Michael pretended to be calm and composed as he fixed his collar, “What does Mr. Shawn want with
me?”
Officer Sharp replied, “I am in the dark about that. You will know when you go now.”
Michael stopped asking and surmised that it must be about what had gone down today. Now that a
piece of evidence was against him, Mr. Shawn must be taking this chance to interrogate him. What else
could he want other than that?
He took in a deep breath and walked out of his own office and came knocking on the door of the station
head.
There was a muffled reply from inside the office immediately.
Michael pushed the door open to enter the office.
Boyce was in a phone call at that moment, and upon seeing the visitor, he gestured to him to take a
seat.
Michael pulled the chair in front of the desk and take a seat. His heart was racing with anxiety, but he
made sure his face didn’t show any of that.
Hierarchy would always trump over anything, and what’s more, his superior was levels higher than him
in position. In the first place, he was at a disadvantage when faced with this particular superior, and
now that his apparent weak point was caught, he could only be the lamb waiting for the slaughter.
“I understand.” Boyce ended his call very hastily and he put the phone back to its curb.
“I don’t have anything to say to defend myself.” Immediately after Boyce putting the phone down,
Michael began, “You can subject me to any punishment you see fit.”
At this moment, there was still an air of arrogance on him. He didn’t completely submit himself and
lower his stance.
Boyce leaned backwards onto his chair and watched him without any expression, “Punishment is the
bare minimum here.” And then he suddenly took a sharp turn in the conversation, “Didn’t you want to
handle that 218 case? You will be on it from now on. I want to see results in ten days.”
Michael’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stammered, “I—Is this my punishment?”
Boyce replied curtly, “Yes.”
“….Stop trying to buy over me. I won’t side with you no matter what. Come what may, I will receive any
kind of punishment you throw at me.” Michael seemed reluctant to accept the token of goodwill from
Boyce.
“This is precisely my way of punishing you. If you think it is too light, then what about closing the case
in five days?”
Boyce picked up the white porcelain cup from his desk and took a sip of tea from the contents. The cup
seemed warm as he took another sip before replacing it on the desk.
Michael was a little full of himself, but he was not someone incapable when it was about work. When
Boyce was still the deputy officer of station, Michael always felt indignant and unwilling to accept him
for that role since he always viewed Boyce’s appointment as the result of extra care from Officer Miller.
He would never acknowledge other’s ability since long ago.
The reason he purposely used Michael’s email to send out that video was to cut off all routes of escape
for Michael.
Wendy must be thinking right now that Michael was the one betraying her, which would lead to her
putting up a firm stance opposite him. The chances of them working together again were slim to none.
“You better not try to buy me over” Michael was still insistent in his stance.
Boyce laughed lightly, “Why would I try to buy you over? I will only use people who are capable, so if
you can’t close this case properly, more punishment will be waiting for you. That’s all; you can continue
your work.”
Michael couldn’t grasp Boyce’s intention at all, so he continued to probe, “Aren’t you angry?”
“Of course.” Boyce admitted, “I was almost fired from my job due to that investigation. You think I won’t
be angry? However, for something that was not my doing, I believe my superiors will give me a fair
judgment. I believe in the organization and party, but as for you, I don’t think you are a vile person. You
are targeting me because of your self-fueled belief that you are somewhat capable, but in the end your
efforts didn’t gain any trust from others.”
All of a sudden, a sharp glint descended upon Boyce’s eyes “Then, did you ever try to find fault from
yourself?”
Michael said nothing.
“First of all, your attitude needs some tweaking.” Boyce simply touched on the topic, “Enough, I still
have things to do. You can dismiss now.”
Michael glanced at him before getting up to leave.
His mind was replaying Boyce’s words. Was there something wrong with him?
The moment the door shut, Boyce heaved a sigh of relief. He picked up his hat and wore it before
leaving his office.
The phone call a while ago was from Officer Miller. He had asked for a meet-up.
It must be because he somehow got news of what happened today.
Boyce left the police station and hopped onto his car and drove towards Officer Miller’s house.
It had been a while since he visited, and after today, it might as well be his last time visiting.
When he reached Officer Miller’s house, he raised his hand to knock on the door.
In no time, the door was opened from inside and only Officer Miller and Wendy was at home. Mrs.
Miller was diverted to another place by Officer Miller as he knew very well his wife’s temperament. If
she were here, she would begin to defend Wendy all over again.
“Come right in.” Officer Miller opened the door.
Boyce entered the house with his lips pressed into a line.
After shutting the door, Officer Miller poured two glasses of water and came over. He placed on of the
glasses in front of Boyce.
He sat down and began, “I have learnt everything.”
Boyce didn’t respond because he knew Officer Miller wasn’t finished yet. He must have more to say.
Sure enough, he added, “I have some responsibility also in this matter. It’s my fault for not educating
my daughter well.”
He barked in a hushed voice, “Wendy!”
Wendy came towards him in respond.
“Apologize to Boyce now.”
Wendy tried to resist indignantly, “I don’t…
Slap!
The moment she said something, Officer Miller landed a slap on her face as he roared, “I am
embarrassed so much because of you. You have done something so despicable and dirty, yet you still
want to argue. This is way too much.”
Boyce pretended not to see this scene as he took the glass of water and took a sip.
Wendy cupped her cheeks and her eyes began to sting with tears. She was staring at Officer Miller
incredulously, “Dad, how can you hit me?”
Ever since she was young, she was never hit by him. However, that was changed now.
“I am your daughter, you know.” Wendy’s eyes were reddish.
“It’s precisely because you are my daughter that I have hit you. I regret for not hitting you earlier, or
else you won’t create such mishap!”
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