Chapter 651
Selling Contraband!
The fried dough sticks Lynn treated Jason to were at the oldest breakfast stall in Chinatown. The oil sizzled on the tin stove, and as the golden, crispy dough sticks were drained, splattering oil onto the enamel basin with a soft crackling sound. The proprietress, speaking broken Mandarin, brought two bowls of soy milk and a dish of pickled vegetables to the table. The rims of the bowls still had water stains, yet they exuded a comforting, homely atmosphere. Jason, biting into a dough stick, mumbled, "You really should rest a few more days. The prosecutor is watching Solovyov, and Mike and the others are handling the document analysis. You don't need to be so tense every day."
Lynn stirred the soy milk in his bowl. The sugar granules slowly dissolved in the warm liquid, the sweetness spreading across his tongue and dispelling the fatigue brought on by the sudden early morning rush. "I know, but I'm used to it." He looked out the window. The morning light had already illuminated the cobblestone streets of Mott Street. Several children with schoolbags skipped past, clutching the sweet cakes they had just bought, their laughter as clear as wind chimes. "But you're right, I really should take a day off."
That morning, Lynn returned to Jason's apartment and took a hot shower. The hot water from the showerhead washed over his body, washing away the dust, sweat, and tension of the past few days, allowing his tense muscles to finally relax. He wrapped himself in a towel and went out onto the balcony, where the view of New York's Lower East Side unfolded before him—the Manhattan skyline was clearly visible in the distance, the spire of the Empire State Building gleamed in the sunlight, and the streets below were gradually filling with pedestrians. The sounds of taxi horns, vendors' shouts, and bicycle bells mingled together to create a vibrant urban symphony.
He leaned against the balcony railing and lit a cigarette. The rising smoke blurred the distant building outlines and gradually calmed his chaotic thoughts. Solovyov's gray eyes, the filing cabinet in the Yonghe Tea House, MX-031's feigned calmness, and the eyes of the victims at Midway—all flashed through his mind, but no longer with the same tension. It was like watching a scene from a film that had already ended, clear but no longer heavy.
"Ring—" The phone rang, breaking the silence. It was Professor Xavier calling. Lynn answered the phone, and Xavier's gentle yet firm voice came through the receiver: "Lynn, I heard you took over Yonghe Tea House. Well done."
"Thank you, Professor. It's the result of everyone's hard work." Lynn took a drag of his cigarette, the smoke slowly exhaling from his nostrils. "Solovyov has been detained, and the evidence is being compiled. We should be able to uncover more clues by following him."
“I believe in your abilities,” Xavier said with a hint of concern in his voice. “But don’t push yourself too hard. Hank said you’ve barely slept these past few days. Your health is the foundation of everything. Jane also told me that you’ve been constantly on edge, and this can’t go on.”
Lynn's lips curled up slightly, a warmth rising in her heart. "I know, Professor. I plan to rest all day today, to not think about anything, to not do anything."
"That's good." Xavier smiled. "The New York Knicks have a home game this afternoon. I had Hank reserve two tickets for you. You can go with Jason and relax. Sometimes, a little relaxation is better than being constantly tense."
After hanging up the phone, Lynn looked at his phone screen, feeling a warm glow inside. He rarely had such a relaxed moment. Ever since taking on the Brotherhood case, he had been like a string stretched to its limit, not daring to relax even for a moment. Now, the breakthrough at Yonghe Tea House finally gave him a chance to catch his breath. He dialed Jason's number, and heard Jason yawning on the other end, clearly having just finished catching up on sleep.
"Jason, are you awake?" Lynn's voice carried a hint of relief.
"Just woke up, what's wrong?" Jason's voice was still muffled. "Is there some movement from Solovyov's side?"
“No,” Lynn smiled. “The professor gave me two tickets to a Knicks home game at 3 p.m. Want to go together? Consider it a day off.”
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Jason's excited voice came through: "Really? Knicks vs. Nets? I've been looking forward to this game for so long! Okay, no problem, I'll be waiting for you downstairs at my apartment at 2 PM!"
After hanging up the phone, Lynn quickly tidied himself up, changing into casual clothes—a black hooded sweatshirt, dark blue sweatpants, and white sneakers. Shedding the sharp look of his tactical gear, he appeared like an ordinary New York citizen. He opened his closet, pulled out a long-unused watch, and put it on his wrist, covering the red, blue, and white woven bracelet—not that he didn't want to see it, but today, he wanted to temporarily forget his detective identity and simply be an ordinary spectator.
At 2 PM sharp, Jason was waiting for him downstairs at the apartment building. Jason had changed into casual clothes, a Knicks jersey, and black sweatpants, and was holding two bottles of iced cola. Upon seeing Lynn, he immediately waved: "Over here! Hurry up, or we'll get stuck in traffic!"
The two got into Jason's Accord and drove towards Madison Square Garden. Late October in New York was a time of deep autumn; the leaves on the trees lining the roads were turning yellow, and a gust of wind sent golden leaves swirling down, carpeting the sidewalks with a soft rustling sound underfoot. Along the streets, fans in various jerseys strolled in small groups, their faces beaming with anticipation, discussing the day's game; the air was filled with a warm and relaxed atmosphere.
"Do you think the Knicks can win today?" Jason asked excitedly as he drove. "They've been playing well lately, especially that rookie, he's incredibly explosive. I think they have a chance to beat the Nets."
Lynn leaned back in the passenger seat, watching the street scenes flash by outside the window, a faint smile on his lips: "I don't know much about basketball, but if you think you can win, then you definitely can."
"Hey, that's a really perfunctory thing to say." Jason pursed his lips, feigning displeasure. "When we get to the arena, I'll explain it to you properly, I'll make sure you understand. Seriously, Lynn, you should cultivate some hobbies, don't just spend all your time solving cases, or you'll get bored sooner or later."
“We’ll talk about it later.” Lynn smiled and didn’t argue. He knew Jason meant well. Over the years, he had devoted all his time and energy to his work and had hardly any personal life. Perhaps, as Professor Xavier suggested, he really should relax a bit.
The car quickly arrived at Madison Square Garden. It was already packed with people, fans wearing Knicks and Nets jerseys, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Vendors pushed carts, selling jerseys, hats, snacks, and drinks, their calls echoing throughout the square. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of popcorn, the meaty smell of hot dogs, and the refreshing scent of chilled drinks, instantly immersing you in the lively atmosphere.
The two entered the stadium with their tickets and found their seats. The seats were on the middle tier, offering a great view of the entire arena. In the center of the court, the players were warming up, dribbling, passing, and shooting with fluid and powerful movements, eliciting cheers and applause from the spectators. The stadium lights were dazzling, the scoreboard flashed with the logos of both teams, and the background music was energetic and upbeat, making everyone's blood boil.
“Look, that guy in the number 11 jersey is the rookie I was talking about,” Jason said excitedly, pointing to a young player in the center of the court. “His name is Brown. He was drafted into the Knicks last year. He’s super fast and has a good shot. He’s sure to have a great performance today.”
Lynn looked in the direction Jason was pointing, and the player named Brown was indeed eye-catching. He was agile, dribbled skillfully, and with a beautiful turn, avoided the defender, leaped into the air, and the basketball swished steadily into the basket. A thunderous applause and cheers immediately erupted from the sidelines. "Not bad, right?" Jason proudly raised his chin. "I told you he was good. By the way, do you want something to eat? I'll go buy some popcorn and hot dogs."
"No need, I'm not hungry." Lynn shook his head, his gaze falling on the field as he watched the players warm up. He gradually let go of all his thoughts and focused only on the scene before him.
Soon, the game officially began. The whistle blew, and the players quickly got into the game, dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending—every movement was full of power and passion. The atmosphere in the arena grew increasingly heated, with cheers and shouts from the fans rising and falling, deafening everyone. Jason was excited throughout, cheering and explaining the rules and player characteristics to Lynn, occasionally patting Lynn on the shoulder excitedly after a brilliant basket.
Although Lynn didn't know much about basketball, he was still swept up in the enthusiastic atmosphere. Watching the players running on the court, listening to the cheers of the fans around him, and feeling this pure joy, the fatigue and tension of the past few days seemed to vanish in that moment. Occasionally, he would clap along with the fans, a long-lost, relaxed smile appearing on his face.
"See that? I told you Brown could explode!" Midway through the third quarter, Brown hit a three-pointer, and Jason jumped up excitedly, "That was awesome! The Knicks are definitely going to win!"
Lynn smiled and nodded: "That's really impressive."
“Of course,” Jason said smugly. “My judgment of the game is never wrong. By the way, don’t you feel much better after relaxing like this? You’re always frowning and checking this and that, I’ve almost forgotten what you look like when you smile.”
Lynn's smile faded slightly, and she said softly, "It really feels much better. I haven't felt this relaxed in a long time."
“That’s right,” Jason patted him on the shoulder. “You should get out more often and not always lock yourself in cases. Once this case is over, let’s go on vacation together, find a beach, sunbathe, feel the sea breeze, and relax.”
“Okay,” Lynn nodded, a hint of anticipation rising in her heart. “We’ll go after the case is over.”
The game ended in a fervent atmosphere, with the Knicks ultimately defeating the Nets by a narrow margin. Fans cheered and shouted as they left the arena. Lynn and Jason followed the flow of people out of the stadium. By then, dusk was falling, and the setting sun bathed the exterior walls of Madison Square Garden in a warm orange-red hue.
Outside the stadium, the atmosphere remained lively. Fans gathered in small groups, discussing the day's match, their faces still brimming with excitement. Vendors continued to sell their wares, their shouts, laughter, and conversations blending together to create a vibrant cityscape at night. A gentle evening breeze carried a touch of coolness, dispelling the daytime heat and bringing a sense of tranquility.
"How was it? Did you come to the game for nothing?" Jason asked as he walked, his tone full of pride. "I told you Brown would do well. Now you like basketball too, don't you?"
"It was alright, quite interesting." Lynn smiled, his gaze casually sweeping over the surrounding crowd. "It was indeed a good time to relax."
Just then, Lynn's gaze froze. In a secluded corner on the west side of the venue, several tall Black men were huddled together, wearing loose black hoodies and sweatpants, their hats pulled low, obscuring most of their faces. They were in a circle, heads down, seemingly talking furtively, their movements furtive, occasionally glancing up at their surroundings with wary and tense eyes.
One of the Black men took a small white plastic bag from his pocket and handed it to the other man. The other man took the bag, took out a wad of cash from his pocket, and handed it to the man who had given him the bag. The two men quickly exchanged the money and then went their separate ways, pretending not to know each other, and blended into the crowd. However, their eyes still occasionally met, and they remained wary of their surroundings.
Lynn's professional instincts were instantly ignited. His years of investigative experience told him that these people's behavior was definitely not normal, and that small white plastic bag likely contained contraband—either drugs, illegal weapons, or even items related to the Brotherhood.
"What's wrong?" Jason noticed Lynn's strange expression and followed his gaze. "What are you looking at?"
Lynn lowered her voice, tugged at Jason's arm, signaling him to look down, and said casually, "Don't turn around. Those black guys in the west corner are acting suspiciously. They might be selling contraband."
Jason paused for a moment, then lowered his voice, pretending to straighten his clothes, and glanced at the corner out of the corner of his eye: "Really? Let me see... Goodness, it really is. Look at the way they're acting, sneaking around, it can't be anything good."
"Don't make a sound," Lynn's voice remained low, his eyes fixed on the group of black men. "Let's follow them quietly and see if they have any accomplices, what they're trading, and where they're staying."
“Okay, whatever you say.” Jason immediately composed himself, pretending to talk to Lynn. “Should we notify the department? Have them come and provide backup?” (End of Chapter)