On his day off the next day, Jimmy didn't go to the police station. He needed to communicate with James regarding whether or not to go to the FBI, as it wasn't a decision he could make alone. For him, the help James had provided over the past two years was tremendous. Without James's help, Jimmy might still be a common restaurant waiter.
Jimmy made an early phone call to James, didn't discuss the matter over the phone but instead scheduled a meeting. He would go to James's house tomorrow evening to talk.
Jimmy managed some of his household chores and then visited his private warehouse, where he had paid a year's rent. He only visited occasionally to check on it, not frequently.
This time he mainly retrieved his copied CIA documents. With these copied documents, there would definitely be an original in the CIA archives. Jimmy's CIA identity was undoubtedly valid; otherwise, Tom wouldn't have prepared these things for him.
If he were to go to the FBI, whether Jimmy's identity would be a hindrance was something he was completely unsure about. Given James's extensive experience, plus Tom being his old friend, even though knowing little, they would both still understand much more than Jimmy did.
Jimmy took the files and left the warehouse to rest at home.
The next evening at 8 PM, Jimmy drove to the community where James lived, still using his county police badge for entrance. Since the presence of James as the director made the community security very familiar with county police badges, Jimmy was virtually unchecked and allowed entry.
Jimmy stood at the door and knocked, and Mrs. Baldwin opened the door.
Jimmy, "Mrs. Baldwin, good evening."
Mrs. Baldwin, "Oh, Jimmy, good evening, come in."
Mrs. Baldwin opened the door and let Jimmy in. James wasn't in his study today but was sitting on the couch in the living room watching a TV series. It seemed this was their couple's TV time, and Jimmy's visit was a bit sudden.
When James saw Jimmy come in, he too got up from the sofa and invited Jimmy into the study.
This time James didn't grab a bottle of wine. Mrs. Baldwin followed them into the room, carrying a tray with two cups and a pot of coffee.
James himself took the coffee pot, poured two cups, while Mrs. Baldwin promptly left the study.
James, "Jimmy, try this, Mary's coffee skills are really good."
Jimmy picked up a cup of coffee, blew on it slightly, and then took a small sip.
Jimmy, "Wow, the coffee is great. It looks like I'll have to ask Mrs. Baldwin to teach me how to make coffee. I've always just bought it from cafés."
James, "Yeah, you should come and visit Mary more often when you're free. Our kids haven't been home in a while, they've flown far since college started."
Jimmy set down his coffee and said to James, "James, I came to you this time with a troubling matter. Do you still remember Agent Harten from the FBI? You had arranged for me to assist them on a case earlier."
James, "Yeah, I remember, you still concealed your combat achievements. Tsk, nine people, you shot seven of them, you really scared me. By the way, did you ever go to the church afterward?"
Jimmy, "Ah, you remembered. I went a few times but then scarcely after that. It seems like Father Royte doesn't like me much, well, I don't bother going there to be disliked."
James, "Ah, it's still necessary to visit a few times, to get familiar. It could shield you in the future."
Jimmy, "Okay, next time I'm off, I'll go to the service. This visit is concerning Agent Harten. He contacted me the night before last, mentioning that the FBI might be expanding soon, and he asked for my opinion on whether I'd like to join the FBI."
James, "What do you think?"
Jimmy, "I don't really have any particular thoughts. For me, it doesn't really matter what profession I choose."
James, "It still depends on your own choice; I can't offer you any advice."
Jimmy, "Let's not talk about whether to join the FBI right now. There's a bigger problem left by Tom."
Jimmy took out a document bag from his bag, opened it, and passed the first CIA Agent information sheet to James, along with his own CIA credentials.
Jimmy, "In the briefcase Tom left me, there were these documents. I didn't know before that the identity he gave me was that of an agent from the CIA Operations Bureau."
James glanced at it and then handed it back to Jimmy.
James, "Keep these documents safe and don't show them to anyone, including me."
Jimmy took back the documents, placed them in the document bag, and kept the credentials out while he put the document bag back in his bag.
James, "When Tom asked me to find an Asian to inherit the identity, I had my suspicions. It seems he had your replacement documents fully prepared. This identity should be fine; otherwise, he wouldn't have specifically included your credentials in his will."
Jimmy, "That's what I thought too; the identity is not a problem. But what if I go to the FBI? Would they find out?"
James, "There shouldn't be a problem. Theoretically, CIA employee data should be confidential. The CIA is not under the Judicial Department, so theoretically, the FBI can't see their internal data."
Jimmy, "I've never been in contact with anyone from the CIA, really don't know. I'm worried that at some point in the future, this identity might blow up."
James, "There's nothing we can do. It's all Tom's doing; we can't intervene. We'll just have to take it one step at a time."
Jimmy, "James, if, and I mean if, I go to the FBI, what about your side?"
James, "Huh? You're worried about that? The county police have been around for so many years; how could they possibly shut down just because of you? Do you have some misunderstanding about your own role?"
Jimmy looked at James speechlessly; his words were too hurtful.
As a member of the support team directly under the county police headquarters, Jimmy's impact was definitely equivalent to two or three patrol officers. In fact, it could be said that Jimmy's deterrent effect was now greater than that of a robust support force like the SWAT.
Particularly now, if gang crimes occurred, Jimmy just needed to go out there, shout a few times, and they would obediently raise their hands and surrender. There was no need for aggressive assaults or shootouts with criminals. Such was the intimidating power of "Butcher Jimmy."
James, looking at Jimmy's unconvinced demeanor, couldn't help but feel reflective; Jimmy was still full of youthful vigor.
James, "Jimmy, you have to remember, the police are a group. Within this group, there can be outstanding talents, but in terms of our duties, it's the vast number of ordinary police officers that are the foundation of our existence.
Indeed, you are outstanding, but we were here a hundred years before you, and we don't rely on any one individual to punish criminals or maintain public order; we do it as a whole group.
So, Jimmy, whatever you ultimately decide, I support you. Don't worry about whether the county police will face any problems due to your departure; that's not for you to consider."