Seeing the look of astonishnt on Mona's face, Robert's mouth curled into a smirk as he asked:
"Don't you guys at the FBI think all six of these bank robberies were committed by the sa group, do you?"
Luo An tapped the desk with a signing pen, expressionless:
"Do you have any evidence that the laundromat owner is behind these cris?"
"Of course!"
Robert nodded emphatically and went on:
"Last ti I was at his shop, I happened to see a set of black clothes and pants in one of the laundry baskets."
The Hyena Gang was aware of this case since one of the targeted banks was on their turf; thus, they knew the robbers all wore black attire.
Hearing this, Luo An felt sowhat speechless:
"It's pretty normal for a laundry to have black clothing. Are the black clothes you ntioned the sa as those worn by the robbers?"
Robert spread his hands and leaned back:
"That's the FBI's problem. How would I know?"
Seeing the other's actions, Mona was about to speak with furrowed brows, but Luo An waved his hand to signal her not to get angry, instead he said with a smile:
"That's great, I like your attitude.
But I hope you keep talking like that, because in the end, it won't be who ends up in prison."
"..."
Upon hearing Luo An's words, Robert's face suddenly beca stiff.
After a few seconds of silence, Robert cleared his throat, sat up straight, and began speaking earnestly:
"The laundromat owner's na is Erkin. He has elderly parents who need care, a daughter about to enter college, and a wife who was in a car accident, leaving her with a disability in her right leg."
Luo An turned to look at the computer beside Mona, which contained information about Erkin, identical to what Robert had described.
Luo An nodded, stretching out his hands:
"Continue."
Robert crossed his hands on the table and proceeded:
"Since his only source of inco was the laundromat and with money needed everywhere at ho, Erkin's life was quite strained.
It just so happened that around that ti, his daughter got into college, and although they could apply for a student loan, the high interest rates were not good news for the Erkin family.
After being referred by so people, Erkin later got to know us, the Hyena Gang, and we had so
uh,
financial interactions!"
Hearing him euphemize usury as "financial interactions," everyone in the room rolled their eyes, but Robert didn't mind and continued:
"We originally thought that after a while, when Erkin couldn't pay back the money, the laundromat would beco ours.
But unexpectedly, just a week later, Erkin ca with a large pile of small bills and paid us back every penny, principal and interest included."
Luo An and Mona exchanged glances, both noticing the irregularities in the story.
Seeing their reactions, Robert also recrossed his legs and added:
"As an organization with integrity, the Hyena Gang didn't trouble Erkin since he paid back what he owed, including interest.
We did, however, visit Erkin's laundromat that day, wanting to know how he made the money."
At that ti, Robert thought Erkin must have secretly gone out and sold flour because that's the only way money could co so quickly.
In that area, which was under the Hyena Gang's control, selling flour privately was a territory violation, so Robert went to the laundromat with his subordinates as soon as he learned about it.
Here, Robert's tone beca sowhat peculiar:
"When we entered the laundromat, Erkin was taking a set of black clothes out of a washing machine.
Right then, the television hanging at the entrance of the laundry was broadcasting the sixth bank robbery at a nearby bank."
Everyone else in the interrogation room: "..."
Luo An's mouth twitched as he asked:
"When was that day?"
"Last Wednesday."
That day indeed coincided with the ti of the sixth bank robbery. Luo An turned his head and signaled to Mona to check the surveillance footage of Erkin's laundromat and his family's store.
"There are no surveillance caras around the Erkin family's area, and the laundromat only has a networked cara at the upper right-hand side of the entrance, directly facing the doorway."
Mona's fingers danced across the keyboard, typing away before speaking softly:
"According to the surveillance, on the day of the incident, Erkin's laundromat didn't open in the morning as usual. It wasn't until the fourth hour after the incident that Erkin entered the laundromat with a brown shoulder bag."
Luo An raised an eyebrow and looked up at Robert, just about to ask more when Mona suddenly reached out, tugged at his arm, and pointed to the computer screen, whispering:
"Erkin's daughter didn't look too good when she ca to help at the laundromat, but about ten minutes later, she suddenly left the laundromat in high spirits."
"OK."
After hearing Mona's description, Luo An blinked and then looked up at Robert again, asking:
"Are there any other clues?"
"No clues, but I have so thoughts."
Robert sat up straight, his eyes smiling at Luo An and Mona as he said:
"Most people wouldn't spend money stolen from a bank directly for safety reasons.
So, I'm guessing that these bank robbers must have a way to launder the money..."
Robert spoke at length, veering into more and more implausible theories, even suspecting the robbers were coming from the KGB. Luo An imdiately waved his hand to interrupt him:
"Alright, Mr. Robert, your information is useful to us, but let's skip the speculation, do you have any other clues?"
"None."
"Good."
Luo An nodded, stood up, and was about to leave with Mona when Robert suddenly shouted:
"Agent sir, the clues I gave are real, you must give a reduced sentence! My wife is about to give birth any mont now, and I promised to be with her in the hospital!"
Luo An's mouth twitched, he left the interrogation room with big strides without a reply, and Mona glanced at him as she got up to leave the seat.
But seeing him raise an eyebrow at her, Mona glared back fiercely and then left without turning her head, following Luo An out.
Exiting the interrogation room, Luo An exchanged pleasantries with Norton for a mont, then walked out of the Organized Cri Investigation Division's office area, and went into the elevator with Mona.
In the elevator, Mona asked, tilting her head:
"Do you believe that the owner of the laundromat is the bank robber?"
Luo An shook his head, "Probably not, but it's a lead worth following up on. Looking into it more won't delay us."
Mona nodded and continued to ask:
"What's the plan now?"
"Simple."
Luo An rubbed his arm and tilted his head with a smile:
"When in doubt, consult a superior."
——
Knock knock knock
"Co in."
Upon hearing the cool voice from inside the conference room, Luo An pushed the door open and walked in.
Looking up to see that it was Luo An, Virene didn't waste ti and continued to lower her head and write:
"Sit."
"Headquarters."
Luo An plunked down onto a chair and before he could speak, Virene threw a folder at him:
"Take a look at the information inside first."
Opening the folder, Luo An's eyebrows shot up upon seeing the contents.
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