Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

"Pretty much, I was just a lookout, hardly indispensable."

"Besides Jamie, how many more people are involved in the counterfeit organization?"

"I don't know."

"It seems you don't intend to cooperate with the police, so we'll have to rely on the testimonies of the other two."

"No, I'm willing to work with you, everything I've said is true, I usually keep watch outside the warehouse, Jamie never lets me inside.

Every time they print money, one car goes in, one comes out, I've never even met them face to face."

"When did you get involved?"

"Jamie approached me two months ago, said he had a job for me, with an income of 40,000 US Dollars a month.

40,000 US Dollars!

How could I possibly refuse?

I just didn't expect things to go south so soon."

"The 40,000 US Dollars they paid you, was it real or counterfeit?"

"Real money, they never use counterfeit notes in Los Angeles."

"Then why did you use counterfeit notes?"

"Uh... the situation is a bit complicated," George hesitated.

"You think it's complicated, but Jamie doesn't see it that way, he has confessed and is willing to become a cooperating witness.

You killed Kunni'er, and the counterfeit notes came from him, you're truly ruthless, not even sparing a 14-year-old boy."

"Nonono, I didn't kill that boy, Jamie did, I just... I was panicked.

Fuck! I shouldn't have agreed to it in the first place."

"You deny killing that boy named Kunni'er?"

"That's right, Jamie killed him."

"Then describe the process Jamie used to commit the murder."

"If I tell you, will you take it as evidence?"

"It's a hypothetical statement, only if both sides reach a plea agreement, can the police accept your testimony."

Relieved at this, George sighed, "Some time ago, there was a burglary at the warehouse where the fake money was printed, and it was captured by the surveillance cameras that it was done by two boys.

This counterfeit organization is very vigilant, they haven't operated the machines again since then, and moreover, they ordered me and Jamie to find those two boys who stole the money.

It's like looking for a needle in a haystack in a place as huge as Los Angeles.

Back then, Jamie decided to stay and watch the warehouse, he figured since those boys had a taste of the loot, if they came once, they might come a second time." George sighed again and continued to recall,

"We waited for several days, but there was no sign of those two boys. Then on August 2nd, one of the boys returned to rob the warehouse again and we caught him.

Jamie started interrogating him about his fellow thieves and the whereabouts of the stolen counterfeit bills.

The kid said the money was hidden in a hotel, so Jamie and I took him there.

On the way, Jamie kept pressing the boy for information, he didn't believe the kid's story.

When we were near the hotel, Jamie watched him while I went to retrieve the money from the hotel room.

I went into the kid's room and found only about a thousand US Dollars.

Jamie got angry when he heard about this and pressed the kid on how the counterfeit notes were spent and where the other thief was.

The boy was stubborn and wouldn't speak.

By then, it was already night, and there weren't many people by the seaside, so Jamie took him to a secluded area by the sea, made me hold him down while Jamie forced Kunni'er's head into the water, demanding information about the counterfeit bills and the other thief.

Kunni'er choked on water a few times and became much more compliant, saying he spent part of the money on renting a room and gave the rest to his mom and her boyfriend.

And the other thief's name was Derek.

Latter, Jamie... pushed the kid's head into the water...

By the time I realized something was wrong and let go of the boy's body... he was already motionless.

I didn't want to kill him; it was Jamie who did it.

I didn't expect it to turn out like this.

I'm telling the truth, Jamie is the real murderer."

Little Black glared at George with red eyes and said coldly, "You're right, you're not the murderer, you're a hero!"

That word 'hero' confused George.

Luke continued to ask, "How did you dispose of the body?"

"The boy was breathless, we were by the sea, Jamie suggested throwing the kid into the ocean to feed the fish, and tied a weight to his right foot.

We stole a boat and dumped the boy's body at sea."

George showed a remorseful expression, clutching his chest and choking, "I felt terrible at the moment, I should have stopped him, I shouldn't have let him kill the boy.

"I really regret it."

George's description matched the crime scene where the body was dumped, confirming that he was one of the murderers of Kunni'er.

Luke quickly changed the subject, asking his next question, "On the evening of August 3rd, did you and Jamie pretend to be police officers to chase down Derek?"

"Yes, that was all Jamie's idea, I just had to follow him," he replied.

"Did both of you shoot?"

"I only fired a few shots; then I went to drive the car. Jamie kept chasing that kid named Derek, but he was sharp and managed to escape.

Honestly, I felt a sense of relief when I saw him get away...

I really am sorry about Kunni'er; I never intended to kill him.

That night, I drank a lot and took some drugs, and you know the rest."

George was involved in two cases: a counterfeit money case and a murder case.

For the latter, he had nearly finished confessing. Although he wasn't the mastermind, he couldn't escape a second-degree murder charge.

Luke spoke earnestly, "George, regardless of your intentions, you have committed a crime.

If you want to receive a favorable plea deal, you'll need to provide more details on the counterfeit money operation, so we can turn you into a cooperating witness."

After thinking it over, George shook his head, "Sorry, it's not that I don't want to help your investigation, but I really don't know much about the counterfeit money operation.

You can go ask Jamie; he has direct contacts with the people involved in printing counterfeit money.

He definitely knows the identities of those people."

Luke also wanted to know Jamie's whereabouts, but at that moment, he couldn't ask George about potential hiding spots for Jamie, otherwise, George might become suspicious.

...

After the interrogation.

Luke and Little Black returned to the detective bureau.

Susan had called a case briefing.

Luke briefly described the situation of the case.

George's confession had greatly advanced the investigation, and the team members were encouraged.

At the same time, those protesting outside the police department building seemed more absurd by the minute.

After hearing Luke's report, Susan was in a good mood, "Everyone, does anyone have new developments in their investigation?"

"Uhm..." Jenny hesitated.

"Jenny, what is it?"

"Kunni'er's mother contacted me."

Little Black inquired, "Has she come to Los Angeles?"

"No, things are a bit complicated. We scraped together some travel money for her, right? After I transferred the money to her, she said she would come to Los Angeles as soon as possible.

I just received a call from her, she said... the money was stolen."

The deputy chieftain scoffed, "So she doesn't want to come anymore?"

"No, she hopes... that we can help her scrape together another two hundred US Dollars for travel expenses."

The deputy laughed, "Does she think we're fools?

Don't expect to get another dollar from me, no, not even a cent."

Luke agreed, "My thoughts are the same as the deputy's."

Seeing Jenny look towards him, Jackson spread his hands, "Do I look like a fool to you?"

Jenny was somewhat helpless, with a hint of ease, "I'll tell her directly to make her own way..."

"Wait a minute..." Little Black took a deep breath, "I'll cover the two hundred dollars."

The deputy frowned, "Kid, you're a cop, and you can't see through such a simple trick?"

Little Black sighed, rummaged in his pocket for a while, and found only one hundred twenty dollars, which he handed to Jenny, "I know she might be lying.

But Kunni'er always hoped to live with his mother, to have her companionship and care.

Now that he's dead, I don't want him to die alone.

I believe his greatest wish now would be to see his mother one more time.

Even if she's not a good mother, even if she doesn't care that much about him.

But he still misses her!

I'm doing this for Kunni'er!"

Little Black's words moved Luke as well, and he pulled out twenty dollars,

"Count me in."