Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

"No no no, you have the wrong person, I'm not the killer."

Michael smirked, "Every killer I've caught has said that at first.

You clearly drove to the victim's house and yet refuse to admit it, this shows your guilty conscience.

Moreover, your presence near Bellam Solo's house coincided precisely with the time of the murder.

Why did you chop off his head?"

"I didn't kill him, nor did I chop off his head. You can't find the real murderer, so you're framing me?" Walliams Fran showed a frustrated expression, indignantly saying, "I didn't kill Bellam Solo."

Michael probed, "Then who is it?"

Walliams Fran remained silent for a long time and then said a name, "Leonard Hogan."

"Why would Leonard Hogan kill Bellam Solo?"

"I don't know."

"Then how do you know it was Leonard Hogan who killed Bellam Solo?"

"I...

I guessed.

If you don't believe me, you can check Leonard Hogan, maybe you'll find something unexpected."

Luke laughed, "I know you're an accomplice with Leonard Hogan, which is why you know he was also involved in Bellam Solo's murder."

Walliams Fran sighed, "I'm not an accomplice with Leonard Hogan, and I have no reason to kill Bellam Solo."

"Then how do you know Leonard Hogan killed Bellam Solo?"

"I guessed."

"How did you guess? Or were you at the scene?"

Under their questioning, Walliams Fran grew a bit flustered, "Okay, I'll tell you, I'll tell you the truth." Walliams Fran sighed, resting his right hand on his forehead, helplessly said, "I... indeed went to Bellam Solo's community that night.

I wanted to consult him about some doctrinal questions and concerns.

I drove to Bellam Solo's house and saw Leonard Hogan leaving with my own eyes.

Afterwards, I went into Bellam Solo's house and found a headless corpse in the living room. I was terrified and left immediately.

The reason I lied just now was that I was afraid you'd suspect me.

I swear, the killer is Leonard Hogan.

You should investigate him, not me."

Luke and Michael exchanged a glance; they certainly knew the killer was Leonard Hogan. Their purpose here was to investigate the whereabouts of the gold.

Luke taunted, "Do you think we're idiots? Trying to brush us off with such a lousy excuse.

Murder and corpse destruction are serious crimes; they're not so easy to escape."

"Whether you believe it or not, what I'm saying is the truth, I didn't commit murder," Walliams Fran said, stepping back and grabbing the door edge, seeming as if he intended to close the door.

Michael blocked the door and showed his search warrant, "We're going to search your house."

Walliams Fran looked at the warrant, slightly powerless, "You've got the wrong person, I really didn't kill Bellam Solo."

Michael smiled, "We believe you; we'll soon prove your innocence."

The FBI agents burst into Walliams Fran's house and began searching.

Walliams Fran's house wasn't very large; it looked somewhat shabby and was quite messy inside.

Soon, an FBI agent found two backpacks under the bed; they were heavy, and when opened, they were filled with shiny gold bars.

Luke picked up a gold bar and asked, "Where did these gold bars come from?"

Walliams Fran's legs went soft, and he collapsed onto the sofa behind him.

Luke said, "Is this your motive for murder? To seize this gold?"

Walliams Fran argued, "This gold wasn't taken by robbery."

Luke looked at the plastic wrapping on the gold bar, "If I'm not mistaken, Bellam Solo's fingerprints should be detectable on this."

Walliams Fran sighed, covering his head with both hands, "This gold wasn't robbed; it was... stolen.

Also, I really didn't kill Bellam Solo."

Luke probed, "You and Leonard Hogan teamed up to kill Bellam Solo. He took Bellam Solo's head, and you took Bellam Solo's gold."

"No, I didn't team up with Leonard Hogan. I didn't even know he intended to kill Bellam Solo. It was all a coincidence.

Bellam Solo, as the church leader, had been collecting donations from believers, which was a substantial sum of money.

That night, I also attended the gathering, and Bellam Solo received donations from two people...

Although I didn't know the exact amount, judging by the thickness of the cash, the sum wasn't small.

I needed money, really needed money desperately.

So, I followed Bellam Solo, intending to steal some money from his home.

I followed him to his house, planning to steal after he fell asleep.

But, at that time, Leonard Hogan drove to Bellam Solo's house; his actions were suspicious, and I heard the sound of a chainsaw… I didn't dare to show myself.

Lately, Leonard Hogan walked out of the house with a bag in his hand, changed his clothes, then I knew something might have happened.

Then, I sneaked into Bellam Solo's house to check, and in the living room, I found Bellam Solo's body, his head was gone.

I was shocked at the time.

I had considered reporting it to the police, but, I really needed money.

This gold was what I found at Bellam Solo's house and then stole.

If you need, I can help you identify Leonard Hogan—he's the real murderer."

Luke asked, "Where was the gold hidden in Bellam Solo's house?"

"The safe."

"How did you open the safe?"

"I cut off Bellam Solo's finger and used his fingerprint to open the safe."

Luke and Michael exchanged a glance, and all the clues aligned.

Luke guessed that Walliams Fran stealing the gold was no coincidence; this guy must have had his eye on Bellam Solo for a while, planning to steal believers' donations from him.

That night, Leonard Hogan killed Bellam Solo, Walliams Fran saw an opportunity and seized it to steal the gold and valuables.

They'd caught the killer and found the gold bars, and the FBI's objectives were achieved.

Luke, a bit more relaxed now, asked, "Why did you join the Eternal Sect?"

Walliams Fran was momentarily stunned, seemingly not expecting Luke to ask this, and after a moment of silence, he answered, "I'm forty this year, and I've achieved nothing.

I have no family, no real friends, and every day passes by in a haze.

I have no idea what life's purpose is.

I feel like an utter failure, and I know this is how my life will be, it's hopeless.

It's not that I'm not trying, but the environment around me is such that the more I struggle, the faster I sink.

Until one day, I encountered the Eternal Sect.

Bellam Solo's teachings gave me new hope.

I've made many mistakes in this life.

If I could be reborn, I'd have a chance to correct those mistakes.

To start a new, meaningful life, not like this...

However, as I got more involved, I began to see the trickery within.

Bellam Solo was always using it to solicit donations from followers.

The more donations one made, the more Bellam Solo valued them.

Bellam Solo asked for donations from me too, but I had no money, and his attitude changed, he became very cold to me.

That face was a familiar sight to me.

I saw through his tricks.

I thought about leaving the church, even about exposing him publicly, letting those followers see his greedy face.

But what good would that do me?

So, I chose another way of revenge, to take away those fraudulent donations, only then would he feel the pain and learn a lesson.

This gold was indeed stolen from his house, but I really didn't commit murder."

Luke curiously asked, "How long have you been with the Eternal Sect?"

"About four or five months."

"What do you think of the followers of the Eternal Sect?"

Walliams Fran sneered, "Just a bunch of pitiful, self-deceiving fools.

They might not be blind to Bellam Solo's fraud, but...

They'd rather be lied to than face reality."