Kingpin was terrifying. His strength was horrifying, and his influence was immense. But the most frightening thing about Kingpin was still the power he wielded—the criminal organizations that had gathered around him one after another.
The Hair Removal!
As the name suggested, "hair removal" meant getting rid of those criminal organizations. Little by little, once all the hair had been removed, Kingpin would be nothing more than Kingpin.
"Right."
Esposito's eyes suddenly lit up. He punched Lake on the shoulder. "Congratulations, buddy. Those mad dogs from Internal Affairs Division finally realized they couldn't bite you and backed off."
Lake shrugged. "Everyone knows I am irreconcilable with evil. If those mad dogs want to bite me, they'd better be capable of sinking their teeth in."
Don't let me find out who anonymously reported me.
Once I do, I'll reunite your entire family.
Not long after.
Lake and Esposito chatted in the office area of Unit Two. At the same time, they kept an eye on the office of Inspector Montgomery, the head of Major Crimes Division. After all, Lake's badge and gun were both in Inspector Montgomery's office.
Soon.
The door to Inspector Montgomery's office opened.
Inspector Montgomery, an African American, stepped out of the office. He looked around, then called out to Lake, who was in Unit Two's office area. "Lake!"
Lake stood up.
Montgomery turned, preparing to return to his office. Just as he was about to do so, he twitched his nose. His gaze then fell on Esposito, who had taken off his jacket and was applying deodorant beneath his arms. "God, Espo, how many days has it been since you cleaned yourself? Good Lord, this air is burning my eyes."
Esposito: "..."
Lake glanced at Esposito and shrugged, wearing an expression that said, I told you so. Then he burst out laughing.
Once inside the office.
Lake first glanced at the woman he had encountered in the elevator earlier. Then he addressed Montgomery. "Inspector."
Montgomery pointed at the woman beside him and introduced her to Lake. "Lake, this is Detective Joe Martinez from the Thirteenth Precinct."
Lake smiled and nodded at Detective Joe Martinez.
Except...
Lake was a little puzzled. Why was he introducing them? His Unit Three was the most unconventional unit of all, because Lake was its only member. When Lake had been promoted to inspector the previous year, he had two team members, but unfortunately, both of them had died in the line of duty. Using his grief as a reason, Lake had chosen to work cases independently. After two cases, both the inspector and the chief had tacitly approved it.
Why introduce a detective now?
Did they think this was a nursery?
Lake looked at Inspector Montgomery, confused.
Inspector Montgomery said, "Lake, Detective Joe Martinez has just been transferred here from the Thirteenth Precinct. You'll be working together."
As expected.
Lake raised an eyebrow. "Chief..."
Before he could finish, Detective Joe Martinez beside him spoke up as well. "Chief..."
The two spoke in unison.
Their eyes met.
Lake courteously gestured for him to go first.
Detective Martinez addressed Inspector Montgomery. "Chief, forgive my bluntness, but according to what I understand, Detective Inspector Lake Edwin is currently under suspension pending an investigation."
The implication was obvious.
He did not want to work with someone suspected of being a dirty cop.
Lake could not be bothered to explain. His conscience was clear. He had always taken down dirty criminals, never accepted dirty money, and his slogan of being irreconcilable with evil had plenty of support. At the very least, when Lake was under investigation, George from Unit One and Beckett from Unit Two had both stood up for him.
As long as Major Crimes Division believed in him, that was enough.
What other people thought had nothing to do with Lake.
Lake said directly, "Chief, George's side said they were short-handed, and besides..."
He glanced at Joe Martinez beside him and smiled. After saying that it was nothing personal, he continued to Montgomery, "I like working cases alone. I don't like bringing along a baby."
Martinez raised his eyebrows at that.
A baby?
Was he talking about me?
Inspector Montgomery looked at the two of them and chuckled. Then he said to Lake, "I never said Detective Martinez would be joining your Unit Three."
Lake breathed a sigh of relief.
Inspector Montgomery continued, "George's unit has a special operation and it wouldn't be suitable for a new person to join halfway through. Once George finishes his assignment, Detective Martinez will go to Unit One. Before then, however, he'll spend some time in your Unit Three becoming familiar with how our Major Crimes Division works and its environment."
After a pause.
Inspector Montgomery said to Detective Martinez, "Also, Detective Martinez, the investigation into Detective Edwin is over. There's nothing wrong with him. Do you understand?"
Detective Martinez nodded. "Yes, Chief. I understand."
Inspector Montgomery looked at Lake. "And you—don't you know why this investigation happened in the first place?"
Why did law-enforcement agencies always have two or more people work a case?
On the one hand, two people could share the workload. On the other, they could supervise each other.
But Lake?
He worked cases alone. Naturally, after an anonymous report came in, they could not even find a witness to prove that Lake had never accepted dirty money. That was why Lake had been temporarily investigated.
If it had been George from Unit One or Beckett from Unit Two?
Unless the report had not been anonymous and had been backed by solid evidence, Internal Affairs Division would not have easily initiated an investigation.
Lake pursed his lips.
Working alone gave him the opportunity to take down dirty criminals.
With a burden beside him, how could he take down dirty criminals? Was he supposed to split the spoils with someone else? What meaning would that leave in taking down dirty criminals?
The whole point was to keep everything for himself. If he found someone to share it with, what fundamental difference would there be between him and those dirty cops who teamed up to accept bribes?
That was what he thought.
Lake said to Inspector Montgomery, "I understand everything you've said, but I still prefer working alone. You know why. I can't bear having a teammate die beside me again, or having a deadweight drag me down."
One sentence summed it up.
I'll accept your opinion, but I refuse to change.
Inspector Montgomery shook his head. He pulled a file from beside him and tossed it in front of Lake. "This is a case file the prison just sent over. George has an operation, and Kate's unit just finished a case. Since you've been reinstated, this case will be yours. You'll work it with Detective Martinez. Show him the ropes first. No problem, right?"
Lake sighed inwardly.
Do I have a choice?
That was what Lake thought as he reached out and took the file. He shrugged at Inspector Montgomery. "Understood, Chief. You know me. I am irreconcilable with evil."
Inspector Montgomery burst out laughing.
Detective Joe Martinez: "..."
P.S.: George Stacy from Unit One is from Marvel.
P.S.: Kate Beckett, Esposito, and Inspector Montgomery from Unit Two are from Castle.
P.S.: Joe Martinez is from Forever.
Before you continue