Chapter 9: A Chase Sparked by Over-Speed

Ao Xi crossed the street over and over again. Some cars slowed down and yielded, while others blared their horns and sped past.

He walked back and forth like this for half an hour before returning to a police car hidden from view. There, over a dozen people were queued up, waiting to be dealt with for not yielding to Ao Xi at the crosswalk.

Originally, they were quietly waiting for their tickets when, to their surprise, the “idiot” who had been wandering back and forth across the street came over, opened the police car door, and began changing into a police uniform. The whole line froze in disbelief.

A seventy-eight-year-old woman raised her trembling hand, protesting, “How can you do this?”

Wally didn’t even look up. “Take your ticket and move along. Others are waiting.”

A tattooed middle-aged white man fumed, “You’re all in on this together? You’re police officers—how can you do something like this?”

“Do what exactly? You broke the law by not yielding to a pedestrian. You get a ticket—is there a problem?” Wally replied.

“This is entrapment!”

“Take it.” Wally tossed him a ticket.

The man snatched it. “What you’re doing is illegal! I’m going to report you!”

“Fine, tell it to the judge,” Wally said.

By now, Ao Xi had finished putting on his uniform and gear. He turned to the man and said, “Sir, please take your ticket and leave so you don’t waste everyone else’s time.”

Wally had already explained: as police, their job was to fight crime and maintain order, not to serve the public’s every whim. There was no need to coddle anyone.

Ao Xi naturally followed instructions. Americans needed to be properly reprimanded, needed to be made uncomfortable—after all, he wasn’t American anyway.

The white man stormed off, full of rage.

Indeed, the phone call earlier had been Wally summoning Ao Xi for a little “bait-and-switch” operation. With one move, Wally had met his entire monthly ticket quota. Whether those fines were actually paid was none of his concern; the tickets were issued, and that was what mattered.

The rest collected their tickets as well, muttering under their breath. Ao Xi had no doubt that if he didn’t have a gun at his hip, he would have been beaten senseless.

Wally gathered the remaining tickets. “Alright, get in the car, Ao Xi.”

Aside from this little sting, Wally was also bringing Ao Xi on his first patrol. Writing tickets was just a way to pass the time before their official shift began.

That American police sometimes engaged in entrapment was an open secret, and it wasn’t unheard of for them to use officers as decoys. In Los Angeles, an elderly volunteer with the LAPD—well into her seventies—was often called in as “bait,” with little concern for her safety should she actually be hit.

Ao Xi nodded and got into the passenger seat. Wally climbed in, checked his gear, fastened his seatbelt, started the car, and picked up the radio.

“Adam44 to dispatch.”

“Adam44, go ahead.”

“Adam44 now on regular patrol.”

“Copy, Adam44. You are added to the roster. Continue patrol. Over and out.”

Wally replaced the radio, eased onto the road, and began the afternoon patrol. As he drove, he said, “Ao Xi, since you’re my trainee, I know your capabilities. But since today’s your first patrol, I need to remind you: stay alert at all times, watch for any sudden incidents, and above all, keep yourself safe. Safety, safety, safety—understand? We’re here to work, not to get ourselves killed. Come back alive. If we get a call, watch how I handle things and compare it to your training.”

“No problem. Don’t worry, Wally.” Ao Xi nodded emphatically. He had become a police officer for the convenience of dealing with bad guys, not out of any desire to serve the American public. Self-preservation was his priority.

The two cruised for half an hour without a single call from dispatch.

Ao Xi grew restless. “Shouldn’t we pull over some speeders? Look, that car just passed you—even though you’re already doing fifty. If he can overtake you, he’s definitely speeding.”

Wally shook his head. “No need. I’ve already hit my quota for the month. Gotta leave some for the others.”

Ao Xi shrugged helplessly. If Wally wasn’t interested, there was nothing he could do. One day, he thought, I’ll patrol alone—then I’ll pull over whoever I want.

But the BMW Z4 that had just passed them wasn’t content to play nice. Noticing the patrol car wasn’t giving chase, it slowed down instead, repeatedly tapping the brakes just ahead of them.

Wally straightened up. “Alright, looks like someone needs to be taught a lesson.”

He flipped on the siren and lights, floored the accelerator, and the Crown Victoria shot forward with a roar, nearly rear-ending the Z4.

Startled, the Z4’s driver slammed on the gas, trying to escape and daring the police to a speed contest.

Wally sneered. He was well-trained and not about to back down.

The two cars tore through the streets, weaving through traffic as their speedometers climbed from fifty to a hundred miles per hour.

Ao Xi was terrified, certain he’d die there and then. This is insane—this is a city street, not a highway! If you two want to die, don’t take me with you! I want out!

“Shouldn’t we call for backup? Get someone to cut him off ahead?” Ao Xi shouted.

“No! I’m catching this bastard myself,” Wally replied.

Ao Xi forced a bitter smile. At your age, bald as an egg, how are you still so reckless? This is way too dangerous.

Apparently, the Z4 driver also realized the danger. After a moment, he tried to slow down and duck into a narrow alley to lose the patrol car. But he turned too sharply and clipped a street tree. The car spun out of control, rolling three or four times before coming to a stop.

The patrol car screeched to a halt, leaving a long skid mark. Wally and Ao Xi stepped out, approaching the Z4 cautiously—always putting safety first.

Before they could get close, the Z4’s door flew open and a white man bolted out, running for his life.

Ao Xi shouted, “Stop! Los Angeles County Sheriff!” and gave chase.

He had to say it—to fulfill procedural justice. He’d ordered the man to stop; if he fled anyway, he was breaking the law, and any necessary force to subdue him would be justified.

The man kept running, head down, showing no sign of stopping.

Gritting his teeth, Ao Xi sprinted after him, timing his move before lunging and tackling the man to the ground. Pinning him down, Ao Xi twisted one arm behind his back, pulled out his handcuffs, and secured the first wrist, then the other.

“You’re under arrest for reckless driving!” Ao Xi announced loudly to the struggling man, exhilaration in his voice.

“I want to see my lawyer!” the man shouted.

Wally strolled over, yanked the man to his feet, and with a firm grip on his neck, marched him toward the patrol car. “You’ll see your lawyer—but only after you’re processed at the holding facility.”