Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Robbery and Murder Department interrogation room.

A seventeen or eighteen-year-old Latin male was handcuffed to the interrogation chair, his expression wooden, showing no emotion.

"Creak..." The door sounded.

Luke entered the interrogation room and placed a stack of documents on the table, "I didn't expect to meet you here. How does it feel?"

"For me, it's no different from the Jujutsu Club."

Luke countered, "You're not happy at the Jujutsu Club?"

Christian didn't respond.

"OK, enough reminiscing. Let's talk about something worthwhile," Luke shifted the conversation abruptly, "What's your full name?"

"Christian Sodi."

"You know that's not what I'm asking."

"Carlos Sodi."

"Are you Kuka Saldana's boss?"

"Yes."

"Which organization do you belong to?"

"We don't belong to any organization."

"But Kuka said you belong to an organization called Posta."

Carlos Sodi laughed, "Impossible, Kuka would never say that."

"Don't be so sure. Many suspects talk tough before they're caught. Once they're caught, they sing a different tune.

If it weren't for Kuka pointing the finger, we wouldn't have suspected you."

Carlos Sodi shook his head, "You don't need to trick me. Kuka would never dare betray me.

So I'm curious how you figured there was something wrong with me."

Luke said firmly, "Kuka told us.

He's not as trustworthy as you think."

Luke's attitude made Carlos Sodi waver a bit, and he didn't say much more.

Luke continued, "Did you send a message this morning for Kuka to come to the hospital?"

"Yes."

"For what?"

Carlos Sodi thought for a moment and answered, "At the time, there were police officers guarding outside our ward. They worked in pairs with high vigilance.

Moreover, I wasn't sure if there were other undercover cops around, so I asked Kuka to help me escape from the hospital. Natasha was harmed, and I was worried I would be exposed soon."

Luke pressed on, "In the afternoon, we switched your hospital room. Why didn't you email Kuka then to inform him of the change and instead allowed him to walk into a trap in room 509?"

"When you suggested changing my room, I got a sinking feeling that things were not looking good.

I did think about emailing Kuka, but considering the risks, I gave up on the idea."

Luke asked with interest, "What risks?"

Carlos Sodi replied, "I sent an email to Kuka in the morning to come to room 509.

You switched my room in the afternoon, and my first thought was that Kuka had been caught, that you had found that email and suspected there was an undercover agent in the hospital. The room switch was a trap in itself.

If I sent another email, you'd likely confirm my identity.

Second, even if Kuka hadn't been caught at the time, if he was caught later, with two accurate emails, you'd still suspect me.

So, I didn't inform Kuka. Even if he were caught, he wouldn't rat me out, and you wouldn't suspect me.

Once you had caught Kuka, you would let your guard down, and it would be easier for me to escape the hospital."

Luke said, "You're quite cold-blooded."

"If I hadn't been, I would have died long ago, and wouldn't have had the chance to come to Los Angeles.

To be honest, I quite like this city."

Luke probed, "Do you like Natasha?"

"Huh..." Carlos Sodi let out a soft sigh, "I don't know how to answer you.

She was a good person and treated me well.

But... she had no idea how terrifying her enemies were."

"Are you one of her enemies?"

"I suppose so."

"Did you kill her?"

"No, her death has nothing to do with me.

If I had wanted to kill her, there are countless ways. Why make such a commotion, getting myself injured in the blast and trapped in the hospital?

Only a fool would do that." As he spoke, Carlos Sodi's face took on a complex expression, "Actually, I've been struggling with the thought of what I would do if one day I had to kill Natasha.

I might not have been able to go through with it.

But I would have had to.

Now, it's over. We're both free of that worry."

Luke pursued, "Do you consider this a release?"

"Yes, both Natasha and I were living tired lives."

"That doesn't sound like something a young man would say."

"But it's the truth."

"Did you have someone intercept the police car?"

"No."

"Did you send someone to Natasha's house to steal?"

"Do I need to?"

"Why did you kidnap Pari Jones?"

"She was also investigating the smuggling case and had seen Natasha often recently. I wasn't clear on how much she knew, I was just eliminating a risk."

"For whom were you eliminating the risk?"

"I'll only confess to my own crimes. I know nothing about the others."

"Do you think this confession will convince the police and the prosecutors?"

"That's your problem."

"If this is your attitude, it will be hard to get a favorable plea bargain."

"Captain Lee, this is already my best attitude. Whatever I could tell you, I have."

"Is that organization really that terrifying?"

"More terrifying than you can imagine?"

Luke laughed, "There's really nothing in Los Angeles that can scare me. I've never heard of any major criminal organization in Los Angeles."

"You're right, but what if it's not in Los Angeles?

You might not be afraid, but I am."

Luke, seeking a compromise, "You don't want to talk about the organization, so let's talk about your boss instead.