Chapter 9 The Beautiful Policewoman

• As Finnian was led into the Northern District Police Department, a young policewoman briskly passed by him, carrying a stack of documents.
• The young policewoman, aged around twenty-three or twenty-four, exuded a striking beauty that caught Finnian's attention. With large, clear eyes and perfectly arched eyebrows, she was deemed the belle of the police station. Despite her lack of makeup, her complexion was fair and flawless.
• Her slender, graceful figure was accentuated by the police uniform she wore, perfectly outlining her curves. With a waist that could be encircled with a single grasp and long, straight legs, she exuded a captivating aura of elegance and beauty.
• The sheer beauty she possessed was truly rare, enough to make even Finnian steal a few extra glances, unable to resist admiring her allure.
• “Hmm?” The beautiful policewoman halted in her tracks, her eyes locking with Finnian's. A look of surprise crossed her face. “Finnian?” she exclaimed, recognizing him.
• “Who are you?” Finnian asked, a puzzled expression on his face as he looked at the attractive policewoman. There was a sense of familiarity about her, but he couldn't quite pinpoint where he had seen her before.
• “My name is Lindsay. Don't you remember?” Lindsay Ziegler furrowed her brows, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction.
• “You're Lindsay?” Finnian's eyes widened in disbelief.
• Lindsay and Finnian were high school classmates who shared a desk for three years. They used to be close.
• In Finnian's memories, Lindsay always sported short, ear-length hair. Coupled with her easygoing, tomboyish nature, Finnian regarded her as his buddy and valued their friendship as his only one with someone of the opposite sex during high school.
• Yet, the Lindsay before him bore little resemblance to the one etched in his memory. She exuded an undeniable feminine charm, her glossy, raven-black hair flowing effortlessly over her shoulders. Gone was the tomboyish aura he once knew; in its place stood a genuine beauty.
• “What, you have a problem with that?” Lindsay glared fiercely at Finnian.
• “No, not at all. It's just... I didn't expect you to become even more stunning after all these years,” Finnian managed, his smile awkward. They say women change as they grow, but Lindsay's transformation was truly remarkable. She had always been beautiful, recognized as one of the three most beautiful girls in school. Now, she was even more radiant, almost surreal. If not for the faint traces of the old Lindsay in her features, Finnian would have doubted they were the same person.
• “You sure have a way with words,” Lindsay remarked, a smile tugging at her lips. She was taken aback as her gaze shifted to the gleaming handcuffs on Finnian's wrist. “Mr. Crossley, what happened? Why have you arrested Finnian?”
• “Captain Ziegler, he's suspected of intentional assault. The victim is Albert, and his family is in the leather clothing business...”
• Lindsay, having attended the police academy during her university years and later joining the Northern District Police Department after graduation, had ascended to the position of head of the Public Safety Division. This role placed her as Miguel's direct superior.
• After Miguel finished speaking, he retrieved his phone and presented a video to Lindsay. The footage, obtained from Opulence Residences' surveillance, didn't depict Finnian brutally assaulting Albert, but it did show Finnian entering and leaving the area around the time of Albert's injury. The timing aligned with the incident, presenting the most compelling evidence of Finnian's intentional assault.
• “I'll take charge of this case; you handle other matters,” Lindsay directed the two junior officers with a wave of her hand, signaling them to escort Finnian to the interrogation room. At her gesture, they unlocked Finnian's handcuffs and withdrew from the room.
• Lindsay approached Finnian, her demeanor softening with a wry half-smile. “Finnian, who would have thought our reunion after six years would be in such circumstances?”
• Finnian's smile was tinged with bitterness. “I certainly didn't anticipate it.”
• “Why did you intentionally harm someone?”
• “Albert hit my mother with his car, leaving her in a vegetative state. He didn't apologize or offer compensation. Worse, he accused her falsely of insurance fraud...” Finnian's voice crackled with suppressed fury as he recounted the injustice.
• “How despicable. To be at fault and yet play the victim,” Lindsay fumed, her anger palpable as she empathized with Finnian's situation. She then continued, “However, your reaction was too impulsive. We live in a society governed by law, and resorting to violence isn't the solution.”
• “I understand. I'll exercise more caution moving forward.” Finnian sighed, acknowledging the lesson learned. In his days with the Dragon Team, he had gotten used to tackling issues head-on, employing straightforward methods. Nonetheless, circumstances had changed; now, he needed to weigh the repercussions of his actions. Unless he could enhance his strength, he'd remain burdened by such concerns.
• At that moment, Finnian's desire to grow stronger surpassed all else.
• “Don't worry, I'll help you with your mom's case,” Lindsay offered solace. “I'll reach out to my contacts at the Traffic Enforcement Division and do everything I can to ensure justice for your mom.” However, she knew the car accident case had likely concluded by now and was worried overturning the verdict for Jennifer would prove challenging.
• “No need, I can handle this on my own. What I really need is to get out of here. Can you do that for me?” Finnian requested.
• “No problem, I'll arrange for your bail shortly,” Lindsay affirmed. Finnian's predicament, while serious, could also be considered trivial. While it could be construed as intentional harm, it could equally be interpreted as merely a scuffle. Bailing Finnian out posed little challenge for Lindsay, particularly given the circumstances surrounding the incident. Driven by her strong sense of justice, she couldn't bear the thought of not extending a helping hand to Finnian.
• “Thank you so much. Let me treat you to a meal when we have the chance,” Finnian expressed with gratitude, his smile sincere. He and Lindsay exchanged phone numbers for future contact.
• As Finnian exited the police station, he bumped into Nathan, who was briskly making his way toward him.
• “Dad, weren't you supposed to be at work? What brings you here?” Finnian greeted him, surprised.
• “Yvonne called me, saying you were taken away by the police. I was worried sick, so I took leave to come check on you,” Nathan explained, his concern evident. “Finn, are you all right?”
• “I'm fine, just a little misunderstanding,” Finnian reassured with a light laugh, brushing the matter off to ease his father's concern.
• “Thank goodness.” Nathan sighed with relief. “Since you're all right, I'll head back to work now.”
• “Dad, please take care of yourself and get enough rest,” Finnian urged after a brief pause.
• “Got it,” Nathan acknowledged, feeling relieved that his son understood the challenges he faced. He then turned and hurried back to work.
• In the bedroom of Opulence Residences, Albert, his body swathed in bandages, conversed on the phone with his lawyer.
• “Mr. Harris, I'm entrusting this matter to you. Do not show that brat any mercy. I want him sentenced for as many years as possible. Money is of no concern as long as you handle this meticulously,” Albert declared venomously. This time, he spared no expense in hiring a distinguished lawyer in Newcove. His resolve was firm: to pin the charge of intentional assault on Finnian, seeking to lengthen his sentence to appease the festering resentment within him.
• “Mr. Fuller, don't worry. I will certainly do my best.”
• “Good. I'll be waiting for your good news.”
• Albert ended the call with a triumphant smile, but his smugness was short-lived. Suddenly, a shadow flickered outside the window, and Finnian leapt in from the balcony.
• Thud!
• Albert's hand trembled, and his phone slipped from his grasp, shattering into several pieces as it hit the ground.