Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Luke asked, "How's your relationship with your wife?"

"We've been married for five years, and we've always been in love." Henrik Cartman's expression seemed a bit unnatural.

"Has she been in contact with any suspicious people recently?"

Henrik Cartman remained silent for a moment, licked his lips, and said quietly, "I don't know. She's a career woman with her own circle."

Luke rubbed his index finger against his thumb; in his experience, it seemed Henrik Cartman was hiding something.

Or perhaps their relationship wasn't as good as he claimed.

"What does your wife do for a living?"

"She's a primary school teacher."

"Has she had any problems at work recently?"

"Not that I know of."

Luke probed, "Do you and your wife communicate a lot?"

"We talk about work or life during meals."

"Do you think your wife might have committed suicide?"

"No, I don't think so. She's an independent woman, a very strong person.

There's no reason for her to sneak off to the park to commit suicide."

Luke pressed on, "Do you have any suspects for who might have killed your wife?"

Henrik Cartman thought for a moment, sighed, "I don't know, I can't think of anyone who would do something so cruel.

My wife was a good person, friendly to neighbors, donating to charities every year, she was a good person."

Luke focused on him, habitually twirling the pen in his hand.

"Knock knock..."

Just then, there was a knock on the door outside.

"Come in."

"Creak..."

The door opened, the deputy stood at the door.

"Captain, could you step out for a moment?"

Luke stood up and left the break room, closing the door, "What's up, Deputy?"

"Phew..." The deputy sighed lightly, "Just wanted to tell you, the interrogation of the man claiming to be the arson suspect, Volod Russell, is over.

I contacted the mental evaluation institute..." The deputy pointed at his head, "That guy has a problem up there.

He has a serious pyromania; he gets excited just seeing flames.

The bigger the flames, the higher his excitement.

Experts speculate that upon seeing the forest park fire, he got extremely excited, fantasizing he started it, giving him a strong sense of achievement."

Luke pondered briefly, then asked, "So, he isn't lying intentionally, he's been deceived by his own fantasies."

The deputy nodded, "That's right.

So, there's no issue of covering up; he probably doesn't know the real arsonist at all and is just a fool lost in his own fantasies."

"I see." Luke thought, perhaps that's why he couldn't detect Volod Russell's lies, as the other didn't think he was lying.

What a freak.

The deputy pointed to the break room, "Is the investigation progressing smoothly?"

"It's okay."

"Hope the news helps you." The deputy left after saying this.

"Certainly, the news came just in time." Luke opened the door and returned to the break room.

He sat down across from Henrik Cartman, face a bit solemn, "Mr. Cartman, my colleague just discovered some interesting clues."

"What clues, related to my wife's death?"

"Yes." Luke touched his nose, "We checked your wife's call records and found she contacted a lawyer on the day she was killed, a divorce lawyer."

"Oh, God..." Henrik Cartman grabbed his hair forcefully, mouth open, hesitating, "I..."

Seeing Henrik Cartman's silence, Luke continued, "Perhaps your relationship wasn't as good as you thought...

Did she mention divorce to you?"

Henrik Cartman replied firmly, "No, never."

"Then why did she contact a divorce lawyer?" Luke teased, "You don't mean to tell me she just wanted someone to have afternoon tea with, do you?"

"Uh..." Henrik Cartman was silent for a long time, then said, "Look, there were indeed some problems between us, but I thought they were solvable, not reaching the point of divorce yet."

Luke shrugged, "Clearly, your wife didn't think so."

"I'm not sure what she was thinking, but I've never thought of divorce."

Luke probed, "Between the two of you, who earns more?"

"What do you mean?" Henrik Cartman stood up suddenly, dissatisfied, "I was the first to report her missing; do you suspect me?"

Jackson added, "In fact, your wife went missing on the night of August 24th, and you only reported it the next morning.

If it were me, I would've reported it that night."

"God! You think I'm the murderer?" Henrik Cartman showed anger, clenching his fists, "Do I need to get a lawyer now? Yes, I think it's better for the lawyer to talk to you."

Luke lowered his hand, "Mr. Cartman, please don't get upset. We're just following procedures to take a statement.

As long as you tell us the truth, there will be no problems.

For instance, what problems have you had as a couple?"

Henrik Cartman pinched his forehead, "My... wife has indeed been acting strangely recently, always secretive, as if she's hiding something from me.

One night, I heard her secretly making a phone call in the yard, something she had never done before, we never hid anything from each other.

Since then, I've become suspicious of her...

I followed her once and saw her meeting with a man, they were very intimate...

I know she's been unfaithful."

Luke pressed, "Do you know the man?"

Henrik Cartman shook his head, "The man was wearing a hat, and the distance was a bit far, I couldn't see clearly."

Jackson frowned, "Since you suspect infidelity, didn't you confront her at that time?"

"Before I was thirty, I might have done that.

But now I am thirty-five, past the impulsive age.

I knew that even if I confronted her, it wouldn't help." Henrik Cartman showed a helpless expression, "I love Haida, I want to know how far they've gone, if there's any chance to salvage things.

So, I planned to keep following her, then decide whether to salvage this relationship.

But unfortunately, I don't have a talent for tracking, and Haida found out, she reacted very angrily.

Almost hysterically.

We had a big fight, this time I didn't hold back.

I loudly asked about the man's identity, and her relationship with him, she wouldn't say...

Instead, she blamed me, saying I shouldn't have secretly tracked her, and that my behavior was terrifying."

Henrik Cartman rubbed his face, "I couldn't control myself, and I hit her.

Later... both of us calmed down.

She agreed not to call the police, but wanted me to give her some time, that she'd explain things to me." Henrik Cartman shrugged, "However, before I could get her so-called explanation, she disappeared.

Because we were fighting at the time, I'm not sure if she's intentionally avoiding me.

That's why I didn't immediately report her missing.

That's how it is."

Luke asked, "Why did you hide this?"

Henrik Cartman showed a bitter smile, "I've seen many movies and TV shows, I know that once I tell you guys truthfully.

You're sure to make me the main suspect.

I don't want to be treated like that."

Jackson said, "By doing this, you're letting the police miss out on valuable information, even possibly letting the real murderer of your wife go free."

Henrik Cartman glared at Jackson, "If she cared about me, she wouldn't be sneaking around with another man.

If she doesn't care about me, why should I care about her.

In this matter, I'm the true victim, have you ever thought about my feelings?"

Luke asked, "Where were you when the fire occurred last night?"

"I was at home."

"Can anyone prove that?"

"I'm living alone now." Henrik Cartman laughed coldly, looking at Luke and Jackson, "I knew it, you're still suspecting me."

Luke denied, "No, I'm not suspecting you, but I need to prove your innocence.

And this needs your cooperation.

Look at me.

I'll ask once more.

Do you have any suspects for your wife's death?"

"Yes, it's the man involved with my wife." Henrik Cartman's expression was complex, he said slowly, "Although my wife hid from me... but based on my understanding of her, she probably wouldn't divorce me.

And I can't accept her continuing with another man.

So, she's likely to break up with that man.

That man might have become angry and killed her.

I think you should check out that man."

"Do you know that man's identity?"

"I don't know, ever since Haida discovered I was following her, she became very cautious."

"How much do you know about that man?"

"Milko.

I heard Haida call him that on the phone."

"Anything else?"

"He's of average height, quite thin, that's all I know."

Luke noted in his notepad, "Mr. Cartman, we will find out who killed your wife as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, we might need more information about your wife, so it's best you don't leave Los Angeles for now."

Henrik Cartman stood up, glanced at Luke and Jackson, then left the lounge without expression.

Luke instructed Jackson beside him, "Investigate Haida Cartman's communication records, find this guy named Milko."

Jackson paused, as if realizing something, "So there's no divorce lawyer? You were bluffing him just now."

Luke shrugged, "Who knows, maybe the communication record contains a lawyer, or maybe you didn't check thoroughly.

Be more diligent this time."