Jimmy: "Alright, you're right."

Mary: "What's it about this time?"

Jimmy: "Teamed up with the Department of Homeland Security to raid a terrorist organization's headquarters and shot a few people."

Mary: "Oh, I see. You don't seem to have changed much. Have some tea."

Jimmy took the teacup and placed it in front of him: "Nothing much to change, I'm used to it. You heard about that incident with the rocket launcher on the street the other day, right? It's about that case."

Mary: "No need to get into details, I'm not interested."

Jimmy: "Even if you wanted to hear the details, I couldn't tell you. The confidentiality law keeps a tight rein on things."

While drinking tea and chatting, the topics, of course, were all over the place—from cases to happenings in New York, to travel info from various places. In short, Mary always managed to find various topics to talk about. After chatting for over an hour, Jimmy finally got up to leave.

For this impromptu meeting with Jimmy, Mary had rescheduled an appointment with a client, showing just how much she valued it. After Jimmy left, Mary tidied up the tea set and went to her computer to start writing the report.

Writing Jimmy's report is actually quite straightforward. The so-called psychological intervention is mainly to prevent agents from experiencing major emotional changes after shooting or killing someone. But from his past cases up to now, Jimmy has had hardly any psychological fluctuations. He genuinely believes the people he shoots are scum, and getting rid of them not only doesn't weigh on his mind but rather gives him a sense of purifying the world. Such agents don't really need long-term psychological counseling.

After completing the psychological assessment, Jimmy went straight back to his apartment to rest. When Nia and her team returned to New York, they promptly started working again. Nia had been off work for about a month due to the earlier car accident and the trip to Alaska. Now, it's a busy period, and she's often working overtime at night. Her current state is quite like when Jimmy was handling cases previously.

That evening, while Jimmy was at home watching a movie, the phone rang. He glanced at it and answered: "Ruiz, what's up?"

Ruiz: "Got a moment? Let's grab a drink."

Jimmy: "Sure, at my bar then."

Ruiz: "Alright, see you in half an hour."

Jimmy changed his clothes and headed out. The convenience of living close means less hassle.

The bar was pretty crowded today. Jimmy grabbed some drinks and glasses, then headed to the back room. Inspired by Justin's setup in Little Rock, Jimmy prepared a small, soundproof private room for himself with only two long sofas and a long coffee table in the middle, perfect for discussions.

This room isn't usually open to the public and is only used for special occasions. Previously, when Jimmy came over and there were no seats available outside, he would often take over Isaac's office. With this room now available, he doesn't need to snag a spot anymore.

Soon, Ruiz also arrived. Woody led him to the small room before leaving.

Jimmy: "Take a seat. Glenlivet?"

Ruiz: "Sure, but I can't drink much today. Still have work later."

Jimmy poured Ruiz a glass of whiskey, sliding the cup in front of him, "Seems like you're busy. What's going on?"

Ruiz took a sip, "Hughes retired, you know that, right?"

Jimmy nodded: "I've already met Hughes."

Ruiz: "We got some intel. A gang in Baltimore is connected with folks here in New York. They're planning to take action."

Jimmy: "Related to that person?"

Ruiz nodded: "He was a sheriff in Washington, D.C. back then, but his hometown is Baltimore. Some people over there did a lot to help him become a senator."

Jimmy: "Is the intel accurate?"

Ruiz: "Confirmed. I won't discuss the source, but we can clearly say someone here is involved with them."

Jimmy: "Hmm, what do you need me to do?"

Ruiz: "Get ready. When we act, we might need your help. We can't afford any losses, it's too easy to leave evidence."

Jimmy nodded, took a sip from his cup: "No problem. By the way, has Hughes' successor arrived?"

Ruiz: "Not yet. Previous intel suggested it would be next week."

Jimmy: "Who is it?"

Ruiz: "Someone from the Atlanta office. Not much is clear yet. Only the people up top likely know the details."

Jimmy: "Alright, you guys are going to have a tough time soon."

Ruiz: "Yeah, I've got to follow up on surveillance later, so I won't stay long. Keep your phone on; I don't know when I'll need to contact you."

Jimmy nodded, picked up his glass, clinked it with Ruiz's, drank in one go, then stood up to see Ruiz out. At the door, he saw Ruiz into his car before turning back to the bar, "Woody, where's Isaac?"

Woody: "Him? He went to the Cotton Club."

Jimmy looked confused: "What club?"

Woody: "The Cotton Club. An old club that closed down years ago. Recently, someone's been trying to reopen it, getting it ready for a relaunch."

Jimmy: "What's it about?"

Woody: "A jazz club, mainly featuring jazz music and cigars. Honestly, if it weren't because we both can't leave this place, I'd definitely be over there with Isaac."

Jimmy: "You're into jazz too?"

Woody: "Of course, who wouldn't be?!"

Jimmy: "Then take turns with Isaac to go. Since this old club you both like is reopening, you should definitely go and show some support."

Woody: "Alright, I'll have a chat with Isaac about it."

Jimmy: "OK, I'm heading back. Get someone to tidy up the glasses inside. See you, Woody."

Jimmy left the bar and returned to his apartment, where Nia was already home, half-reclining on the sofa, hugging a pillow and watching the movie that had been paused when Jimmy left.

Jimmy walked over and sat on the sofa, wrapping his arms around Nia: "How about it? Are you still going to be busy?"

Nia: "Yeah, it's going to be busy. My previous solo case was interrupted, so I have to start over. Plus, Chuck's not my partner anymore."

Jimmy: "You got a rookie?"

Nia nodded: "Yeah, someone who just passed the detective test, a bit slow with cases."

Jimmy: "Need my help? I might have some spare time soon."

Nia nudged Jimmy playfully: "Get lost, if it weren't for you, would I have taken a month off?"

Jimmy burst out laughing, "Alright, but if it wasn't for me, your guys would've been in trouble. You know, that murder case you were investigating was carried out by a professional assassin. By the time you get any leads, whoever's on the case would potentially be facing off against someone skilled in such methods."

Nia gave Jimmy a look: "If it weren't for you, we could've just shelved the case. There are plenty like that sitting unaddressed. It's just that your involvement stirred things up, leading to the assassin being exposed, then came the assassin organization and the terrorist attack..."

Jimmy scooted closer and wrapped his arms around Nia: "I'm just worried about you, you had a car accident after all. I had to help get back at them, right? Don't worry, I'll be careful from now on. What case are you working on?"

Nia: "Not telling you. You're just going to stay the FBI spokesperson for now."

Jimmy: "FBI spokesperson won't be my gig, there are plenty of capable people in the bureau, not to mention spokespersons are usually women. If I got the role, the reporters might just explode."

Nia: "You've been in the public affairs office for several months already, when are you going back to fieldwork?"

Jimmy: "Soon, hopefully, in a month or two, we'll have results. Hughes retired, and the new fieldwork head hasn't been appointed yet, so everyone is waiting."

Nia: "Hughes retired? So if there's a new supervisor coming, will you move back to fieldwork smoothly?"

Jimmy: "Don't worry, if nothing else, it should work out in a month or two. Hughes is retired, and the new field supervisor hasn't arrived yet; everyone's waiting."

Nia readjusted herself in Jimmy's embrace for a more comfortable position, "By the way, when I went to Alaska, dad and mom talked about setting a wedding date too—sometime next spring. So what do you think, March or May?"

Jimmy: "Either's fine, let's say May, the weather will be nicer then."