The next morning.
As soon as daylight broke, David led a team to search the manor but they didn't find the whereabouts of the painting.
In the afternoon, two suspects were escorted back to the Los Angeles Police Station.
As soon as Luke entered the office, Marcus exclaid in an exaggerated tone, "Hey, guys, look who's back!"
Then, he extended his right fist and bumped fists with Luke.
The deputy team praised, "I heard you caught two suspects by yourself, quite reminiscent of my early days, good."
"Maybe, but you definitely weren't as handso as when you were young, by the way, the 'Kuta' tasted pretty good." Luke laughed, that old man really had no sha.
Susan walked out of her office, "Luke, David, welco back safely, well done."
Raymond, Jenny, and Matthew also ca up to greet them.
Luke began talking about the process of capturing the suspects, in Arica, one definitely should not be modest when it's ti to praise oneself.
Everyone was chatting spiritedly when the office door opened.
Chief Reid walked in with a stern face and said, "What are you doing? I could hear you from afar. The police departnt pays you a salary not for chatting during work hours."
Susan stepped forward to explain, "Chief, it's not what you think, Luke and Da—"
"Stop! Don't make excuses for your mistakes, I don't care about the reasons." Reid's reprimand brought the room's atmosphere to a freezing point.
"Pfft..."
Reid laughed, "Haha, you got fooled. Honestly, wasn't my acting great?
I knew Luke and David had just escorted the suspects back, I ca to see them."
After finishing, Reid extended his right hand towards Luke and made a fist-bump gesture, "I've always had high hopes for you, well done.
Let's have a drink soti."
Luke was sowhat surprised, extended his right fist, and bumped fists with him, "Anyti."
Marcus's eyes widened as if he had seen sothing unbelievable.
A bit disappointed.
Why can't I do that?
Then, Luke continued talking about the experiences in Haim City and Cindy's confession.
After hearing this, Chief Reid remarked, "Twenty years and this case is finally clear.
When we first investigated this case, we thought it was a robbery homicide, but it turned out to be an accident.
Tony is already dead, Cindy has confessed, and after so many years, we're finally closing the case."
Susan said, "Lorne hasn't been found yet, nor has the little girl he took with him. If she's still alive, she should be 23 years old now. About the sa age as Lorne's eldest daughter, Sofia."
Jenny said, "If we can find this little girl, the case would be complete."
Seizing the mont, Susan said, "Jenny, this task is yours."
Jenny responded, "No problem, it's aningful."
The deputy team picked up the previous topic, "According to Cindy, she and Tony committed manslaughter. The charges against Cole and Lorne are less serious; they only illegally occupied other people's property.
Cole ran away because he killed Tony. Why did Lorne run away?"
Luke said, "Cindy ntioned that when they divided up the property, Cole got two hundred thousand US dollars, she and Tony got one hundred and twenty thousand US dollars and so jewelry, Lorne got one hundred and ten thousand US dollars and the painting.
That painting might still be with Lorne, perhaps one of the reasons he ran away.
Besides, when Cindy and Tony parted ways, she took the portion of the money and most of the jewelry that belonged to them."
The deputy team shrugged, "Tony is already dead.
But Cole Davis is still alive, he was the first to find Tony Will, maybe he knows so clues that the police don't."
Chief Reid nodded, "Exactly, we should not delay and interrogate Cole Davis right now."
...
Los Angeles City Central Hospital.
Cole Davis was injured by a gunshot, the bullet had been removed, but he still needed to recuperate in the hospital ward.
There were officers guarding outside the hospital room.
After verifying their identities, Luke and Marcus entered the room.
"Hi, Cole, how's your injury?"
Cole gave Luke a disdainful look, "Your shooting skills are terrible."
Eyeing him, Luke smiled and said, "You're right, next ti I'll aim for your ass."
"Haha..." Marcus chuckled from the side.
"Can I have so peace? I don't want to see you guys right now."
Lounging beside the hospital bed, Luke said seriously, "You now have two choices, first is to make your statent here.
Second, I'll help you with the discharge procedures right now and take you back to the station to make your statent."
Cole knew these were his last monts of comfort, "What do you want to know?"
Pulling out a notebook, Luke said, "Recount the events of the 'Telson Manor Disappearance Case.'
With a light sigh, Cole slowly began.
What he and Cindy described was roughly the sa.
After listening, Luke asked, "Where is Mrs. Anna's little daughter?"
"I don't know, I took my share of the money and left imdiately, I didn't kill the person, and I don't want to deal with their ss."
"Who got the painting?"
Cole sighed, "Two people died all of a sudden, although I didn't kill them, I was terrified because I was taking the deceased's money.
I grabbed the money and ran first, I did not see them divide the rest of the possessions."
Changing the subject, Luke talked about another case, "Why did you kidnap Tony and Lorne?"
"In that year's case, I was the most innocent yet the police suspected . Those three lived above the law, and I found out later about the value of that painting, and I heard the jewelry was worth a lot too, but my two hundred thousand dollars was the least valuable.
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got, so I kept looking for the painting, wanting to get another share of the money."
Cole paused, then continued, "I never found out about the painting, but I accidentally ran into Tony, then I started my revenge, planning to take back the painting from them."
"How did you find Lorne?"
"Also through Tony."
"Why did you kill Tony?"
Cole was stunned for a mont, "I didn't kill Tony."
Leaning back in his chair, Luke said, "At this point, you're still lying."
"I'm not lying, I didn't kill Tony."
"We got Tim's testimony, he pointed out that you were the killer."
Cole laughed, "He's lying, he killed Tony."
Luke countered, "Do you have any evidence?"
Cole smirked, "Aren't police supposed to provide the evidence for conviction? Do you have any evidence?"
Luke said, "There are two possibilities for Tony's death.
First, Tony was killed by you personally.
Second, Tony was killed by Tim, but you were the mastermind behind the will case, in other words, you instructed Tim to kill Tony.
Regardless of the scenario, we will charge you with first-degree murder. I believe the jury will make the right decision."
"Since you're going to charge with first-degree murder, what else is there to say?"
Luke pulled out an agreent, "If you plead guilty voluntarily, we might consider making a deal with you and charge you with second-degree murder."
Cole was silent; it was a double-edged sword. By admitting guilt, he was definitely going to prison, though a second-degree murder charge was lighter.
If he did not plead guilty, he would be charged with first-degree murder. If acquitted, he could walk free.
But once convicted by the jury, he might face the death penalty.
Torn, Cole remained silent for several minutes before saying, "OK, let's talk.
Assuming, just assuming, you charge with second-degree murder, I'm willing to plead guilty."
"You are a smart man." Luke passed the agreent to him.
After taking the agreent and scrutinizing it, Cole said, "Uh… I have one more request."
"What is it?"
"If you find that painting, let know, I want to know which bastard is still fooling ."
Luke laughed, "No problem, but there's no reward for you."
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