12_Jimmy's New Journey

Jimmy, whose surname is also Jimmy, couldn't bear the outdoor tent anymore, so he rented an apartment near the restaurant and halted his "wilderness survival" journey. For Jimmy, the busy restaurant life every day made him feel exceptionally bored. The idea Noah mentioned about becoming a police officer kept spinning in his mind. Undeniably, this was a good starting career for him, a person with nothing at the bottom. As time flew by, nearing the end of 1999, Jimmy had been in the new world for over three months. Gradually integrating into society, he transformed into a local, mastering the slang of the South, becoming familiar with restaurant customers, and getting physically involved, with over two months of AP training and patrol experience, knowing the surrounding streets and shops like the back of his hand. Since the first night patrol, within just a month, Jimmy had participated in eight AP missions, accumulating nearly 40 hours, far exceeding the usual APs. In fact, most APs would need over half a year to reach 40 hours in quarterly statistics. In places like New York and Los Angeles, they recruit more APs for various reasons, able to call a group of them anytime for tasks. However, in a state like Arkansas, one of the lowest-income states in the US, it wasn't that easy. Thanks to being in one of the poorest states in the US, Jimmy, although his salary wasn't high, could manage with lower expenses. Coupled with his ingrained habit of saving money, he had nearly $3000 in savings now. Although not a large sum, it was enough to support him to take a break back in his hometown. Lacking his previous memories, the idea of going to San Francisco lingered in his mind, just to take a look at the address on his driver's license, to find out what had actually happened. With Christmas just a few days away, the police station had scheduled Jimmy to participate in duty on Christmas Eve. The reasons were somewhat annoying to Jimmy. First, the restaurant would close early on Christmas Eve, and second, because he was of Chinese descent, as everyone knew, Chinese people didn't usually celebrate Christmas. Jimmy didn't refuse, as he had nothing else to do alone. Resting in bed or patrolling in a police car to the station made little difference. Moreover, considering his high frequency of duty as an AP, the station promised to compensate him with an AP subsidy after New Year's Day. Jon's restaurant was quite famous in the community. Most daily customers were neighbors from the surrounding areas, providing a relatively stable customer base. Having worked there for three months, Jimmy was now very skilled and could handle taking orders. Karen and Annie were happy because now they could take turns to go on vacation. Knowing Jimmy was single, unattached, and warm-hearted, so... On December 24th, the day before Christmas, Jimmy packed up and went straight from the restaurant to the police station. As he still didn't have his own car, he mostly took taxis to the station. After duty, the police would drop him back at his residence or the restaurant. Occasionally, he was lucky enough to catch a patrol car at the door, hitching a ride. The officers at the station were now familiar with Jimmy. They would chat along the way, making the ride enjoyable. "Jimmy, you're partnered with Mason today," Amy assigned the task to Jimmy before leaving for home. As a clerk, Amy didn't need to work late at night. "Mason, I'm ready," said Jimmy, putting on his AP uniform and keeping an extra mask in his pocket. Sometimes he needed to pull up isolation belts, standing in the cold wind. The winter police uniform was warm, but his face felt freezing. "Hi, Jimmy, get in the car," Mason drove the police car from the parking lot to the building entrance, and Jimmy began his ninth patrol once inside. "Mason, Noah said you were on Christmas holiday. Why are you working overtime again?" "Well, I had already planned to go to Clearwater City, Florida, with my wife. Unfortunately, she got a fever yesterday, and the family doctor advised against long-distance travel, so we had to cancel the trip." "Oh, I hope she gets better. Overtime is good; accumulating overtime can be exchanged for paid leave next year, and it's nice to travel in the summer." "Adam36, detention, West 11th Street, XX Avenue. The caller reported that her boyfriend's mother locked him in the room and wouldn't let him out." "Adam36 received." Mason rushed towards the destination with the sirens on. A girl with a hood stood on the roadside. Mason parked the car in front of her, got out, and asked, "Are you the one who called the police?" "Yes, my boyfriend hasn't left the room for four days. He said his mom was blocking him from going out." "Step back. Jimmy, come in with me," ordered Mason. "Okay," Jimmy heard Mason's instructions and got out of the passenger seat. Different police officers had varying requirements for APs. Since Mason asked him to come in, Jimmy just followed along. "Pulaski County Police, please open the door," Mason knocked on the door, but no one answered. He knocked a few more times. "Jimmy, get ready to go in," Mason stepped back, preparing to kick the door. "Wait, officer, I have the front door key," the girl stopped Mason and opened the door. Mason went in first, with Jimmy following, they searched the ground floor's living room and kitchen but found no one. Going upstairs, they discovered a middle-aged woman holding a Bible and a cross, chanting prayers, and a young man tied to the bed, with multiple bloodstains on his bare upper body. As they arrived, they saw the woman flogging the boy with the cross. Mason rushed in, pushed the woman down, and began untying the boy. "Jimmy, restrain that woman," Mason commanded. Jimmy also rushed over, pushed the woman down, face down, and handcuffed her. They finally understood the woman was asking God to exorcise the boy. Jimmy's arms were covered in goosebumps. Living in a secular society for nearly 30 years, he found it hard to comprehend such religious fanaticism, especially when dealing with someone who seemed to be fanatically religious. Mason untied the boy, called for an ambulance over the radio, as the boy seemed almost unconscious, severely dehydrated, with signs of abuse and illegal captivity. "Jimmy, detain her, file a report, abuse, detention," Mason instructed. "Okay," Jimmy led the woman downstairs, placed her in the backseat cage, reported through the car radio, and then returned upstairs. The ambulance arrived in five minutes. Jimmy cooperated with the paramedics to get the boy onto the ambulance, marking the end of the mission.