Police in America

Jack tiptoed closer to take a look and found the book covering Hannah's face was Freud's "The Interpretation of Dreams." Several other bestsellers, somewhat related to psychology, were stacked on the side table by the sofa.

He chuckled inwardly. His study had half a bookshelf of professional psychology books that sweet Hannah probably couldn't understand, so she had bought these popular science books herself.

Was she trying to study her rival? Seriously?

Jack carefully removed the book from her face. She had barely read ten pages before falling into a deep sleep, the theory quickly giving way to practical experience.

Gently, he carried Hannah to the bedroom, kissed her forehead, and then returned to the kitchen to deal with the large bag of beets.

Everyone had been a bit tipsy on the flight back, including Rossi. Jack had taken the opportunity to nap, so now he was wide awake.

He peeled and cut the beets into strips, salted them to remove the earthy smell, and drained the excess water. He then picked a bunch of chili peppers from the backyard, mixed them with minced garlic and rosemary, and packed everything into sterilized glass jars, filling them with apple cider vinegar.

With the temperatures in Los Angeles still cool in February and March, room temperature storage would suffice. In about two weeks, Jack would have a new appetizer on his table.

After dealing with the beets, Jack continued to busy himself in the kitchen. Tomorrow was the weekend, and he planned to host a small party for some old friends.

It had been a while since the old gang had gathered. Although his interactions with them had diminished, he didn't want to neglect his old friends.

Now, after each mission, spending a day in the kitchen to sort out his emotions had become Jack's habit.

Whether it was honing his cooking skills, tending to the fruit trees and vegetables in the backyard, or renovating the basement gun room, watching his skill levels gradually increase always brought him peace of mind.

Of course, a morning workout with Hannah, followed by a hot shower, was also a great way to relax.

Serial killers, militia groups, cultists—they were none of his concern. Jack wasn't here to save the world.

His current pursuits were to take every case seriously, help the innocent victims, and earn more gold coins from the system to enhance his skills.

Jack had no real career ambitions now. Taking care of the girls around him kept him busy enough. Before his time travel, he was over 40 and deeply regretted wasting his youth.

Now, with the heavens giving him a second chance and a young body, it was time to enjoy his youth.

Rossi's idea of grooming him as a successor was something Jack could sense, but he chose to go with the flow. Seeing Hotchner swamped with administrative tasks made it clear that becoming a bureaucrat wasn't exactly wonderful.

Jack preferred to achieve some social status through other means, like becoming a bestselling author like Rossi.

Language skills could aid in writing, and the cases handled by the BAU were perfect material. With some tweaks and embellishments, plus a bit of spicy content, he might even write a version of "Detective Jack" for this world.

Of course, this plan required further improvement in his language skills. His lack of common knowledge of Western culture was a significant weakness, needing long-term accumulation.

Thus, Jack planned to include writing in his short-term goals—first, gather material and supplement his knowledge. As for language skills, he'd likely have to rely on system gold coins for upgrades.

After lunch, he drove his Firebird, taking Hannah to visit the Wolf brothers' farm in the northern suburbs. The brothers seemed content with their semi-secluded life, employing workers and raising livestock.

Many of Jack's ingredients now came from their small farm, especially certain parts of pigs, cattle, and sheep that Americans weren't interested in. Even Chinese supermarkets rarely had them, so this was the only way to get them.

Today, his main visit was to see Justin, with the Wolf brothers as a side visit. Gaspare had contributed significantly in the crash incident, and Jack had promised to get him a new identity.

Now, with half a month passed and the event's heat waning, Gaspare, hiding on Palawan Island, was growing impatient. It was time to help him leave that country.

The next day's party was a hit. Jack made a big pot of delicious curry beef offal soup, sharing it with everyone along with some flatbread. Though the combination seemed odd, it satisfied a certain someone's quirky taste.

John, egged on by everyone, announced his wedding date set for May, just under three months away, giving everyone more to do.

After a lively weekend, Jack arrived at the BAU office early, filling the big fridge with food before heading to JJ's office to say hello.

Garcia rushed past him, heading straight inside.

"JJ, I might be in big trouble."

"I can't believe he came to my apartment. We just had a meeting last week about not allowing intimate relationships between employees."

Standing at the door, Jack was caught between entering or retreating. He decided to lean against the door and listen.

JJ, twirling a pen and looking at her files, seemed distracted. "I'm busy, Garcia. Your dear Jack is right at the door, isn't he?"

Behind Garcia, Jack frantically waved his hand, not wanting to start the day with Garcia's psychological counseling. He had tried once before and found that a bunch of butt-kicking dog pudding worked better.

"So you really don't want to hear the story about how last night, at midnight, after Kevin Lynch, the tech analyst downstairs, and I finished getting cozy and showering together, Rossi suddenly appeared at my door?"

JJ sat up straight, put away her files, and forced a friendly smile.

"Please, sit."

Jack smoothly closed the office door, pulled out a chair, and respectfully invited Garcia to sit.

"So, why were you showering with Kevin Lynch?"

Jack knew this part. "Because Kevin Lynch is Garcia's new boyfriend, the one who loves blueberry jam."

"Oh, speaking of blueberry jam, it was very effective. Kevin said he wants to try more flavors," Garcia was immediately sidetracked.

"Continue with the shower story," JJ said, her face full of gossip.

"Oh, please, I really need your help. Rossi found out about our relationship!"

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