Chapter 296 - You Are and Always Will Be

Selina laughed in amusement. “Boss, I’m only a high school graduate. She’ll definitely be better than me.”

Elsa chuckled and said in a low voice, “If you and Luke want, you can register at a third-tier college and get a diploma in a few years. By then, you can easily be promoted.”

Luke didn’t respond to that. He didn’t want to do office work. As for Selina… He looked at her.

Selina glared back at him warily. “When would I have time for college?”

Luke thought about all the survival training that he had arranged for her, and realized that she really didn’t have the time.

However, he decided to ask Jenny if there was any college where they could get a diploma by shelling out a little more money and spending less time in class.

Ignoring them as they winked at each other, Elsa said, “However, I can only give you one week on this case at most, and that includes your trip both ways.”

Luke shrugged and said, “Not a problem.”

If he couldn’t resolve the case in a week, it would be pointless to remain there any longer.

It was a matter of attitude if he went or not, while it was a matter of luck if he could crack the case.

Luke and Selina were then driven out of the office.

Half an hour later, Elizabeth returned happily. “Luke, Selina, my mother is glad for your help.”

Luke looked at her. “Elizabeth, tell us the truth. Your mother’s attitude will determine what investigation methods we can use.”

Elizabeth ducked her head. “I persuaded her. She’s willing to help you with whatever you need, except…” Selina asked, “Except that we’re only helping with this case and we can’t disrupt local order?”

Elizabeth lowered her head in silent confirmation.

Luke said, “Raise your head, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth subconsciously raised her head and looked at him.

“It’s your family,” Luke said calmly. “There’s no shame in wanting to help your family. So, don’t act as if you’ve done something wrong.” Elizabeth nodded slowly. “Okay.” Luke suddenly chuckled. “Besides, it was Elsa who asked me for this favor. Do you think I could refuse?”

Selina simply snorted.

She certainly didn’t believe that. If Luke didn’t want to go, Elsa wouldn’t force him to work on this case.

Elizabeth nodded and was well aware of that.

She knew that it wasn’t Elsa but Luke who had the ultimate say on the matter.

However, Elsa had shown her support by asking Luke to help her, and Luke had also accepted the case.

Both of them were very kind.

Luke continued, “Exactly what is going on over there? Tell us everything you know. We don’t want to mess anything up.”

Elizabeth told them about the case in detail, and Luke frowned. “Your mother can totally contact the FBI now, can’t she?”

Considering the severity of the issue that Elizabeth had described, what mattered most was keeping everybody safe instead of preserving the local sheriff’s dignity.

Elizabeth smiled bitterly. “She would’ve done that, but in the last couple of days, Wade, the town mayor, told everybody that the town isn’t safe and that they should accept Vitello’s terms and move. Now, many people are suspicious that Wade is behind everything. My mother isn’t sure either.”

Luke asked, “Do you believe your brother?”

Elizabeth turned solemn. “Mike and I have always been close. He hardly ever lies, and he wouldn’t do so about something so horrible. So, I thought that you might be able to help.”

Because the two of you are the most capable detectives in LAPD, she secretly thought to herself.

Luke and Elsa appreciated Elizabeth not just because she was pretty, but also because she was smart.

She knew that Luke had once defeated fifty criminals on his own, plus he cracked the two Jennifer Perry cases on the day of his investigation. Nobody could ensure her family’s safety better than he could.

After talking for twenty minutes, Elizabeth gave the files on her hometown to Selina to analyze on the way.

Luke and Selina wasted no time and simply set off.

They were still driving the squad car which the police department had given to them. After Luke’s modifications, it was far more useful than any other vehicle.

Elizabeth’s mother also faxed over a request for help.

Although it was a bit unbelievable that a town in Arizona would ask LAPD for help, the fax made everything official.

After hanging up the phone, Selina glanced at Luke and snorted. “Need I remind you that you’re not supposed to date your student?” Luke: “What?”

Selina: “Also, you’re not supposed to date your colleague, either.”

Luke was absolutely unmoved. “Okay.”

Bored, Selina sighed. “Your good student has done all the paperwork. We’re now on an official work trip.”

Luke nodded and didn’t say anything.

Selina: “Were you hitting on her just now? ‘Don’t act as if you’ve done something wrong’? It wouldn’t have ended well for her if she had tried this on another old detective in our division.”

Luke: “But I don’t think I’m old. I’m still young.” Stumped for a moment, Selina then realized his meaning, and said angrily, “I’m also young. I’m only 24!”

Luke: “Of course you are, but you’ll be 25

soon.”

Selina sighed. “I remember the good old days in Shackelford when someone called me an angel.”

Luke chuckled. “Yes. You’re an angel, and you always will be.”

Selina snorted and focused on the files.

After acquiring Elementary Self-Healing, Luke drove most of the time since he didn’t get tired.

Selina was exhausted after reading the files, and she took a nap. Eventually, they reached Boom Town territory in the glow of the setting sun.

An old sign next to the road said “20 miles to Boom Town.”

This town used to be a prosperous one, hence its name. But after the gold mines here dried up, the town fell into inevitable decline.

Now, the mayor was communicating with a corporation in the hopes of selling the town as a whole.

However, the residents who had lived here for decades were reluctant to leave. The two parties were at an impasse.