Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Luke countered, "When was the last time you saw Kunni'er?"

"I..." Maureen Yagate hesitated.

"You don't want to say, or you can't remember. This isn't like a responsible guardian," Luke said to the little black man, "Call the foster center."

"Please don't do this, I'm not irresponsible, it's just that Kunni'er doesn't want to be confined or managed. I kept a bed for him, he could come home to eat and sleep whenever he wanted.

This was his own suggestion; he wanted freedom."

Little Black pressed on, "If he doesn't like it here, why hasn't he asked the foster center for a change of foster family?"

"It's not that he doesn't like my home, but he dislikes all foster families. He isn't yet an adult. Even if he leaves my home, he has to return to the foster center to wait for another family to take him in.

That situation would be even worse for him.

We treat him well, we have never abused him, and he eats the same food as my own children.

If he were to go to another foster home, it likely wouldn't be as good as here.

Please believe me, Kunni'er is not an easy child to deal with; I've done my best."

"Besides Kunni'er, do you have other foster children in your home?"

"Yes, Carter and the Asian girl, Lily, you saw earlier are, they are no different from my own children. You can ask them; I have never abused them."

Luke didn't respond, just walked straight to the dining table, checked the four children's plates, didn't say a word, and returned to the living room.

The food in the four children's plates was the same, indicating some assurance in the quality of life for the foster children.

As for differential treatment, Luke felt that pursuing the matter further was not very meaningful.

There are people who treat foster children as their own, but they are rare.

People have their biases, even with their own biological children, there are nuances in closeness, let alone with foster children.

A difference is acceptable, as long as there is no abuse, in Luke's view, that was already very commendable.

Maureen pressed, "Deputy Luke, what exactly happened to Kunni'er?

I truly care about him. I'm also the person in this world who cares most about him, otherwise I wouldn't have adopted him."

"Kunni'er is dead."

"Dead!" Maureen showed a shocked expression, "Oh God, please tell me this isn't true.

He was so young, how could he suddenly die?"

"That's why we are here to investigate. We hope you can assist us in the investigation by providing some valuable clues."

"Sorry, my mind is a bit messy; I still can't accept it..." Maureen slumped onto the sofa, looking despondent.

Luke took out a photo, "I would like you to identify Kunni'er's body."

"I can."

Luke handed her the photo.

Maureen took the photo with trembling hands, her voice choked, "Yes, it's him.

Oh my god, I really didn't expect this.

I still remember when he came to my house...

I shouldn't have agreed to it.

I shouldn't have let him leave this home.

It's my fault.

I don't deserve to be his guardian..."

Black Michael brought the four children into the house and came over, asking, "I thought I heard something happened to Kunni'er?"

Maureen hugged her husband, "Kunni'er is dead, he's dead."

"Damn it, I knew this would happen, it was only a matter of time before he killed himself," Michael complained.

Luke countered, "Why would you say that?"

"A fourteen-year-old black teenager, not going to school, not coming home, what good can he learn?" Michael looked to Little Black, "This detective, you should understand."

"Do you know where he was staying?"

"No, most of the time he doesn't come back, even if he does, it's just to have some food and then back to his room, rarely interacting with us.

We wanted to help him, to understand him, but he didn't want to communicate.

If a person doesn't want to open his heart, no one can help him.

We've done what we could."

Luke returned to the initial question, "When was the last time you saw him?"

"It must have been about ten days ago, he came back to get some clothes, used the washing machine; we had dinner together, and then he was gone the next morning.

We probably spoke less than five sentences together.

Kunni'er, how have you been lately?

Say hello to your brothers and sisters.

Kunni'er, what would you like to eat? I didn't know you were coming back, otherwise, I would have prepared your favorite waffles.

We all miss you, you should come back to stay." Michael sighed, countering, "Do you know how he responded?

He just smiled, not even a greeting."

"When was the last time you contacted him?"

Maureen said, "Just after you called, I called his mobile number, but it didn't get through."

"Other than this time, when was the last time you contacted him or he contacted you?"

"Uh..." Maureen thought for a moment, "It must have been four or five days ago, I wanted to ask how he was doing? If he wanted to come home for a meal?

He said he was doing very well and would take care of himself, then he hung up."

"Why did you say that you had just seen Kunni'er when I called before?"

"Sorry... I shouldn't have lied to you." Maureen pointed towards the back of the house,

"But there are other children fostered here, if the foster center knows about Kunni'er's situation,

they might reassess whether I am qualified to take care of these poor children."