Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Luke pondered for a moment, "Marcus, you handle the interrogation of Volod Russell."

Marcus nodded, "No problem.

Before that, I'd like to hear your thoughts."

"I suggest we give him a mental evaluation first."

Marcus looked a bit odd, "Do you think he's mentally ill?"

Luke shrugged, "I'm not sure either, I just don't want you to waste your efforts."

"Is it still possible for me to switch tasks now?" Marcus sighed, spreading his hands, "Marcus is now the Detective Chief, let him get some practice and take over the interrogation work of Volod Russell."

Jack shook his head like a wave breaking, "No no no, I hate white folks with mental issues the most, they usually harbor big hostility towards people of color."

Marcus glared at him, "Kid, watch your mouth, or I'll accuse you of discrimination."

Jack rolled his eyes, looking completely indifferent.

Back at the police station, Luke assigned everyone to investigate the missing persons around Mogaro Forest Park, and then went to the Chief's office to catch up on sleep.

The bodies were burned, and the items that could prove their identity were destroyed too. There were too few known clues; instead of waiting around, it's better to rejuvenate.

In the afternoon, Forensic Doctor Hila pushed open the door of Team One's office.

Hila looked a bit tired, holding a thick stack of materials, "Hey, folks, any progress in the investigation?"

Jack shook his head, "All we can do now is check the surveillance around Mogaro Forest Park and the missing persons, but with the current evidence, it's hard to confirm the identity of the deceased."

"Looks like I came at just the right time, I brought part of the autopsy report." Hila placed a report on the table.

Luke heard the commotion and came out of the Chief's office, "The autopsy is completed?"

Hila shook her head, sighing, "One charred body is already a huge project, let alone three.

I know you're waiting for the autopsy report, so I brought over some first."

"Thanks, this is exactly what we need." Luke picked up the autopsy report, reading while asking, "Have you identified the three bodies?"

"The DNA results haven't come out yet, I can only give you some forensic data and characteristics, hope it helps." Hila took the autopsy report from Luke, flipped a few pages, placed one on the projector, and said,

"Three charred bodies were found in Mogaro Forest Park, numbered as Victim 1, Victim 2, and Victim 3 in order of death time.

Victim 1 died the earliest, likely between 4 to 6 days before the fire.

The body is a female, about 170 cm tall, around 35 years old, with a previously fractured right arm.

Victim 2 is male, likely killed shortly before the fire.

He is about 180 cm tall, aged between 40 to 45.

Victim 3 is male, likely died from smoke inhalation after the fire.

He is about 175 cm tall, aged around 50, and he had some personal items taken by the tech team for identification." Hila finished and looked at everyone, "Hope these autopsy data are useful."

"Of course, with this data, we can find a match in the missing persons." Luke escorted Hila out of the office.

Soon, Jenny found a missing person in the database matching Victim 1.

Name: Haida Cartman

Gender: Female

Date of Birth: September 11, 1988

Characteristics: White female, brown hair, blue eyes

Height: 169 cm

Missing Date: August 24, 2023

Reported Missing: August 25, 2023

Reporter: Henrik Cartman

Reporter's Phone: 310 876 2468

Address: 202 Marco Community

Jenny said, "Chief, the missing person Haida Cartman's information matches Victim 1 in terms of missing time, gender, age, and height, very likely who we're looking for."

Luke nodded, "Contact the reporter."

"Yes, sir." Jenny responded, picked up the phone, and went aside to make a call.

Jack laughed, "We were like headless chickens before, now we finally have a lead."

Jackson didn't agree with Jack, "Every effort is valuable, it just takes time to pay off."

"Shut up, I don't want a rookie's pep talk." Jack rolled his eyes, his stomach rumbling.

Luke tilted his head, "Since we have time now, go get something to eat."

Jack frowned slightly, seemingly recalling something unpleasant, "No, I'm on a diet today."

Jackson laughed, "Just a friendly reminder, you could get a salad, pasta, or pizza, might be more appetizing."

Jack seriously thought about it, "No, today I don't even want coffee." He looked toward Luke, "Luke, could you get me some tea? The green kind."

Jackson laughed, "Come on, are you telling me you don't even dare to drink coffee now?"

"It's not that I don't dare, I'm just not interested in any charred objects." Jack shook his head, "Don't think I don't know, you haven't eaten today either, rookie."

"If you want tea, follow me." Luke couldn't be bothered with the two, as he also didn't have much of an appetite today, having eaten only a packet of instant noodles since last night.

"Bang!"

Forty minutes later, a man hurriedly rushed into the Squad One office.

Little Black put down his teacup, displeased, "Buddy, can't you knock?"

"Sorry, it's an emergency." The man wiped the sweat off his forehead and continued, "My name is Henrik Cartman, and my wife is missing."

Jenny stood up, "Your wife is Haida Cartman?"

"Yes, your voice sounds familiar. Were you the one who called me earlier?"

"That's right, please come with me, Mr. Henrik Cartman."

Jenny led Henrik Cartman to the lounge and poured him a cup of coffee.

Henrik Cartman took the coffee with both hands, a bit nervous, "Did you find my wife?"

"Uh..." Jenny was a bit embarrassed.

"Creak..." At this moment, the lounge door opened, and Luke and Jackson walked in.

Jenny pointed at Luke and introduced, "Mr. Cartman, this is Captain Lee, the person in charge of the case."

Henrik Cartman stood up and shook hands with Luke, "Captain Lee, are you currently investigating my wife's disappearance?"

Luke gestured for him to sit, "Let's talk sitting down."

"Thank you." Henrik Cartman looked at Luke, growing increasingly uneasy, "How is my wife now?"

Luke pondered for a moment, "Last night, there was a fire at Mogaro Forest Park, did you know?"

"Yes, my house is nearby, you can see the flames from the window, and the yard was covered with ash, what does this have to do with my wife?"

"We found three corpses at the fire scene, including a female corpse, approximately 35 years old, about 170cm tall, with a time of death close to your wife's disappearance..."

Henrik Cartman waved his hands, agitated, "Oh God! Are you saying my wife is dead!"

"No one can confirm that point until the DNA test results are out.

We called you here today just to rule out that possibility."

"Can I see the body? I must be able to tell if she is my wife." Henrik Cartman said definitively.

Luke hesitated a bit, "In fact, I don't think it's a good idea."

Henrik Cartman's eyes filled with tears, "Please, let me take a look, I must be able to recognize her, I know everything about my wife, I love her."

"OK." Luke nodded, giving Jackson a look.

Soon, Jackson came over holding a tablet, "Mr. Cartman, the body was severely burned, I hope you're prepared for that."

"Let me see."

Seeing his insistence, Jackson didn't waste more words, he clicked on the tablet and brought up the photo of Corpse No.1.

Henrik Cartman looked at the charred body, stunned, then averted his gaze, "Are you sure this is my wife?"

"Not sure, that's why we called you here." Luke pointed at the tablet's photo, "Is she your wife?"

"Sorry, I...

didn't expect it to be so severely burned...

She probably isn't my wife, I think you're mistaken.

My wife is probably not dead." Henrik Cartman seemed to rekindle a glimmer of hope.

"You're right, we now just want to rule out the possibility that the charred body is your wife." Luke shifted gears and asked, "Has your wife ever been injured before?"

"What kind of injury? Does a scar count?"

"Unless it's a deep scar or involves the bone, it's hard to identify now."

Henrik Cartman thought carefully, "I remember once she got injured skiing, yes, she broke her right arm once."

Luke recalled the autopsy report, according to the forensic doctor, Corpse No.1's right arm had a previous fracture, consistent with Henrik Cartman's account.

Based on the existing evidence, Corpse No.1 is likely Henrik Cartman's missing wife.

Luke asked, "Cartman, when exactly did your wife go missing?"

"The evening of August 24th at seven o'clock."

"Do you know what she went to do?"

"She went running."

"Does she have a habit of running at night?"

"Yes."

Luke noted this down in his notebook and asked, "Where did she go running?"

Henrik Cartman sighed, "I'm not sure either, she usually comes home by eight, but that day she didn't return.

So, I reported it first thing the next morning."

"Was there anything unusual before your wife disappeared?"

Henrik Cartman thought for a moment, then shook his head, "No, I didn't notice anything unusual."

Luke stared at him, vaguely sensing signs of lying on his face.