Los Angeles Detective

The next morning, the office of the 1st Squadron of the Robbery and Murder Department.

Luke walked into the office area with a cup of coffee, sat sideways on a table, and greeted, "Guys, tell me about the investigation progress of the case."

Xiao Hei stuffed half of the donut into his mouth and said vaguely, "I discovered a new situation, which is very interesting."

Luke took a sip of coffee and said with a smile, "OK, let's ask Inspector Marcus to tell us."

The deputy team leader reminded, "Before you speak, you'd better swallow the crumbs. I don't want to be sprayed in the face."

Xiao Hei said dissatisfied, "Vice-captain, why are you always staring at me? Is it because I have been performing too well recently, which makes you feel in danger."

"Yeah, you're right, Deputy Marcus!" The deputy curled his lips, "You brat, keep dreaming."

"Bad old man, I heard it all." Xiao Hei made a face, took a big sip of coffee, and swallowed the food. "Yesterday, we talked to Sharon Frank and Marissa Hawking respectively. According to them, After leaving the deceased's house they went to each other's house, apparently lying about their whereabouts last night.

So, I looked into surveillance in the neighborhood where the deceased lived. "Xiao Hei walked to the projector and put up a surveillance screenshot. "According to the surveillance, at 8:54 the night before yesterday, a blue Tesla sedan entered the community. From the surveillance screenshot, we can see the person driving the car. It's Sharon Frank.

At about 9:13, the blue Tesla left the community of the deceased’s home.

Then..." Xiao Hei paused for a moment and asked with interest, "Guess where this car went? "

Jackson asked, "Is there a reward?"

Xiao Hei curled his lips, "We are investigating a case, what reward do you want?"

Jackson said seriously, "That's your problem. If you want to play a prize-winning guessing game, you must have a reward."

"Pretend I didn't say that." Xiao Hei waved his hand and continued, "I have been tracking this blue Tesla car through surveillance along the way. This car parked at Dolson's Bar around 9:40. .

The car didn't leave near the bar until twelve o'clock. "

Jackson said, "I have been to this bar. There is a huge screen in front of the bar, a giant dance floor, a 30-foot-high ceiling, and top-notch sound equipment. When the lights turn on and the music starts, you will be high.

Young people love it here, and some are even willing to queue for an hour or two. "

The deputy said, "If I remember correctly, Sharon Frank and Marissa Hawking are underage and they are not allowed to enter the bar."

"It's not a big problem," Jackson said. "Most of the people who issue fake IDs now are serving these students who are looking for excitement.

This also explains why they lie.

I think the reason they lie is not to deceive us, but their parents.

If their parents knew they were going to bars at their age, wow...that would be exciting. "

"Hey, I obviously discovered this clue. Why are you talking so long as if you found the clue?

Moreover, I have no reward for you. "Xiao Hei's tone was somewhat dissatisfied.

Jackson said, "I thought you had finished speaking."

"No, I only told half of it, and there are more important clues that I didn't tell.

Want to hear it? "

Jackson replied, "Of course."

Xiao Hei raised his black eyebrows and shook his body, "I won't tell you."

The deputy team leader was a little dumbfounded, "You are such a childish person, hurry up and say it."

Xiaohei also smiled and continued, "I have initially ruled out Sharon Frank and Marissa Hawking as suspects, and continue to check the community video surveillance.

At about 9:30 pm, I saw a dark gray Ford sedan driving into the community where the deceased lived. The car left the community at 9:57 pm.

I felt something fishy about this car and checked the license plate number.

The owner is Ian Columbus. Xiao Hei glanced at everyone, "Does this name sound familiar?" "

The deputy asked, "Stop tempting people, who is he?"

"The suitor of the deceased." Xiao Hei posted a photo, "This is a screenshot of a gray Ford car. It can be clearly photographed that the person driving the car is Ion Columbus."

Jackson took advantage of the situation and said, "So, the reason why the deceased did not go out with his friends that night was not because he was sick, but because he was waiting for Ion Columbus."

The deputy shook his head, "This doesn't make sense. If the deceased was waiting for Ion Columbus, then the two of them should be in love. Why did Ion Columbus kill the victim?"

Xiao Hei concluded, "Guys, don't make random guesses now. I have a better way. Call Ion Columbus to the police station for questioning. Don't you know?"

Luke said, "Marcus, since you are the one who found the clue, it is your responsibility to contact Yan Columbus. If a guardian is needed, ask his parents to come with him."

"clear."

Luke looked at everyone again, "Does anyone else have anything new to say?"

The deputy said, "I want to talk about my homeless friend yesterday. I had a serious talk with him.

He may be a bastard and an alcoholic, but he's probably not a murderer.

It will be 24 hours soon, I suggest letting him go. "

Luke nodded, "It's up to you."

Jenny said, "I have been in contact with the victim's mother and she will be able to return to Los Angeles today to assist with the investigation."

"After she arrives at the police station, take her to the forensic room to identify the body."

"clear."

"OK, does anyone have anything else to say?" After a pause and no one responded, Luke continued, "The meeting will end early, let's go and do our work."

…

An hour later, Luke met Ion Columbus in the conference room.

This is a very energetic young man, with thick brown hair, straight facial features, and a few pimples on his face. He can be regarded as a sunny and handsome boy.

Accompanying Yan Columbus was his mother, who looked about forty years old and wore half-rimmed glasses, but her hooked nose made her look a bit stern.

Luke looked at the other person and asked, "Are you Ion Columbus?"

"Yes, officer." Yann Columbus crossed his arms, looking a little nervous.

Yann Columbus's mother patted her son on the shoulder and asked, "Officer, what is your name?"

"My surname is Lee, Mrs. Columbus."

"Officer Li, I want to know why you invited my son here."

“Before that, I’d like to ask Yann Columbus a few questions.

If our judgment is wrong, you can go home without accepting questioning. "

Mrs. Columbus thought for a while and looked at her son again, "Ask."

Luke stared at Yann Columbus, "How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"Where to go to school?"

"Malaboa High School."

"That school is good. It's not far from our home. My neighbor's daughter goes to school there." After Luke finished speaking, he changed the subject, "Do you know Ellie Bergman?"

Yan Columbus pursed his lips and nodded, "Yes."

"What is your relationship?"

"I like her and have been pursuing her.

We were about to establish a relationship, who knew..." Yan Columbus's eyes were a little red and he rubbed his eyes.

Luke pressed, "Do you know about her murder?"

Yan Columbus's voice was choked up, "I still can't accept it now, I'm very sad..."

Luke looked at Mrs. Columbus, "Ma'am, that's why I asked Ian Columbus to come, he was very close to the victim.

We want to know something about the victim's life through him, which will help solve the case.

Are you satisfied with this reason?

If satisfied, I would like to continue asking some questions. "

Mrs. Columbus did not answer immediately, but looked at her son.

Yan Columbus nodded, "I am willing to cooperate, and I also hope that the murderer of Ellie can be caught as soon as possible."

Mrs. Columbus sighed softly and said to Luke, "Officer Li, you can continue to ask, but if the question is ambiguous, we will refuse to answer."

"Of course." Luke flipped through his notebook and began to ask formally, "Ian Columbus, when was the last time you saw Ellie Bergman?"

"The afternoon before yesterday, at school."

"Was there anything unusual about her at that time?"

"Nothing unusual, just saying that I feel a little uncomfortable."

"Do You have a Car?"

"Yes."

"What car?"

"A gray Ford sedan."

"Did you drive this car to Allie Bergman's house?"

Yan Columbus swallowed, and wrung his hands together, looking a little nervous.

"Son, you don't have to answer if you don't want to." Mrs. Columbus patted Ian Columbus on the shoulder and looked at Luke, "Captain Li, I think your question just now is very targeted. My son is He's here to help you solve the case, please don't interrogate him as a suspect."

Luke didn't speak and directly showed the community surveillance screenshot, "This is the surveillance picture from the night before yesterday. It clearly shows that Doan Columbus drove to the deceased's house at nine o'clock in the evening.

My question just now was just to find out, did he go to Ellie Bergman's house? What did you do again? "

Mrs. Columbus looked at Ian Columbus in surprise, "Son, didn't you say you were going to Martin's house?"

Yan Columbus sighed and looked at Mrs. Columbus, "Mom, can you go out for a moment? I want to talk to Officer Li alone."

"My dear, I must be by your side, you are still young..."

"Mom, I am seventeen years old and can make my own decisions.

I haven't done anything illegal, I just... want to talk to Officer Li alone, is that okay? "

Mrs. Columbus stared at her son. After a long time, she stood up and walked outside. She stopped when she reached the door and said, "I'm right outside. Call me if you need anything."

"I will."

After watching his mother leave, Yann Columbus took the initiative and said, "Yes, I went to Ellie's house that night."

"Did she take the initiative to invite you? Or are you going on your own?"

"This is a bit complicated."

"Speak slowly, we have plenty of time."

"Some time ago, Ellie and I talked about her mother. Their relationship has always been bad. Ellie complained to me a few times and said that her mother was going out recently.

So, we made an appointment to go for a ride together the night before.

Two days ago, she told me that her best friend invited her to spend the night at her house.

After I met her the afternoon before yesterday, she said she was sick and just wanted to rest at home and didn't want to go anywhere. Yan Columbus touched his nose and continued, "In the evening, after I finish eating, I will call her."

She said she felt a little uncomfortable, didn't eat at night, and lay in bed alone to rest.

I felt sorry for her, so I prepared to drive to see her and brought her favorite bread.

It was a little late, so I lied to my mom and said I was going to a friend's house. "

After Luke made a simple note, he asked, "What happened after you went to Ellie's house?"

"I drove to her house, the lights were off, and no one answered my phone.

I was a little worried that she was too sick to answer the phone.

I was worried that something would happen to her at home alone, and I didn't have the key to her house, so I climbed up the windowsill to the second floor.

However, there was no one on the bed in her bedroom. "Yan Columbus scratched his hair hard, "I was a little angry at the time, thinking she was lying to me. I guessed that she was not sick, but didn't want to go for a ride with me, and went to play with her bestie.

Now I know that she had an accident...

If, I mean if...

I called the police at the time, she might not have been killed.

I regret not believing her..."

Luke stared at the other person, very sincere, with no obvious signs of lying.

However, Luke did not completely trust him, and tentatively asked, "Can we search your car?"

If it was Yann Columbus who killed Ellie, then the body must have been transported by car.

"Of course, the car is parked downstairs."

Luke stared at the other person, without any signs of guilt.

"At that time, did you see any suspicious people or cars around?"

Yann Columbus recalled carefully and shook his head, "No. "

Suppose that what Yann Columbus said was true, he did not kill Ellie, and Ellie had met with an accident before he came.

And Ellie's two best friends also claimed that Ellie was lying in bed when they left.

Then, Ellie was likely to have met with an accident after her best friends left and before Yann Columbus arrived.

Ellie's two best friends, Sharon Frank and Marissa Hocking, left the community of the deceased's home at 9:13.

Yann Columbus entered the community of the deceased's home at 9:30.

That is to say, if the murderer is someone else, the time of the crime should be between 9:13 and 9:30.

Based on Luke's experience, this time is too "rushed" .

It's not that seventeen minutes is not enough to commit the crime.

It's that the timing is too accurate. If the murderer commits the crime earlier, he may meet the two besties, and if he commits the crime later, he may meet Yann Columbus.

It's possible that the crime is committed at this time, but the probability is too low.

It's more likely that someone is lying.

Judging from Yann Columbus's frank attitude, it's unlikely that he is lying.

Then, the liars are likely to be Sharon Frank and Marissa Hocking. Perhaps, these two people lied before not only because they went to the bar, but also concealed other clues.

These two besties seem to have many flaws, but they are more likely to be avoiding the important issues.

Thanks to the book friend 'Jiang Yixian' for the reward and encouragement.

I will continue to work hard!