Chapter 228: Saint Denis Police Station
Saint Denis Police Station.
Closing time was approaching.
Unlike what most people imagined, even in Saint Denis—where crime was frequent—police officers still worked regular hours. Many of them flat-out refused to work overtime.
If no one reported a crime, officers were unlikely to intervene, even if something happened right in front of them. And even when a report was made, if the criminals were heavily armed, the police might still choose not to step in.
Most of the time, the police served the wealthy, not the poor illegal immigrants scraping by at the bottom.
“Hey, Trappet, want to grab a drink tonight? I heard there are some new girls at the bar. Might be worth checking out.”
“No, Philip. I’m heading home early tonight. Got a few things to take care of.”
“Well, that’s a shame. Guess I’ll find someone else.”
Trappet watched Philip leave, smiled faintly, then packed up and clocked out.
But instead of going straight home, Trappet headed to a café.
It was a newly opened high-end coffee shop. Many women were gathered inside, along with a small number of men.
Trappet knew this place had been set up by Saint Denis’s rising star, Mr. Land, specifically as a gathering spot for the Women’s Rights Association.
But that had nothing to do with him.
“Officer Trappet, Mr. Land has been waiting for you. Please follow me.”
The moment Trappet stepped through the café doors, a server approached and led him respectfully inside.
Under the server’s guidance, Trappet was taken to a private room on the second floor.
When he opened the door, Davey was inside, along with the young and beautiful lawyer, Stella.
In Saint Denis, Stella’s reputation had grown alongside Davey’s rise. As the Land Company’s exclusive lawyer, her name carried weight.
This meeting had been arranged by Stella herself—she had reached out through Trappet’s wife.
“Davey, Officer Trappet is here. I think I should step out and let you two talk.”
Stella stood up with a smile, though there was a trace of confusion in her eyes. She didn’t understand why Davey wanted to meet this police officer.
“Nice to meet you, Officer Trappet.”
“Stella, thank you for handling this.”
Davey stood as well, greeting Trappet first before turning to Stella.
It was clear he didn’t intend for her to stay. Although he trusted Stella, there were some matters he didn’t want her too deeply involved in.
“Alright. Enjoy your conversation.”
Stella was visibly disappointed. She had thought Davey would ask her to stay.
Sensing her mood, Davey lightly tugged her hand and gave her a reassuring look, instantly cheering her up.
The truth was, Davey only asked Stella to leave so Trappet wouldn’t feel too nervous.
After Stella left, Trappet took a seat.
“Mr. Land, I’m honored you invited me to try the coffee here.”
“My wife has been talking about this place for ages. She’s wanted to come for a long time, but the prices scared her off.”
“Maybe when I leave, I can take a cup of coffee back for her.”
Trappet had a rough idea why Davey wanted to meet him. As an officer in the Saint Denis Police Department, plenty of people tried to curry favor with him.
“Of course, Officer Trappet. But this café offers more than just coffee. We have fine pastries, pizza, and bread. You should bring some home for your wife—and your two children—to try.”
“I’ve also prepared a few small gifts. I think they’ll like them, don’t you?”
“By the way, this café was opened especially for Mrs. Berry. She’s the head of the Saint Denis Women’s Rights Association.”
“So any member of the association receives a fifty percent discount here.”
“Perhaps I could introduce Mrs. Berry to your wife.”
Trappet knew very well that Mrs. Berry’s husband was a city councilman.
Social connections among wives were especially common—and useful—in this era of the United States.
But this wasn’t a circle just anyone could enter. Different circles didn’t mix, and the wife of a low-ranking police officer wouldn’t even get a second glance.
However, if Davey acted as the intermediary, everything would change.
Trappet understood clearly—since Davey had opened this café specifically for Mrs. Berry, their relationship must be close. With Davey’s introduction, his wife would certainly be taken seriously.
And that would be a huge boost to his own future.
Sometimes, a promotion only required a single word from the right person.
The thought made Trappet feel a surge of excitement.
But he quickly calmed himself.
There was no such thing as a free lunch.
“Mr. Land, I… I’m just a small-time police officer. I’m afraid there isn’t much I can do to help you.”
Trappet hesitated. The rich aroma of coffee and the delicate white pastries in front of him suddenly seemed tasteless. He couldn’t imagine what someone like him could do for Davey—and that uncertainty filled him with unease.
Author's Note
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