Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

"The red symbol on the book cover is exactly the same as the Blood Stain Symbol the murderer left at the crime scenes.

Previously, I investigated the Blood Stain Symbol, but had never found a similar pattern.

Blood Hand Mac and the murderer of the two recent homicides left this symbol at the scenes, it must have special significance.

Perhaps if we unravel this symbol's secret, we'll know the real motive behind the murders," Amir said confidently. "This Tangji Bruns definitely has a problem.

This book alone makes our night investigation worthwhile."

Amir took out his phone and started taking photos of the book's contents.

Luke said, "Stop taking photos, let's continue searching."

Amir said, "I'm worried that when Tangji Bruns gets home, he'll notice something's off and destroy this book."

"I have a feeling he won't be coming back," Luke said, leaving that thought hanging, as he continued searching the room.

Luke ascended the stairs to the second floor to search, he pushed open the master bedroom door, where the moonlight creeping in through the window faintly revealed the room's layout.

The room was sparsely decorated, with just a bed, a wardrobe, a dressing table, and curtains; both the bed and curtains were red, appearing eerie under the moonlight.

Luke frowned slightly, finding the pungent odor in the house even stronger here.

He turned on his flashlight, beginning a meticulous search of the inner bedroom. On the wall behind the bed was a drawing; over it was a distinct circular symbol, identical to the Blood Stain Symbol left at the crime scenes. Below it was a figure, gender unknown, kneeling devoutly before the symbol.

The left side of the bedroom featured a frosted sliding glass door, likely leading to a closet or bathroom.

Luke faintly heard a buzzing noise.

He pulled open the sliding door, an even stronger acrid scent hit him. The flashlight's beam revealed a bare interior, it was neither a bathroom nor a closet, but held a rectangular cabinet.

The cabinet was made of iron sheets, with glass at the top, measuring two meters long, one meter wide, and about one meter high, resembling a bizarre coffin.

Luke approached, shining the flashlight onto the cabinet's glass top, he saw a silhouette lying inside. With one hand on his gun, he shone the flashlight with the other onto the figure's face; it was a pale woman with sparse hair, her features tightly shut, soaking in liquid.

Though Luke was brave, such an eerie scene made him somewhat uneasy.

He found her face familiar, and taking courage, examined her closely; she was indeed the woman from the photo in Tangji Bruns' living room, though now she lacked some color, her body even more emaciated.

The woman lying in the glass coffin must have been dead for a long time, the familiar pungent odor must be embalming fluid.

"Luke..."

At that moment, Amir's voice came from outside.

He entered the bedroom and asked, "Did you find anything here?"

Luke pointed to the glass coffin ahead.

Amir walked over to check, got startled, "Fuck! Hiding a dead body in the bedroom, what a pervert."

He took a deep breath, composed himself, and peered in to examine, "This woman seems familiar?"

Luke said, "She's Tangji Bruns' wife."

"What! His wife!" Amir exclaimed, "The records showed she died five years ago...

This body has been preserved for five years...

What is he trying to do?"

"Only he knows that."

...

Half an hour later.

A white Toyota car drove up to Tangji Bruns' garage.

The driver's door opened, and Tangji Bruns stepped out.

Just then, two cars drove in from not far away, and Luke along with others stepped out and entered Tangji Bruns' yard.

Tangji Bruns glared at Luke and the others, "What do you want?"

Luke said, "Mr. Tangji Bruns, we are investigating two homicide cases and would like you to assist in the investigation."

"Sorry, I don't have the time," Tangji Bruns responded bluntly.

Luke showed the arrest warrant, then glanced at the young girl who had just gotten out of the Toyota, "I suggest you cooperate, or we'll have to proceed with an arrest."

"On what grounds are you arresting me?"

Luke didn't answer, instead pointing to the house, "We also need to search your house."

Tangji Bruns grew agitated, "I do not agree.

If you dare break into my house, I will have my lawyer sue you."

Luke produced the search warrant, "Have a good look."

"You can't break into my house, not even with a search warrant..." Tangji Bruns expressed with anger, blocking the FBI agents from entering his home for the search.

Luke tilted his head, "Get him."

"Let go of me, let go of me.

You idiots, do not go to my house..." Tangji Bruns seemed a bit hysterical, displaying a frenzied appearance.

Two agents restrained him, handcuffed him, and led him away.

The young girl, frail and thin, fearfully stepped back a few paces, covering her mouth with her hands.

With the search warrant in hand, the agents could rightfully search the house, Luke didn't enter again, having already searched the house thoroughly before, finding all the necessary evidence, though the garage was empty, and the black Lexus was nowhere to be found.

Soon, agents found the woman's body in the bedroom...