Chapter 199

Arrived at the Detective Bureau.

Luke directly brought Shirley Yalter into the rest room.

In fact, from the silence along the way, Luke could tell that Shirley Yalter must have some relationship with last night’s case.

It was just unclear for the time being what role she played in it.

A few minutes later, Luke and Blackie walked into the lounge.

Luke had a cup for himself and handed Shirley Yalter a cup of coffee.

“Thanks.” Sherry Yalte took the coffee and took a token sip.

“Ms. Sherry Yalter, thank you for your willingness to assist us in the Robbery-Murder Division’s investigation, and if there are no questions, we’ll get started on the statement.”

“Okay.” Shirley Yalter held her glass in both hands.

“Do you know Mr. Barron Smith?”

“Barron Smith?”

“Yes.”

“Know, what about him?”

“How do you know each other?”

“We’re peers, both real estate agents, and we meet occasionally.”

“When was the last time you met him?”

“It’s been a while, uh …… one of his clients happened to be looking at my client’s house, but unfortunately it didn’t end up closing.”

“Did you meet Barron Smith last night?”

“No.”

Luke stared at the other man’s expression, “Where were you between nine and twelve last night?”

“Uh …… at home.” Shirley Yalter gave a nervous, uneasy look, “What exactly do you want with me?”

“Can anyone attest that you were home?” Luke analyzed through micro-expressions to see that the other party showed signs of lying.

Sherry Yalter pursed her lips, “I’m offended that you guys are asking, do I need to call a lawyer?”

Luke asked rhetorically, “Do I need to get a search and arrest warrant?

Or maybe get some information from your husband? Maybe he can testify as to whether or not you were home last night?”

“NoNoNo, don’t do that!”

Shirley Yalter covered her forehead, “Even Karma, why is this happening? I didn’t think this would happen, it’s horrible.”

Luke smoothly asked, “What the hell happened last night?”

Shirley Yalter reddened her eyes and whimpered, “I don’t know what to say?”

“Then let me ask, did you see Barron Smith between nine and twelve last night?”

Shirley nodded.

“Answer positively.”

“Met.”

“Why did you meet?”

“We’re both peers, and he wanted to partner with me to grow our businesses together, so I agreed.”

“What time did you meet and what time did you part?”

“We both met at nine and parted at ten.”

“Tell me about the meeting between the two of you, what happened?”

Sherry didn’t answer right away, shaking her head, “I don’t really know what to say?”

Luke went straight to the point, “Did you kill Barron Smith?”

“No, how could I have killed him?

I didn’t have any grudge against him. I didn’t kill him.” After saying that, Shirley seemed relieved.

“Then who killed him?”

“I don’t know ……,” Shirley closed her eyes and recalled, “We were in the car when we suddenly heard someone knocking outside, and when I turned my head I saw a masked man standing outside the car with a gun in his hand.

I was terrified, and so was Barron Smith.”

“What kind of mask?”

“A black mask, very oddly shaped, covering the whole face, very scary.”

“Can you draw it?”

“Can’t, I can’t remember anymore.”

“What kind of gun?”

“A black, wooden-handled revolver.”

Luke recorded, “How did you guys get taken hostage so easily, you didn’t hear him when he approached the car?”

Sherry shook her head, “Not at all.”

Blackie gave a curious look, “What were you guys doing? Why were you unaware?”

“Uh ……”

Shirley revealed an embarrassed look, “We were …… car shaking and we were both very into it.

I knew it was wrong, but he was holding me …… and things just happened that way.”

Luke asked, “Were you guys in the front or the back?”

“Back row.”

“I see that the back row has window film on it, so I shouldn’t be able to see in there to see which direction the killer was pointing a gun at you guys.”

“It was a little hot last night and the car was a little stuffy, we had the windows half open at the time.

I was a little embarrassed at first and told him to close the windows and turn on the air conditioning, but he wouldn’t listen.

He thought it was more exciting ……”

“Wow ……” Blackie muttered in a small voice, “Suddenly I don’t regret breaking up with Julian.”

Blacky had always thought he was good at his job, but the recent case had taught him …… a lesson.

After breaking up with Julian, he had the idea of picking up girls for the first time.

Luke continued, “Describe the killer’s characteristics?”

Shirley recalled for a moment, “SORRY, I can’t say.

I only took a quick look and the killer told us to close our eyes and killed us if we dared to open them.

I know I’m useless, but ……

that scene was really scary and helpless.”

Luke continued to inquire, “What about clothes?”

“It seems to be a black long-sleeved dress.”

“What about the killer’s voice?”

“The voice was raspy, kind of robotic.”

Luke made a note in his book that the suspect may have used a voice changer.

“And after that? What happened?”

“He threw in three plastic handcuffs, had me tie Barron Smith’s hands and feet, gagged him with my stockings, and had Barron Smith tie my hands again.” Saying this, Shirley showed Luke and Blackie the binding marks on her wrists.

Luke tried, “At that time, what was Barron Smith wearing?”

“He …… wasn’t wearing any at the time.”

“Where are the socks?”

“It seems like there were socks.”

“What happened back there?”

“The killer told me to get out of the car and lay my hands on the front of the car …… from behind ……” Shirley covered her eyes and whimpered.

Black took out a handful of tissues and handed them to her, “It’s in the past, it’s not your fault, you shouldn’t punish yourself.”

“I know, but when I think about what happened at that time ……,” Shirley cried sadly.

“I really regret going to the appointment that night, if I hadn’t gone, this wouldn’t have happened and Barron Smith wouldn’t be dead.”

“How did Barron Smith die?”

Shirley wiped her eyes, “After it was over, the killer told me to sit back in the car.

I was terrified that he would kill us, but I didn’t dare disobey.

I walked over and opened the car door.

Just then, a sedan drove up from the east.

Barron Smith, knowing that this might be his only chance to be saved, poked his head out for help ……

The killer just shot straight away.

I was terrified.

Instead of getting into the car, I ran straight for the woods, and I don’t know what happened after that.”

“How many shots did the killer fire in total?”

“Like six or seven shots, I was too scared to remember.”

Luke wrote a six directly on his notebook, the revolver only had six rounds in total, which was the disadvantage of the gun.

Too few bullets.

It wouldn’t have been easy to hit the target at night.

Someone with average marksmanship might not be able to hit the escaping person even after six bullets.

That explained why Shirley wasn’t dead.

“Describe the car?”

“It was a little dark, so I just looked at it, and the gun went off, and I ran away without seeing it clearly.”

“Color?”

“I think it was dark, gray or black.”

“Model?”

“Probably a sedan, I was so focused on getting away that I didn’t look closely.”

“Did anyone in that car stop?”

“No.”

“After I ran into the woods, I couldn’t see the car, but I could see the headlights and went straight away without stopping.”

Luke made a mental note to focus on the fact that there were probably witnesses.

“Did the killer chase you after you ran away and how were you rescued?”

“I don’t know if he chased me.

I just kept running, then when there was no movement, I broke the plastic handcuffs on a sharp rock and ran down the hill to my car. Put on a spare shirt and drove home.”

Luke looked over the report from the scene investigation team and found no lady’s clothing at the scene, “What were you wearing when you ran away?”

“Short skirt and corset.”

“Were any clothes left at the scene?”

“Yes, a shirt and underwear.”

“Why didn’t we find any at the scene?”

“I’m not sure.”

In fact, not only were these not found, but the plastic handcuffs on the victim’s body and the stockings in his mouth were also missing.

Other than the victim’s belongings, there were almost no other people’s items found at the scene.

In other words, someone cleaned up the scene.

Luke stared at her expression, “Did you ever return to the scene?”

“No, it was a nightmare for me and I never want to go back.”

“Were you followed or did you see anyone suspicious at the time?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Have you guys offended anyone recently?”

“No.”

“Were you and Barron Smith carrying any valuables at the time?”

“I only had a few hundred dollars in cash and a lost cell phone, and I’m not sure of the status of Barron Smith’s belongings.”

“How long have you and Barron Smith been in this relationship?”

“Last night, was our first ……”

Blackie “……”

I believe the hell out of you.

Blacky compared his finger to his eyes, “Hey, don’t try to fool the police, no one escapes my eyes.”

“Really or for the first time, I promise like God.” Shirley gave a begging look and said in a shaky voice, “Lieutenant Luke, Detective Marcus, please don’t tell my husband and son about this.

Please.

I know I was wrong and I’m sorry for them.

But I don’t want to hurt them, and if there’s anything you can do, you can just come to me, but please don’t tell them.”

Luke said, “Provided you’re not lying.

If you’re lying, according to investigative procedures, we’ll need to check with them.”

“I swear, everything I just said is true.”

“Last night, did your husband know about your outing?”

Sherry sighed softly, “Yes, I told him.”

“How?”

“I told him that I showed a couple a house and they invited me to dinner as a token of their appreciation.

Might be late getting home.

My husband has been out of town the last few days and just got back this morning ……

He didn’t ask too many questions.”

Black sighed, “Your husband trusts you.”

Sherry lowered her head, “Yes, I failed him, I was wrong.”

Kuro spread his hands, “Even though I’m also scummy and fun-loving, you’re different, you’re married and you should be responsible for your family.”

“You’re right, I’ll make it up to them in the future.”

While Blackie and Sherry were talking.

Luke re-read his notes, if Sherry didn’t lie, she was involved in the case almost the whole time, she was also a victim.

But what was the killer’s objective?

To rob money?

Robbery of S?

Love killing?

A revenge killing?

And then associate the murderer with a mask and a voice changer.

There are a lot of murderers with masks, but not many with voice changers.

Luke had a feeling that this was most likely an acquaintance’s crime.

“You just said Mr. Yalter went out of town, where did he go?”

“Bonas City.”

Bonas City is also part of Los Angeles County, and it’s not far from the city of Los Angeles, a drive of just over two hours or so.

Shirley Yalter’s husband definitely had motive for the crime, now the question was whether he knew about his wife’s infidelity?

If he knows, then he is highly suspicious.