Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Mahave Street.

The deputy team leader led the team to the crime scene.

After getting out of the car, he observed the surroundings but didn't see the expected police tape—it had been removed?

No, it seemed more like it had been deliberately vandalized.

Who would be so bold?

A surge of anger rose in the deputy leader's heart.

The spots and victim's location marked with white pens had also been deliberately destroyed. The deputy leader's face darkened; he was not known for his good temper. When he arrived, he had asked the relevant personnel at the precinct, as this street was relatively secluded and could be bypassed, the scene was supposed to be preserved for 18 hours.

The people from the Robbery and Murder Department could further understand the case based on the marked locations, but now, not even 12 hours had passed, and the scene was vandalized. The deputy leader was very angry, and the consequences were serious.

The deputy leader instructed his team to search the nearby surveillance, conduct interviews and investigations, and find last night's witnesses or those who vandalized the scene.

The deputy leader pulled a pack of gum out of his pocket, threw two pieces into his mouth, and observed the scene while chewing.

The scene was marked with the positions of two vehicles and the victim's location. The experienced deputy leader deduced the shooter's position from the fact that the victim was shot from behind.

The deputy leader searched in the direction of the shooter. It wasn't far from the victim, about just ten meters or so. The shooter fired four shots, hitting twice, indicating their marksmanship wasn't that great.

There was no surveillance found around the scene, nor were any suspicious items on the ground. Even if there were, they were probably taken away by the precinct last night. The deputy leader didn't give up, continued searching forward, and entered a small alley.

He walked dozens of meters along the alley and found several scattered cigarette butts by the wall. It wasn't far from the crime scene; one could still see the police cars and the suspect vehicles. The deputy leader took out a transparent plastic bag and bagged the cigarette butts.

The deputy leader went to the mouth of the alley, and Blackie walked over, "Deputy leader, we caught the guy who vandalized the police line." As he spoke, Blackie pointed to a Mexican man not far away, "That guy, he's the owner of the roadside restaurant."

"How did you catch him?"

Blackie pouted, "There was an eyewitness when we were conducting interviews, it was the hardware store owner next door."

"What a good neighbor," said the deputy leader, handing the plastic bag to Blackie, "This was found in the nearby alley, hand it over to the tech team for processing."

"Okay, deputy leader."

The deputy leader walked up to the captured Mexican restaurant owner and asked, "What's your name?"

The Mexican owner, with a big belly and the right side of his mustache slightly upturned, spoke with a heavy accent, "Riley Santos."

Seeing his demeanor, the deputy leader felt even more displeased and directly slapped a big label on him, "Did you kill that patrol officer?"

"No, my restaurant was closed at the time, I wasn't even here."

"Where were you then?"

"I was at home."

"Can anyone verify that?"

"My father, wife, and daughter can all verify. I couldn't have killed a cop."

"Then what's your connection to the murderer?"

Riley Santos said discontentedly, "I have no connection with the murderer at all, nor do I know the murderer.

Why are you asking like this? Is this considered slander?"

The deputy leader pressed on, "If you're not related to the case, why vandalize the scene?

You're obstructing the police investigation, indirectly aiding the murderer.

Therefore, I have reason to suspect you are related to the case, possibly even an accomplice of the murderer."

Riley Santos got anxious, "You can't wrong me like this!

I'm innocent, I have nothing to do with the cop killing case, I never intended to vandalize the scene; it was an accident."

"But it's a fact that you vandalized the police line? Why did you do it? If you can't give a reasonable explanation, I'll have to arrest you according to the law."

Riley Santos pointed to his restaurant, a bit annoyed, and said, "I'm a businessman, this police line was right in front of my restaurant, not only affecting my supplies but also my business.

I thought you police had finished the investigation, so I removed the police line.

It's almost noon. If customers saw the police line in front of the restaurant, no one would patronize my business. I had no choice."

The deputy leader snorted, "Is this your reason?"

"Yes."

The deputy leader nodded, "Take him to the police car and bring him back to the station."

Riley Santos shouted, "What I said is true. I have nothing to do with the patrol officer's murder, I only removed the police line because it affected my business.

Please don't take me back to the station, I beg you."

This reason made the deputy leader even angrier. Just to increase customer flow, someone deliberately vandalized the police line? Couldn't he wait for just one afternoon?

The deputy leader waved his hand, determined to teach him a lesson, to make him remember.

...

Robbery and Murder Department, Team One office.

Luke and others gradually returned to the office.

Reid also walked in with a takeout bag, and casually placed it on an empty table, "Guys, lunch is on me today."

"Thanks." Luke took out a Mexican burrito from the bag, took a big bite, and began to eat it with relish.

The takeout bag contained Mexican burritos, burgers, and pizzas.

The others also picked what they liked and started eating heartily. It was almost one o'clock, and they had been investigating all morning, long past lunchtime.

Reid grabbed some cola and a burger and joined the others in eating.