’t surprised. Those people would start their last operation probably at five in the morning. It was only reasonable that they would sleep early.
Confirming that the four women hadn’t run off, Luke returned to his apartment again.
Bell’s car was almost ready. To quote her, she never expected Luke to be so useful.
Luke chuckled at that. Tony Stark’s abilities were more than useful.
Elsa was back, too. She even observed Luke and Bell as they worked, but she wasn’t interested in helping at all.
The best thing the female detective could repair was probably her gun.
Jessi, Bell’s sweetheart, dropped by as well. Luke simply buried his head below the engine hood when they kissed and cuddled each other.
At eleven that night, Luke returned to his room to rest.
He asked Elsa again in passing, but NYPD still hadn’t given in yet.
Luke reminded her, “They’ll perform their last operation tomorrow morning. Are you sure there’s still time?”
Elsa said, “Maybe not, but that’ll be NYPD’s problem, not ours.”
Luke was suspicious. “Really?”
Elsa said, “Of course. Remember to get up early tomorrow. We’ll ask Bell to drop us off at the Nassau border.”
Luke snorted, knowing that his partner was planning to fly solo without NYPD.
If NYPD still wouldn’t give in, she could still acquire the A8, where the robbers had stashed their loot, as important leverage in her negotiations with NYPD.
Luke understood her thoughts and nodded. “Alright, I’ll go to bed soon.”
At half past six the next morning, Luke was woken up by Elsa again.
After he indicated that he would be ready to go in ten minutes, Elsa left to wake up Bell.
Today, Bell was going to take them to the Queens-Nassau border for their possible chase-and-run.
Though slightly tired, Bell soon cleaned herself up and went downstairs.
Today, she was in red sportswear.
Luke remarked, “…Bell, we’re going to be chasing robbers today. Are you sure they won’t pick you out as their primary target because of your eye-catching clothes?”
Bell said, “Alright, I’ll change.”
A moment later, she returned in bright yellow sportswear.
Luke opened his mouth, only to come up with nothing.
He remembered that Bell had been in bright green sportswear when they first met, so all her clothes were probably in the same style. She would probably have to stay in the car later.
Luke pointed out the route, and they slowly drove past the four women’s warehouse.
With the bugs, Luke heard them making final preparations; they were clearly ready to leave.
He checked the time. It was slightly past eight.
In the next moment, a white BMW 760Li drove out of the garage.
Luke smiled at the four women who looked like men in their suits, hats, masks and sunglasses. “Let’s go, Bell. We’ll wait for them on the road up north.”
Bell said regretfully, “It’s a pity that I can’t race them again.”
Luke was lost for words. “…Don’t even think about it unless you want your baby to be impounded again. Elsa might not be able to help you next time – NYPD might even revoke your driver’s license because of her.”
Bell found that odd. “Why?”
Luke said, “Because we’re going to steal their credit today.”
Bell was stunned. “Aren’t you detectives who transferred here recently? They’re so mean to their own people?”
Luke chuckled. “We’re officers from LAPD, not NYPD.”
Bell said, “…I don’t care. I would rather help you than help those who locked up my baby for days. At least you got my baby back and brought him back to life, didn’t you?”
Luke grinned. “Of course I did.”
Bell asked, “Are we in a hurry?”
“No, Bell, normal speed will be fine. They won’t be able to go so fast.” Elsa clearly didn’t want to suffer another near-death experience.
Bell shrugged regretfully. “Fine, let’s go.”
Half an hour later, the three of them appeared on the Nassau border.