Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

The next morning, in the First Squad office of the Robbery and Murder Department.

Luke walked into the office area with a cup of coffee, sat sideways on a desk, and greeted, "Guys, let's talk about the progress of the investigation."

Little Black stuffed most of a donut into his mouth and mumbled, "I found something new, quite interesting."

Luke took a sip of coffee and smiled, "OK, then let's have Detective Chief Marcus tell us about it."

The deputy reminded, "Before you speak, you'd better swallow the bread crumbs, I don't want to be sprayed in the face."

Little Black complained, "Deputy, why are you always picking on me? Is it because I've been performing too well lately, making you feel threatened?"

"Yeah, you're absolutely right, Deputy Marcus!" the deputy scoffed, "Keep dreaming, kid."

"Nasty old man, I heard that." Little Black made a face, took a big gulp of coffee, swallowed his food, and said, "Yesterday, we talked to Sharon Frank and Marissa Hawking separately, and according to them, they went to each other's houses after leaving the victim's home. Clearly, they lied about their whereabouts last night.

So, I checked the surveillance from the victim's neighborhood." Little Black walked over to the projector and put up a surveillance screenshot, "According to the footage, at 8:54 the night before yesterday, a blue Tesla drove into the neighborhood, and from the screenshot, the driver was Sharon Frank.

Around 9:13, the blue Tesla left the community of the victim's home.

And then..." Little Black paused for a moment and asked with interest, "Can you guess where the car went next?"

Jackson asked, "Is there a prize?"

Little Black scoffed, "We're investigating a case, what prize do you want?"

Jackson said earnestly, "That's your issue; if you want it to be a reward guessing game, there has to be a prize."

"Forget I said anything." Little Black waved his hand and continued, "I tracked the blue Tesla car through the road surveillance, and around 9:40, it stopped at the Dawson Bar.

The car didn't leave the vicinity of the bar until midnight."

Jackson said, "I've been to that bar. It has a huge screen right up front, a giant dance floor, a 30-foot-high ceiling, top-notch sound system; when the lights come on and the music plays, you'll lose yourself.

Young people love it there, some are even willing to wait in line for an hour or two."

The deputy said, "If I'm not mistaken, Sharon Frank and Marissa Hawking are still minors, they shouldn't be able to get into a bar."

Jackson said, "That's not really a big issue. Most of the people making fake IDs are serving these thrill-seeking students now.

That also explains why they lied.

I think they lied not to deceive us, but their parents.

If their parents found out they went to a bar at their age, wow... that'd be quite something."

"Hey, I discovered this clue, so why do all of you act like you found it with your long speeches?

And besides, I don't have any prize for you." Little Black's tone was a bit dissatisfied.

Jackson said, "I thought you were done."

"No, I only told half, and I haven't mentioned the more important clue.

Want to hear it?"

Jackson replied, "Of course."

Little Black raised his black eyebrows, swaying, "I'm not telling you."

The deputy was a bit amused and exasperated, "You're such a child, hurry up and tell us."

Little Black also chuckled and continued, "I've initially cleared Sharon Frank and Marissa Hawking of suspicion and went on to check the community video surveillance.

Around 9:30 in the evening, I saw a dark gray Ford driving into the victim's community, which left the community at 9:57 that night.

I found this car suspicious and looked up the license plate number.

The owner is Yarn Columbus." Little Black glanced at everyone, "Does that name sound familiar to you?"

The deputy asked, "Stop keeping us in suspense, who is he?"

"The suitor of the deceased." Little Black put up a photo, "This is a screenshot of the gray Ford car, and it clearly shows that the driver is Yarn Columbus."

Jackson followed up, "So, the reason the deceased didn't go out with friends that night wasn't because she was sick, but because she was waiting for Yarn Columbus."

The deputy shook his head, "That doesn't quite make sense, if the deceased was waiting for Yarn Columbus, then they should have been into each other, why would Yarn Columbus kill the victim?"

Little Black summarized, "Guys, let's not speculate wildly, I have a better idea, let's bring Yarn Columbus to the station for questioning, and we'll find out?"

Luke said, "Marcus, since you found the lead, you'll be responsible for contacting Yarn Columbus, and if a guardian needs to be present, have his parents come along."

"Understood."

Luke looked at everyone again, "Does anyone else have anything new to report?"

The deputy said, "I'd like to talk about that homeless guy from yesterday, I had a serious talk with him.

He might be a scoundrel, a drunkard, but he probably isn't the killer.

It's almost 24 hours, I suggest we let him go."

Luke nodded, "Sounds good, you handle it."

Jenny said, "I've been in touch with the victim's mother, and she can return to Los Angeles today to assist with the investigation."

"When she arrives at the police station, take her to the forensic doctor's office to identify the body first."

"Understood."

"OK, does anyone else have anything to say?" After a brief pause, with no one responding, Luke continued, "Meeting's over, everyone get to work."

...

An hour later, Luke met with Yarn Columbus in the conference room.