Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

However, before that, Luke still had to understand more, so as not to encounter another awkward situation like with Polly, fussing and investigating for a long time, only to find out that the person being investigated wasn't the victim at all.

Andesie wore a reminiscent expression, "Around 4 p.m. on July 7, I received a call from a neighbor, telling me that there was no one at home to take care of my younger daughter after she came home from school, so he was looking after her temporarily.

I felt that something was wrong because that day was my wife's day off; she should have been at home.

I called her cellphone, but it was turned off, so I couldn't get through to her.

Worried about my daughter, I hurried home.

As soon as I entered the house, I felt something was off; the place was a mess, drawers had been pulled out.

I knew something had happened, so I checked carefully and found that the cash and jewelry in the house were gone.

I couldn't get in touch with my wife either, and since then, I haven't seen her again."

Luke took out his notebook, "Were there any signs of damage to the doors or windows?"

"No."

It could have been someone they knew.

"How was your relationship with your wife?"

"Pretty good."

"Do you think Nancy has disappeared, or has something happened to her?"

The man hesitated, then turned to his daughter and said, "Darling, go back to your room first."

The girl looked up at Luke and asked, "Are you police officers?"

"Yes."

"Are you here to help find my mom?"

"Yes, you go back to your room while we talk to your dad alone."

"Please find my mom quickly and tell her that I will never make her angry again. I won't sneak a peek at the TV again, nor will I play with her cellphone. I will brush my teeth on time at night and won't be picky with food anymore..." Sobbing... with teary eyes, Andesie led his daughter into the room, choking up,

"She is too young to accept what happened to my wife..."

Luke sighed softly, "Why do you think Nancy disappeared?"

"My wife didn't disappear, she was kidnapped. Yes, that's what I've been thinking all along."

"Kidnapped?" Luke frowned slightly, "Has anyone demanded a ransom?"

"No, I just feel she was kidnapped."

"Then why did you report a disappearance?"

"I didn't report a disappearance, I reported a robbery at home, and that the robbers may have also kidnapped my wife.

Later on, two patrol officers came to investigate my house.

But they didn't believe me, their conclusion was that my wife left home of her own accord, taking the family's valuables with her.

They treated me as if I were the criminal, thinking that she left because of me.

I will never forget that tone of theirs." Andesie's expression became angry.

Luke countered, "Why would they think that?"

Andesie sighed, "Some time ago, my wife and I argued at home; it got a bit loud, and the neighbors called the police.

They thought it was the same situation this time.

But I am certain, even though we might argue, my wife would absolutely not run away from home."

"Why not?"

Andesie looked toward the photo on the coffee table, "Because we have three lovely children, my wife loves them, and she would never leave them."

"Do you two argue often?"

"No, we used to just have occasional disputes, but recently Nancy's been a bit off, and I always felt she was hiding something from me. We had two arguments, one of which was quite severe.

Again, even if we argue, she wouldn't leave home.

Something definitely happened to her."

"What do you think happened to her?"

"I don't know."

"Has she ever left home before?"

"Never."

"Is it possible to get through to her cellphone? Have you asked relatives and friends?"

"It's unreachable, and I have asked everyone I could, but no one has seen her."

"Is there blood or signs of a struggle at home?"

"I didn't find any."

Luke's gaze swept around, "What specific items were stolen from the house?"

"Eight hundred US dollars in cash, a gold ring, a necklace, a car, and a carpet."

Luke noted in his notebook, the first few items were valuable and it was understandable they were stolen, but why steal a carpet?

"Is the carpet valuable?"

Andesie shook his head, "My wife always wanted a carpet. Last year on her birthday, I ordered one online for her, she loved it very much, but it wasn't very expensive."

"So why was the carpet stolen?"

"I don't know."

"Where was the carpet placed?"

"Right in front of the sofa, under the coffee table." Andesie pointed to the ground.

Following that, Luke carefully looked around and said to Xiao Hei at his side, "Bring the Luminol Reagent from the car trunk."

Xiao Hei stood up and left, returning with a spray bottle in his left hand and a lamp in his right.

Luke picked up the spray bottle and applied it to the spot where the carpet had been.

Andesie seemed a bit nervous, asking from the side, "What are you doing?"

Luke didn't speak, drew the curtains in the room, switched on the lamp, and found a large number of blue spots to the east side of where the carpet had been.

Pointing at the blue spots on the ground, Andesie asked, "What are these?"

Taking out his phone, Luke took a few photos and said, "Blood."