Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

The deep night in New York was gloomy, as dark as ink.

However, the FBI's New York office was brightly lit.

The interrogation room door opened, and Filippo Carter was escorted in, looking dejected, shoulders slumped, as if all his spirit had been drained.

Luke walked into the interrogation room carrying two sandwiches and coffee, and Amir also held a burger and coffee in his hand.

Luke sat down at the interrogation table and said helplessly to Filippo Carter, "Do you want a sandwich? We have tuna and beef."

"No, thanks." Filippo Carter pressed his lips together but declined.

Luke quickly finished the two sandwiches and took a few sips of coffee, while Amir also finished, and the two officially started the interrogation.

Luke opened the file, "What's your name?"

"Filippo Carter."

"Do you know why we brought you here?"

"Is it because of Grace Bloomberg's murder?"

"That's right, someone identified you as having been at the crime scene."

"Who identified me?"

"That's not important.

I want to hear you say it yourself, were you at the scene when Grace Bloomberg was killed?"

"I was indeed near the scene, but Grace's death has nothing to do with me.

I swear to God."

Luke yawned; he hadn't slept well last night and had been busy all day today, so he was a bit tired, "I've seen too many suspects swear to God, but that doesn't stop them from committing crimes.

So, I want to know everything that happened that night, don't hide anything, so I can help you."

Filippo Carter's eyes reddened, "Would you really believe my words?"

"If you have a reasonable reason to be there, we have no reason not to believe you."

Filippo Carter held his mouth with his right hand and pinched his nose, appearing a bit uneasy, "I'm an employee at the Venus Club, and Grace is a VIP client there and someone I serve.

On the night of October 3rd, I received a call from my boss..."

Amir interrupted him, "Who is your boss?"

"Mia Calioka."

"Go on."

"Mia Calioka told me that Grace had a fight with her husband, she was in a bad mood, and I should go there to calm her down.

I arrived at our meeting place, under Most Mountain.

Grace drove her red Porsche convertible there too, and then I got in her car and we went halfway up the mountain.

I asked her what happened and why she was unhappy.

She said she had a big fight with her husband but wouldn't disclose the details, I knew these bigshots had secrets, knowing too much wouldn't do me any good, so I didn't ask further.

Just said some comforting words to cheer her up.

Then, she kissed me.

It just naturally happened between us...

Afterward, she calmed down, said she was worried about being seen by others, and told me to leave on my own." Filippo Carter shrugged with helplessness, "We were halfway up the mountain, and I didn't have a car, at that moment I really felt helpless, but I had no choice, I put on my pants and started walking down the road.

At the time, I felt very embarrassed, like a tool, used and then tossed in the trash.

I walked down the road for a long way, but there were no cars, and even if there were, strangers wouldn't give me a lift at night, and there was still a long way to go down the mountain.

So, I decided to go back, to take Grace's car down the mountain.

Then I saw the horrifying scene." Filippo Carter ran his hand through his hair, continuing to recall,

"When I returned the way I came, I found the red Porsche convertible still there, at first I was quite happy, thinking about how to convince Grace to give me a ride down.

However, as I got closer, I realized something wasn't right.

I saw a stranger beside the red Porsche convertible, that person was dressed all in black, wearing a mask, and stained with red blood, glaring under the car lights.

I was startled, my legs went weak, I couldn't run, so I just lay on the ground.

Luckily, I was in a dark place, and the person didn't see me.

Then, I saw that person in black pick up a travel bag from the ground and walk up the mountain's direction.

I crawled into the bushes by the roadside, still not daring to approach.

After a while, a car drove down the mountain road.

I suspected it might be the killer's car, but I didn't dare look, afraid they might spot me until it passed, only then did I see it was a black sedan.

The car sped away, disappearing around a bend.

After calming down for a long time, I went to check next to the Porsche convertible.

I was almost scared to death.

Grace was lying on the ground, covered in blood, both her arms were chopped off, her appearance was grotesque and terrifying, it was just horrific.

I still can't forget that scene.

This is also why I had to stay over at another client's house, on one hand, I had nowhere else to hide, and on the other, I was afraid to sleep alone.

Every time I close my eyes, I think of that horrifying scene.

I shouldn't have gone that night..."

Luke asked, "Since you found Grace Bloomberg's body, why didn't you call the police?"

"I was terrified at the time, completely panicked.

The first person I thought of was Mia Calioka, and I called her to tell her.

She told me not to call the police, saying Grace was a big shot and her death would affect the club's business.

Moreover, if the police couldn't catch the killer, it was possible they would pin it on me.

She told me to leave the crime scene immediately, hide somewhere else, and said they would still pay my salary, and I could come back to work at the club after some time."

Luke confirmed, "Was it really Mia Calioka who stopped you from calling the police?"

"I swear, I'm telling the truth."

Luke's face was serious, "But it was ultimately your decision to make.

If you had called the police, things would be simpler, not like they are now."

"I'm sorry, I was scared out of my wits at that time.

I was also worried the police wouldn't believe me."

Amir questioned, "If you didn't do anything, why would you be afraid?"

"I had an affair with Grace, and I knew her husband was the Mayor of New York.

If he found out about this.

I...

He definitely wouldn't let me off."

Amir sneered, "Not many of those rich folks are clean; a lot of them are just couples in name, playing their own games.

I think Grace Bloomberg's husband probably already knew."

"I understand what you mean, and Grace also said her husband had women outside and didn't really care about her.

But knowing in your heart is one thing.

Being exposed in public is another.

If what happened between Grace and me got out, the Mayor of New York would become a laughing stock, and the whole world would use this as party gossip.

Do you think he'd let me go?

I'm done for."

"We found a bloody footprint at the scene. Was it yours?"

"Yes, I was so panicked at the time, I accidentally stepped in the blood."

"The forensic doctor found genetic material inside the deceased Grace. Was it yours?"

"Yes, we usually used condoms, but that night Grace was in a bad mood, quite wild."

Luke pressed on, "Why were Grace and her husband arguing?"

Filippo Carter shook his head, "I really don't know."

Luke rubbed his chin, "Filippo, the current situation isn't looking good for you.

We need your cooperation to provide some valuable leads so we can catch the suspect as soon as possible."

Filippo Carter swallowed hard, "What if they don't catch the suspect, what will happen to me?"

Luke said, "Don't think too much about it now, as long as we catch the killer, it will naturally prove your innocence."

Filippo Carter's eyes were bloodshot, and his hands were shaking, "I can't help but think too much, I'm... I'm truly innocent."

"Listen, I believe you.

I know you're not the killer.

But we need a direction for the investigation now, so we can find the real killer." Luke reassured him, "Buddy, you should trust me too.

Think back carefully to the details of that night, especially the clues about the killer, physical features, mask, weapon, etc."

Filippo Carter nodded quickly, "Thank you, I will think carefully." He took a deep breath and recalled, "It was very dark that night, and the only light was from the car headlights.

The person was wearing black clothes, the specific style was unclear. Judging by the physique, it looked like a man, the mask was also black, and there were red symbols on the mask."

Amir interrupted him, "What kind of symbols?"

"A circular symbol, not just a simple circle, I don't know how to describe it?"

Amir rummaged through the stack of files and found a photo, "Is this the symbol?"

Filippo Carter nodded, "It looks like it."

Amir whispered to Luke, "Back when Blood Hand Mac was committing crimes, he wore this style of mask."

Luke nodded, "Do you remember any other features of the killer? Like hairstyle, color."

Filippo Carter shook his head, "Too far, and the light was poor, this is all I could see."

"What time did you see the killer?"

"Around ten at night."

"Carefully recall the black car the suspected killer was driving."

Filippo Carter pinched the bridge of his nose, "The car was black, I couldn't see the specific logo, but the car didn't have a license plate, or it was covered, at least I didn't see one."

Luke noted down the traits of the car, asking further, "Can you tell what car it was?"

"Sorry, I can't tell."

Amir took out a tablet and tapped a few times, "The FBI database has all car models and types, you can look through these cars and see which model looks similar."

Filippo Carter took the tablet and reviewed it carefully, after a long time, he pointed to a black Lexus sedan, "This model looks very similar."

Based on Filippo Carter's description, Luke quickly locked the tracking target: the suspect was likely male, driving a black Lexus sedan without or with a covered license plate, traveling down from the mid-mountain of Most Hill around 10 PM.