Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Luke picked up the phone, and the contact displayed on the screen was Sharon Frank.

Luke pressed the answer button and listened as a woman's voice came from the other end, "Thank God, Ali, you finally answered the phone.

If you didn't pick up soon, I would have called the police, haha.

Are you feeling any better?

Seeing that you didn't show up today, I already took the liberty of excusing you, so you don't have to worry about the old woman calling you in for a private talk."

Luke didn't reply.

The other person on the phone asked, "Ali, did you hear what I said?"

"Sorry, I'm not Ali Bergman."

The girl asked in surprise, "Who are you? Why do you have Ali's phone?"

"I'm a police officer."

"Police? What happened? Why do you have Ali's phone?"

"Ali Bergman is dead."

"Oh my God, are you kidding?

Quick, give the phone to Ali, stop this terrible joke, it's not funny at all."

"I'm serious, are you Ali Bergman's friend?"

"Yes, we're classmates, very close."

"Are you at school now?"

"Yes."

"Was Ali sick?"

"Yesterday, we planned to hang out together.

In the evening, when we went to find her, she said she wasn't feeling well."

"What time did you go to her house last night?"

"Around nine o'clock, I think."

"Was there anyone else besides you?"

"Marissa Hawking, she's also our classmate, but not in the same class."

"Are you all at school now?"

"Yes."

"I'll be coming to your school later to ask some questions about Ali Bergman. Do I need to contact your guardian?"

"No, I'll tell them." Sharon Frank sighed, choking up, "I still can't believe it... Is Ali really dead?"

"I'm very sorry for what happened." Luke said, then hung up the phone.

Little Black asked, "Why don't you let them come to the police station to talk?"

Luke countered, "Do you think their parents would allow them to go to the police station to assist with the investigation?

Besides, I'm going to the school not just to talk to her."

The footprints Luke found by the windowsill were suspicious; analysis suggested they belonged to a male aged between 15 and 18, likely a classmate or friend of Ali Bergman attending Maraboya High School.

After the technical team arrived on the scene, Luke gave a few instructions and then headed to Maraboya High School with Little Black.

Ten minutes later, Luke and Little Black drove to Maraboya High School.

Raymond and Jenny also came to meet them.

Luke was familiar with this school, having previously investigated a campus murder case here, which had brought him considerable attention.

Little Black chatted with the guard for a bit, and the four of them easily entered the campus.

Compared to last time, the school now had noticeably more cameras and security personnel, and upon entering, Luke and the others were checked again.

Luke didn't mind; with the school's enhanced security, it would also prevent some unnecessary troubles.

"Hi, Luke."

Just as Luke walked up to the teaching building, he heard a familiar voice.

A chubby little guy with a blue backpack walked towards him.

"Oh, isn't this my dear brother?" Luke scrutinized the little guy, feeling like his face was slightly thinner, perhaps just his imagination.

"Hi, Detective Marcus, can I borrow your partner for a few minutes?"

"Of course, you two talk." Little Black replied with a smile and said to Luke, "We'll wait for you up ahead."

Luke nodded, "What does my dear brother want?"

"Uh... The day you invited me to the game..." The little guy stammered, hesitating.

"What's up?" Luke glanced at his watch, "If it's not urgent, let's talk tonight, I've got work to do."

"I heard you invited Maggie to watch the game that night?"

Luke was a bit surprised, "How did you know Maggie was at the game?"

"I just knew." The chubby guy didn't want to say he'd seen it on TV.

"It's been a few days, and you've held it in. " Luke chuckled, "I was a bit annoyed that you turned me down, so I didn't bother inviting anyone else, just went alone.

Before the game started, I saw Maggie having an argument with someone, so I went over to help.

Then, when she found out you weren't coming, and since there happened to be an empty seat, she sat over."

"Wait, who did Maggie have a conflict with? Man or woman?"

"Nothing major, she had an argument with her aunt, and then she went home with her after the game."

"Aunt?

I didn't even know she had an aunt."

Luke shrugged, "I didn't ask.

Maybe her aunt came to Los Angeles during the time you two were apart."

The little guy looked a bit sad, "Yeah, we really hadn't been in touch for a while."

Luke said, "I invited you, if you had been at the game that day, it would have been you two sitting together."

"Sure, you did invite me, but you invited me to see the Laker girls."

Luke chuckled, "The Laker girls were amazing that night, I might go again.

Want to come along?"

The little guy waved his hand, "I don't want to talk about this now, I'm not in the mood."

"OK, then just focus on your studies and fulfill mom's dream of getting into the Ivy League as soon as possible."

"You might as well kill me." The little guy sneered and questioned, "What are you doing at our school?"

"Such a good brother, only now thinking of caring for me," Luke teased.

"Actually, even if you don't say, I know, you must be here to investigate a case, who died this time?