Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

The home of Enco Dumate.

The garage door opened, and a Chevrolet SUV drove out of the garage and sped off along the community road.

Luke and David poked their heads out from behind the house diagonally across the street, watching the Chevrolet SUV.

David asked, "Should we intercept that car?"

Luke asked back, "Do you know the situation inside the car?"

"The person in that car could very likely be the kidnapper. We can have the patrol officers assist in the interception. We, LAPD, have never lost in firepower." David was wearing a bulletproof vest, a handgun strapped to his waist, and holding a shotgun.

Luke said, "According to the data, Enco Dumate is not only married but also has an eight-year-old daughter.

If Mrs. Dumate was truly seeking help earlier, we are already at their doorstep, and the other party doesn't dare to run or even show anything strange in person, it indicates that she might have been threatened, and this threat is likely related to her daughter.

With the kidnappers having two hostages and unclear on the firepower and arrangements, it's best not to act rashly.

If the hostages are killed, even if we capture all the kidnappers, the operation is still a failure."

"OK, You're the boss." David took out the walkie-talkie and spoke to the two subordinates monitoring in the car,

"This is David calling Henry."

"This is Henry."

"A black Chevrolet SUV is heading toward your direction, license plate number 4tee475, and there might be hostages in the car.

Follow that car without being noticed, over."

"Copy."

David put away the walkie-talkie and asked, "What's your plan?"

Luke asked, "Why do you think Mrs. Dumate was kidnapped? What is the kidnappers' purpose?"

David speculated, "I suspect it might be because of Enco Dumate.

One scenario, Enco Dumate is home, and he has been taken away.

The second scenario, Enco Dumate is not home, the kidnappers might either leave on their own or kidnap his wife and daughter."

Luke said, "If it's the first scenario, Enco Dumate's wife and daughter should still be in the house.

If it's the second scenario, even if both the wife and daughter were taken, the kidnappers would leave contact information in the house to let Enco Dumate find them and redeem his wife and daughter.

In either case, it's necessary to enter the house to investigate."

David also agreed with Luke's speculation, and the two quietly sneaked into Enco Dumate's yard, walked to the base of the wall, and observed the situation inside through a window.

This was a bedroom window, half-opened. Luke looked through the window, but there was no one visible in the bedroom.

Luke and David gestured to each other, and David nodded.

Subsequently, David guarded the surroundings while Luke climbed through the window into the bedroom, moving as quietly as possible to avoid making any noise.

David also tried to climb in through the window, but his bulletproof vest made it inconvenient, and Luke feared he might make noise, so he helped him with his hand.

After the two entered the bedroom, they walked to the door, pressed close against it, and listened silently.

The two remained still, listening for a full two minutes, but there was no sound.

Luke inhaled deeply and didn't smell any blood, indicating that the hostages were not in immediate danger.

Could the kidnappers have already left?

David was getting a bit impatient and gestured to Luke to open the door, signaling that he should go out first and take a look.

David shook his head, pointed to his bulletproof vest, indicating he wanted to go out scouting first.

Luke had a Bullet-Proof Card, which was safer than a bulletproof vest, but there was no way to tell the other party, so he could only nod in agreement.

Then Luke slowly opened the bedroom door, and David peeked through the crack. Outside was the first-floor living room, from where they could see the sofa.

Two people sat on the sofa, their heads suggesting a man and a woman, but they were both facing away, unaware of the situation at the bedroom.

As the door opened wide enough for passage, David and Luke exited the bedroom, one following the other.

They did not act immediately, observing the living room for a while. The other rooms were also silent.

Luke approached with his gun, walking closer to the sofa where he could see clearly. A woman was bound with ropes on the sofa, her mouth taped shut; she was Mrs. Dumate, who had opened the door earlier.

A Black man was seated on the small sofa diagonally across, engrossed in his phone, with an AK next to his right hand. He seemed to have sensed something and looked up.

"LAPD! Don't move!" Luke held his gun with both hands, aiming at the Black man on the sofa.

"Hands on your head, slowly." David barked, then went to the woman's side and removed the tape from her mouth. "They have two people, another one upstairs..."

KABOOM! A burst of rifle shots rang out.

BAM! Luke dove onto the sofa, returning fire toward the upstairs.

[Bullet-Proof Card activated and used.]

"Fuck!" Luke cursed under his breath, using an Accuracy Card, he fired several shots upstairs.

BOOM! BOOM! The shotgun also fired.

The Black man beside the sofa tried to pick up the gun amidst the chaos. As soon as his right hand touched the gun, a shotgun knocked him to the ground, "Ah..."

A wailing cry escaped his mouth.

BAM! BAM! BAM! Luke continued firing toward the upstairs. Due to the angle, he couldn't see the upstairs shooter, ensuring safety by firing continuously.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! David also fired several shots upstairs.