The mastermind is Merlin?

Lake did have some past grievances with a colleague in Internal Affairs.

The last time, an anonymous tip had tried its best to completely ruin Lake, but luckily, Lake's record was squeaky clean. He always played dirty with the dirty and never took any dirty money, which left Internal Affairs frustrated. If his superior hadn't intervened, they probably would have kept digging.

Now, things were different.

This was a great opportunity.

White plus Black was dead. At most, it would result in a civil lawsuit that couldn't be pursued, but the police department could still take action internally.

And.

Lake had a feeling that this time, even his superior would have to step in, and Internal Affairs would go all out.

However...

There shouldn't be anything happening tonight.

Lake's approach to revenge, not letting it fester overnight, meant that the lawyer for White plus Black hadn't even reached the courthouse before the client was already GG.

The person behind this was probably still trying to figure out what happened. By the time the mastermind came up with a new plan, it would already be tomorrow.

Starlight Tower.

It was already past seven in the evening when Lake returned from the police station. After all, this whole incident had nothing to do with Lake.

Besides.

The killer at the hospital had appeared on the surveillance footage. The camera in the intensive care room was broken, but the corridor cameras were working fine.

So, the killer's appearance was clearly visible.

After getting the surveillance photos, Beckett immediately recognized that it wasn't Lake at all.

Lake also saw the footage of himself without glasses and felt that the person in the video was him. But not only Beckett, even Montgomery thought they were two different people.

Undoubtedly.

[Rule-based Item - Gold-rimmed Glasses!]

In Lake's eyes, himself with and without glasses were completely the same person. But to others, they were two different people.

It was amazing.

What?

Did Lake also take off his glasses when he slept?

Heh.

When Superman and his girlfriend were being intimate, didn't his girlfriend see Superman without his glasses and not suspect anything?

Lake was initially very confused and had even specifically asked his girlfriend, Maureen, if her appearance changed when she didn't wear glasses. His girlfriend shook her head and said he looked even more handsome.

Fine.

After his confusion, Lake thought of Superman wearing glasses and pondered that this was probably one of the hidden functions of the Gold-rimmed Glasses. After all, taking off his glasses while killing was for disguise, and when being intimate with his girlfriend, it was for pleasure.

These Gold-rimmed Glasses should have their own set of judgment rules.

Back home.

Lake opened the door, carrying the pizza he bought from downstairs, and winked at Maureen, who was sitting at the bar.

Huh?

Didn't they break up?

Was she here to pick up her personal belongings?

Lake thought to himself, but after looking at the sofa and the floor in the living room, he didn't see any storage boxes.

Did they not break up?

Then what was the meaning of her turning and leaving without a word that morning in Inspector Montgomery's office?

Lake blinked.

He took off his shoes.

Lake walked over, placed the boxed pizza on the bar counter, and then said to Maureen, who was fiddling with her phone that had automatically shut down due to a dead battery, "I thought you left. You seemed quite angry when you left this morning."

Maureen looked up, then shook her head. "No, I was just disappointed in you."

It would have been better if you were angry then.

If you were angry, maybe we could have had a breakup make-up session. And frankly, intimacy driven by anger is more exciting than intimacy driven by any other emotion.

But disappointment?

Disappointment feels the worst, and intimacy during disappointment is also the worst.

For example.

If intimacy driven by anger is like dancing on an erupting volcano, then intimacy driven by disappointment is like talking to a lifeless flounder and acting out a solo performance.

Intimacy driven by disappointment is the worst.

Lake thought to himself, shrugged, and turned to get his bourbon. "Is that so? Well, my bad."

Admitting mistakes.

But absolutely refusing to change.

People have always indulged me; there hasn't been a time when I indulged others.

"Want a drink?"

"No, thank you."

Maureen waved her hand. "I have plans with friends later."

This assassin's appearance had completely disrupted the rhythm, and she had to find a way to fix it.

Lake nodded and poured himself a drink. After taking a sip, he opened the pizza box. "So, you're not interested in this either?"

Maureen smiled, as if to say, "Do as you please."

Lake took out a slice of pizza, washed it down with bourbon, and took a bite. He hadn't eaten pizza in days, and it tasted quite good.

Maureen tilted her head, looking at Lake. "So, is this why you knew it was a trap and still walked into it?"

Lake blinked. "What?"

He knew exactly what Maureen meant, but he absolutely wouldn't admit it.

Maureen didn't press the issue further, only smiling. "Then you should know it's better to keep these two alive than kill them. If they're alive, at least the person hiding behind them will show themselves."

Even if Lake didn't say it, Maureen was certain that Lake wasn't the one who killed White plus Black, but he was definitely involved.

This was the confidence of someone who had earned a doctorate in psychology from the top institution, Stanford University, and also the uncanny sixth sense of Lake's girlfriend.

Lake glanced at his girlfriend, who seemed convinced that he was inextricably linked to this matter, and lowered his head with a smile. "I don't quite understand what you're saying. Besides, this is just how I am. Compromise isn't my style, not even a temporary one. You know me, when I decide to do something, I go all out, no backing down!"

Maureen nodded. She naturally understood Lake's personality. "But you're not backing down now, and the person hiding behind them can't be found."

The corners of Lake's mouth turned up. "Really?"

Maureen said, "Isn't it?"

Lake shrugged, not answering the question.

Did he have no options without those two White plus Black?

Wasn't that lawyer still alive?

As they were talking.

Knock, knock, knock!

Lake put down the pizza and walked to the door.

"Mr. Edwin, your package!"

"Thank you."

Lake took out his wallet and handed a fifty-dollar bill to the delivery guy from New York City Express Delivery.

He closed the door.

Lake walked back to the bar and began unpacking the package in his hands.

Crackle.

A character investigation report appeared on the bar.

He opened it.

Jefferson Hall, senior partner at the New York Tinico Law Firm.

Along with a photo, there was a list of every case this great lawyer Jefferson Hall had handled during his career.

Maureen frowned, looking at the documents in Lake's hands. "Where did you get this?"

Lake looked up and smiled. "An informant."

"An informant?"

Maureen thought about the informants who had appeared in Lake's previous cases and smiled. "Your informant is quite resourceful, able to access the FBI's system database."

The corners of Lake's mouth turned up. "Did you forget which school I graduated from?"

Maureen: "..."