Jack returned to Los Angeles and, within two days, it was the weekend. Taking advantage of the break, he decided to make a solo trip to Las Vegas, where a special *Star Trek* anniversary exhibit was being held.
As a former American TV show fan, a pseudo-sci-fi enthusiast, and a collector with a bit of money in his pocket, Jack was eager to see if there were any collectibles worth adding to his collection at the exhibit. He was particularly interested in models of the Federation starships like the USS Enterprise, Voyager, Discovery, or Deep Space Nine.
Of course, if he could collect them all at once, he wouldn't mind clearing some space in his study to display these treasures in a couple of cabinets.
Originally, Hannah had planned to join him, but her promotion notice had just arrived. Within less than six months of becoming a Special Agent, she was promoted to Senior Special Agent.
Hannah had to stay behind, not only to receive congratulations from her colleagues and superiors but also because Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had organized a family dinner in her honor.
Jack politely declined the invitation, shuddering at the thought of facing Hannah's family alongside both Hannah and Zoe.
JJ was also out of Los Angeles, having flown to Silver Springs to visit her parents. Reid, on the other hand, was very interested in going, but he had a lecture to attend at the University of California. So, in the end, Jack drove his Firebird to the world-famous gambling city alone.
Las Vegas is close to Los Angeles, so Jack left at 5 PM and arrived at his pre-booked hotel a little after 9 PM.
The hotel industry in Las Vegas is geared toward serving the casinos, and since it was the off-season for tourism, suite prices were absurdly low. Even at the luxurious Linq Hotel, a standard suite for one night cost less than $200.
Jack tipped the front desk clerk $20, and his standard suite was upgraded to a deluxe suite—a little trick Reid had taught him.
Before Reid was banned from every casino in Las Vegas, he was a regular visitor. He didn't have a gambling addiction, but he loved card counting. Of course, this trick works in hotels across the United States, but it's more successful in Vegas during the off-season.
Jack had no interest in gambling. After strolling through the casino and admiring the Bunny Girls' graceful figures, he wandered into an Italian restaurant called "Vintner Grill."
He wasn't particularly fond of French cuisine, possibly influenced by Rossi. When dining out, if he couldn't find a decent Chinese restaurant, he'd usually opt for Italian food.
When going on a first date and unsure of the other person's tastes, choosing a well-reviewed Italian restaurant is generally a safe bet.
Yes, before heading to Las Vegas, Jack had arranged a dinner with that FBI agent who looked just like the Scarlet Witch from the Marvel movies in his previous life.
Unlike the BAU, which could wrap up a case and leave the clean-up to the local police, Jane Banner had spent nearly two months in Wyoming, only recently returning to her Las Vegas office.
It wasn't that Jack had any romantic intentions. He had called Jane in front of Hannah while planning the trip and set up tonight's dinner.
After all, they had caused quite a stir in Wind River Valley, and without Jane Banner's cooperation, it would have taken much more effort to resolve the situation. Treating her to dinner to express his gratitude was the least he could do. Plus, he could also get some updates on the case from the person who handled it. Of course, Jack was mainly interested in knowing if there were any loose ends.
Jane Banner didn't keep him waiting long. She arrived wearing a stunning wine-red evening gown, escorted by admiring gazes from all around.
"Stunning," Jack didn't hold back on the compliments. Jane was a far cry from the bundled-up, bedraggled figure she had been in Wyoming. The form-fitting evening gown highlighted her beautiful figure, and her dark brown hair was elegantly styled in a chignon, with her long legs visible through the gown's slit. Jack made a conscious effort to focus on her gem-like blue eyes, trying to ignore the eye-catching heart-shaped cutout at the neckline of her dress.
"In fact, I should be the one treating you tonight. Just as you predicted, I was promoted as soon as I returned to Vegas." As soon as they sat down, Jane couldn't wait to share her joy.
"So, should I be addressing you as...?" Jack asked, dismissing the waiter and personally opening the champagne to celebrate.
"For now, it's still Special Agent," Jane winked. She wore only light makeup and no false eyelashes, but her large eyes fluttered playfully.
If you ignored her figure and focused on her face, Jane wasn't the type to leave you breathless at first sight, but she was definitely the kind that grew on you over time.
Perhaps the meal was more enjoyable because of the pleasant company. Even when a sudden storm erupted outside with thunder and lightning, it didn't dampen their spirits.
Jane recounted her experiences over the past two months in Wind River Valley. As expected, both the state and federal governments, as well as the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), were trying to downplay the case.
There was no task force, no SCIS (Special Crime Investigation Squad), and no additional law enforcement support from other areas. An FBI trainee and a tribal police department with fewer than ten members had handled two major cases involving more than 20 victims.
In their hushed conversation, Jane was full of admiration for Jack, her gaze almost syrupy as she looked at him. Just as she was about to suggest that Jack escort her home, a sudden clap of thunder plunged the entire area into darkness.
"What's going on?" Jane instinctively grabbed Jack's right hand. The murmurs of other diners turned from initial gasps of surprise to men loudly asking questions.
Jack glanced out the window; the once brightly lit casinos and hotels were also darkened. The entire street was shrouded in darkness, creating an eerie atmosphere as if the world had come to an end.
Soon, a light appeared as the restaurant manager, holding an emergency lamp, hurried to the center and directed the waitstaff to bring out lit candles.
According to the restaurant manager, it seemed that a large substation had been struck by lightning, causing a chain reaction. Now, not just Las Vegas but much of Nevada was plunged into darkness.
The restaurant had an emergency generator, so power was partially restored. Soon, lights began to flicker back on in most of the surrounding buildings.
However, the generator wasn't enough to power the decorative exterior lights or streetlights, leaving the streets dimly lit. Still, a few police cars, their lights flashing, arrived in the area almost immediately.
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