Chapter 108: Chapter 108: A Formidable Woman

The robber in the supermarket was shouting at the police and security guards surrounding the building, "I’m giving you five minutes! Within five minutes, release all our brothers! Then, load all the supplies onto our truck!"

"If you don’t do as I say, we’ll kill the first hostage in five minutes!"

"In ten minutes, we’ll kill the second...!"

The robber hadn’t even finished shouting when a sharp *SWISH* cut through the air. He stumbled forward uncontrollably, as if someone had shoved him violently from behind. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

He looked back, bewildered, only to find no one there.

Then, in disbelief, he looked down at his chest—

The fletching of a crossbow bolt was sticking out of it, blood slowly trickling from the wound.

His mind went blank. Before he could process what had happened, the police and security guards stormed the supermarket and tackled him to the ground. A sharp pain lanced through his chest, and he lost consciousness.

Officer Sean Pierce left a few guards to watch the unconscious robber. He then took his gun and cautiously made his way to the warehouse door.

To his surprise, the warehouse door was open, and the robber inside was already lying on the floor.

Officer Sean Pierce stared at Melody Summers inside the warehouse, astounded. "Comrade Summers, what are you doing here?!" he asked. "Where are the two hostages?"

Melody Summers pointed to a corner of the warehouse. "Over there," she replied. "They were already unconscious when I got in."

Officer Sean Pierce quickly had the guards outside carry out the robber and the hostages. He turned back to Melody Summers, asking in astonishment, "What on earth happened here?!"

Melody told Officer Sean Pierce the story she had prepared. She explained that she had used tools to remove a window and its security grate high up on the warehouse wall, then climbed inside.

Once inside, she had caught the robber off guard and incapacitated him with a taser. To her surprise, he had stopped breathing after just a few shocks.

Officer Sean Pierce glanced at the dismantled window. It was small, but Melody’s slender build meant she could have fit through. He was stunned. "The robber outside," he asked, "did you shoot him too?"

Melody nodded. "I modified a crossbow myself. With how chaotic things are now, I keep it at home for self-defense."

Home invasions were becoming frequent, and many residents had started making their own self-defense items, like pepper spray and long-staffs.

Officer Sean Pierce frowned at Melody. "You’ve got some nerve. Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

Just then, Officer Tristan Tanner came in, smiling. "It’s a good thing Comrade Summers gave us a big hand. Otherwise, these two robbers would have been a real handful."

Subduing the robbers wasn’t the hard part; the problem was that they had two hostages!

Officer Sean Pierce sighed. "Let’s transfer them to the station for now."

An armed robbery crew like this was different from a common one. It had to be thoroughly investigated. Perhaps they could follow the clues and uncover a larger criminal organization.

Officer Sean Pierce thought for a moment, then turned back. "Comrade Summers, you’ll have to come with us to the station, too. We need you to give a statement to my superiors about how you subdued them."

Melody nodded, sent a text to Colin and Winnie Summers, and then followed Officer Sean Pierce to the police station.

***

The Metropolis Residences was under the jurisdiction of the Yulan Precinct. After arriving at the station, Melody gave her statement to the police.

A short while later, a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, dressed in a police uniform, came in and sat across from Melody.

He frowned, asking Melody, "So you’re saying you just shocked him a few times with a taser, and he suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed?"

Melody nodded, her expression sincere.

Roman Rhodes studied Melody, his face unreadable. The type of taser she had described wasn’t typically lethal, yet the autopsy report showed no other wounds on the robber’s body. It was all very strange.

Roman Rhodes thought for a moment before asking, "And you didn’t alert the robber at all while you were removing the window and climbing in?"

Meeting the officer’s suspicious gaze, Melody maintained her earnest expression. "He was probably focused on his accomplice negotiating with the police outside, so he didn’t notice me. Officer Pierce’s megaphone was really loud, and I was very quiet. His back was to the window the whole time, so I just climbed in and shocked him."

Roman Rhodes nodded. "According to our investigation, that taser of yours is the type used by outdoor enthusiasts to ward off wild boars and stray dogs. It’s not supposed to be lethal."

Melody feigned a thoughtful expression. "Maybe he had a heart condition?" she offered tentatively. "Perhaps the shock triggered an attack? Officer, I really don’t know. I didn’t do anything else."

Just then, Officer Pierce entered and said to Roman Rhodes, "Director Rhodes, our findings are basically consistent with what Summers told us. We also found several Molotov cocktails on the robbers. Considering they were in the warehouse, we’re lucky Summers stepped in. The consequences could have been unimaginable."

Roman Rhodes nodded. Though some details were strange, she had ultimately helped the police solve a major problem. A slight smile touched his serious face as he looked at Melody. "Young lady, don’t be so impulsive next time. When you run into trouble, leave it to the police. Imagine how devastated your family would be if something had happened to you."

Melody nodded earnestly and replied meekly, "I understand."

Roman Rhodes stood up. "Thank you for helping the police subdue the robbers. I’ll report your contribution to my superiors and request a reward for you. It’s getting late. You should go home so your family doesn’t worry."

’I wonder if, for my reward, I could have the robbers’ two handguns,’ Melody thought. But she didn’t dare ask. ’After all, a stored-energy weapon like a crossbow is also contraband. If they start looking into it, they might confiscate mine.’

As Melody stepped out of the police station’s main entrance, she saw Winnie and Colin Summers waiting anxiously by the gate.

When they saw Melody emerge, the two of them rushed over.

Winnie pulled Melody into a tight hug. "Oh, you. How could you get into so much trouble the moment I turn my back? Let me look at you. Are you hurt?"

Melody smiled and shook her head. "Mom, Uncle, I’m fine. Don’t worry."

Just then, Roman Rhodes walked out as well. He smiled and said, "Your daughter was a hero today. She was a huge help to us. But please, be more careful next time. Don’t be so impulsive. These robbers are ruthless killers; each of them has blood on their hands."

Winnie nodded profusely and thanked Director Rhodes.

Roman Rhodes said, "It’s getting late. Let me give you a ride home."

Colin Summers quickly declined. "That’s not necessary, Director. We drove here, so we won’t trouble you."

Roman Rhodes seemed a bit surprised they were still able to drive, but he didn’t comment. He just nodded, turned, and walked back into the station.

Back in his office, Roman Rhodes organized some case files and said to Officer Sean Pierce, "Your precinct handled things well this time. This crew has hit the city multiple times. They always pick spots with no surveillance or take out the cameras beforehand, and they’re gone without a trace right after. They’ve been a thorn in the side of the municipal bureau for a long time."

Officer Sean Pierce replied, "The management and security at The Metropolis Residences are very responsible. We’ve had a few home invasions in the community before, so the management center organized several training sessions for the security guards and the residents’ patrol team as a precaution. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to subdue the other robbers so quickly."

Roman Rhodes nodded and chuckled. "I can see your community is full of hidden talent. Especially that young lady tonight, climbing through a window to strike right at the heart of the problem. A true heroine, proving women can be just as capable as men."

Officer Sean Pierce laughed too. "Summers is a really good comrade. You might not know this, but a few months ago, her family donated a batch of special antidote for Desert Vine toxin to us, completely free of charge! That stuff is more valuable than Gold. I wanted to give her a public commendation, hang up a banner, award her a pennant, but she flatly refused. To be so indifferent to fame and fortune at her age is truly rare."

Officer Pierce thought for a moment before adding, "Her mother and uncle are good, honest people, too. I’ve heard that the owners of the supermarkets absorbed by other communities have been secretly taking supplies for themselves, but her family has never taken a single thing. On top of that, they’re always looking out for our station, sending us supplies from time to time."

Roman Rhodes was surprised to hear that. To maintain such integrity in these disastrous times... that family was truly admirable.

Officer Pierce’s tone shifted. "The only thing is, we don’t know where this crew got those two guns. They just said their ’big boss’ gave them the weapons, but they don’t know how to contact him and have never even seen his face."

Hearing this, Roman Rhodes frowned in thought. "These guys are just small-time thugs," he said after a moment. "There must be a larger criminal organization above them. Keep digging, based on their confessions."

***

On the drive home, Winnie Summers was still reeling with fear. She held Melody’s hand tightly. "You, how could you just run off into the supermarket without a word? If something had happened to you, how would I be able to go on!"

Melody quickly tried to soothe her. "Mom, don’t worry. I only went because I was confident I could handle it. All right, I promise I won’t be so reckless next time. I’ll leave everything to the police."

Winnie sighed and said nothing, lost in thought.

Melody watched her mother uneasily. She knew she had caused a huge stir this time and made her family worry.

But Winnie’s response was unexpected. "This won’t do!" she declared. "I have to learn how to defend myself, too. Melody, you have to teach me everything—how to shoot that crossbow, how to get through windows... all of it. Next time trouble starts, your mother is going to be the one charging ahead to protect you!"