Edward York's mind was suddenly struck by this line of reasoning...

"Help me..."

Before Edward York could figure it out, the woman who had just run past suddenly turned around and ran back, rushing to Edward York's side, grabbing his hand tightly and crying out anxiously.

"Who are you? What's your name?"

Looking at the woman's familiar face, which seemed so familiar, Edward York inexplicably asked this question.

In this kind of situation, shouldn't a normal person ask, "What happened?"

"My surname is Gao..."

"Gao Xiaoyan?"

Before the woman could finish, Edward York had already said her name.

"Yes... How, how do you know my name is Gao Xiaoyan?"

The woman was shocked, suddenly let go of his hand, stepped back, and stared at him in terror, her whole body trembling.

How do I know your name is Gao Xiaoyan?

Because you are that corpse!

You were wearing a red and yellow jacket, stabbed more than a dozen times, your body riddled with holes!

Later, the police station received a report, and I was the first detective to arrive at the scene, also the first to see your body. Then, of course, we had to investigate the identity of the corpse, and it led right to you, didn't it?

And now you ask me how I know your name is Gao Xiaoyan?

For some reason, these things that clearly haven't happened yet appeared in Edward York's mind like distant memories, scene by scene, at first a bit blurry, but gradually becoming clear.

Damn, could it really be memories from another timeline, now returned to this brain?

Why is it all so chaotic?

"Don't be afraid, I'm a police officer."

Instinctively, Edward York promptly identified himself.

"You're a police officer..."

Grace Bennett was startled again, her face full of disbelief, then suddenly overjoyed.

She never dreamed she would meet a police officer here.

Honestly, this alley was pretty secluded.

"Hide behind me..."

Edward York was about to say more when his expression suddenly changed slightly. He reached out, grabbed Grace Bennett's wrist, and pulled her to his side.

Edward York was of average height, about 1.75 meters, which was considered tall among southerners, with excellent body proportions—the classic "ape arms and wasp waist" often described in martial arts novels.

This kind of physique ensured he always had the quickest reflexes and the greatest explosive power.

When he grabbed Grace Bennett's wrist, Edward York deliberately felt for a moment, confirming that her wrist was warm.

Good, it's warm!

Otherwise, Edward York would have thought he was sleepwalking, struck by lightning, his mind muddled, hallucinating.

As soon as he finished this movement, hurried footsteps sounded at the street corner. From experience, Edward York could tell there was more than one person coming.

There were four!

Four grown men!

On this rainy night, the four of them were already soaked through. The alley was dimly lit, and Edward York couldn't quite make out their faces, but he could sense a strong aura of menace from them.

Chapter 2: Police Officer

After a year as a police officer, Edward York was very familiar with people like this.

If you had to categorize them, they were thugs, but a special kind of thug. Ordinary thugs just loitered on the streets, but not these guys.

They were more like the so-called "friends from the underworld" that ordinary people imagined.

On this point, Edward York's instincts were never wrong.

The four men formed a semicircle, surrounding Edward York and Grace Bennett. Behind them was a solid blue brick wall—there was no way out.

"Brother, we're here for the woman beside you. This has nothing to do with you. If you know what's good for you, just walk away!"

The leader spoke in a raspy voice, his tone and demeanor both very much "underworld."

Grace Bennett trembled in fear, instinctively hiding behind Edward York, clutching his clothes, and whispered in a trembling voice, "Help me... help me... they, they want to kill me..."

Edward York just smiled.

After so many years in the army, and a year as a cop, Eddie was least afraid of thugs, of so-called "friends from the underworld."

He slowly took out his police badge from his pocket, opened it, and held it up to his chest.

The movement was so natural and smooth, it was almost instinctive, done without thinking.

Edward York remembered that he didn't used to have the habit of showing his badge. Honestly, back in 2002, the requirements for police conduct weren't all that strict.

Although the regulations stated that police officers must show their credentials when enforcing the law, in practice, it wasn't always so formal.

Especially for officers who had transferred from the military or auxiliary police who had become full officers—their style was even more straightforward.

If they bothered to tell you verbally, that was already pretty by-the-book.

Show your badge?

Was that really necessary?

"Police!"

Edward York said calmly.

"If you have nothing to do, you can leave now!"

Edward York wasn't a particularly silent person; he usually communicated just fine with people. But with these so-called "friends from the underworld," he really didn't want to waste words.