Chapter 24 I Have To Do My Best For A Living
Inside the stairwell on the third floor.
"Don't stop me," Eric shook Andrew's arm hard and shouted, "I need to ask William why he reassigned me to logistics."
"Why do you think you're suitable for the frontline team? Be sensible, don't harm others..." Andrew responded sternly, staring at Eric. "Everyone was upset last night because the case wasn't solved. If you go to William now, you'll just be asking for trouble. If he loses his temper, he might hit you. Are you that foolish?"
As the two argued, Alexander walked down from upstairs and asked, "What are you two doing?"
The two were taken aback.
"Can you stop shouting here? It's undignified." Alexander frowned at them and said, "Come on, let's go outside and talk. I need to have a word with Eric, too."
After hesitating for a while, Eric was eventually dragged away by Alexander and Andrew.
Downstairs.
Emily blinked her beautiful eyes and said, "I'm a journalist from the web station. I found some people selling smuggled drugs at a premium around Maple Street... When we were investigating, those thugs found us and took our camera."
"Do you know the people?" the on-duty officer asked.
"No, I don't," Emily replied.
"Fill out this form, print a copy of your ID, and write down the time, location, and specific details." The on-duty officer tossed an inquiry form over.
After receiving it, Emily sat down and filled it out carefully before handing it over. "Is this okay? Can you go arrest them now?"
"Alright, you can go back. We will investigate and inform you later."
"No, my camera is still with them, and they are still there. Why aren't you going to arrest them?" Emily was getting anxious.
"Do you not understand? I told you to go back first."
"You!" Emily turned flushed with anger. In frustration, she said, "Forget it, I'll find Alexander. Is he here?"
"Do you know him?" The officer asked in surprise.
"Yes, I know him."
"Wait a moment then." The officer's attitude softened slightly as he picked up the radio and spoke a few words.
After waiting for about a minute, the officer shook his head and looked at her, saying, "Alexander is not here. He's gone out."
Emily looked helpless. "Can you at least come with me to get the camera back?"
"I can't go now. I have to report and follow the procedure for the investigation." the officer explained.
Emily muttered under her breath, picked up her bag, and left.
In a breakfast shop next to the police station.
Eric stared blankly at the bread on the table, motionless.
"Don't be angry. Just go to logistics for now. William is still upset." Alexander was eating and trying to console Eric.
With red eyes, Eric lowered his head and murmured, "It's not fair."
Andrew, with a hot temper, was already dissatisfied with Eric's performance last night. When he heard this, he exploded. "Are you kidding? If you can't do your job properly, is it wrong to be punished? I've told you before that you're not cut out for frontline work, but you keep dreaming of promotion. Now not only did you mess up, but now we're facing consequences. Paul could have been caught last night. What will the higher-ups say today? Everyone involved in the case will be commended. But because you didn't dare to shoot, now we not only face punishment but Richard was killed... Have you seen his body? Three bullets in him, even his bulletproof vest shattered."
Alexander listened without saying a word.
Eric slowly raised his head, his cheeks devoid of any emotion, and asked numbly, "Andrew, can you stop making assumptions before understanding the details?"
"What details? Then tell me, why didn't you shoot? Why?" Andrew slammed his bowl down, glaring at Eric.
Clutching his fists tightly, Eric stared at Andrew for a few seconds before gritting his teeth and saying, "Fine, even if I didn't shoot... I was wrong, I admit it."
"You were wrong from the start," Andrew criticized.
"But have you never made a mistake? Have you never?" Eric retorted.
Andrew was momentarily speechless at the unexpected response from Eric.
"But I haven't. Since the day I became a police officer, I have never made a fundamental mistake, not even once." Eric's voice trembled as he looked at Alexander and Andrew. "I have been working cautiously in the police station. Not only have I never made a mistake before, but in order to become a Level 2 officer and earn more money each month, I also worked hard to rank in the top three in shooting at the police station and first among the sergeants, right?"
Alexander was stunned to hear about Eric's shooting honors.
"When I brought honor to the police station, there was no substantial reward, but when I made a mistake, there was punishment. Is that fair?" Eric asked with teary eyes. "Is it difficult to become a Level 2 officer? It's just a matter of a word from the superiors. But why doesn't it happen to me? Why does no one speak up for me? Every year, I get nominated, but every year, I am disappointed, right?" Eric inquired.
Andrew was taken aback by the tone Eric used, as he had never seen him like this before.
"I'm different from you! You have Mr. Charles backing you up in the police station, so you can dare to offend anyone, even scold William when you're unhappy. But can I do that? If I say something wrong and offend someone, I might be sent home the next day. If I don't have a job, who will take care of my sick mother and support my sister? You? Tell me, is it you?" Eric's voice grew hoarse as he clenched his fists and shouted, "You live a life while I'm just trying to survive. I dare not risk my life. If there's trouble, I hide because I don't have the right to fight with others... I have two people at home who depend on me. If I don't work for three days, they'll starve. Different from your supportive background,I have a burden behind me. So you can scold me and look down on me from a higher position, but I can only remain humble forever. Perhaps one day, even if I give it my all, I can only reach your starting point, that's all."
After speaking, Eric stood up, looked at Alexander and Andrew expressionlessly, and said, "I'm leaving."
"Eric!" Alexander called out.
Without looking back, Eric left the breakfast shop alone.
Andrew furrowed his brow and continued eating.
Alexander sat there in a daze, lost in his thoughts.
After a while, Andrew lowered his head and asked, "Did I go too far with my words?"
"Yeah, a bit." Alexander nodded.
"I'm really worried about him." Andrew sighed.
Snowflakes began to drift down from the sky. Eric walked stiffly along the deserted road, thinking about buying a bottle of wine to ease his frustration. But when he touched his pocket, he remembered he couldn't even afford the cheapest bottle of wine.
He endured, walked, and headed toward home.
Inside a house on Maple Street.
Paul smoked a cigarette, furrowing his brow as he asked Benjamin, "When can I leave?"
"It's being arranged soon, probably in the next couple of days," Benjamin replied.
"I need to go out before I leave," Paul demanded.
"No, it's not possible. They're searching for you like crazy outside." Benjamin urgently reminded him.
"I don't know when I'll be able to come back after leaving this time," Paul lowered his head and said, "I have a wish that needs to be fulfilled."
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