This chapter has undergone significant revisions and has been reposted; it relates to the plot that follows, so I hope everyone will read it again.
...
Two hours later,
Marcus brought four state police officers over to offer support.
At six in the evening, Susan, accompanied by the surveyors, rushed to the scene.
"David, Luke, Marcus, well done, you've worked hard."
David said, "Captain, based on Dave's description, we speculate that Steven abandoned the vehicle yesterday evening, nearly twenty-four hours ago.
The longer we delay, the greater the chance he has of escaping. Should we deploy police to search?"
Susan looked out over the vast Gobi, "Where do you think Steven might run to? Are there any other vehicles involved?"
Luke thought for a mont, "Dave was locked in the trunk, so he doesn't know Steven's situation either. We've examined the surrounding area for traces, but found no obvious tire tracks or footprints."
David spat out a mouthful of sand that had blown into his mouth, "The sandstorms here are too strong; any traces from 24 hours ago would have been buried or blown away by now. I suspect Steven ca prepared, perhaps with sothing like a small motorcycle. He could already be in xico."
Luke agreed, "I share David's opinion. Without a vehicle, it would be too difficult to walk out of the Gobi alive. Besides, Steven now has forty thousand US dollars, enough for him to escape to anywhere."
Susan pressed, "Do you also think he might run to xico?"
Luke, still sowhat unfamiliar with the area around Los Angeles, shook his head, "I can't be certain. He might flee to xico, or he might do the exact opposite and sneak back to hide in Los Angeles."
"I understand." After listening to their descriptions, Susan had more or less made a decision.
Half an hour later, Luke and the other two withdrew from the Gobi to rest and recuperate in Los Angeles.
The surveyors had already set up floodlights around the area, indicating the investigation would continue through the night.
Susan, Raymond, and Jenny stayed in the Gobi with many patrol officers to search for Steven's whereabouts.
The complex conditions of the Gobi posed many difficulties for the search operation, but considering Steven had been on the run for 24 hours, the police couldn't afford more delays and had to search throughout the night.
...
An underground basent with dim lighting.
The basent wasn't large, just over twenty square ters, with a wall lamp clamped above the wooden bed's headboard.
A blonde-haired woman curled up next to the wall lamp, shivering slightly and murmuring, "Whimper... Why do this to ? Why kidnap ? Let go."
Suddenly, footsteps resounded, accompanied by a man's voice, "Alyssa, I'm back. No one can separate us this ti; you belong only to ."
Upon hearing this voice, the woman's trembling intensified as she pleaded helplessly, "No, don't co any closer, please …"
...
Saturday afternoon.
A weary Susan returned to the Robbery and Murder Departnt.
Without pausing to rest, she imdiately called everyone to the eting room.
Susan got straight to the point, "We've searched the area for several kiloters around the rcedes and haven't caught Steven. Does anyone have any new leads?"
The deputy stated, "Judging from the bloodstains in the store, Alyssa likely t with foul play, but we didn't find her body inside the store.
Moving a body definitely requires a vehicle. I suspect Steven must have an unknown ans of transport.
He might have used this vehicle for the cri, and even for escaping.
I suggest we review surveillance footage from around the scenes of all three incidents and compare any suspicious vehicles that appeared.
If we can find this vehicle, we might be able to trace our way back to Steven."
Susan nodded, "That's a good idea. What do others think?"
Luke cleared his throat, "Last night, I kept analyzing Steven's motive for the cri.
I rember the first ti I t Steven, he ntioned wanting to start a small store, to do so business.
At the ti I thought it was just talk, but now I think he might have been telling the truth."
Steven rented a shop on February 11th, wanting to surprise his wife, which suggests that at the ti, their relationship was fine.
The first Taser robbery occurred on February 18th. Although the victim wasn't Alyssa, judging by her age and physical characteristics, the victim was clearly a substitute for Alyssa.
It indicates that there was a significant emotional change between Steven and Alyssa during this ti.
This is when we have to ntion a person—the street racer Harry.
Harry had a conflict with Alyssa at the club, secretly took photos of her dancing, and even left the photos at Alyssa's house.
Steven saw the photos.
It is very likely that this was the trigger for the Taser robbery."
Susan thought for a mont, "This speculation is generally correct, but renting a shop takes $15,000, which is no small sum. Where did Steven get this money from?"
Luke replied, "I have thought of that too. It ans Steven must have other financial channels. The reason he kept it from his wife might be because this financial channel is shady."
That reminds of Tony Will.
Tony Will also has other financial resources.
Moreover, it was Tony Will who bought the modified Taser, but it was Steven who was using it.
This indirectly proves that the two of them were connected.
Although I'm not sure about their source of inco, I can make a bold assumption that they might have other criminal records."
"Very good," Susan said, satisfied with Luke's analysis.
Not to be outdone upon seeing Luke's performance, Marcus added, "Uh... I've already contacted friends in the gangs, asking them to help locate Steven. I believe there will be news soon."
"Good," Susan nodded, her hands resting on the table,
"Our current task is to capture Steven and Tony. As long as we find their whereabouts, the case will be blown wide open.
Let's split up and get to it."
After the eting, Luke went to Matthew's to get the files on Tony Will.
Everyone was looking for Steven; one more person wouldn't make a difference, one less wouldn't matter.
Better to switch targets in search of him; there might be new findings.
The key to finding Tony is to trace Tony's real identity from twenty years ago.
Humans are social animals; it's difficult to completely cut off contact with family and friends.
Over these twenty years, Tony likely still kept in touch with old friends and relatives, like the wealthy person who frequently visited him.
And his ntioned wife and children.
It's just that the ti span is quite long, and finding clues to their etings won't be easy.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, Alyssa's parents ca to the Robbery and Murder Departnt, inquiring about the progress of the case investigation.
The Whites had let go of their anger after learning that their daughter danced at the strip club and only hoped she would return safely.
Mrs. White's quiet sobbing cast a somber mood over the office.
Luke went downstairs for so air, and Marcus eagerly followed.
Dave tossed him a cigarette, laughing, "Luke, how's it going with that hot chick?"
Lighting the cigarette and taking a puff, Luke replied with resignation, "It's okay, I guess. She even asked out yesterday, but because of the pursuit of Steven, we had to postpone the date."
"Hey, buddy, want to teach you a few tricks that'll guarantee you'll bag her?"
Luke shook his head with a chuckle, "Keep them for yourself, will you?"
"If that lady dumps you, don't say I didn't help you," Marcus nudged Luke with his shoulder, a mysterious expression on his face. "I've got a new target too. Wanna see who can score first?"
Luke just flipped him off in response.
A white BMW X5 pulled into the parking spot of the precinct, and a man in a suit got out of the car.
Dave snickered, "Luke, do you sll that piss stench? Heh heh..."
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