Dexter's House.
Although Jimmy was tempted, he wasn't stupid enough to discuss his shady business in front of Ian and Carl.
So, he forced a fake smile and brushed it off for the moment. "I quit voluntarily."
Dexter didn't believe him.
However, since Jimmy said so, Dexter decided he would just send Little Wu to tail him later and figure out what was going on.
Is it because of Tony? Or Nando? Dexter was genuinely curious, muttering silently to himself.
Soon, Bianca, who was already well-accustomed to this rhythm of life, finished making breakfast and brought it out.
Everyone started eating.
Carl hadn't realized how hungry he was until the food was right in front of him, and he immediately started wolfing it down.
In a short while.
Breakfast was finished. Jimmy thanked them again and took Ian and the others back home.
Dexter tidied up the dishes, wiped his hands, and prepared to drive Bianca to work.
Suddenly, Jimmy returned and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
Dexter opened the door and laughed, immediately guessing that Jimmy had come back to ask for help. "Jimmy, what's up?"
Jimmy glanced at Bianca. "Is it convenient to talk alone?"
"Sure, but make it quick. I have to drive the Princess to work," Dexter replied with a smile.
Jimmy nodded, indicating that was no problem.
"Princess, wait for me in the car. I'll be right there," Dexter said, turning to Bianca.
Bianca responded obediently with a cheerful smile, grabbed her bag, and walked straight out the door.
Time was limited, so Jimmy cut the crap and spoke quickly. "Mr. King, I have a hypothetical question I'd like to ask you."
"Go ahead," Dexter smiled, taking out his cigarettes. He handed one to Jimmy and lit one for himself.
"Hypothetically, there's a car thief. A while back, while he was stealing a car, a cop secretly took photos and videos of him," Jimmy lit his cigarette and took a drag, speaking intensely.
"Later, this cop threatened the car thief, forcing him to do certain things."
"How do you think this car thief can get rid of this cop?"
After listening.
Dexter naturally understood exactly what Jimmy was talking about and found it thoroughly amusing.
Comrade Tony really isn't simple. To think he'd do something like this, Dexter thought with a smile.
Then, instead of answering, he asked, "Do certain things... what specific things?"
Jimmy fell silent for a moment, took another drag of his cigarette, and decided to answer.
"Roughly speaking, he wants the car thief to do some very bad things to his own girlfriend... because the cop hates the thief's girlfriend."
Dexter had actually already guessed this was the case.
Hehe.
"Bad things"—that scope was way too broad, and very interesting.
"For example, taking nude photos? Filming sex tapes? Getting the girlfriend pregnant? Stuff like that?" Dexter asked with a wicked grin.
Hearing this, Jimmy looked at Dexter with some surprise and exhaled a puff of smoke. "Pretty much..."
Well then.
I'll have to go online and search for Fiona's sex tapes later.
Dexter thought to himself, pondered for a moment, and then replied.
"The best method is to steal the photos, videos, and memory cards from the cop and destroy them."
"Of course, that's a bit difficult."
"A slightly inferior method is to bribe the cop. That's much easier."
"After all, everything in this world can be bought with money. If you can't buy it, it's just because you aren't offering enough."
Jimmy had some savings, but only "some." If he had to use it all to bribe Tony... he would be willing, but Jimmy really wasn't sure that Tony would let go even if the money was spent.
After all, Tony hated Fiona to the bone.
If Tony would let go, then fine. If he ran out of money, he could just steal more cars. Steal a few more, and the money would come back.
But if Tony refused, then it would be trouble.
"The safest way is still the first one," Jimmy said.
Dexter smiled. "Indeed."
"Can you help?" Jimmy asked.
In fact, he really could help.
Dexter smiled brilliantly. "I can. But this car thief needs to pay a considerable price."
"It can't possibly be more than what the cop is asking, right?" Jimmy asked tentatively.
Dexter shook his head. "Of course not."
Jimmy breathed a sigh of relief. "Then what price does the car thief need to pay?"
"Three requests. Does not involve murder. Will not cause the car thief to go to prison. Whenever I bring them up, the car thief must agree," Dexter stated.
Jimmy fell silent, his mind racing for a moment. "Does it involve crime?"
"Maybe. Not necessarily," Dexter nodded.
"Valid for one year," Jimmy proposed a condition.
Dexter thought about it and felt it was acceptable. "Within one year."
"Okay," Jimmy responded. "No problem."
"Then just wait. By the beginning of next month, the car thief will be fine," Dexter said with a smile, then lifted his foot to leave. "I have to go. Keep in touch."
"Okay."
---
Time flew by.
In the hospital.
Frank groggily woke up. He blinked, took a moment to recover, and realized he was in the hospital.
A thought struck him immediately. He turned his head to look at the pile of medical equipment beside him, reached out, grabbed the button controlling the drip, and pressed it wildly.
He wanted more of the drip, not caring what was actually in the bag.
A leopard can't change its spots. That was basically it.
Hearing the commotion, Fiona opened her eyes. Seeing Frank was awake, she hurriedly stood up and went to the bedside. "Are you okay?"
Frank had seen Fiona a moment ago. Being asked this, he didn't answer her question but instead demanded, "Which bag has the morphine? Give me more!"
For Frank, coming to the hospital was like a vacation. How could he not enjoy it properly!
Fiona couldn't understand this at all. She instantly felt it was incredibly absurd, unable to believe what she was hearing.
The man is practically dying!
And the first thing he does upon waking up is ask for morphine!
Sometimes.
A person's awakening happens in just a split second.
For Fiona, that split second was right now.
It was as if a wire in her brain had suddenly been connected. Fiona completely realized that no matter what, Frank would not change.
Until he died, he would be that drunk, that junkie, that scumbag Frank.
Caring about Frank was purely a waste of time—one could even say it was a waste of life.
Fiona had awakened. So, she couldn't help but smile. At the same time, she felt her entire being suddenly become much, much lighter.
"The doctor said your liver is trashed. You're going to die. Maybe half a month, maybe a month or two."
"And that's assuming you don't drink."
"If you drink again, you could die at any moment."
Hearing this, Frank decisively shook his head with a laugh. "Impossible. It's not my time yet. I still have decades of good living left."
Fiona couldn't be bothered to argue with that. She just asked in a serious tone, "Will you quit drinking?"
"Why should I quit drinking?" Frank asked back.
"Debbie, Carl, and the others would hope you survive. They don't want you to die silently in some random place," Fiona said.
Frank chuckled. "So, I should quit drinking for them? Why should I?"
"..." Fiona laughed again. "You really don't care about these kids at all."
Frank didn't make a sound. He didn't reply.
Fiona shook her head, said nothing more, turned around, and walked away.