Chapter 4 Thanks for the flat tire

Luke stepped out of the office, catching the eye of a black man standing by the water dispenser who gave him a peculiar look.

The man, Marcus, was notorious for being the biggest gossip in the police department. "Hey, I heard someone's getting transferred. It's not you, is it?"

"You heard wrong," Luke replied.

Marcus, speaking with his signature rhythmic cadence, said, "Yeah, if I were you, I wouldn't admit it either. I'd just quietly pack up and leave."

Luke glanced back at the office before replying, "It's the captain who's being transferred."

Deputy Team Vincent chimed in, "Did the captain say that herself?"

Luke nodded. "Yes, she wants me to take her place."

Marcus sneered, "Are you kidding? I'm more qualified to be captain than you."

Luke replied seriously, "I thought the same, so I recommended you to Captain Susan."

"What did she say?" Marcus asked reflexively.

Luke mimicked Susan's stern voice, "Shut up and get out of my sight." Then he added, "That's when I walked out."

Marcus stood stunned, unable to respond.

Deputy Team Vincent shook his head, "Marcus, you've been tricked."

The rest of their colleagues burst into laughter.

By the time Marcus realized what had happened, Luke had already returned to his desk. He had been feeling a bit off lately, for several reasons. As a Chinese policeman turned Los Angeles detective, he had to adapt to new cultures, lifestyles, work environments, and mindsets.

It wasn't easy.

Luke often wondered how the protagonists in time-travel novels quickly adapted to new identities and excelled in their new roles. In reality, it was much harder. Technically, he was still a rookie, but Captain Susan held him to the standards of an elite detective.

Shaking off his thoughts, Luke reminded himself that solving cases was what mattered. If he could crack the 'Taser robbery' case, everything would fall into place.

He delved into the case files, scrutinizing the suspects' motives and looking for concealed agendas.

Later that evening, Luke headed to the Rose Bar. Since moving to LA, he had come to appreciate bar culture and often went for a drink after work. But tonight, he had other reasons for being there.

The bar, renovated last year, boasted a decent environment with a dance floor, entertainment area, booths, and a bar. It wasn't crowded, so Luke took a seat at the bar.

A middle-aged white bartender, familiar with Luke from his frequent visits, approached. "What'll it be today?"

"Whiskey," Luke answered. The bartender poured him half a glass.

"Anything else?"

"Give me five scratch-offs."

Luke rarely bought lottery tickets, finding them a waste of money. But now, with his 'adventure card,' it felt like a good opportunity.

He took a sip of his whiskey, enjoying its strong, slightly spicy flavor. He grabbed a small plate of nuts and pretzels from the self-service area, avoiding the sweeter snacks.

A familiar scent of perfume wafted over, and Luke turned to see a young woman approaching. It was the woman from the convertible yesterday, now in a black professional dress.

"Hey, we meet again," she said.

"Miss, what's your name?"

"Daisy. Just call me Daisy. I wanted to thank you for the warning, even though you didn't help much."

Luke smiled. "I didn't want your boyfriend to misunderstand."

"You're sweet." Daisy walked away.

Luke continued drinking, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.

"Your scratch-offs," the bartender said, handing them over.

"How much?"

"Five dollars for whiskey, five for the scratch-offs. A generous lady paid for you and left a five-dollar tip."

"Who?"

"The one who just spoke to you. She's gone now."

Luke sighed, "I don't mind paying for the whiskey, but I don't want any trouble over the scratch-offs."

The bartender winked, "Relax. It's normal in a bar. Next time, maybe something else will happen?"

Luke shook his head, "I'm not worried about the whiskey. It's the scratch-offs. What if they win? I don't want complications."

Leaving the bar, Daisy walked down a dimly lit street, hearing footsteps behind her. She quickened her pace, but the footsteps grew closer.

She started to run, nearly twisting her ankle in her high heels. Panicking, she rummaged in her bag and pulled out a small bottle. She turned to see a man in a baseball cap approaching. "Who are you? Why...?"

Before she could finish, the man drew a gun. "Bang!" Daisy collapsed, unconscious.

The man kicked the bottle from her hand, dragged her to a corner, and began rummaging through her belongings.

Suddenly, a voice shouted, "LAPD! Hands up!"

"Shit! A cop here?" The man froze.

"Hands up!" Luke commanded.

"Don't shoot!" The man raised his hands slowly.

Luke approached, gun drawn. "Face down. Hands behind your back."

"She's my girlfriend. She's just sick," the man stammered.

"Shut up. Face forward, don't move." Luke cuffed him, reciting his Miranda rights.

As Luke secured the suspect, a voice in his head announced, [Adventure complete. Adventure card activated and used.]