Chapter 277

The following morning.

Detective Bureau.

Deputy Director’s Office.

Reed sat at his desk, looking down at the documents in his hand with a somewhat serious expression on his face.

“Knock knock ……”

A knock sounded outside.

Reed took off his glasses, “Come in.”

Luke pushed the door and walked in, “Director, you’re looking for me.”

“Have a seat.” Reed pointed to the chair across from him, “How’s the case of the headless woman’s body going, any progress?”

“Petrov has been refusing to cooperate, we can only start the investigation from other directions, by investigating the communication records of the headless woman’s body, we have found out her last contact before her death, but the other party refuses to cooperate, I am preparing to apply for a search warrant.”

“Reed pinched his forehead, what was that person’s name?”

“Eddie Ross, a wealthy man, by his own account he was at a party the night of the murder that included city councilmen and judges.

But he doesn’t have an alibi.” Luke said with intent.

“You want to get a search warrant on him?”

“Yes. He won’t admit to being the owner of that cell phone card, claiming that he found it yesterday, and won’t cooperate with the police investigation to hand it over.”

Reed nodded, “You don’t need to apply for a search warrant.”

“Why?” Luke was a little surprised, could it be that Eddie Ross was so bullish that he influenced Reed here so quickly.

Is this guy so powerful?

“His house is now the scene of the crime, there’s no need for a search warrant anymore.”

“What happened to him?”

“He was assaulted, detained, and abused in his home and has been admitted to Marshall Hospital for treatment.”

“Is it life-threatening?”

“No, but the injuries are said to be quite severe.” Reed sighed softly, “Three days after the crime, the suspect has committed three consecutive crimes, and the motive has yet to be clarified.

He may commit another crime next, the situation is grim.

Luke, you have to hurry up!”

“I know, will solve the case as soon as possible.” Luke felt the pressure for the first time.

In the past, there had been situations where there was a delay in solving the case, but at that time, there was Susan on top, and Luke was only responsible for investigating the case, so the pressure wasn’t too great.

But now Luke was the first person in charge of the case, and the responsibility fell on him.

Back in his office, Luke called a meeting and talked about the attack on Eddie Ross at his home.

Jenny said, “We found him yesterday through his cell phone location, but he was unwilling to assist in the investigation and verbally threatened us.

We had to return to the police station to investigate his information first, and by the time we confirmed his identity it was already late and we couldn’t apply for another search warrant.

We could only wait for today to come before applying for a search warrant.”

Xiao Hei said, “It’s not your fault, it’s this guy’s own problem, if he had taken the initiative to assist the police in their investigation at that time, he most likely wouldn’t have suffered an attack.

Just like Petrov, no one would have expected this to happen.”

The lieutenant said, “Captain, why don’t I go to the hospital and redo his statement.”

Luke thought for a moment, “Lieutenant, you take the men to his house and investigate, I’ll meet him.”

“OK, you’re the captain.”

After the meeting was adjourned, the 1st Squadron split into two groups to act.

Luke and Blackie rushed to Marshall Hospital.

Luke sat in the co-pilot with his eyes closed in contemplation, this was the first case he had taken on since he was promoted to captain, and it was tricky.

Three days, three victims.

Moreover, both of the new victims belonged to people involved in the case and had previous contact with the police.

This made Luke feel passive and reflect on whether there was something wrong with the way he was investigating?

Rarely, Blackie didn’t say anything along the way, allowing Luke to clear his head for a while.

Half an hour later, the two arrived at Marshall Hospital and parked in the parking lot.

Luke first found Eddie Ross’s attending physician, a white female doctor in her forties.

“Hello, I’m Eddie Ross’s primary care doctor, Dr. Kanat.”

“Dr. Kanat, hello.

I’m Detective Marcus from the Robbery-Murder Division, and this is our Captain Lee.”

Kanat offered her hand, “Captain Lee, we’ve been in touch on the cell phone, I didn’t realize you were so young.”

Luke shook the other party’s hand and politely said, “Nice to meet you, Dr. Kanat.

How is Eddie Ross doing now?”

“Uh …… we’ve already treated him, the rest is up to him to recover.”

“Are his injuries serious?”

“How so? I think it’s more likely to be a psychological injury.

The area where he was injured is more sensitive.”

Black was more sensitive to certain aspects and pointed down, “Is it the brother?”

Dr. Kanat nodded, “Wow. That’s a very graphic analogy.”

“Even the Karma’s! That’s a sick suspect, can we still pick it up?”

Dr. Kanat shrugs, “It was delivered too late.”

Kuro lamented, “What a poor guy.”

Luke asked, “We’d like to get a statement from him, does his current physical condition allow it?”

“Physically no problem, but his mental state may be worse, he is now sensitive to external stimuli and may not be willing to see you guys.”

“Please tell him that if he doesn’t see us, he may miss the best time to arrest the suspect.”

“OK, I’ll pass it on.” Dr. Kanat turned to leave.

Blackie came over and whispered, “That suspect is getting more and more perverted, just thinking about what happened to Eddie Ross makes me feel a little cold in my lower body.

Eddie Ross must be desperate as hell right now.”

Luke didn’t reply, he was thinking about the suspect’s modus operandi, each of the victims had a part of their body cut off, but each one was cut in a different part, what was the meaning behind this?

Eddie Ross was most likely a johnny-come-lately, wasted by the cutting suspect who sliced off the underside.

Petrov was a gang banger and was wasted by the suspect cutting off the thumbs of his hands and feet.

The first female victim, Novena Jones, was a silver saleswoman, that is, she made her living on her face, and her entire head was sliced off.

Taken together, the suspect’s injuries look more like targeted retaliation.

Will there be another one?

And if there is, who will it be?

Dr. Canat walked over, “Captain Lee, Eddie Ross agrees to see you.”

“Thank you.”

Led by Kanat, Luke and Blackie arrived outside Eddie Ross’s hospital room.

“Knock, knock ……” Blackie knocked on the door.

There was no answer.

The two pushed right through the door and walked in.

This was a luxurious single ward, with an independent bathroom, TV, nursing bed, lockers, and a water dispenser and small refrigerator.

Xiao Hei swept around, “The environment here is almost catching up with a hotel.”

On the hospital bed lay a white man with a bandage wrapped around his head, his eyes staring listlessly at the top of the bed.

Black flashed his badge, “I’m Detective Marcus from the Robbery and Murder Division, this is Capt.

Eddie Ross, we’d like to talk to you about the assault case.”

Eddie Ross looked at Luke and then at Black, “Was the Chicano cop and the policewoman from yesterday one of yours?”

“Yes, what’s the problem?”

Eddie Ross questioned, “Why didn’t they take me? Why don’t they arrest me?”

Black was confused by the question, “Why would they arrest you, what have you done that’s illegal?”

“I lied.

That cell phone card belongs to me, it’s specifically used by me to contact silver selling women, I often look for silver selling women, I’m an old john.

You guys should have arrested me, then I wouldn’t have been attacked by that pervert and I wouldn’t have been ……”

Xiao Hei rolled his eyes, feeling that this bastard was a bit of a criminal, it was clearly your own problem, and now you’re blaming the police for not arresting you.

Really fucking shameless.

“You admit to contacting Novena Jones on the night of September 15th?”

“Yes, I did call her that night.

She’s a silver saleswoman, young, pretty, very energetic, and I’ve done it with her a couple of times.

I tried to call her that night to get her to come to my house, but she refused.

I scolded her and then she hung up her cell phone.

When I called again after that, she didn’t answer.”

“Did you see her that night?”

“No.”

“When was the last time you saw each other?”

“I can’t remember, I think it was about a month ago, I rarely look for the same chick in the same month, and her death has nothing to do with me, nothing at all.”

“What were you doing between ten and twelve o’clock on the night of September 15th?”

“I was really at home, I was pissed off and uninterested after being rejected by Novena Jones.

Had a drink and went to bed.”

“Do you know Petrov?”

“Yes, Novena Jones is under his charge.”

“Do you know each other well?”

“Not to speak of; I have only met him once.”

“Have you ever been near the Sutt River?”

“No. As I said, I had nothing to do with the death of Novena Jones.

I’m a victim now; can you care for me?

I’m in more pain than death right now, and I’m no less hurt than Novena Jones.”

Luke turned the tables, “Tell me about what happened to you last night.”

“Whew ……”

Eddie Ross let out a long sigh, a pained look on his face, “Last night, after those two smelly cops left. I went back to the living room, and the more I thought about it, the angrier I got, so I slammed my cell phone.

Later, the doorbell rang, I went over to check, and I didn’t see anyone outside the door.

I vaguely heard a noise behind me and when I turned my head to look I was knocked unconscious.”

Eddie Ross clenched his fists and showed his indignation, “When I woke up, I saw myself tied up on a couch, and a man wearing a mask was sitting on a small couch, and he was holding a knife, a very sharp knife.

He was an animal.”

Black took a deep breath and felt a chill as well, “He already cut you up down there?”

“Not then.” Eddie Ross glared at Black, “You guys need to protect me and send more people, I never want to see that asshole, ever again.”

Luke asked rhetorically, “You think he’ll come after you again?”

“I don’t know, but I’d rather die than fall into his hands again.” Eddie Ross’s body trembled slightly.

“What did the suspect say to you?”

“He asked for my name and asked if I knew Novena Jones.

He asked the same thing the two cops did, so I just glossed over it with the same words.

After hearing that, he didn’t say anything and just slashed my pants open with a knife.

I was dying of fear, and he cut my thigh, and then told me that if I ever lied again, he would castrate me.” Eddie Ross was a little emotional and his voice quivered.

“I could sense that he wasn’t joking and I didn’t dare lie again, telling him that I knew Novena Jones, was her guest and had done it with her a couple of times.

I thought that would be the end of it, but it was just the beginning.”

Eddie Ross slapped his forehead as the memories seemed to pain him, “He asked me if I had ever assaulted Novena Jones and I said no.

Without saying a word, he slashed me underneath and it hurt like hell.

I was scared silly.

Yelling and screaming in pain, he put his hand over my mouth and said that if I screamed again, he would just cut it off.

I didn’t dare to cry out anymore and begged him to take me to the hospital.

He didn’t oblige and told me to keep answering his questions.

I admitted it, I hit Novena Jones.”

Black wondered, “Why did you lie again when you knew he was dangerous and promised you wouldn’t?”

“I don’t know, maybe it’s just habit.”

“Why did you hit Novena Jones? Was the beating serious?”

“I like to play tricks, the more exciting kind, and once Novena Jones wouldn’t have it, so I punched her.

She told Petrov and tried to get Petrov to back her up.

Petrov didn’t give a damn about her, only about her making money.

I paid for lost wages and therapy, and Petrov was happy with that money and promised to keep Novena Jones with me in the future.

That was the only contact I had with them.”

Luke felt that the bastard deserved it, Novena Jones was still underage, a chick, which was already immoral, and the bastard was playing perverted tactics and assaulting people.

An attitude that the old man has the money to get even.

Luke patiently asked, “What else did the suspect say?”

“He also asked me if I killed Novena Jones. I told him no.

He then asked me if I had contacted Novena Jones on the night of September 15th.

I admitted to contacting Novena Jones but was turned down and did not meet that night.

He also asked me if I knew where she went and who she met with on the night of the 4th.

I said no.

He also asked me if I knew who killed Novena Jones, and I said no.

Then he took out a needle and gave me a shot …… “At this point, Eddie Ross’s voice was hoarse and breathed a sense of desperation.

“When I woke up, he was gone, I felt a pain in my lower body and saw ……

God ah …… that devil cut off my ……

You must catch him, you must find that devil, God will never let him go.

He has ruined my ……

My life is dark and completely ruined.”

After a few minutes, Eddie Roth’s emotions smoothed out a bit, and Luke said, “We want to catch the suspect too, and we’ve been doing that, and we’d also like you to assist us with some clues about him, such as physical description, clothing, and weapons.”

Eddie Ross recalled, “He was wearing a black round mask, I couldn’t see what he looked like, but I could identify him as a black man with a voice that sounded like a native, very thick.

Dressed in all black, like jeans and a shirt, he was about six-foot-five and looked lanky.

He had a small knife, very sharp, with a certain curvature, and the blade was ten centimeters long ……

That’s all I remember, I can’t remember the rest.”

“Are you sure he was black?”

“Yes.”

“Where did he enter the room?”

“I don’t know.”

“The exact time you were attacked?”

“Around twenty past eight.”

“What time did he leave?”

“I don’t know.”

“What time did you wake up?”

“About 1:00 a.m. I was in so much pain that my cries alerted the neighbors and they called the police.

After that, the police came into my house and called an ambulance for me.”

Blackie said, “You should have trusted the police sooner.”

“I pay so many taxes …… every year,” Eddie Ross wanted to retort, but didn’t say the second half of his sentence.

He had to rely on the police now and didn’t want to make things too difficult.

Luke asked at length, “Did the suspect touch any of your home’s belongings?”

“I don’t think so.”

“What do you think his purpose in hurting you was?”

“He seems to be here for Novena Jones and is investigating the murder of Novena Jones just like you are.”

“Have you seen anyone suspicious in the last two days?”

“No.”

“When you were in contact with Novena Jones, did she mention anyone closer?”

“I asked her about some personal matters, but she wouldn’t talk about them.”

“What do you think about the murder of Novena Jones?”

“I don’t know; she was just a silver-seller’s girl, and I was only playing with her; I didn’t care a thing about her, that’s all.

Now that she’s dead, why are you all coming after me?

Because I called her that night?

Why am I so unlucky? I should have known better than to touch her.

There are so many silver-selling women waiting to make money in L.A. Why did I have to find her?

I’ve become this ……

No longer a ……

No way …… ” Eddie Ross said more and more sad, has cried uncontrollably sobbing.

Xiao Hei advised, “Man, it is better to be kind.

You look for the silver seller woman is not a big deal, I can understand.

But Novena Jones is still underage, I’m sure you know that, and it’s immoral for you to do so.

And, more than that, you shouldn’t have hit her, that’s pretty shitty behavior.

You’re doing it wrong.”

“Shut up and stop yammering, is there any use talking about this now?

If it was earlier, I might have changed, but now …… there’s no point.

I’m wasted.”

“Mr. Ross, you rest first, and I wish you a speedy recovery.” Luke left his sentence and got up to leave.

“You must catch him, promise me!”

Luke didn’t turn around, you’ve been watching too many fucking TV shows.

Sitting in the car, Blackie bristled, “I don’t sympathize with him at all, this guy is a standard shit.”

Luke ignored Blacky, he was thinking about what Eddie Ross just said.

If what Eddie Ross said was true, then this case should be different from the previous speculation.

First was the description of the suspect.

According to the description of the white homeless man by the Sutter River, the person who dumped the body by the river on September 15 was a white man wearing a baseball cap and jeans, but there was no mention of wearing a mask.

The suspect, on the other hand, was described by Eddie Ross as a black man wearing a mask.

There is a huge difference in physical appearance between the two.

Also, the masked man’s questioning of Eddie Ross seems to be about tracking down Novena Jones’ killer.

Assuming the above match, the three cases should not be the same suspect.

Luke reassembles the case clues and tries again to speculate.

Novena Jones was the first victim, and the police found Petrov by tracing her identity and address, the latter did not cooperate with the investigation and fled.

After that, the police were able to trace Eddie Ross through cell phone communication records, who also did not cooperate with the investigation and lied that he did not know Novena Jones.

With the police investigation thwarted, both suspected perpetrators were subjected to inquisitorial persecution, with one having his hand chopped off and the other having his chicken chopped.

Analyzed from this perspective, the man in the black mask also seemed to be investigating the murder of Novena Jones, with the possible aim of avenging Novena Jones.

Luke deliberated, this speculation is theoretically valid.

The man in the mask had wasted gang bangers and castrated perverted johns.

What was this behavior of his?

Acting in the name of God?

Luke had a headache, and whatever the masked man’s intentions were, he had already caused him trouble.

He disliked the feeling.

At the same time, he continued to reflect on why the other man had gotten a confession easily that the police couldn’t get.

None other.

No scruples and ruthlessness.

At the same time, there was a certain bottom line, he didn’t kill anyone.

In addition to external influences, the first squadron also had problems internally.

Susan’s transfer is going to have a bigger impact than imagined.

In the past, when Susan was in the First Squadron, with her in charge, Luke, the vice-captain, didn’t have much real power, and also had to go out to investigate cases with the other team members.

Luke’s ability to investigate cases goes without saying, and most of the cases were led by him.

Now that Susan was transferred, Luke became the captain, sitting in command.

The outgoing investigations were handed over to his men, the first time it was Marcus and Jackson.

The second time it was Ramon and Jenny.

They all did their best and did a good job, but it all went wrong.

If Susan hadn’t been transferred, then it would likely have been Luke and Blackie who were out investigating.

Assuming, hypothetically, Petrov had bumped into Luke at the time, instead of Jackson, then he would likely have been caught, and wouldn’t have been shortchanged by the man in the mask.

As for Eddie Ross, if he had lied, Luke would likely have seen it coming.

Of course, there were no ifs in this world, and Luke had no problem sitting in command as captain, just continuing Susan’s pattern.

But there was one thing he couldn’t do better than Susan.

At that time, Susan had Luke, a one-man cadre, under her.

She could rest assured that the clues would be handed over to Luke for investigation, and every time Luke was able to do it well, she trusted Luke, which was also the reason why she was able to sit in the police station at ease.

On the contrary, Luke, who became the captain of the first squadron, reduced the opportunity to go out to investigate, but for a while, he could not find someone who could replace him to investigate the case.

Although the other members of the team were also excellent, each with their own special characteristics and abilities, but compared to Luke, it was obviously a lot worse.

To put it bluntly, if you want to solve the case as soon as possible, Luke still has to be on the front line of the investigation, and no one can replace him.

He’s the one who guarantees the detection of the case.

Of course, the captain must be, not only to be, but also to turn early.

As for how to adjust the division of labor within the team, but also to study ……