Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Lilith smiled and pointed at Luke, "Cheryl, let me formally introduce you.

This is Captain Li from the Robbery and Murder Department. He solved the recent city government terrorist attack and the case at Kerman Pharmaceutical Company."

If it were other cases, Cheryl Garnasi might not know or pay attention, but these two cases have spread widely in affluent circles, especially the Kerman Pharmaceutical Company's incident, which remains a hot topic.

"Captain Li, pleased to meet you. You're younger and more handsome than I imagined." Cheryl Garnasi extended her right hand to shake Luke's and quietly asked Lilith, "Did you invite Captain Li to investigate the stolen auction item?"

"Yes, I've asked him to help locate the Star of the Sea necklace first."

"Wow, having the captain of the Robbery and Murder Department help find my necklace is truly an honor. I feel hopeful."

Lilith corrected, "He's not helping you, he's helping me." Lilith glanced at Luke, "Getting him involved is no easy task."

"OK, then what are we waiting for? Let's start looking for the necklace.

I'm also curious about how this famous Los Angeles detective conducts an investigation." Cheryl Garnasi stood up, leading Luke and Lilith to her villa.

The tallest building in the entire private club was only four stories. Cheryl Garnasi lived in a two-story villa just a few hundred meters from the club's main hall.

The villa had a private pool and a comfortable, peaceful environment with great privacy, a perfect place for a vacation.

Luke observed the villa's surroundings. There weren't any surveillance cameras at the entrance or around it. Reflecting on what he'd seen along the way, he noticed cameras only in the parking lot and the main hall, "Is there no surveillance in this villa?"

"No, our members prioritize privacy, so cameras are only in public areas." This was the main reason Lilith had invited Luke. Although the police had been called and started their investigation, the lack of surveillance meant they had insufficient leads, and the investigation hadn't progressed.

Cheryl Garnasi opened the villa door and led them inside, "The villa I live in isn't very big. The first floor has a living room, game room, kitchen, bathroom, and shower. The second floor has two rooms, and I stay in the east-side room.

The necklace was also lost in the east-side room."

Luke checked the door lock, finding no signs of tampering or damage. He also inspected the first-floor windows, all of which were closed, and the alarm system showed no signs of intrusion.

Then, Luke went upstairs to check the second floor's west-side room and window.

Cheryl Garnasi said, "No one lives in this room; it's always kept locked.

There's a fresh air system, so the windows are also always locked."

Luke nodded and proceeded to Cheryl Garnasi's east-side room, "May I search here?"

"Of course, but the cleaning staff hasn't been today, so it might be a bit messy."

Luke checked a wardrobe near the door and noticed some men's clothing, "How many people live in the villa?"

"Only my boyfriend and I. He had to handle some work at the company today and will be back this evening."

"Does he know about the necklace theft?"

"Yes, I informed him, and he said he would return as soon as possible."

Luke inspected the room's doors and windows, which were also intact, and asked, "Has the villa's alarm been triggered?"

"No."

"Can you describe the last time you wore or placed the necklace?"

"It was the night before last. I wore the Star of the Sea to a gala, and many people saw it. Oh, Lilith was there that evening too."

"Indeed, that necklace was stunning."

"Many people said so, which is why I was worried it might be stolen." Cheryl Garnasi sighed and continued, "After my boyfriend and I returned from the gala, I felt a bit tired and wanted a hot bath.

I took off the necklace and handed it to my boyfriend, asking him to put it in the safe.

I haven't seen that necklace since."

Luke confirmed, "So, you didn't personally place the necklace in the safe; you handed it to your boyfriend?"

"Yes, I asked my boyfriend, and he indeed placed the necklace in the safe."

"Could I see the safe?" Read full story at NoveI-Fire.ɴet

"Of course."

"Was anything else missing from the safe?"

"No."

"Mind if I have a look at your safe?"

"Follow me." Cheryl Garnasi walked to the closet, entered the password, and opened the safe.

Luke didn't immediately inspect the safe, asking first, "Have you changed the safe's password?"

"Yes, I changed it, and only my boyfriend and I know it."

Luke nodded, crouched down to examine the safe but found no obvious signs of tampering. Inside the safe were other items, cash, a Patek Philippe watch, and some other jewelry.

Cheryl Garnasi pointed to a square box, "This gift box is for the Star of the Sea necklace. When I opened it, it was empty."

Luke put on gloves, opened the box to examine it, and found nothing suspicious.

"Since the night before last, you haven't checked that necklace again?"

Cheryl Garnasi nodded, "I have many pieces of jewelry. Even if I really like one, I wouldn't wear it twice in a short period."

Luke stood up, "When can your boyfriend return? I'd like to speak with him."

"He should come back after finishing work. It won't be long." Cheryl Garnasi finished speaking and asked back, "You're not...suspecting my boyfriend, are you?"

Luke didn't answer, but from the situation at the scene, Cheryl Garnasi's boyfriend was indeed quite suspicious and capable of committing the crime.

Cheryl Garnasi shook her head, "It shouldn't have anything to do with my boyfriend, because that necklace was a gift from him to me.

If he wanted it back, he could just ask me directly.

I would return it to him; there was absolutely no need to steal it."

Luke said, "The doors and windows of the villa are intact. It doesn't look like there's been an intrusion. Did anyone else enter the room?"

Cheryl Garnasi shook her head, "No.

It's just me and my boyfriend. We live here because it's quieter."

Luke looked at Lilith, "Is there anyone else who can enter this villa?"

Lilith thought for a moment, "The cleaning staff has key cards and can also enter the rooms."

Cheryl Garnasi seemed to remember something, "That's right, someone came to clean the room yesterday. She should be the only one who came into the house."

"Were you in the villa at the time?"

"I was there when she came, but I couldn't keep an eye on her the whole time. Afterward, my boyfriend and I went to the beach. By the time we returned, she had already left."

Luke looked at Lilith, "Can we find out who the cleaner responsible for this house is?"

Lilith took out a tablet, tapped a few times with her long fingers, "Got it." She turned the tablet towards Cheryl Garnasi, "Is it her?"

Cheryl Garnasi looked closely, "Yes, that's her."

Luke took the tablet, "I want to talk to her."

"OK." Lilith stepped aside and made a phone call.

Ten minutes later, a black woman in her thirties stood at the doorway, pressing the doorbell.

Luke invited her into the living room for a chat.

The black woman was ordinary-looking but had a good figure, curvy. She appeared a bit uneasy, looking at Lilith and asking, "Good morning, Miss Finn.

Is there anything you need?"

Lilith asked, "Were you responsible for cleaning this villa yesterday?"

"Yes, was there something unsatisfactory with the service?"

Lilith didn't answer directly, pointing at Luke, "This gentleman is my friend and wishes to speak with you."

The black woman turned to Luke, "Sir, what can I do for you?"

"Hello, I'm Luke."

"Mary."

Luke pointed to Cheryl Garnasi nearby, "Mary, do you know this lady?"

"Yes, this lady is the guest staying in this villa. I saw her yesterday."

Luke said, "This lady has a sapphire necklace that she can't remember where she put. Do you have any impression of it?"

Mary hesitated for a moment, "What kind of necklace?"

Cheryl Garnasi took out her phone, "It's this necklace."

Mary glanced at the phone, quickly looked away, and said softly, "No, I've never seen it."

Luke hadn't seen Mary's expression, but her reaction was somewhat suspicious. He took the phone from Cheryl Garnasi, raised it up, "Mary, take a closer look. Have you seen this necklace before?"

Mary hesitated for a moment but eventually looked up at the phone. This time her answer was much more certain, "I haven't seen it."

This time, Mary was less flustered than before, but Luke could still see the traces of lying on her face.

Clearly, she had seen this necklace before, but Luke couldn't prove it.

Luke shrugged, "OK, maybe it's just lost in a corner somewhere. Let's keep looking."

Mary looked at Lilith, "Miss Finn, is there anything else?"

Lilith glanced at Luke, seeing that he didn't react, "No, you can go now."

"Okay." Mary nodded and left the villa.

As Mary left, Cheryl Garnasi impatiently asked, "Captain Lee, does the theft of the necklace have anything to do with her?"

Luke shook his head slightly, "Miss Cheryl Garnasi, your boyfriend was the last person to have contact with the necklace. I'd like to speak with him first."

Cheryl Garnasi sighed, "OK, I'll call him and ask him to come back as soon as possible."

Luke stood up and said to Lilith, "I'd like to check the club's surveillance."

"Alright, I'll take you there." Lilith comforted Cheryl Garnasi a bit more, then led Luke out of the villa, asking, "Do you think the loss of the necklace is related to Cheryl Garnasi's boyfriend?"

Luke's gaze scanned the surroundings, "At first, that was my suspicion... but now it seems the cleaner is more of a suspect.

She lied."

"Then why did you just..." Lilith, realizing midway, looked back at the villa and understood, stood on her toes, and kissed Luke's cheek,

"Thank you, my knight."