Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Little Black replied, "We are the police. We want to talk to Michael Kamara about some matters."

The Black woman asked in surprise, "What matters?"

"We are investigating a murder case and would like his assistance."

"Ha, a murder case? You're not joking, are you?"

"No, ma'am, I'm very serious about this. Is Michael Kamara at home?"

"Of course, he can't go anywhere."

"Can we come in?"

"OK, I'd like to see just how serious you are too."

The door opened, and Luke and Little Black walked into the yard.

The house door opened, and a plump Black woman stood at the entrance, "Are you really the police?"

Luke showed his badge, "Yes, ma'am.

What is your relationship with Michael Kamara?"

"I am his wife."

"We'd like to speak with Mr. Michael Kamara."

The Black woman sighed, "I'd also like him to talk to you, but I'm afraid that's going to be difficult."

Little Black said with a smile, "Ma'am, we won't take much of your time."

The Black woman pursed her lips, "Follow me."

The Black woman led the two into the house. The living room was a bit messy, with a wheelchair by the wall and the smell of disinfectant in the air. Luke instinctively heightened his alertness.

The Black woman crossed the living room, leading the two to a bedroom on the inside, opened the bedroom door, "Dear, some friends are here to see you."

Luke peeked into the bedroom. The room was dim with a faint foul smell. An old Black man sat by the bed, with a bib on his chest. His eyes were vacant, his head slightly lowered, not reacting to external sounds, with a crooked mouth and an awkwardly curled left hand.

Little Black frowned, "Wow, is he Michael Kamara?"

"Yes."

"What happened to him?"

"He was a long-term alcoholic. Three years ago, he had a stroke, and that's how he ended up like this.

He hasn't been out for a long time and has difficulty speaking and walking, so I was surprised when you said you wanted to talk to him." The Black woman stepped forward, wiped Michael Kamara's drool with his bib, then closed the bedroom door, leading Luke and Little Black back to the living room.

"Would you officers like something to drink?"

"No, thank you."

"I understand." The Black woman shrugged, "In the past, neighbors liked visiting us, but since my husband took ill, they wouldn't even have a cup of coffee."

Little Black sincerely said, "Ma'am, we're just afraid of disturbing you. Not everyone likes having the police over."

"OK, so what's your business here?

Since my husband fell ill, he barely left home. What could you possibly learn from him?"

"Thirty-nine years ago, the Burnett Coffey case at the cemetery."

The Black woman helplessly replied, "Even without my husband's current condition, he wouldn't want to talk about that case."

Luke said, "Ma'am, after Burnett Coffey was killed back then, your husband was also a suspect because of past grievances. We're reopening this case to clear your husband's name."

The Black woman looked towards the bedroom, "With him like this, does his innocence still matter?"

Luke stood up and walked to the TV cabinet where two photographs were displayed. The left one appeared to be a family photo of Michael Kamara, sitting in a wheelchair in the center, his wife standing beside him, with a young man and woman behind them. The date below was July 2021.

The other was an old photo with a man and a woman, seemingly a young Michael Kamara.

Luke picked up the old photo and asked, "Is this Mr. Michael Kamara and his sister?"

"Yes, it's my husband's most treasured possession.

He disliked taking photos when he was young, and this is the only picture left of him with his sister."

"Did your husband have a good relationship with his sister?"

"His father left soon after he was born, and his mother died of a drug overdose when he was eight.

After that, his sister raised him alone, and they were very close.

The down payment for our marital home was also from his sister.

She was truly a wonderful person." The Black woman sighed, "Her death was a significant loss for us.

It took my husband many years to recover from the grief."

Little Black inquired further, "I checked the FBI investigation files, which record that your husband's sister committed suicide."

"Bullshit, those guys were completely covering up for Burnett Coffey.

My husband's sister was driven to death by Burnett Coffey and his wife. They were the real culprits!"

"What do you mean by driven to death?"

The Black woman shook her head and sighed, "It's been so many years. I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Luke said, "Ma'am, whether you want to talk about it or not, we need to investigate.

If you don't want to bring it up, we'll have to ask the Coffey family instead.

So, I'd prefer to hear it from you."

"Nothing good will come from the mouths of those wealthy people." The Black woman took a deep breath and continued, "My husband's sister was Burnett Coffey's secretary, and the workplace back then was not friendly to Black women.

Burnett Coffey exploited this fact to force her into a relationship.

My husband's sister needed the job to support her family, so she had to compromise to keep it.

Until Burnett Coffey's wife found out about it..."

The Black woman pinched her forehead and continued, "Burnett Coffey's wife made a big scene at the company, falsely accusing my husband's sister of seducing him, bullying her in front of all the employees, and kicking her out of the company.

This incident was a huge blow to my husband's sister, making her unable to hold her head up in front of family and neighbors...

Later, the Burnett Coffey couple used various means to defame my husband's sister, ruining her reputation, which led to her mental issues and suicidal tendencies.

The Coffey family are simply devils."

The Black woman stood up, "I really don't want to recall this sad past anymore.

Gentlemen, it's time for you to leave."

"Ma'am, I'm sorry for bringing up your sad memories.

I want to say that I understand your helplessness." Little Black offered some comfort, pursed his thick lips, and left the house with Luke.

Little Black got into the driver's seat and said to Luke next to him, "This is why I don't like rich people. The erosion of money gradually strips away their humanity.

Especially in those oppressive times, the lives of Black people meant nothing to wealthy people, let alone their reputations."

Luke patted him on the shoulder, "Buddy, calm down. We're here to investigate the case."

"I know." Little Black took a deep breath, "I just feel we shouldn't trouble these innocent people because of the Coffey family.

Two generations of Coffey family chairmen were killed, and both deaths were related to secretaries. There may be internal family disputes involved.

External hatred rarely lasts thirty-nine years, but internal conflicts persist."

"You're right, but even if the Coffey family has issues, they won't easily tell us." Luke said, suddenly thinking of something, took out his phone, and dialed Otway Stone's number, "Hey, this is Luke.

Is the Coffey family documentary filming going well?"