Chapter 987: One Has to Decide One’s Own Path
Damon didn’t really care.
He was already past the age of calling up friends, and he had been immersed in drawing recently.
If it wasn’t because he and Luke had fought together during the hijacking, he wouldn’t get too close to the young man.
Back at home, Selina sat by the window and looked in the direction of New Jersey.
Luke poured two cups of hot chocolate and gave one to her. “Are you still thinking about the two of them?”
Selina took a sip, and the feeling of not being full was finally gone. “Seeing them start a new life, it seems pretty good.”
Luke said, “It’s a personal choice. Look at Dustin. Isn’t he still working hard in his forties?”
Selina was lost for words.
“It’s all about personal choice.” Luke sat down and looked at the Hudson River and New Jersey. “Damon might not have been able to adapt to this life so quickly if he didn’t have drawing to focus on. But Mindy…”
He shook his head.
Selina sighed. “That girl is…”
She paused.
She wanted to say “ruined” or “twisted,” but that didn’t seem right.
Luke said, “You don’t have to watch your words when we’re talking. Damon trained a violent little girl into someone who isn’t bound by the rules of ordinary people. It’s not something to be happy about. Thankfully, he used to be a good police officer. There’s no problem with Mindy’s understanding of good and bad; it’s just that Damon went overboard.”
Selina looked at him and asked, “What are your plans for her?”
Luke shook his head. “I’m just on the sidelines. At most, I’ll give guidance when it’s necessary. Even if she chooses to be an ordinary person when she grows up, that’s still good.”
Selina found that odd. “Have you never thought of grooming her into becoming someone who can help us? She’s not very strong right now, but as long as she has the right equipment, most superhumans won’t be her match.”
“I chose this path myself.” Luke turned around and looked at her. “You chose to come with me. So, I won’t help her make a choice. It’s still better for everyone to have control of their own path in life.”
After a brief silence, he continued, “She’ll only come into contact with V, and I won’t let her know my real ident.i.ty. That way, she can quit anytime.”
Selina stared at him. “So, I can’t quit?”
Luke smiled. “No, you can quit too. Maybe you can go back and be a ranch owner or something, and raise livestock.”
Selina frowned. “Huh?”
Luke patted her head. “Because I don’t mind if you know.”
Selina gave an “oh” and quieted down. She picked up the hot chocolate and sipped it slowly, before she looked out the window at the falling snow.
Luke didn’t say anything else. He sat next to her and watched the snowflakes dance in the sky.
…
After two peaceful days, Haley called at noon.
“I’m almost done with work. I’ll take Molly to view Kilgrave’s body today,” she said on the other end of the phone.
“Okay. Meet outside the forensics center at two in the afternoon?” Luke agreed without any hesitation.
“Sure.” Haley also didn’t mince words.
At two in the afternoon, Luke and Selina waited for Haley and Molly’s family outside the forensics center.
When he saw Luke again, Molly’s father, Richard, was even more grateful. He immediately took Luke’s hand and thanked him profusely, the sly air of a businessman nowhere to be seen.
He might be rich, but his home ground was Boston. In New York, the people he knew at most were chefs. It wasn’t easy for someone like him to directly contact NYPD for access to the morgue.
Also, he would definitely have to owe someone a favor for something like that.
Luke, on the other hand, had offered to help without asking for anything in return.
Apart from feeling extremely glad that he had met the sort of good police officer that could only be found in the movies, he could only thank him.
Molly’s mother had been standing next to Molly the entire time. She didn’t step forward, but she still looked very grateful.
Luke and Selina didn’t think much of it.
They had been working cases for a long time, and many of the victims’ families were grateful to them when they caught the murderer.
The reaction from Molly’s family could only be considered normal.
Luke didn’t waste any time. He simply said, “I made an appointment with the medical examiner. We should go in quickly. She doesn’t have a good temper or patience.”
Haley quickly added, “That’s right. They have a constant backlog. It’s best to do it earlier so that we have more time.”
A moment later, Luke said to the medical examiner with a smile, “Thanks, Lanie.”
Lanie waved her hand casually. “It’s fine. I have reports to fill out. You know the rules. Call me when you’re done.” She then turned around and left.
Luke nodded and watched her leave.
Lanie was Beckett’s contact.
Although John and the others could also find someone to help Luke, he was too lazy to use these more personal and effective connections to deal with this sort of thing.
Beckett had just said that he could look for her if he needed anything, and he had done so without any hesitation.
When it came to favors, one had to be in constant contact with the other party. The more times they owed each other, the more trust there would be.
For now, he could collect favors without needing to squeeze out too much, and he just used them whenever he needed to.
He was too new at NYPD, and n.o.body would dare ask him to do anything that was against the rules for the time being.
Luke waved at Haley, who was at the door, and she brought Molly over.
Molly’s parents were left outside the door. It wasn’t appropriate for them to enter the morgue, nor to be present during Haley’s treatment.
Only Luke, Haley, and Molly were left in the morgue.
Luke had to be there.
That was one of Lanie’s conditions. Otherwise, she would have to be on hand to prevent anything from happening.
Many bizarre things happened in the world, and even more so in the morgue.
Things like pulling out a body and beating it up could only be considered a “normal” incident, and it wasn’t uncommon to steal and destroy bodies.
There were even more bizarre instances where the deceased’s friends wanted to have a farewell party with the body, and would bring champagne and cigars over.
Thus, a medical examiner or police officer had to be present during a viewing to keep an eye on the scene.
Luke silently retreated to the door and watched as Haley led Molly over to an open freezer. After a fair amount of persuasion, she finally faced Kilgrave’s body.
Molly, who had been in a slight daze the whole time, reacted violently. She cried and laughed, cursed and punched, then fell to her knees and wept for a long time.
Luke simply watched silently.
He didn’t care about the minor bruises that appeared on the body, and nor would Lanie. After all, Kilgrave’s autopsy report had already come out.
If all went according to procedure, the body would be buried in a public cemetery if no relatives came forward during this period to claim the body.
It wasn’t a problem at all for Molly to vent a little now.
Luke just quietly memorized what Haley did, including the way she guided Molly with her words and how she adjusted Molly’s emotions.