Chapter 913: The Tragedy of a Pawn
The person who came to see him was Valerie, the manager of Desire Nights Club. They met at a nearby coffee shop.
Valerie was wearing a simple, elegant long dress, a stark contrast to the seductive cheongsam she wore at the club. She looked more refined and graceful now.
"Mrs. Nora, is there something you need from me?" Jason asked nervously. He couldn't let his wife find out about his involvement with Desire Nights Club, or their newly mended relationship might face another test.
"Mr. Jason, the club has been shut down by the police, and Mr. Peter is now wanted," Valerie said casually as she expertly brewed tea and poured him a cup.
"What?" Jason's hand trembled, spilling tea onto the tray. Desire Nights Club had been affected too, likely connected to the drug bust in Starhaven. He had delivered goods to Peter, so he might also be implicated.
Seeing Jason's pale face, Valerie poured him another cup of tea and said softly, "Mr. Jason, don't worry. You must have seen the news. The police arrested many people, but they were all core members. You probably didn't know about their activities, right?"
"I didn't know. I swear I didn't know they were dealing drugs. If I had known, I would never have gotten involved," Jason said, filled with regret. He had sensed something was off before, feeling that the company was too secretive. His wife had even warned him. He thought the company might be involved in some shady business, but never imagined it was drug smuggling, a crime punishable by death.
"Then you should be fine. The police are currently hunting down the remaining members and won't pay much attention to small fry like us. But be prepared; the police will likely want to talk to you. Don't try to deceive them. Tell the truth, and they might be lenient, at most fining you," Valerie said calmly.
Jason finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he wasn't imprisoned, he could handle anything. However, the thought of losing all the money he had earned over the past two years pained him. He had worked tirelessly, only for it all to be for nothing. It was devastating, but it was the best outcome he could hope for. He drank a cup of coffee to steady himself and asked, "What about Nicole? How is she?"
"She left Aetheria," Valerie sighed, her bright eyes showing a hint of helplessness. "She asked me to tell you to forget about her, to treat your wife well, and to stay away from places like the club."
"I will, I will," Jason said, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth. The girl who had brought him so much joy was gone. He felt a sense of relief but also a tinge of regret for not being able to say a final goodbye.
"That's all I needed to say," Valerie said, standing up gracefully. Her long dress swayed, revealing her voluptuous figure, still exuding the understated charm of an elegant Eastern woman. "Mr. Jason, take care."
Jason stayed in the teahouse for a while before returning to the apartment complex, feeling dejected. As soon as he entered the bedroom, he saw a man chatting with his wife. Although the man was in plain clothes, his sharp eyes made Jason's heart skip a beat. He knew the inevitable had come.
"Hello, you must be Mrs. Johnson's husband, Jason," the man said with a faint smile, extending his hand. "I'm Harry, a detective from the Starhaven Police Department."
"Hello, officer," Jason said, trembling as he shook Harry's hand. His knees felt weak, and his head spun, fearing the man might pull out handcuffs at any moment.
Audrey smiled and said, "Jason, don't be nervous. The officer is very kind. He helped me when I first arrived in Starhaven and took a shady taxi. He's here today to investigate a case related to your company."
Harry smiled slightly and said, "Mrs. Johnson, could I speak with your husband alone for a moment?"
"Of course," Audrey said with a light laugh. "I'll go buy some fruit."
With that, she left the bedroom.
Once Audrey was gone, the room fell silent. Harry's expression turned serious as he squinted and said, "Mr. Jason, you know why I'm here, don't you?"
"Yes, I know," Jason said, deflating like a punctured balloon. He sat on the bed, his face pale. "I'll confess everything." He then recounted his entire story from his hometown to Starhaven, omitting only his relationship with Nicole at Desire Nights Club.
Harry nodded, satisfied with Jason's attitude. Jason's account matched the information he had. Jason seemed to have been used as an unwitting pawn. He was transporting ordinary goods, not drugs, to mislead the police. Only a few core members knew about the actual drug shipments. Jason thought he was trusted by the company, but he was just a pawn in their game. This was fortunate for Jason.
"Mr. Jason, since you're prepared, I won't say much more," Harry said sternly. "Although you were unaware, you objectively facilitated a criminal organization, harming the public. I could arrest you and keep you in jail for at least a year."
"Officer, I know I was wrong. Please give me a chance," Jason said, sweating profusely. Harry's words felt like heavy blows to his chest, making it hard to breathe.
"However, given your remorse and cooperation, I can recommend leniency to my superiors," Harry said, sighing internally. If Jason weren't Audrey's husband, he wouldn't have let him off so easily. He never expected Audrey's husband to be involved in such a major drug case.
After relentless work, the police had dismantled the massive criminal organization, involving billions of dollars and hundreds of people. The core members were all captured, including two corrupt officers. The only regret was that Peter from Aetheria was still at large.
As a task force member, Harry had some discretion. He could choose to punish or not punish peripheral figures like Jason and Valerie.
"Thank you, officer. I will reflect on my actions and not cause any more trouble," Jason said, finally relaxing. He felt like he had walked around the edge of a cliff and come back, his back drenched in cold sweat.
"By the way, some suspects are still at large. If you have any information, please contact me. You might be able to redeem yourself," Harry said, giving Jason his phone number. He hoped to use Jason as bait to see if any fugitives would contact him.
"Of course, I'll cooperate," Jason said, relieved. To him, Harry was now the master of his fate.
Just then, Audrey returned with a heavy watermelon, smiling. "Officer, it's hot. Have some watermelon. Stay for lunch."
"Yes, officer, please join us," Jason said, smiling. He wasn't stupid; he sensed that Harry's leniency was partly due to Audrey.
"No, thank you, Mrs. Johnson. I have other matters to attend to," Harry said, glancing at Jason and smiling at Audrey. He felt a pang of injustice for Audrey. Such a beautiful woman married to Jason seemed a waste.
But life was often unfair. Beautiful women often ended up with undeserving men, giving their all willingly, while honest men struggled to find partners.
"Officer, let me walk you out," Audrey said, leading Harry to the door. She nervously asked, "Officer, is Jason in trouble?"
"No, Mrs. Johnson, don't worry," Harry said, smiling. "I just needed information about his boss, involved in an illegal investment case. It's all sorted now. Your husband has nothing to worry about."
"That's a relief," Audrey said, patting her chest and laughing. "I was too scared to ask, but Jason is a law-abiding citizen. He wouldn't break the law."
"That's good," Harry said, looking deeply at Audrey, restraining his emotions. "Mrs. Johnson, I'll be going now."
"Goodbye, officer," Audrey said, waving. She hesitated, then softly added, "Take care."
Harry paused, gave a faint smile, and nodded. "I will, Mrs. Johnson. You take care too."
He quickly walked away, fearing he might say something he shouldn't if he stayed.
Audrey watched Harry's tall figure disappear, feeling a bit melancholic. She had a good impression of the handsome young officer. He had saved her twice in times of need, making her feel a natural dependence on him. It wasn't romantic, but a helpless reliance on a strong protector, or perhaps a natural attraction between men and women.
She hadn't interacted much with Harry, but he was upright, kind, and full of youthful vigor. He faced evil without fear, much like Jason when he first graduated college, brimming with an energy that made hearts race.
Sadly, it was hard to find that light in her husband now. She returned to the bedroom and saw Jason sitting on the bed, lost in thought. She sighed and sat beside him, speaking softly, "Jason, don't worry. I asked the officer. He just needed information about your boss. It has nothing to do with you. If it comes to it, you can quit that job. Starhaven is big. We can find another company, or we can go back home."
"No, I can't go back," Jason said, jumping up, his face red. "What would I be going back to? No money, nothing. I'd be a laughingstock. Honey, believe in me. Give me two, at most three years. I'll make a comeback and achieve great things. Do you believe in me, honey?"
Seeing the hopeful look in Jason's eyes, Audrey couldn't bring herself to say anything discouraging. She nodded gently. Her husband was like a cracked porcelain vase, fragile and unable to withstand any more blows.
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