Reid made a welcoming gesture, "Mrs. Browning, please have a seat, we indeed have so news about your daughter."
"My God, it's actually true; I'm not dreaming, am I?" the Black woman sobbed.
The Black man beside her helped his wife to sit down, asking, "Director Reid, is my daughter still alive?"
Reid hesitated for a mont, "The clues have a certain delay; I cannot determine her current condition, but I think there is a great possibility she is alive."
"That's wonderful; thank you so much. Please, you must rescue my daughter; we really can't be without her," Mrs. Browning wept bitterly.
The Black husband, his eyes also red-rimd, held back his tears, softly comforting his wife for a bit before asking, "Director Reid, could you share the new clues you have found?"
Reid nodded his head, "Since the last ransom paynt, the kidnappers have not made any contact.
But our Robbery and Murder Departnt has not given up investigating your daughter's case; everyone in our departnt is concerned about this case.
The new clue was provided by a squad; while investigating other cases, they discovered a video of your daughter. The video was obtained on October 2nd, so there is a great possibility that your daughter is alive."
The Black husband asked, "Can I see the video?"
"The content of the video...is quite hard to accept, I don't recomnd you watch it."
"Director Reid, I am ntally prepared; rather than imagining the worst, I prefer to know her current situation."
Reid refused again, "Mr. Browning, the video is evidence for the case investigation, it's not appropriate to show it to you and your wife."
"I understand," the Black husband did not persist, perhaps he wasn't as strong as one might imagine.
His desire to see the video stemd from concern for his daughter, but deep down he probably feared watching it himself, constantly conflicted, and Reid's refusal spared him the painful choice.
The Black husband inquired, "Director Reid, Captain Chen, what are your plans to find my daughter? Are you confident you can rescue her?"
Reid and Chen Kelin exchanged glances, and the latter said, "We just received the clue and are preparing to investigate. We asked you here today only to inform you that we are restarting the case investigation.
If there are any new clues, you can contact us."
The couple seed unsatisfied with the answer.
The Black husband asked, "Director Reid, you ntioned this clue was discovered by the first squad of the Robbery and Murder Departnt?"
"Yes."
"Is the squad leader by any chance the recently awarded Public Safety Officer dal of Valor recipient, Captain Luke Lee?"
"Do you know him?"
"Since my daughter was kidnapped, I've been following the police departnt closely. I know he has solved many major cases—the headless woman case, the vampire murder case, the school shooting case, and the Las Vegas shooting case.
Basically, every major criminal case in Los Angeles has been investigated or assisted by him.
That speaks to his competence and how much the police departnt values him.
Since he discovered the new clue for the case, why not let him handle my daughter's case? Is her case not important?"
Reid hurriedly explained, "Mr. Browning, it's not like you think; we take your daughter's case very seriously.
That's why the case was assigned to the second squad, led by Captain Chen, who is experienced and capable, a responsible leader."
The Black husband responded, "You're right, Captain Chen has also been very responsible about my daughter's case, and I see his efforts.
I should not have said what I said; Captain Chen is doing well...
But my daughter's life is in the balance, I don't want what happened last ti to happen again...
I just want to do everything I can... to give my daughter a chance to be rescued.
I hope she is still alive..."
The Black husband sincerely asked, "Captain Chen, are you confident you can rescue my daughter?"
Chen Kelin remained silent for a mont, then shook his head, "No."
Reid said, "Mr. Browning, before a case is solved, no one can guarantee that the culprit can be caught definitively.
Even Captain Luke Lee wouldn't be any different."
"I understand.
But Captain Lee is the finest detective in Los Angeles.
If even he can't save my daughter, then I'll accept that as well.
I just want to maximize the chances of her being rescued.
Director Reid, Captain Chen, you must also be fathers, I believe you can understand my feelings."
The Black woman choked up, "Director Reid, please. We just hope Olivia can co back alive, sob..."
Reid saw the couple out and summoned Chen Kelin to his office, "Clint, what do you think about this?"
"Director, I follow your lead."
"Don't play coy with , you were in charge of this case before, now, I want to hear your opinion."
Chen Kelin sighed, "Honestly, so much ti has passed since the case was active, I didn't expect...
I'm also not sure we can rescue their daughter.
The last incident also took a toll on .
If they trust Captain Lee more, I'm willing to transfer the case to him."
Reid said resignedly, "It's not about you deciding to transfer; Luke doesn't want to take your case, he respects you, and doesn't want this to cause any rift between the first and second squad mbers."
If Luke had taken the case right after finding the new clue, Chen Kelin and his squad might have felt slighted, believing Luke was taking over their case.
But now it's different; Luke relayed the new clue directly to Reid, and Chen Kelin knew about the clue; with the victim's parents requesting Luke to take on the case,
it indirectly indicated that they no longer trusted Chen Kelin.
If Chen Kelin continues to investigate under this lack of trust, and if the victim cannot be rescued again, the Brownings are likely to harbor resentnt.
That would not bode well for him or the police departnt.
Chen Kelin said, "Director, I will talk to Luke and dispel his concerns."
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