Los Angeles Detective

Luke picked up the phone, and the contact on the screen was Sharon Frank.

Luke pressed the answer button and put it to his ear to listen. A woman's voice came from the other side of the phone, "Thank God, Ellie, you finally answered the phone.

If you don't answer the phone again, I will call the police, haha.

Are you feeling better?

I have asked for leave for you since you didn't come today. Don't worry about the old woman talking to you alone."

Luke didn't reply.

The other end of the phone said, "Ellie, can you hear me?"

"Sorry, I'm not Ellie Bergman."

The girl was surprised, "Who are you? Why do you have Ellie's phone?"

"I'm a policeman."

"Police? What happened? Why is Ellie's phone in your hand?"

"Ellie Bergman is dead."

"Oh my God, are you kidding?

Hurry up and give the phone to Ellie, stop this abominable prank, it's not funny at all."

"I'm serious, are you Ellie Bergman's friend?"

"Yes, we are classmates, and we have a very good relationship."

"Are you in school now?"

"Yes."

"Is Ellie sick?"

"Yesterday, We made an appointment to play together.

In the evening, we went to see her, and she said she was not feeling well. ”

“What time did you go to her house in the evening?”

“Around nine o'clock.”

“Besides you, were there others?”

“Marisa Hawking, she is also our classmate, but not in the same class.”

“Are you all in school now?”

“Yes.”

“I will go to your school later and ask some questions about Ellie Bergman. Do you need me to contact your guardian?”

“No, I will tell them.” Sharon Frank sighed and choked, “I still can't believe it... Is Ellie really dead?”

“I feel very sorry about this matter, too.” Luke said, and hung up the phone.

Xiao Hei asked, "Why don't you let them go to the police station to talk?"

Luke asked back, "Do you think her parents would be willing to let her go to the police station to assist in the investigation?

Besides, I went to school not just to talk to her."

The footprints Luke found by the windowsill were very suspicious. Through analysis, the owner of the footprints was a male between the ages of 15 and 18, and this person was likely to be a classmate or friend of Ellie Bergman, and the probability of studying at Malaboya Middle School was very high.

After the technical team arrived at the scene, Luke gave a few instructions, and then rushed to Malaboya Middle School with Xiao Hei.

Ten minutes later, Luke and Xiao Hei drove to Malaboya Middle School.

Raymond and Jenny also rushed over to meet them.

Luke was not unfamiliar with this school. He had investigated a campus homicide here before, and he had also made a lot of headlines.

Xiao Hei chatted with the guard for a few words, and the four of them walked into the campus smoothly.

Compared with the last time, the school's cameras and security personnel increased significantly this time. After entering the campus, Luke and the other four were checked again.

Luke didn't care. The school's security was in place, which could avoid some unnecessary trouble.

"Hi, Luke."

As soon as Luke walked downstairs of the teaching building, he heard a familiar voice.

A little fat boy with a blue schoolbag came towards him.

"Oh, isn't this my dear brother?" Luke looked at the little fat boy. He didn't know if it was a psychological effect, but he felt that his face was thinner.

"Hi, Detective Marcus, can you lend me your partner for a few minutes?"

"Of course, you guys talk." Xiao Hei responded with a smile and said to Luke, "We'll wait for you in front."

Luke nodded, "What's wrong with my dear brother?"

"Uh... the day you invited me to watch the game..." The little fat boy hesitated and hesitated.

"What's wrong?" Luke glanced at his watch, "If you're not in a hurry, let's talk about it in the evening. I still have work to do."

"I said, did you invite Maggie to watch the game together that night?"

Luke was a little surprised, "How did you know Maggie was at the game?"

"I just knew." The little fat boy didn't want to say that he saw it on TV.

"It's been a few days, you're still pretty calm." Luke smiled, "I was a little upset when you rejected me that day, so I didn't bother to invite anyone else and went alone.

Before the game started, I saw Maggie arguing with someone, so I went to help.

Then, she knew you weren't there, and there was an empty seat, so she sat down."

"Wait, who did Maggie have a conflict with? A man or a woman?"

"No big deal, she had an argument with her aunt, and after the game, she went home with her aunt."

"Aunt?

Why didn't I know she had an aunt?"

Luke Shrugging, "I didn't ask.

Maybe her aunt came to Los Angeles during the time you broke up."

The little fat man was a little disappointed, "Yeah, we haven't been in touch for a long time."

Luke said, "I invited you. If you were at the game that day, you two would be sitting together."

"Yes, you invited me, but you invited me to see the Lakers Girls."

Luke smiled, "The Lakers Girls that night were really good, I should go again.

Do you want to join us?"

The little fat man waved his hand, "I don't want to talk about this now, I'm not in the mood."

"OK, then you'd better study hard and fulfill my mother's dream of being admitted to the Ivy League as soon as possible."

"You'd better kill me." The little fat man snorted and asked, "What are you doing in our school?"

"You are such a good brother. Only now do you remember to care about me." Luke joked.

"Actually, I know even if you don't tell me. You must be here to investigate the case. Who died this time?

teacher?

student?

Could it be the principal?

Oh my gosh, this is big news. "

Luke snorted, "This is none of your business. You should think more about your own achievements."

Luke was about to leave when he was stopped by the little fat man again, "Hi, bro."

"What's up?"

"If, and I mean if, you invited Maggie to watch an NBA game, do you think she would go?"

"I'm so busy, why would I invite her to watch the game?"

"For example, if I go that night, maybe the two of us can have a good chat."

"I don't want to get involved in the feelings of you little brats. Please spare me, brother, please."

"This may be related to my happiness for the rest of my life. Are you going to stand by and watch? My dear brother."

"Are you sure it's the second half of your life, not the lower body?" Luke waved his hand and left.

The little fat man shouted, "You are the one who likes watching Laker girls, not me."

…

The four Lukes found Ellie Bergman's teacher, a white woman in her forties with shoulder-length short hair, wearing formal clothes and looking a little serious.

Luke explained his purpose.

The teacher raised his glasses and sighed, "I heard Sharon say it, and I didn't believe it at first.

Ellie is a good student, she is still so young...

God shouldn't have taken her away so early, it was so unfair. "

Luke suggested, "Sharon Frank and another student Marissa Hocking are Ellie's good friends. I want to talk to them."

"It's okay from my side, but it requires the consent of their guardian."

"OK."

Half an hour later, Luke met Sharon Frank and her father in a classroom.

Jenny and Raymond were in the next classroom talking to Marissa Hawking.

Sharon is also a white girl, tall and wearing a white sweater and light blue jeans. Her whole body is filled with a youthful atmosphere.

She seemed to have cried just now, and her eye circles were a little red.

Her father was a middle-aged man in a neat suit, with his hair combed meticulously. He looked down at his watch and whispered a few words to Sharon Frank.

Then, he looked at Luke and said, "Officer, can we start?"

Luke nodded, "Sir, are you Sharon Frank's father?"

"Yes, my name is Aled Frank."

"Thank you for taking the time to assist the police with their investigation."

Aled Frank nodded, “I’ve seen that girl, she often plays with my daughter.

They are very good friends.

What a pity.

I also want to do something for her. "

Luke looked at Sharon Frank again, "Did you meet Ellie Bergman last night?"

"Yes."

"What was her condition like at that time? Was there anything different from usual?"

Sharon Frank recalled for a moment and said, “We made an appointment to play together last night, so Marissa and I drove to find her.

Her mother wasn't home, she was alone.

Originally, we made an appointment to spend the night together at Marissa's house, but Ellie said she was not feeling well and would not go.

Marissa and I were a little disappointed, but we left without forcing ourselves. "

"What time did you leave?"

"We arrived around nine o'clock. We didn't stay long. We should have left in less than ten minutes."

"Where have you been?"

Sharon Frank's eyes averted and she paused for a moment, "Went to Marissa's house."

"What means of transportation did you take?"

"A blue Tesla sedan."

Luke recorded, "What were you doing at Marissa Hocking's house?"

"I didn't do anything. I took a shower, talked about school for a while, and then went to bed."

Luke felt that the other party seemed to be hiding something, and tentatively said, "Ellie is sick, and her mother is not at home either.

Why don't you stay at her house for the night and take care of her. "

Sharon Frank licked her lips, "We don't want to affect her rest."

Luke asked, "Or are there other reasons?"

Sharon Frank looked at her father and shook her head.

Luke also looked at Aled Frank aside, "Mr. Frank, please allow me to talk to your daughter alone."

"Why? Is there something I can't know?

I don't think it's necessary. "Aled Frank shrugged, showing no intention of leaving.

Luke asked, "Did you see anyone suspicious near Ellie's house that night?"

"No."

"Do you think Ellie is really uncomfortable, or is there something else?"

“I felt that she was in good condition at the time and it was not serious, so she left.

And, she felt something was different that night. "

"What's different?"

"I can't tell..."

"Does Ellie have a boyfriend?"

"As far as I know, there shouldn't be one. However, she has a good personality, is beautiful, and has many suitors."

"Can you tell me the names of those suitors?"

"Borko Cooper and Arne Columbus, these two should still be pursuing her recently."

Alide Frank asked suddenly, "Honey, do you have any suitors?"

Sharon Frank rolled her eyes, "I refuse to answer."

"How is the relationship between Ellie and her mother?"

Sharon Frank frowned slightly, "As far as I know, their relationship is not very good. Ellie hates her mother's new boyfriend and always feels that his eyes are weird.

But her mother doesn't believe it and is obsessed with the new boyfriend. Some time ago, the mother and daughter had a big fight over this matter."

"Did you know that Ellie called the police and was abused?"

"Yes, I think this matter is more complicated. Ellie's mother didn't She was beaten, but...

Sometimes her mother would be cold and violent, and Ellie hated this feeling.

She loves her mother, but she just doesn't know how to express it. "

Aled Frank on the side reminded, "Dear, calling the police is not the right way to express love.

Effective communication is."

"I know, Dad."

Luke handed Sharon Frank a business card, "If you think of any new clues, you can contact me at any time."

"OK." Sharon just took the business card and was taken away by Aled Frank next to her, "I'll keep it for you so you don't lose it."

Then, Aled Frank stood up, "Officer, can we leave?"

"Of course." Luke sent the two out of the classroom.

After a while, the teachers next to them also opened.

Jenny and Raymond also finished the questioning, and Marissa Hawking also left with her mother.

Luke and the other three gathered together to compare the interrogation records.

Luke felt that Sharon Frank was hiding something, so he asked, "Tell me about their whereabouts last night?"

Jenny said, "According to Marissa Hawking's description, they arrived at Ellie Bergman's house around nine o'clock last night. They had originally agreed to go to Sharon Frank's house together, but Ellie was not feeling well, so she didn't go.

After that, Marissa and Sharon drove to Sharon Frank's house to spend the night."

"Spend the night at Sharon Frank's house?" Xiao Hei raised his thick eyebrows, "But when we asked Sharon, she said she went to Marissa Hawking's house to spend the night.

What did the two of them do that night?"