Chapter 21 What Appeals to You

In the afternoon, Luke was sifting through information from two decades ago.

After finishing work, he headed to Feixiang Bar for a drink—partly to unwind, partly to pass the time.

By seven in the evening, the bar was quiet. Luke took a seat at the counter and ordered a glass of whisky.

That morning, he'd told his mother he was off to Nevada on business and wouldn't be home tonight. Now, he found himself wandering back home, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Lately, he had been making efforts to mend his relationship with his mother, but the results had been less than satisfactory.

Dealing with a younger sibling is simpler; a bit of persuasion usually does the trick.

But adults are different. Changing a parent's opinion isn't something that happens overnight.

Feeling restless, Luke bought five more scratch-off tickets.

One by one, they were duds.

The bartender, Danny, smiled and said, "You can't win every time. Better luck next round."

Luke tossed the losing tickets into the trash. He hadn't expected to win this time anyway.

He had previously won a significant amount from a scratch-off game and figured it was only natural to continue trying.

It's odd not to play.

Today, Luke bought more scratch-offs to keep up appearances.

His phone rang.

Amid the noise of the bar, Luke answered, "Hello?"

It was his mother. "Where are you?"

Surprised, Luke wondered if she knew he hadn't gone to Nevada and was calling to offer him a way out of returning home.

"I got a new assignment today. I'm just finishing up now."

"Very well. Come home immediately. If you're not here within half an hour, don't bother coming back," Linda's ultimatum was clear.

Luke ended the call, feeling uneasy. It didn't seem like a chance for reconciliation but rather a call for reckoning.

Confused, he pondered what had gone wrong.

Twenty minutes later, Luke arrived home.

The atmosphere was tense. Linda sat on the living room sofa, arms crossed, looking stern. Jack stood nearby, head down.

Luke placed his helmet on the shoe rack and asked, "What's going on?"

Linda pointed to a CD on the coffee table. "Ask him."

Luke picked up the CD and saw a cover with a bikini-clad woman. He chuckled, "Is this really a big deal?"

Linda replied, "Luke, I don't care what you watch, but this isn't suitable for a 13-year-old. Jack says it's not his. Is it yours?"

Though CDs are rare in China, they're still available in Los Angeles, making this situation an interesting phenomenon.

Luke glanced at Jack, who remained downcast.

"I wondered why I couldn't find this disc. Seems it ended up here by mistake," Luke said, waving the CD. "Jack, it's not for you right now. Ask me again in a few years."

Linda was unamused. "Don't be flippant. Keep your things in order. If I see anything inappropriate for children again, be prepared to move out."

Jack, relieved, shot Luke a grateful glance before retreating upstairs.

"Mom, it's just a CD. Jack's not too young. Let's not overreact."

Linda softened slightly. "Alright, but let's discuss your moving plans. When are you moving out?"

"Oh, I wasn't planning to move yet. I need to rent for a while longer."

Linda's response was curt. "I'm not unreasonable, but let's talk rent. Jack, go finish your homework."

Jack hurried upstairs.

"One thousand dollars a month," Linda stated.

"That's excessive," Luke protested.

"What did you say?"

"Three hundred dollars."

"Then you'd better move."

"I'll add another hundred dollars," Luke offered, "Come on, I'm your son, and I still have a motorcycle loan to pay off."

"Cash is due on the 1st of next month."

"Yes, ma'am. Can I go upstairs now?"

Linda lowered her voice. "And what's going on with you and Jack?"

"Nothing much."

"You really think I'm gullible? Why take the CD down for him? You've done this before?"

"He's my brother," Luke said, heading upstairs with the CD.

Back in his room, he received a text message in Chinese.

"Brother, I love you."

Luke replied succinctly, "Go away."

Still unsettled, Luke grabbed a beer from the fridge and sipped it while contemplating the case.

There had been two Taser robbery cases involving young blonde women—a pattern that suggested a serial offender.

The robbery of Daisy last Thursday seemed like a copycat incident.

Although the suspect was expected to strike again last Friday, no new cases had surfaced.

Tracking Tony through a modified Taser gun led nowhere as Tony turned out to be an alias. The lead was dead.

Investigations into the victims' identities and connections had yielded no further clues.

The case was at an impasse.

The text message interrupted his thoughts.

Another message in Chinese read, "Brother, can you return the CD? It belongs to a friend."

Luke replied once more, "Go away."

He examined the CD cover, noting the "Off Yi Club" label beneath the woman's image.

He stared at it for a while, puzzled, then turned on his computer and inserted the CD.

The screen displayed a dance performance with the girl slowly undressing.

Luke watched in silence, deep in thought, as he considered the link between the CD and the Taser robberies.

"This isn't taunting the police but questioning the victims," he murmured.