"What? You said the size of this thing can't be reduced any further?" Jay looked frustratedly at the palm-sized recorder in his hand, then glanced at the technical department colleague.
"Steven, you're the most capable technician in the police department. Surely you can figure something out."
"Stop buttering me up. You know I'm a tech guy at the police station, not the next Edison." Steven replied lazily.
He waved his hand, stopping Jay from reaching for his wallet. "I'd love to make some extra cash, but I genuinely can't do it this time.
Besides, the current size can be easily hidden in a sleeve or a pocket. Why do you need it so much smaller? Are you meeting a suspect in a public bathroom?"
"Uh…" Jay scratched his head. He couldn't exactly say his original intention was to stick the recording device onto a rat. "I just think smaller is safer."
"Unless you plan to strip naked and hide it in your… well, the current size is perfectly adequate." Steven opened a safe and pulled out a device the size of a matchbox. "It's not like smaller ones don't exist.
Look, this is a recently launched digital voice recorder. The department acquired it as window dressing. It doesn't use tape at all and stores files digitally…
Never mind, you wouldn't understand all that. Just know that this thing is expensive. The device and the memory card cost over $3,500."
You don't understand? My old broken phone from before the transmigration would scare you to death just by looking at the screen!
With a flash of irritation, Jay smiled at him. "That's a real hassle, then. Thank you."
Forget it, this thing is far too expensive—after all, he needed more than one.
He returned to the main hall and saw Allen diligently flipping through case files at his desk. He walked over and asked in a low voice, "Did you see the Chief today?"
"He took two people out, I think to visit some officers? Sorry, Sir, I wasn't paying much attention."
"It's nothing, don't worry." Jay patted him on the shoulder and let him sit back down.
Looks like Bob is already moving; I need to speed things up on my end.
He walked to the parking lot, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number. Soon, a voice with a hint of pleasant surprise answered.
"Born of the lowest, kept in a small box,
Clad in wood, crowned with blazing heat.
One heartbeat brings light to life;
One sacrifice brings rebirth to others.
Who am I?"
"Ha! Ed, that riddle is simple this time." Jay was also a bit excited; he finally solved one. "The answer is a match."
"Uh… that's true, but can you try thinking a bit deeper?"
"Deeper? Then… a lighter?"
"Phew… It's a hero, Jay," Nygma's voice sounded slightly defeated. "You've become the hero many officers talk about now."
"When I was dodging bullets in a gunfight, no one asked about me. Now I donate fifty thousand dollars and I become a hero. How fucking honored I am." Jay scoffed. "What about you, Ed? How are things going with that girl… Miss Kringle?"
"Uh… uh…" The voice on the other end suddenly became stuttering. "I think it's going well. I guess she… she…"
Nygma's voice dropped. "She… she might even… like me?"
"Tsk tsk, you really should be printed on a deck of cards as the Joker." Jay silently curled his lip. "Is it a good time to talk? I need your help with something. Do you know anyone who can modify or create small recording devices?"
"I'm alone in the evidence room right now," Nygma replied. "Modifying small recorders? How small?"
"Well… small enough for a rat to quietly drag near a target, and then quietly drag back later… just assume I have a rat that can follow commands. My colleague at the East Precinct mentioned digital equipment, but it's too expensive."
"A rat? Then it must not exceed 20 grams," Nygma mused for a moment. "I'll make you a sample before tonight. Wait for my call."
"You can do that? Ed, seriously, as long as it's not related to women, you are absolutely, definitely a genius." Jay expressed his genuine admiration. "I can teach you how to pick up women next time."
"No, thank you. I'd rather learn from your partner."
"Uh…"
Jay wanted to argue, but remembering Wilson's ability to flirt and embrace women even while in the hospital, all his words turned into a single sigh.
"…You're absolutely right."
He left the police station, bought a few things in Chinatown, and headed straight to the charity clinic.
The moment Jay walked in, the receptionist nurse hastily called the office, scared.
After all, he had physically assaulted the Chief's former lover on the premises last time, though it was unclear if they still had lingering affection.
This time, seeing him effortlessly stride up the stairs with a long box tucked under his arm, who knew what he was carrying.
It could be a gift, or it could be a box of roses containing the M1887!
Dr. Thompkins, however, was not afraid. As a true Samaritan, she wouldn't run this charity clinic to help the poor under pressure if she were easily scared. Receiving the alert from the front desk, she stepped out of her office and intercepted Jay in the hallway.
"Officer, what are you doing here again?"
"Uh…" Jay withdrew the boxed item and handed it over. "I apologize for the conflict that happened here yesterday. It's a small gift, a token of my apology."
"Oh… hmm, thank you!" Thompkins' attitude softened.
She took the gift and examined it carefully. "Black tea and a tea set… Jim told me you sent this to Falcone as well?"
"How could that be!" Jay immediately denied it. "The one for Falcone was much more expensive than this."
"You are such an… honest man," Thompkins chuckled. "Are you here to see Harper and Cullen? They might be napping."
"No, I just stopped by. No need to wake them." Jay rummaged through his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Please pass this to Officer Gordon."
"This is…"
Thompkins felt the envelope; it seemed to contain credit-card-like plastic cards. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Are you trying to bribe him?"
"No, just like yours, it's a gift expressing my apology."
Jay opened the envelope and took out two cards to show Dr. Thompkins. "A membership card for the Police Association Welfare Society and a membership card for the Lucia Children's Bookstore."
"Ah, you even prepared a gift for Barbara." Thompkins' tone immediately hardened. "Or are you trying to use this method to remind him?"
——————
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