Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

"Does he have any enemies?"

Buddy Corruck shrugged, "I don't know. To me, he's just a familiar stranger. Too distant.

The company executives should know more about him."

Luke asked a few more questions, then saw him out of the office.

The deputy and a few team members had already looked at the case file and had a certain understanding of the case.

The deputy asked, "How did it go? Did he provide any leads?"

Luke shook his head, "He was also surprised by his wife's death and had no clues.

However, he revealed some information during the conversation, such as the fact that the Coffey Travel Company he works at is also a Coffey family business."

Blackie showed a sympathetic look, "This guy's really unlucky, going out to earn money for the boss, while the boss is fooling around with his wife at home.

If it were me, I'd be furious."

The deputy shrugged, "What's even more infuriating is that he was likely sent on a business trip by the boss specifically to free up time and space to play poker with his wife.

Others having affairs have to sneak around, afraid of being caught by the husband.

Whereas he's only left with being sent away."

Blackie said, "This kind of thing would drive anyone crazy.

If he knew about the affair between his wife and his boss, wouldn't that be the best motive for murder?"

Luke recalled the conversation between them, "I didn't directly point out the relationship between his wife and Gallian Coffey, but he knew both were killed and that his wife died at home, yet he didn't ask where Gallian Coffey was killed, seemingly purposely avoiding it.

Moreover, he claimed his wife was Gallian Coffey's assistant, but in fact, she was his secretary."

The deputy said, "While assistants and secretaries both serve the boss, the job content is quite different. And since you've already hinted that both were killed, unless Buddy Corruck is particularly stupid, he should realize there's a problem.

Unless he already knew.

That would mean he has sufficient motive.

I think we should conduct a covert investigation on him."

Luke nodded, "Buddy Corruck claims he's been on a business trip in Las Vegas for the past few days.

Guys, verify his whereabouts recently."

"Yes, Captain."

The group split up to investigate, and Luke picked up the case file to continue studying the case.

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Luke's phone rang; it was a message from Reid asking him to come to the office.

Luke went to Reid's office, knocked, and after entering, saw Reid sitting on the sofa talking to a white woman.

The white woman was about fifty, very thin with sunken cheeks, wearing black clothing that was not flashy but elegant and appropriate.

Reid introduced, "This is Mrs. Grace Coffey, wife of the deceased Gallian Coffey. She's here today to inquire about the progress of the case."

Luke nodded in acknowledgment and sat down on a side sofa.

Grace Coffey looked at Luke, "Captain Lee, I've heard of your reputation. I know you're the best detective in Los Angeles, and I'm entrusting my husband's case to you."

"I'll do my best to investigate."

Grace Coffey took the opportunity to ask, "Is there any progress in the investigation? Have you found the killer of my husband?"

"I just took over the case, gathering as much information on the case and the victim as possible. I've also sent people to investigate new leads, and I believe there will be news soon."

Grace Coffey sighed, "I've been married to my husband for over thirty years, and we love each other dearly." Grace Coffey's voice was sorrowful, wiping her red and swollen eyes, "I still can't believe he's gone from me.

I urge you to catch the murderer; I can't let my husband die so unjustly.

Make sure to inform me if there's any progress."

"I will." Luke paused briefly and said, "Mrs. Grace Coffey, I want to ask some questions about your husband. It's important for solving the case."

Grace Coffey rubbed her forehead, "Go ahead."

"Did your husband have any enemies?"

"My husband was a good man, very gentlemanly, and wouldn't easily make enemies.

Only in business did he have some conflicts of interest with other companies.

But he was the kind who reported only good news, not bad. To avoid worrying me, he didn't mention these matters much.

So, I'm not really sure..."

Luke pressed on, "Did your husband have any unusual behavior recently?"

"No."

"Were you aware of your husband's whereabouts on the night he was murdered?"

Grace Coffey shook her head, "He just told me he had a social engagement in the evening, and I didn't know where he was going specifically."

"What was the relationship between your husband and the secretary who was killed with him?"

"I always thought they had a working relationship..." Grace Coffey's face looked a little awkward, "I know what you want to ask, but I wasn't aware of anything between them." Grace Coffey sighed, "It's not a proud matter; the fewer people who know, the better.

Captain Lee, I hope during the investigation, you won't make public my husband's affair with the secretary.

Not only is it hard for me to accept personally, but it would also negatively impact the Coffey company."

"I will." Luke replied.

In his view, the Coffey family offering a $1 million reward not only invited him to investigate the case but also aimed to prevent news of Gallian Coffey's infidelity from spreading by appeasing the investigating officers.

Some might think they spent too much money.

But to the Coffey family, the impact of Gallian Coffey dying in his female secretary's home far outweighed a million dollars.

After talking with Grace Coffey, Luke left the director's office.

Reflecting on the conversation, Luke felt Grace Coffey might have hidden something about her husband's infidelity.

With affairs, where there's once, there's a second time; Gallian Coffey was of such an age, Luke didn't believe he had no prior issues.

And for Grace Coffey, who had lived with him for decades, it was even more unlikely she was completely clueless.

Inside the First Squad of the Robbery and Murder Department.

A few team members were in a discussion when they saw Luke enter the office. The deputy greeted, "Luke, you're back.

What did the director want?"

Luke replied, "Inquired about the progress of the case.

What are you discussing?"

"We were just about to tell you." The deputy handed over a document, "You previously took a statement from Blanchie's Corruck husband, Buddy Corruck.

He claimed he'd been on a business trip in Las Vegas and just returned this morning.

However, we found a credit card transaction record at a gas station near Los Angeles from the day before yesterday afternoon.

He lied. During the time of the crime, he may very well have returned to Los Angeles."

Blackie said, "His alibi is false, which further suggests he has the potential to commit the crime. I think we should re-interrogate this guy."

Jackson pondered, "Wait, there's something that doesn't make sense.

If Buddy Corruck's business trip was to create an alibi for murder, then why would he use his credit card to refuel when he secretly returned to Los Angeles? That would directly expose his whereabouts."

Luke walked to the whiteboard, wrote down Buddy Corruck's name, thought for a moment, and said, "I think there are two possibilities. The first possibility is that the credit card wasn't used by Buddy Corruck himself.

The second possibility is that Buddy Corruck didn't premeditate the murder. Instead, he returned home during the business trip, stumbled upon the affair, and acted impulsively in a crime of passion."

The deputy nodded, "When emotions are involved, people tend to act irrationally, and the probability of a fatal incident is high.

I think this possibility is more likely."

Afterward, Luke began to assign tasks. The deputy led a team to the gas station to investigate and confirm whether the credit card was used by Buddy Corruck himself.

Luke then took a team to track down Buddy Corruck's whereabouts.