Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Five minutes later.

A woman with thick, black sludge smeared on her face walked into the office.

The assistant chief frowned; she had seen Larina Cage before, but with that mask on, she really couldn't recognize her.

"Can you take that stuff off your face?"

"No, I've only applied it for ten minutes, it hasn't been fully absorbed yet."

"What are you trying to absorb? Why would you smear something so stinking on your face—I just can't understand you women."

"This is a pure natural volcanic mud mask, it helps with acne and anti-aging, and it's very expensive.

If it weren't for all the recent mess, I wouldn't bear to use it. Why has the LAPD chased me down to the beauty salon anyway?

Didn't I already make things clear?"

"Please, have a seat, I'll explain."

The assistant chief leaned back, trying to keep some distance from her; he really couldn't stand that smell. They actually put smelly mud on their faces—what talent.

What's more, pure natural volcanic mud—you might as well smear on some lava.

The assistant chief pulled out the photo of the car theft suspect from yesterday, "Do you recognize him?"

"I don't."

The assistant chief then showed Nancy's photo, "Do you recognize her?"

"No."

"Look carefully?"

"I've already told you I don't know her, Assistant Chief Luke had me look at her before."

"When did you start coming to this beauty salon for treatments?"

"For over a year now, why?"

The assistant chief pointed at the photo, "She works here as a therapist."

"Oh my god... Are you serious?"

"If you don't believe it, we could call Manager Claudius to ask."

"Oh, no wonder she looked a bit familiar."

The assistant chief interrogated, "Now she looks familiar? Why didn't you say so before?"

Larina looked around, "Black people all look somewhat alike, and some therapists even wear masks, I really didn't recognize her.

I swear."

"Your words are not very convincing."

"No matter what you think, I'm telling the truth. There's no reason for me to hide this. Besides, why should I care about a therapist?

To make friends with her? Haha.

Moreover, she never gave me any personal treatments. I usually ask for younger white girls. Don't ask me why. I just like them."

"Sorry, but your reason doesn't convince me. Let's go back to the police station with me."

Larina stood up, glaring at the assistant chief, "Why?"

"Because you lied. I have to take you back to the station for an investigation. Once the situation is clarified, your suspicions will naturally be cleared.

I'm doing this for your own good."

"Bullshit. I'm not going anywhere. I won't go to that damn police station."

"Why won't you go to the station? What are you avoiding?"

"I'm not avoiding anything. I'm just fed up. Martin that dumbass got himself into trouble, why should I have to go to the police station.

Why on earth should I have to remember what a black woman looks like?

I just don't remember her. I just failed to recognize her. So what?

I'm not coming with you to the station."

The assistant chief sharply caught some information, "You're blaming your own husband. You think all this happened because of him. Do you think he's the murderer who killed Nancy?"

"No, I didn't say he was the murderer who killed Nancy."

"You clearly just implied that. I'm a policeman, you can't fool me."

"I just think that it's his trouble to deal with, I didn't say he's the murderer."

"Why do you think it's his mess? What do you know?

Are you his accomplice?" The assistant chief's barrage of questions made Larina start to fall apart,

"Shut up!

I'll say it again, I have nothing to do with the black woman's death.

I blame Martin because he refused to rent out that apartment. If it had been rented out, none of this would have happened.

The idiot Martin even had the nerve to scold me. He said that if the apartment was rented out and a tenant died in a fire, our responsibility would be even greater.

Bullshit!

Does he really think I don't know why he wouldn't rent it out?

It's all for meeting and screwing his damn mistress."

Jackson's mouth fell open, "You knew about your husband's mistress?"

"Surprised?"

"When did you find out? We shouldn't have disclosed this information during the investigation."

Larina smirked, "I've known all along, young man."

Jackson was even more astonished, "Then why don't you divorce him?"

"In this society, most capable men mess around.

As long as you have money and look handsome, some women will come wagging their tails like little bitches, keen to flounce in front of you.

Think about Elizabeth, Hillary, Melinda, Maria—these noble, excellent women, wealthy beyond compare, share the same plight as me.

There's nothing I can't accept."

Jackson was stunned, speechless, yet unable to comprehend.

This was completely contrary to his values.

The assistant chief stared at her for a while, "Did you sign a pre-nuptial agreement?"

Larina paused, clutching her head, "Am I crazy? Why should I tell you this, just forget it.

Please don't tell my husband.

I love him."

"nonono," the deputy pointed to the body camera on his chest, "everything is recorded here; we can't just pretend we didn't hear it.

Do you hate your husband because he cheated? Have you ever thought about getting back at him?"

Larina glared at the deputy, "You old... cop, you're really awful.

I said before, existence is reasonable; it's just a phenomenon of society.

Philip is already over ninety years old, why would I harm my husband?

Sometimes I just can't help but complain a little.

Essentially, I still hope he lives a long and prosperous life, so he can keep making money for me."

The deputy wouldn't let her off the hook, pressing on, "When you can't help but think, do you just complain, or is there any other way you vent?"

"Sure, I go shopping; nothing beats that thrill.

Do you see the facial mask on my face?

Two thousand US dollars a pop.

This is spending my husband's money.

Apart from being a bit of a philanderer, he doesn't have any big flaws.

Right now, he should still be huffing and puffing to make money, to support his wife and children, which is actually quite tiring.

Thinking about this, I don't feel so upset anymore."

After venting, Larina realized the gravity of her situation, "Sorry... I got a bit worked up just now.

I've told you everything I know, and what I've said is true.

Can you not take me to the station?"

"We'll see after the statement is finished."

"Okay, ask away; I'll cooperate fully."

The deputy collected his thoughts, "Where were you between 3 PM and 5 PM on July 7th?"

"I was at a parent-teacher meeting."

"Name the teacher and one of the familiar parents you met there, along with their contact information?"

"I can't remember." Larina took out her phone and flipped through it, "The teacher's name is Jill Walker, phone number, 626 876 247*

; a fellow parent, Vijana Jones, phone number, 626 326 253*;

You can ask them, I'm telling the truth."

As for the alibi for the time of Nancy's murder, the deputy had already inquired before and didn't ask again.

Larina glanced at the time, "Is there anything else you need to ask? My facial mask time is up."

The deputy stood up, "Don't leave Los Angeles for now."

"I will never leave in my lifetime."

"Good." The deputy left the beauty salon with Jackson.

Jackson whispered, "This woman really knows how to let go! I still can't understand it."

The deputy chuckled, "We should thank the pre-nuptial agreement for that."

Once in the car, Jackson started it up and asked, "Deputy, do you think Larina is the murderer?"

"She had prior contact with the victim, but there is no clear motive for murder, and no evidence shows a direct link between her and Nancy's death."

Jackson's imagination ran wild, "Could it be that Nancy also cheated with her husband?

She doesn't like black people to begin with, even detests them.

In a fit of rage, she could have burned Nancy to death."

"If that's the case, then it's not only Larina who's lying," the deputy felt the possibility was slim, but suspicions still need investigating,

"Let's re-verify the Cage couple's alibi for the time of the crime and have Matthew investigate their financial movements."

...

Daniel Restaurant.

This is a Michelin three-starred restaurant, serving French cuisine.

The restaurant's style is very reminiscent of a French bistro, luxurious yet understated, perfectly embodying an elegant restraint.

Luke sat in a corner of the restaurant, looking down at his phone.

Although he was off-duty, he kept up with the progress of the squad's case update group chat.

The deputy and Jackson briefly outlined the outcome of the beauty salon investigation in the group.

Luke felt the likelihood of Nancy being Martin's mistress was very small. First, when he recorded Martin's statement, he did not detect any signs of lying.

Second, he had seen Martin's real mistress, Gail, who was entirely different from Nancy.

Of course, nothing is absolute, just as Luke liked to eat Chinese and Mexican food, he occasionally tried other flavors as well.

"Sorry, I'm late," Daisy arrived with her purse slung over her shoulder.

Luke stood up to pull out her chair for her, "Ran into a tough case again?"

"That's right, it's a medical malpractice compensation case, quite troublesome." Daisy glanced around the setting, "This restaurant mustn't be cheap."

"Seeing you work so hard, I wanted to treat you," Luke passed her the menu, "See anything you'd like to eat?"

Perhaps some don't understand why one would invite Daisy to an expensive restaurant when the relationship has cooled.

It is precisely because the passion has faded that it needs to be maintained with money.

Otherwise, why would she bother with you?

Just because you're handsome?

There are plenty of good-looking people out there.

Moreover, Luke wasn't short on cash.

Apart from avoiding responsibility, the motivation for a man to make money isn't it to impress women?

Actually, in addition to Chinese and Mexican cuisine, Luke also had a fondness for French food, but French cuisine has two obvious drawbacks: it's slow, and it's expensive.

So, he would only dine at such places when he had both money and leisure, and not a moment before.

A white waitress approached, wearing a blue dress and a faint smile, placed two glasses of ice water and two wet towels on the table, waiting nearby to take their order.

Daisy began ordering from the menu.

Luke picked up a wet towel and wiped his hands; the cotton felt pleasant to the touch. As he unfolded it, intricate cloud patterns were revealed—beautiful and familiar.

A memory flashed through his mind.

Suddenly, he lost his appetite...