Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

"There are many different Chinese cuisines, it's normal to have not tried some. Give it a taste."

Jackson had eaten Chinese food before, but what he had eaten was all modified Chinese food, mostly sweet and sour dishes.

Because they were still focused on the investigation, the two ate quickly. In just over ten minutes, they finished their meal.

Overall, the taste was not bad. Luke was most satisfied with the Dongpo pork and the flaky pastry, especially the flaky pastry, which he hadn't eaten in a long time.

After the meal, Luke called the server over to pay.

After settling the bill, Luke looked at the server and asked, "What's your name?"

The server looked at Luke, and although they had only exchanged a few words, she could tell from Luke's fluent and standard Mandarin that he probably had Chinese heritage, "My surname is Chen, you can call me Chen Hui.

Sir, are you satisfied with your meal?"

"It was quite good." Luke changed the subject and asked, "Do you know Ma Jiehui?"

"I know him, he was my previous boss. Have you eaten at his restaurant?"

"Ma Jiehui is dead."

"Dead!

How is that possible?

I saw him just a few days ago..." Chen Hui showed a look of surprise and questioned back, "Who are you guys?"

Luke showed his badge, "I'm Luke Lee, captain of Squad One of the Robbery and Murder Department. I'm investigating his case."

Chen Hui looked at the badge, swallowed hard, and still seemed somewhat disbelieving, "How could he be dead? That can't be."

"If you don't believe me, I can take you to the restaurant to see."

"I will go with you." Chen Hui's eyes turned red, and she turned and ran towards the restaurant's exit.

Luke then drove her back to the Yuxiang Restaurant.

The car stopped in front of the restaurant. Chen Hui looked through the window at the restaurant and saw the police officers gathered there. She already believed it, and tears slipped from her eyes as she cried, "Why is this happening? He was fine just a few days ago. Didn't everyone say we were all supposed to be well? How could he have died."

Luke handed her a pack of tissues, "Ms. Chen, please accept my condolences."

Chen Hui wiped her tears and choked up, "Captain Lee, who killed Old Ma?"

"We are still investigating that. I heard that you and Ma Jiehui were involved?"

Chen Hui hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Yes."

"How long were you and Ma Jiehui involved?"

"About three or four years."

"Since you've known him for so long, you must know a lot about him."

"I... I'm not clear about what happened. It's too sudden.

And, we had already broken up."

"Why did you two break up?"

Chen Hui brushed off the question, "Personal reasons."

Luke probed, "I heard your husband just came to Los Angeles for a family reunion?"

Chen Hui opened her mouth and then swallowed her words.

Luke continued, "Does your husband know about your relationship with him?"

Chen Hui seemed to know she couldn't evade the issue and braced herself to answer, "He doesn't know.

Old Ma's death has nothing to do with my husband."

"I also think it's not likely related. The reason I asked you to come here today is first to understand the situation with Ma Jiehui, second to rule out your husband as a suspect."

"Captain Lee, you're looking at the wrong person, this really has nothing to do with my husband."

"I believe you, which is why I'm talking to you, not to your husband."

Chen Hui's expression changed slightly as she took a deep breath, "Please don't go looking for my husband, he really doesn't know anything, I beg you, don't go to him."

"I'll ask a few questions, just answer truthfully, and I won't have any reason to look for your husband."

"Ask away."

"When did your husband arrive in Los Angeles?"

"Exactly half a month ago today."

Luke took out a photo of the first victim, Hashimoto Yumi, "Do you recognize her?"

Chen Hui looked carefully, "I don't recognize her."

"Where was your husband between nine o'clock last night and midnight?"

"At home, with me."

"Did he ever leave your sight during that time?"

"No."

"Does he know about your relationship with Ma Jiehui?"

"I don't know, and I couldn't possibly let him find out.

Before he arrived, Ma Jiehui had already moved into the restaurant to live.

And I also resigned from the restaurant.

The two had no interactions, my husband knows nothing."

Chen Hui spoke sincerely, and Luke didn't detect any signs of lying on her face.

In Luke's view, Chen Hui's husband might have a motive for the crime, but his suspicion was indeed small.

Based on the current situation, the murders of Hashimoto Yumi and Ma Jiehui were likely committed by the same perpetrator, while Chen Hui's husband had just arrived in Los Angeles. He had a motive to kill Ma Jiehui, but there was no reason for him to kill Hashimoto Yumi.

Moreover, he came to Los Angeles to work and earn money, not to kill.

The reason Luke sought to take Chen Hui's statement was another important one; she was the "partnered wife" of the deceased, Ma Jiehui.

The two had lived together for three to four years, and with the exception of a marriage certificate, they were no different from an ordinary married couple.

Sun Xing after all was just an employee; Ma Jiehui couldn't possibly tell him everything, but Chen Hui was different. The two slept on the same bed; she was the person closest to Ma Jiehui, and the one who knew him best.

According to Chen Hui's testimony, her husband should have an alibi. For the time being, he can be ruled out as a suspect.

"What do you think about Ma Jiehui's murder?"

"I heard he was living in the restaurant, could it be that someone robbed the restaurant and killed him?"

Luke said, "It doesn't seem like a robbery, but more like a vendetta."

"A vendetta?

Old Ma always promoted the idea that 'harmony brings wealth,' and he was courteous to everyone. I can't think of anyone who would want to hurt him."

Luke said, "I heard that there was a theft at Yuxiang Restaurant some time ago. Do you know about this?"

"Yes."

"How did Ma Jiehui react at the time?"

"He was furious."

"Did he report it to the police?"

"No."

"Why didn't he report it?"

Chen Hui sighed softly, "He didn't want to make a big deal out of it, still thinking about 'harmony brings wealth'…"

Luke senses an implication, "Does he know who the thief was?"

"He did have a guess."

"Who was it?"

"Less than a hundred meters from Yuxiang Restaurant, there's another Sichuan cuisine restaurant called 'Shudu Restaurant'. Because of the proximity, similar menus, and similar flavors, there has always been a competition between the two.

The owner of 'Shudu Restaurant' often caused trouble for Old Ma, and Ma suspected that the theft was his doing."

Luke felt that this was somewhat presumptuous. Even if they were competitors, that didn't necessarily mean the owner was the thief, "Is there any evidence?"

"There wasn't much cash in the restaurant, just around two hundred dollars or so. The main items stolen were ingredients for making Sichuan cuisine: Szechuan peppercorns, star anise, dried chili peppers, fermented black beans, dried orange peels, cardamom...

Ordinary thieves wouldn't bother with these spices; it was clear someone didn't want the restaurant to do business."

"If Ma Jiehui suspected a suspect, why didn't he tell the police?"

"He was the type who hated trouble. Without evidence in hand, he felt that the police coming wouldn't make the other party admit to it, and instead the conflict would escalate, making business at the restaurant even more impossible.

I advised him to report it at the time, but he was stubborn and wouldn't listen."

"How do you know it was definitely 'Shudu Restaurant'? Other Chinese restaurants could use those spices too."

"The conflict between Old Ma and 'Shudu Restaurant' has been going on for two or three years.

'Shudu Restaurant' has always been less successful than Old Ma's Yuxiang Restaurant. The owner of 'Shudu Restaurant' even came to Old Ma's restaurant to poach employees, taking away one of the servers—almost leading to a fight.

The owner of 'Shudu Restaurant' wasn't good at running his business, always engaging in despicable acts." Chen Hui spoke with clenched teeth.

Luke pressed, "What's the name of 'Shudu Restaurant's' owner?"

"Chen Jianxin."

"What about the employee who was poached?"

"Song Bo."

Luke noted in his book, "Do you think Ma Jiehui's death is related to them?"

Chen Hui deflated suddenly, "If you're talking about stealing things, sabotaging the restaurant's business, they're very likely the culprits, but when it comes to murder...

I don't think that's very likely...

Everyone is in business, there's no need to drive someone to their death."

If it was just business rivalry, indeed it wouldn't go as far as murder...

Thinking about how Ma Jiehui didn't return to his country even after receiving his green card, Luke asked, "Did Ma Jiehui have a criminal record in his home country?"