In the days following his resignation, Jimmy packed his room, gathered all his valuables and items he couldn't bear to part with into his storage unit, and packed his personal belongings into his suitcase, preparing to drive to Virginia.
Anticipating a 5-month training period at the FBI National Academy, Jimmy decided to keep his apartment, which still housed his daily necessities, including items in the kitchen and bedroom. He simply notified the apartment manager to help him by placing any mail or other deliveries inside his room.
As for the long-term lease, Jimmy wasn't worried about the cost. He had plenty of cash saved up, and it benefitted both him and the apartment manager to pay in cash—as long as no one did any snooping.
Since he would be in Virginia for an extended time, and it would be summer by the time the academy was over, Jimmy only packed some clothes and toiletries in his suitcase, the rest being sentimental items including a honorary deputy badge, an outstanding contribution medal, and his personal revolver.
Besides these necessary items, Jimmy also brought along a gold coin for emergencies. Having experienced the services provided by Justin and his pals, Jimmy felt that it was always best to be prepared, even if he couldn't find similar companions. Of course, he needed to hide it well.
Because Jimmy's CCW was from Arkansas and recognized in Virginia, he could carry his gun concealed. The same was true for Tennessee, a state he would pass through on his drive, providing him with an added reason to travel by car—carrying his gun added a sense of security, and he could also enjoy the scenery along the way. With more than a week to make the trip, he was sure to arrive on time.
Having settled all his affairs and said goodbye to his friends in Little Rock, Jimmy set out in his car after Christmas, heading for Tennessee.
Arkansas didn't have notable tourist attractions, so Jimmy mostly stuck to the highways, going straight for Memphis. Taking his time on the road, he detoured to Jerry's place, where he and Mary were still living in her family home. Currently in a state of bankruptcy, Jerry was mostly living off Mary's inherited estate, but they were doing alright. Once Mary came of age, things would look up as Jerry's bankruptcy record would be wiped clean, and he'd get a fresh start.
After enjoying lunch and a chat with Jerry and his family, Jimmy left in the afternoon, headed for his first destination, Nashville, the capital of Tennessee.
For this trip, Jimmy packed a camera. Whether resting along the way or visiting landmarks, he intended to take plenty of photos as souvenirs. His patrol duties in Little Rock had seldom allowed for excursions, leaving his camera underused. This rare long-distance solo trip was an excellent opportunity to capture different landscapes.
Upon leaving Memphis, if he spotted any picturesque scenery, he'd pull over to the side of the road, rest a bit, take photos, and stretch to avoid fatigue from long hours of driving.
The western part of Tennessee was mainly flat farmland. From the roadside, he could see many scattered settlements. Jimmy noticed an unusually high density of rural churches here, unlike in Little Rock. Almost every visible settlement had a church, whose distinct architectural style stood out from the local houses, indicating a large number of churchgoers in Tennessee.
Tennessee was a principal origin of American country music, and while doing his research, Jimmy found his travel timing somewhat awkward; just after Christmas, nature attractions tended to be lackluster. During this period, city museums were more accessible.
Jimmy's first stop was set to be the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Although he wasn't fond of music and wasn't a buff, a visit to the Hall of Fame on Fifth Avenue was a must while in Nashville.
This was a highly recommended spot by Cage, who knew Jimmy was planning to drive from Arkansas through Tennessee to Virginia. Given that Cage's first recommendation was the Hall of Fame, it was clear he had a genuine passion for country music. However, Jimmy and Cage rarely patrolled together, so Jimmy was unaware of Cage's musical interest.
When Jimmy arrived in Nashville that evening, he headed to Fifth Avenue and checked into a nearby hotel. After settling his luggage, he went out to find a restaurant, ending up in a cafe where he enjoyed a cup of coffee to the accompaniment of the in-house singer. Nashville truly lived up to its reputation as the heartland of country music. While sipping his coffee, Jimmy browsed through tourist guides provided at the cafe, looking for other local attractions to explore.
After a good night's rest, he went to the Country Music Hall of Fame early the next morning. Wearing a youthful Asian face and a camera around his neck, he looked every bit the harmless tourist.
Jimmy wandered around the Hall of Fame for half the day, snapping plenty of photos, before leaving to explore Nashville further. Strolling down Fifth Avenue, he stumbled into a bustling pizza shop around lunchtime and decided to follow the crowd inside.
It was easy to see why the place was crowded; they served barbecue pizzas, not the kind that would instantly infuriate Italians with fruit and pineapple. Just the sight of cheese with barbecued meat slices was a delight to the eyes.
Jimmy ordered a 10-inch pizza, a vegetable salad, and a juice, then sat by the window to wait, picking up a newspaper to check the news.
Since Christmas had just passed and the holiday season was still in full swing, many US businesses were on break from Christmas until New Year's, hence the current crowds. Jimmy's appetite had grown considerably large, and he effortlessly polished off the 10-inch pizza and salad, though feeling quite stuffed afterward. Uncomfortably full, he decided to walk it off, initially planning to leave Nashville that afternoon, but he now thought it best to stay another day since he wasn't in a hurry.
In the afternoon, Jimmy visited a few sights recommended by local cab drivers before returning to the hotel to rest. Spending two days in Nashville had already exceeded his planned schedule.
Early the next day, he checked out of his hotel and left for his next destination, Big Fog Mountain National Park. After driving for several hours, Jimmy arrived in Knoxville but didn't linger in the city center, instead heading straight to the suburbs where he found a restaurant for lunch and a one-hour break to ease the fatigue of driving.