Chapter 15: Where Are You Going To Take Me?

Standing at the door of the Police Station, Kate's heart was beating fast. This place gave her a feeling of awe as if the air here carried deterrence. The persons in uniform were admirable to her. She didn't know how many times the door had been opened and closed until three policemen came out with raucous laughter. They were all tall and manly, and the one in the middle was the most outstanding one. She shouted, "Sergeant York?" The man looked over, paused at the sight of her, and then frowned. The one beside him seemed to be making a joke and punched York on the arm. When he looked at her again, he walked closer and said coldly, "What is it? Regret?" Kate was puzzled at first but soon understood and said, "No." "Then what did you come here for?" His unfriendly tone made Kate panic, but she summoned her courage and said, "You don't remember me?" Sergeant York stared at her and didn't speak. She began to get disappointed when he opened his mouth, "Two years ago, at Coastal Hotel Karaoke." Kate was relieved. "You remember now?" "I thought of you that night. But," he stopped for a second. "You are different from how you were." Kate got back to her purpose of coming here. "All thanks to you that time, otherwise I would…I was so confused that I didn't formally thank you." Sergeant York smoothed his brows and said, "You are welcome. That is what we do." Kate knew that was what police do, but not all police were nice to ordinary citizens. Sergeant York was one head higher than her and with the police cap even taller. There was a big gap between them physically and psychologically. But she still managed to ask carefully, "Could we have lunch or a coffee?" She had thought many times about thanking him over the past two years, but she didn't know how or where to find him. Sergeant York raised the corners of his eyebrows and said, "Now?" "No, no." Kate said hastily, "Any time. At your convenience." Sergeant York thought for a second and said, "OK. You give me your phone number. I will call you when I get hungry." Kate was delighted that he agreed so easily and gave him her number. He saved it on his phone and said to himself, "Kate, a nice name." "Do you know my name?" "Alvin York?" Kate made a joke. "He is my great-grandfather. Ha-ha. Just kidding you. I'm Jimmy York." A cough from not far away interrupted their conversation. Two of Jimmy's colleagues who were waiting for him darted a mysterious look at them, implying they might be gossiping about Jimmy now. Jimmy asked before she left, "Well, how's your back?" Kate replied hastily, "Much better now." "Take care. Go to see a doctor if it feels funny." Jimmy said. Kate smiled and said genuinely, "Thank you, sir." Her smiling face in the sunlight distracted him, then he waved goodbye to her and got back to his colleagues. The tall men soon went away. Kate stood still, listening to their unbridled laughter fade away. However, a week passed, and Jimmy didn't call her. Kate thought he probably forgot about it or even lost her phone number. As she was weighing calling him, Jimmy called and asked where she was. Kate told him the supermarket's address. Ten minutes later, he called her, asking her to come out. The moment Kate walked out of the exit of the supermarket, she saw a Pajero parked on the side of the road. Jimmy slid down the window of his car and waved to her. He opened the door next to the passenger seat from inside. He wore casual clothes on that day: a dark green windbreaker and a black high-necked sweater. Though he still looked rugged and uninhibited, he was gentler than he was in uniform. His short hair stood up on his head, a little unruly but spiritually strong. Kate thought, "He is full of vim, vigor, and vitality." Jimmy turned his head and asked immodestly, "Where are you going to take me?" Kate answered honestly, "I'm not familiar with this area. You pick." "OK. I will take you to a good place. Buckle up." Before she buckled up and turned back, he stepped on the gas pedal, and the car shot forward. Kate was jolted back in her seat by the abrupt acceleration. "Is this a police protocol? He's even less reliable than John, the wild one." Kate thought in her mind. Jimmy noticed and apologized laughingly, "Sorry, I get used to driving fast. Bad guys are fast, and we need to outrun them." The relaxed smile on his face bemused Kate. It was that kind of lopsided smile with only one corner of his mouth curled up. He looked cool, very different from his solemn image at work. Who knew? Maybe this was what he really was like.