Chapter 9: Celebrity Sightings and Squad Shenanigans
"Adam! Dude! Is that—is that her?" Jake Peralta's voice, usually a cacophony of enthusiasm, had suddenly elevated to a high-pitched squeak. He was pointing, rather rudely, towards the precinct entrance, where Emma Watson had just walked in, a polite smile on her face, carrying a small bag of Adam's forgotten lunch.
Charles Boyle, who had been meticulously organizing his desk by "food group," froze mid-grape. His eyes, wide as saucers, fixed on Emma. "It's... it's Hermione! In the flesh! Oh my God, she smells like... like justice and expensive shampoo!"
Emma, noticing the commotion, offered a slightly bewildered but polite wave. "Hello, everyone. Just dropping off Adam's lunch. He tends to forget vital sustenance."
Adam, who had been expecting this, merely sighed dramatically. "Here we go. The celebrity circus. At least she didn't bring a magic wand. That would really send Boyle into a spiral." He walked over, a wry smile on his face. "Emma, darling, you've met the 99th Precinct's most enthusiastic fan club. Jake, Charles, try not to spontaneously combust. It's a nightmare to clean up."
Jake, however, was already in full fanboy mode. "Ms. Watson! Huge fan! Your work in... well, everything! But especially the one with the... the thing! Can I get an autograph? For my niece! Who is me!"
Charles, meanwhile, was trying to discreetly take a photo with his phone, his hand trembling. "I just... I just want to say, your performance in The Perks of Being a Wallflower truly spoke to my soul! It was so raw! So authentic! Like a perfectly aged cheddar!"
Emma, ever gracious, chuckled. "Thank you, both. And yes, Jake, of course, for your niece. Charles, I'm glad my work resonated with your... cheese palate."
Adam smoothly ushered her towards his desk, offering a silent apology with his eyes. "They're usually only this excitable when free donuts are involved. You're a step up."
Amy Santiago, ever the professional, approached. "Ms. Watson, it's a pleasure. Detective Santiago. I must say, your work in advocating for gender equality is truly inspiring. Have you ever considered a career in law enforcement? We could use your analytical mind."
Emma politely demurred. "Perhaps in another life, Detective. My current analytical mind is mostly focused on deciphering obscure film contracts."
Rosa Diaz, leaning against a pillar, simply grunted. "She's cool." It was the highest praise Emma could have received from Rosa.
[Resource Management: Passive income from acting gigs continues to support Adam's lifestyle and social interactions.]
Later that week, the precinct was faced with a truly bizarre case: a series of "prank" thefts targeting the city's various public statues. Not valuable items, but things like a tiny sombrero on the Charging Bull, a pair of oversized sunglasses on the Fearless Girl, and a rubber chicken in the hand of the Prometheus statue at Rockefeller Center. It was harmless, but the mayor was furious.
"This is an outrage!" Captain Holt declared, his voice a low rumble. "These statues are symbols of our city's dignity! This 'Statue Prankster' must be apprehended! Detective Peralta, Santiago, your lead!"
Jake, predictably, was delighted. "Finally! A case that speaks to my inner mischief-maker! I bet it's a rival prank gang! Or a very bored pigeon!"
Adam, examining photos of the "crime scenes," noticed a recurring, almost imperceptible detail: a tiny, iridescent shimmer on the base of each statue. It was too faint to be glitter, too uniform to be random dust.
"Iridescent shimmer… on a statue… This sounds like a very specific type of synthetic polymer. Used in… oh, right. High-end, custom-made rubber masks. The kind that leave microscopic residue when handled roughly. Our prankster isn't just placing things; they're using some sort of disguise."
[Knowledge & Insight Module: Activating. Relevant Data: Synthetic Polymer Residue. Connection: High-End Mask Material.]
"Captain," Adam said, holding up a magnified photo. "I believe our 'Statue Prankster' is using a disguise. Specifically, a very high-quality, custom-made rubber mask. See this iridescent residue? It's a synthetic polymer, common in theatrical prosthetics and high-end masks. If we can find out who's buying or commissioning these types of masks in the city, we might find our prankster."
Amy, ever the meticulous one, immediately started cross-referencing theater supply stores and special effects studios. Jake, meanwhile, looked impressed. "So, the prankster is basically Batman, but for statues? Awesome! Can I get one of those masks? For... reasons."
Adam simply shook his head. "No, Jake. No you cannot."
The lead proved fruitful. They tracked down a disgruntled former special effects artist who had been fired from a major production and was now using his skills to "protest" the city's "lack of artistic appreciation." The rubber chicken was recovered. Justice was served.
Rosa Diaz's POV: "Stiels is weird. But he gets results. And he doesn't ask stupid questions. I can respect that. Even if he hangs out with movie stars."
Later that evening, Adam was having dinner with Emma. "You know," he mused, "my life has officially become a bizarre sitcom. Today, I helped catch a guy who put a sombrero on a bull statue, and then Charles Boyle tried to get your autograph by comparing you to cheese."
Emma laughed, a rich, warm sound. "Sounds like you're adjusting well to your new reality, darling. And for the record, I prefer to be compared to a fine wine, not a cheddar. Though I appreciate Charles's passion."
"Noted," Adam said, raising his glass. "To the absurdities of life. And the occasional moments of genuine brilliance."
[Relationship Status: Dating Emma Watson. Duration: 68 days.][System Status: Adam is comfortably navigating his dual life, and his friends are adjusting to his celebrity connections. Emma relationship stable.]