Chapter 43 Confronting William
At the intersection of Maple Street and Vine Street, William and David led dozens of people to the entrance of a warehouse.
"Open it," David shouted to the people behind him.
"Wait a minute." William pondered for a moment and immediately waved his hand to stop them. "Andrew is a fool. Forcing it open might cause unnecessary trouble. David, call the team."
After listening to William's instructions, David walked aside with his phone, while the others surrounded the warehouse tightly.
Andrew had been focused to the outside, so he quickly noticed William and his group.
Inside the room, a friend helping to hide them looked at Andrew with a panicked expression and said, "They're here. What should we do?"
On the shabby wooden bed, Eric, clutching his abdomen, forced himself to sit up straight, his face pale, and he shouted to Andrew, "Andrew, you've helped me enough by bringing me here. I'm like this; I don't want to drag you down. Just protect my sister and mom, I'll go out by myself."
"What are you talking about at this point?" Andrew scolded impatiently, "You stay put; I'll go outside and talk to William."
"Andrew!" Eric shouted with tears in his eyes, "I owe you too much, how will I ever repay you?"
Andrew glanced back at Eric. "At the police station, you're my only friend. If you're gone, who will I yell at?"
Eric froze at the words.
"None of you go out," Andrew said as he walked out alone.
Two minutes later, the iron door of the warehouse was pushed open. Andrew, with an e-cigarette in his mouth, glanced at William and the others below the steps and said, "If you investigated cases with this efficiency, Pine City would have no criminals by now."
William was taken aback for a moment, then responded with one hand in his pocket, "Andrew, is Eric inside?"
"Yes." Andrew knew lying was useless now, so he directly admitted it.
"Alright, since you're being straightforward, I'll be straightforward, too," William looked at Andrew and said bluntly. "Eric's case is complicated, involving the Department of Health, the police department, and..."
"Don't talk to me that. Basically, you thought Eric was a pushover and bullied him like a dog. But after kicking him a couple of times, you realized he's a lion, so now you're relying on connections and people to talk, right?" Andrew retorted sharply, with his eyes bright, "Let me tell you two things: First, I asked Eric, and he doesn't have what you're looking for; second, whatever your purpose is, I won't let you touch him. Even if Eric has to go through legal procedures, you have to back off."
William frowned at Andrew and said after a long silence, "Do you know why I'm talking to you like this?"
"Of course, I'm not an idiot. It's because of Samuel!" Andrew responded without any embarrassment, "But look, it’s quite the coincidence, Samuel is not only my relative but also treats me very well. Today, I guess I'm being a bit stubborn with our relationship, just to piss you off."
"Andrew, are you out of your mind?" David cursed with a grim face, "You're causing trouble for Samuel."
Andrew exploded at the words, jumping up and cursing like a shrew, "This is a conversation between people with backgrounds. Why are you acting arrogant? Believe it or not, I'll do nothing else but create trouble for you?"
"You... you really...!" David was so choked by Andrew that he couldn't say a word.
Andrew withdrew his gaze, looked at William with a sidelong glance, and said, "It's best not to burn all your bridges. There are so many stars in the sky, do you know which one will shine the brightest tomorrow? Let it go."
"I can't explain myself if I don't take him," William said impatiently, "Whether Eric has that thing or not; let him come out and tell me himself."
"That's impossible."
"Andrew, I've been merciful to you because of Samuel."
"What if you're not merciful? Kill me?" Andrew asked coldly.
William was silent for a few seconds, then waved his hand and shouted, "Take Andrew back to the station."
At the command, dozens of people rushed forward, reaching out to grab Andrew off the steps.
"Fuck!"
With red eyes, Andrew swiftly pulled out his work badge and hung it on his chest, shouting, "Come on, let's see who dares to touch me! I'm a Level Three Police Sergeant appointed by the District Government. Touching me is resisting the judicial system."
Everyone hesitated at the words and all turned to William.
"You're playing this game with me?"
"Why can't I?" Andrew glared back.
William's face darkened with a smile, and he turned to David and said, "Let them in."
David took out his phone and dialed a number.
Seconds later, several police cars pulled into Vine Street and parked by the roadside. John, Matthew, and a team of officersgot out of the cars and approached.
"Eric is inside； Take him back," William ordered.
John hesitated for a moment, then led the team up the steps, showing his badge and hanging it on his chest. "Andrew, don't make it difficult for me. I'm just trying to make a living."
Andrew froze, his face turning pale as he shouted, "This has nothing to do with you. Stay out of it."
John reluctantly stepped forward and grabbed Andrew. "We don't have Samuel's protection, sorry, Andrew."
"Pull Andrew down," Matthew immediately shouted from the side, "Go in and get Eric."
Andrew couldn't handle so many people alone, so he was quickly dragged off the steps, but he still shouted at William with red eyes, "If you dare touch Eric today, I'll do nothing else but watch you. If you want to distribute goods in the Black Street District, I won't let you sell a single box!"
John grabbed Andrew by the collar and shouted in a low voice, "Stop shouting, you can't protect him."
"Get lost!" Andrew was completely agitated, struggling with seven or eight people.
On the steps, Matthew pulled out his gun and reached for the door, shouting, "Charge in."
Just then, a rush of footsteps approached.Alexander, with three middle-aged men and an old man, ran over from the side street, panting. "So many people? Let me join the fun."
Everyone turned around at the sound.
Alexander stopped, smiling as he pointed at John and shouted, "Let go of Andrew."
John froze.
"Matthew, stay at the door and don't move," Alexander ordered the officers on the steps.
John and Matthew, hearing Alexander's orders, stood awkwardly, clearly unsure of what to do next.
William glanced at Alexander, his face darkening as he shouted at Matthew, "What are you waiting for? I told you to arrest him!"
Matthew gritted his teeth and reached for the door.
Alexander stepped up the steps and pointed at all the officers from the third team, shouting, "I told you not to move. Didn't you hear me?"
John and Matthew froze again.
Alexander's face suddenly became serious. He stepped forward, grabbed John's wrist, and asked, "Who’s the team leader here?"
"The... the captain is here," John replied, scratching his nose.
Alexander stared at John, leaning in and whispered, “Who’s the team leader here? Make your choice. Are you following me and Andrew, or will you stick with William, who hasn’t promoted you to team leader after all these years?”
John looked up at the words.
"Let go!" Alexander pointed at John's chest and repeated.
John pondered for a moment, looking at Andrew, then at Alexander, and finally thinking of Samuel. He immediately let go.
William was stunned, staring blankly at John. "Didn't you hear me?"
"Captain, according to the hierarchy and police department rules, I should follow my direct superior's orders first," John saluted and shouted.
The members of the three teams were collectively stunned, staring at John, and slowly raised their arms to salute, shouting in unison, "We should follow our direct superior's orders first!"
Alexander turned around and walked up to William, speaking concisely. "You speak well, and I've risked my life to do things for you, but you've used me more than once behind my back, haven't you?"
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