Mezke Bar.

Several TVs hung over the bar, all broadcasting the same news program.

On the screen, Chief Reid was standing at the podium holding a news conference, surrounded by a circle of journalists with cameras pointed straight at him.

Reid looked solemn, "February 13th is a day of grief. A gunman stormed into Roger's Supermarket and committed an inhumane massacre, taking the lives of eleven Los Angeles citizens forever. On behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department, I extend my sincerest condolences to them. This is a day for all Angelenos to remember.

Let's pray for them.

At the same time, the gunman who wreaked havoc in the supermarket must face the harshest legal consequences; he is a butcher!

Just yesterday, Lieutenant Lee and his team from the Robbery and Murder Department apprehended the gunman and successfully prevented a second shooting incident from occurring.

Let's commend and encourage their heroic actions." Reid began to lead the applause.

The crowd below the platform joined in with a round of applause.

After the applause died down, a Black female journalist asked, "Chief Reid, it's said that all the victims of the Roger's Supermarket shooting were Black. Was this a massacre targeting Black people?"

Reid was well aware of the journalist's ulterior motive, trying to steer the conversation towards racial issues and deliberately escalate the situation. He had already prepared a response for such unfriendly questions, "This case is quite complicated. The supermarket where the incident took place is near a Black community, which is why there are more Black victims."

The Black female journalist was not satisfied with this answer, "May I ask, what was the gunman's motive?"

"There are two supermarkets nearby, and they compete with each other. The owner of the other supermarket hired someone to cause trouble at Roger's Supermarket, but due to some misunderstandings, it led to this shooting incident." Reid tiptoed around the sensitive aspects.

"Is the gunman a white person?"

"The gunman's race, whether white or Black, was determined not by him but by his employer."

The Black female journalist pressed on, "Is the employer Black or white?"

"I don't think we should simply categorize people as Black or white, but I can tell you, the mastermind behind the hiring is of African descent." Reid's answer was clever, leaving the journalist speechless.

A white female journalist asked, "Is Lieutenant Lee, who handled the shooting case, the same Detective Chief Lee who caught the gunman in the Maraboya school shooting last May?"

"Yes, he's standing right next to me. Would you like to check his muscles?" Reid pointed at Luke standing by the podium.

"Haha..." Many of the journalists below remembered last year's incident and laughed in unison.

The white female journalist, not one to be easily dismissed, enquired, "As far as I know, the Robbery and Murder Department is one of the most important divisions in the Los Angeles Police Department. Many officers work for decades and their hair turns gray without necessarily advancing to Lieutenant level.

Lieutenant Lee took less than a year; does he have any special background?"

"You're right, his background is me," Reid quipped, then his smile faded, "I suggest you do your homework before the interview; anyone familiar with Lieutenant Lee knows how foolish that question is."

Not giving the journalist a chance for further questions, Reid continued, "Okay, does anyone else have questions regarding the Roger's Supermarket shooting?"

A white male journalist asked, "I've received information that although the gunman is a white boy, he grew up in a Black family, and his neighbors were also Black. He attended a school named after a Black individual.

Did he face discrimination and bullying in his upbringing, leading to this shooting incident?"

As expected, here we go again.

How do these damned journalists have such well-informed sources?

On the screen, Reid's face was solemn, clearly somewhat overwhelmed.

"Knock knock..."

The deputy team leader tapped on the table, complaining, "Hey, guys, get your eyes off that damn screen.

We're here to drink, can't you take it seriously?"

Little Black chuckled, "Old man, why do you seem so angry?"

"Kid, do you have a problem?" the deputy team leader snorted.

Little Black raised his hands, "NO, I'm just a bit curious."

Luke cut in, raising his glass, "Guys, to celebrate the successful resolution of the supermarket shooting case, I propose we all have a drink."

"Right, cheers." Jackson was the first to respond.

"Cheers!"

Everyone took a sip. Little Black put down his glass and said, "Where's Reid? Why haven't we seen him tonight? What he said at the press conference was excellent, I'd like to learn from him."

"Haha..." The deputy team leader laughed, "Trust me, you don't need to."

Little Black "..."

Really want, really want to punch him.

Jones, the head of the Anti-Narcotics and Black Gang Task Force, walked over, sat down on the adjacent chair, and raised his glass, nodding, "Gentlemen, congratulations on cracking a major case."

Luke clinked glasses with him, asking, "Where's that unlucky David?"

Jones smirked, "As expected, you still can't forget your old flame."

Luke chuckled, "So, what's your role here? A rival in love?"

Jones shrugged, "You do have a rival, but it's not me."

"What does that mean?"

Jones whispered, "David might have a new relationship."

"Really?" Little Black's gossip radar lit up.