Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Detective Bureau, Anti-Gang and Anti-Drug Division.

The door to the Anti-Gang and Anti-Drug Division was half-open, and Luke walked to the door and knocked symbolically.

Everyone in the office looked up.

David laughed, "Luke, how do you have time to come to our place?"

Luke waved, greeted everyone else, and then walked over to David's desk, "I'm here to ask for your help."

"Is there a tricky case that came up?" David rubbed his bald head and pretended to think, "Let me guess, is it about Henrik Laurie's disappearance?"

"You've heard about it?"

"No, I just figured such a high-profile case would likely have you on the investigation.

There's no one more suitable than you."

Luke smiled, "Thanks for the compliment."

Luke took out a video still of the black man who was following Henrik Laurie, "This is from surveillance video taken at Nasim Bar on Carpe Street. It didn't capture a clear front view of the suspect, but he has a tattoo on the back of his neck, most likely a gang tattoo.

You're more familiar with gang members, so I'd like your help to find him."

David carefully examined the video still and said, "I recognize this tattoo." Then he opened his computer, searched for a moment, and said, "That's right, this is the tattoo pattern of the Kast gang.

This gang is not far from Carpe Street. The person you're looking for should be a gang member."

"Is there a way to find him?"

"Of course, I'll take you for a spin." David stood up, gave a few instructions to his colleague beside him, and left the office with Luke.

...

Inside a black SUV.

As he drove, David said, "The Kast gang is a newly established gang in recent years. Although it only has a few dozen members, it's always been in expansion mode, quite unstable.

The gang members are mostly black, engaging in theft, fencing, and prostitution.

Their territory isn't large, just one block, which is why they are eager to expand."

David rolled up the car window and said, "Up ahead is the Kast gang's turf. They don't welcome strangers, especially people as white as us."

The car drove a bit further, and Luke saw many black men gathered on both sides of the street. Some were shirtless, some wore gold necklaces, and some wore sagging pants. They didn't seem like decent people, and the common trait was that all of them had tattoos.

Moreover, the tattoos on these people were very similar to those on the black man in the surveillance video. Luke scanned each figure, trying to identify the suspect's face.

As Luke and David observed their surroundings, those black men were also staring at their car, not looking too friendly.

Fortunately, David didn't stop but drove past the block, and they did not encounter any conflict.

David asked, "Did you spot the suspect?"

Luke shook his head, "Didn't see him."

David pulled out his phone and made a call, "Hello, this is David.

I want to see you.

At the usual place."

Just three short sentences, and then David hung up.

"Let's get something to eat, I'm a bit hungry."

Luke nodded, "It's on me."

About ten minutes later, the two arrived at a more secluded area, and David parked the car outside a burger joint.

After they got out, Luke surveyed the surroundings, then followed David into the burger joint. There weren't many people inside, just three tables of guests.

David greeted the staff and headed straight to the second floor.

The second floor was smaller, half the size of the first floor, with only one window, making it a bit dim.

They didn't turn on the lights but sat right by the window.

Luke glanced around. They were the only ones there. He smiled, "The atmosphere in this restaurant is nice."

David laughed, "I knew you'd like it."

Soon, the sound of heavy footsteps came from the stairs. A broad, hefty white woman approached, holding a menu, "Gentlemen, what would you like to eat?"

David handed the menu to Luke, "Take a look."

Luke glanced at it and handed it back to David, "You order for me."

David said, "Two beef burger meals, a grilled fish fillet, a salad, and two Cokes.

That'll be all for now."

The waitress repeated the order and went downstairs.

Luke said, "Did you make a meeting with the informant?"

"Yes, but he might not be able to meet up right away. We should fill our stomachs first."

"Is he reliable?"

"He's given me information twice, both times accurate.

Of course, we can't completely trust him."

After a few words, the sound of heavy footsteps was heard again from the stairs, and they naturally changed the topic.

David asked, "How's that Hellcat of yours running?"

"Pretty good, I'll let you test drive it sometime."

David rubbed his hands, "Haha, I've been looking forward to it."

The waitress brought their food and left again.

"Give it a try, it tastes pretty good." David said as he took a big bite of his beef burger.

Luke tried it too and nodded in appreciation, "The beef is tender and juicy."

Feeling somewhat hungry, Luke quickly finished his beef burger and took a big gulp of Coke.

David picked up a fry, "How's the investigation on Henrik Laurie's disappearance going?"

"There's some progress. The person I'm looking for might have been the last one to contact Henrik Laurie."

"Was Henrik Laurie kidnapped or did he go missing?"

If anyone else had asked, Luke wouldn't have answered, but David was different. They used to be partners and trusted each other, plus Luke was the one seeking David's help in the investigation, so it was better to be open.

"Henrik Laurie left the Four Seasons Hotel on his own, then went elsewhere. It's hard to say if he's missing or kidnapped now.

Also, the attitude of Henrik Laurie's acquaintances is peculiar; they're not very cooperative with the police investigation. The whole case is covered in a layer of fog..."

David shrugged and smiled, "Seems like the Anti-Gang and Anti-Drug Division suits me better."

The two of them chatted casually while eating.

Half an hour later, footsteps were heard on the stairs again. Compared to the heavy steps from before, these were lighter and more agile.

A black man wearing a gold necklace came up the stairs. He was dressed in a gray vest, turned his head to survey the entire restaurant, looked at David, and then cautiously fixed his gaze on Luke.

The black man forced a smile, "Yo, isn't this Officer David? What a coincidence."

David pointed to Luke, "Jentoro, this is my former partner and my good brother. You can trust him completely, just like you trust me."

The man called Jentoro relaxed a bit, "Boss, what did you call me here for?"

"I want you to help find someone." David took out the video of the black man, pointing at the tattoo in the video screenshot, "I need to find this person."

Jentoro glanced at the surveillance video, "You can't even see this person's face clearly. How am I supposed to find him?"

David said, "This person has a Caster gang tattoo on the back of his neck, plus his physical features. Isn't that enough to identify him?"

Jentoro shrugged, "I need some time."

Luke was also sizing up Jentoro, noticing the same tattoo on his arm and knowing he was also part of the Caster gang, he said, "I need to find this person quickly."

Jentoro slumped into a chair like he had no bones, "That's going to be difficult.

Besides, I don't want to betray my gang members."

"No one will know about this, I promise." David pulled out two hundred US Dollars from his pocket, "I won't let you do it for nothing. This is your funding.

There will be benefits for you after you find this person."

Jentoro took the two hundred US Dollars, still somewhat hesitant, "This puts me in a tough spot..."

David then took out another hundred US Dollars, "Kid, don't be too greedy."

"Thank you, boss." Jentoro hurriedly pocketed the three hundred US Dollars, stood up, and said, "I'll find him as soon as possible. Don't contact me again."

...

4 PM.

Robbery and Murder Department office.

Just as Luke was getting a bit impatient, he received a phone call from David.

"Luke, we found the person in the video."

"What's his name?"

"Theo Holden."

"Where is he?"

"Verrin Apartments."

"Great, let's meet at the parking lot in five minutes."

"Am I going too?"

"Of course, you also have part of the credit here." After Luke finished speaking, he hung up the phone and clapped his hands, "Guys, we have work to do.

Deputy, you stay and hold the fort."

The deputy shrugged, "Let me know when you've caught the suspect, and I'll have coffee ready for you."

"You're so thoughtful."

...

Half an hour later.

Outside room 305, Verrin Apartments.

Luke, David, and Jackson were standing on either side of the door.

David gestured with his hand, then knocked on the door.

There was no response.

David knocked again, "Hey, I'm the apartment manager, you're behind on rent."

Still no response.

Luke pressed his ear to the door to listen, and he vaguely heard some movement inside, "Someone's in there."

"I knew it, these guys never make it easy." David said, then kicked fiercely at the door lock, "Bang!"

The apartment door was kicked open.

"LAPD!"

"Don't move!"

The three of them provided cover for each other, rushing into the apartment.

"No one in the bathroom."

"No one in the living room."

"No one in the wardrobe."

"No one under the bed."

This apartment wasn't big; other than a separate bathroom, it was a large open space outside, easy to search.

Jackson saw the window was open, walked over to glance out, and saw a black man climbing down the drainpipe, "He's down there, that bastard jumped out the window."

The tattooed black man had already climbed to the first floor, looked up once, then jumped from two meters high, landing steadily on the ground. He then used his right hand to make a middle finger, grinning widely, looking very smug.

As if to say, catch me if you can.

Suddenly, a shadow appeared next to him. The tattooed black man turned his head and saw another unfamiliar black man standing in the corner, holding a gun.

"Fuck!" The tattooed black man turned and started to run.

Just heard someone shouting from behind, "LAPD! Don't move, or I'll shoot."

The tattooed man didn't stop at all, continued running forward.

With a "bang" sound, he felt a pain in his back, a strong electric current coursed through his body, causing his whole body to go numb, collapsing to the ground.

The black guy walked over, holding a taser, blew the barrel coolly, "With me here, you're not getting away!"

Luke leaned out from the third-floor apartment, waving his hand, "Bring him up here."

"He's like a jellyfish now; I need a hand." The black guy cuffed the tattooed man's hands, feeling his body still trembling.

Soon, Jackson also came downstairs, helping the black guy escort the tattooed man back up to the third-floor apartment.

Luke stepped in front of the tattooed man, observed his physique and the tattoo on his back, and got straight to the point, "Where is Henrik Laurie?"

The tattooed man stiffened his neck, glared back at Luke, "I don't know any Henrik Laurie, you've got the wrong person."