I love you, I won't kill you

Pasadena, to the north of the greater Los Angeles area, has started an urban renewal plan to revive the old city since the early 90s under the influence of New Urbanism.

Now, it has become one of the cities on the west coast where Chinese people gather because of its improved Mediterranean-style urban appearance and its spring-like and sunny living environment.

Living in Pasadena, second only to the high-end Chinese community (Arcadia) in Los Angeles, Evelyn often has a not so bad hallucination.The neighbors are Chinese, the classmates and friends are Chinese, the owners and employees of restaurants and convenience stores are also Chinese... In short, she feels like a Chinese still living in China.

Coupled with the fact that her mother from China followed the Chinese tradition of "strictly governing the family", Evelyn still lived a "Chinese-style life" that followed the rules and was honest until she was in college.Even when she heard about street shootouts in her neighborhood, she thought it was a lawless operation by LA gangsters.

But now, after studying at UCLA Law School and meeting some American lawyer friends such as Julie and Joanna, everything in her life has changed fundamentally.

Especially after hearing about Julie tonight, she just finds it incredible.Sitting in the rest area on the floor with a cup of skim coffee, he asked curiously, "Susan, can you tell me why this happened?"

Up to now, Susan has completely relaxed the heart that was tightened before she came to the police station.Since Julie's motive for the murder was forced self-defense, the whole incident seems to have nothing to do with Colleen.It doesn't matter, even if there is a connection, there is no need to be afraid of this woman who worships money and cannot satisfy her desires.

Glancing at Evelyn, she turned her gaze to Julie who was still in the office area, "Well, I have a question for you. If it were you, what would you do if you encountered such a thing?"

"Uh, I'm going to... desperately resist the other party's aggression, shout for help to other people or call 911 at every possible opportunity?!"

"Fine. What if the other guy has a gun, is a crazy, strong sexual pervert who throws your phone out of the car window and forces you to go to a place where no one is around, ready to violently sexually assault you?"

"God, this is horrible. Ugh, I think I'm really going to be scared of him killing me, maybe..."

Susan slightly tilted her mouth, "Maybe I will be raped by this hideous bastard because I am afraid of being killed. Then, he will gently cut your throat with a smile, take off your clothes, and finally put you Throw it in the bin at the end of the street."

Evelyn opened her eyes wide and swallowed hard, "No way, will this really happen?"

"Well, this is the true face of this world. If you don't believe it, you can ask the lieutenant."

"My father? It's just that he never talks about his work in front of me, Mommy, and brother."

"I think he did it to protect his family, so that you can selectively stay away from the darkest side of society."

"Well, thank you. It seems that I can understand the nature of Daddy's work from another angle."

"Well, Susan, when did Julie learn to use a gun? Was her gun really bought legally? But she is neither a soldier nor a policeman. Where and how did she learn to shoot? Afterwards, Evelyn asked more curious questions.

"Evelyn, your curiosity can let you know more about things outside of school. I think you should leave the questions to her." Susan said with a curl of her lips.

Seeing Julie walking in her direction, she stepped forward and hugged her.But he still asked nervously, "Uh, what do those two detectives think about your case?"

Julie's expression was a little relaxed, and she said softly. "Well, according to the evidence at the scene and the surveillance video of the gas station, my behavior was confirmed as self-defense."

Evelyn said happily, "Is this true, Julie?"

"Of course, you can ask the lieutenant. Oh, your father."

"It's okay, as long as you're okay, I can rest assured. My daddy, I'll ask him later."

When the three of them left the rest area, Joanna hurried over from the direction of the elevator, "God, Julie, are you okay?"

Julie shrugged. "Well, no. I told the detective I need a lawyer."

"Really? Don't worry, I can find the best lawyers in California, and I can also ask the Bar Association for help..." Joanna said hastily.

"Joanna, calm down. Look, isn't Julie fine now?" Susan said from the side.

..................

On July 7, 10 full days have passed since the self-defense shooting incident occurred before "Independence Day".During these 6 days, Julie not only got a week-long vacation time, but she also had to talk to the psychiatrist at the County Public Defender's Office about her psychological feelings after the shooting.

In order to adjust her mentality after the shooting and to avoid unnecessary psychological and mental illnesses at work, Julie had to go to a psychological clinic for psychological treatment once a week in the next two months in accordance with the requirements of the psychiatrist.

Previously, she had filed a stalking case with the Threat Assessment Division of the Loggey Police Department, but suffered from no substantive evidence, and was pressed in a desk drawer by the detectives of the Threat Assessment Division.

As for Detective Pedro Arias, who had investigated Julie's shooting in self-defense, he finally got her phone number from Susan.The Mexican-American police detective had a difficult process of getting the phone number, but it also paid a price.

"I want to tell you the fact that I like women." Susan said to Pedro.

"Uh, yeah. So, you're a lesbian living in West Hollywood?" Pedro asked regretfully.

"Well, sure. But, I'm not against dating guys."

"Wow! Unexpectedly, I met a... bisexual in Los Angeles."

"Hmm. See, I don't have a distaste for you, or the liking you'd hoped for. It's just that I'm not sure what's going on after our date, our sex. You know what I'm talking about, right?"

"It's very interesting. It's okay, everyone here lives like this. If you don't tell me directly, I will think it's weird."

Susan picked up the beer glass and took a sip, "Detective, how do you feel about me now?"

Pedro also took a sip of beer and said, "It's hard to say. In other words, I haven't formally asked you for a date yet."

"Don't you think you're dating now?"

"Well, it does look like a date. So, next..."

"I don't mind, really. But, Detective Arias, can you do me a favor?"

"I would be happy to serve Miss Whitney."

"Okay. If you'd like to help me, I'll tell you something."

"continue."

In the next 5 minutes, Susan seriously told the other party all about Julie's being followed.Pedro stroked the beer glass with his right hand without saying a word, thinking carefully...

Later, he raised his head and looked at the intellectual woman sitting on the right, "Tell me, are you a friend who really wants to help you?"

Susan looked into the detective's eyes, "Of course. Although her favorite person is not me, I still regard her as my best friend in this life. For her, I will give everything."

"Okay, I'll go to Threat Assessment to find out. Uh, I'll get back to you tomorrow."

"Really? That's great, Detective. Um, Pedro Arias, can you tell me where your hometown is?"

After 11 o'clock in the morning of the next day, after explaining a few words to the white boy working in the bar, Susan drove straight to the Parker Center, the headquarters of the Los Angeles Police Department in the city center.

When she came to the corridor outside the Special Homicide Department, Susan saw through the glass wall that there were many police officers in plain clothes or police uniforms sitting in the office area, listening to the speech of a man in a suit facing the left .

Pedro, who was sitting in the middle of the front, spotted her with sharp eyes. After sneaking a glance at the commander (one-star sheriff) standing in front of everyone, he gestured to her, "Go to the rest area."

After 15 minutes, Pedro walked quickly to the rest area, "Hey, you are beautiful today."

Susan leaned against the coffee machine operating table, put her hands on the edge of the table and smiled, "Thank you. Well, your tie is also very beautiful."

"Sit down, what would you like to drink?"

"No, I know you're busy."

Pedro nodded and said, "Okay. I'll tell you what I know, and then I'll tell you what I'm going to do."

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