Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Luke spoke earnestly, "York, sending threatening letters is no small matter. Do not do it again.

Given your proactive confession, I will recommend to the prosecutor that charges be spared, but prepare to be questioned. The final decision still rests with the prosecution."

"Thank you," York breathed a sigh of relief, showing gratitude on his face. "Have you met Mayor Lee Mei?"

"Of course."

"What is she like?"

Luke just smiled and did not answer.

"If you see her again, please convey a message for me." York cleared his throat and said earnestly, "I do not know if she is a good mayor, but she definitely is not a good mother.

If she runs for mayor, I absolutely will not vote for her."

Luke said, "Wait a few years, and you can tell her yourself."

...

Five o'clock in the evening.

Susan was in the lounge receiving Deputy Mayor Lee Mei, and Deputy Chief Reid was also present.

Susan briefly recounted the matter of the threatening letter.

Upon learning it was her daughter who had sent the threatening letters, Lee Mei looked incredulous. "Oh my gosh, I can't believe Betty would do such a thing. Are you sure that kid York isn't lying?"

Susan said, "On the night of the incident, York and his parents had alibis, and since York and your daughter are classmates, his statement carries some credibility.

Additionally, I've sent someone to the school to further investigate Betty and York's relationship."

Lee Mei's eyes reddened, her voice choked, "These years I have indeed been very busy, for work and career, neglecting many things.

The person I owe the most to is my daughter; I seldom had time to be with her, missing her growing up.

Actually, I have realized this too, I keep telling myself to change, to change.

Just get past this period, just stabilize my job, then I can rearrange my schedule and take out more time for my family.

But it's not that simple, every day brings new troubles, and there's never a day well-settled.

Apart from eating and sleeping, I am busy all day, with no entertainment, neglecting my family, my health has also suffered, and I do not know how much longer I can keep up."

Susan, also a powerful woman, advised, "Mayor Lee, I am older than you, at your age, I too sacrificed a lot for my career, losing much.

This is one of the reasons I transferred to the Robbery and Murder Department.

You should be kind to yourself and your family. Work is never-ending, but family is most important.

Of course, I am not one to speak, as I too am a failure in family matters."

Lee Mei sighed, "I just do not want to let this job down, many people are counting on me, I do not want to disappoint them...

I have always been seeking a more effective way to work, it just takes time.

I... I just hope now that my daughter comes back, that she can safely return to my side.

I now realize that she is the one who needs me the most.

I owe her too much."

Susan handed her a tissue, "In the past few days, has anyone suspicious contacted you? Because of your special status, the kidnapper might not be after money, but may want something else."

Lee Mei wiped her eyes, "No, everything around me is normal currently, and I have not told anyone else about Betty's matter."

"Betty, wanting your attention, allowed someone to send you a threatening letter, do you think she could possibly stage a kidnapping to garner your concern?"

Lee Mei asked, "What do you mean? Do you think Betty wasn't kidnapped and staged it like the threatening letters?"

"It's just a hypothesis, we need to consider all possibilities."

"Uh..." Lee Mei pondered for a moment, then shook her head, "Sorry, I have not communicated much with Betty, especially since becoming Deputy Mayor. I have always been concerned about not being up to the job, focusing mostly on work, and I rarely inquire about Betty."

"I feel like a failure, I'm sorry to Betty."

Where is her father?

Betty has always lived with her father, he should know Betty the best, we can ask for his opinion."

Susan said, "My colleague has already contacted Mr. Kenneth, and he is on his way back to Los Angeles by plane."

Susan realized that this woman, in addition to feeling guilty about her daughter, knew very little about her daughter's situation and was of limited help to the case.

Susan stood up, "Mayor Lee, let's stop here for today. If you receive any calls from the kidnappers, please contact us immediately."

"I will."

Reid and Susan personally escorted Lee Mei out of the office.

Luke closed the door of the office and asked, "Captain, did Mayor Lee provide any new clues?"

"No, we will have to rely on ourselves for this case." Susan glanced at everyone. "Everyone, share your thoughts on this case.

The kidnapping scene was a mess, the hostage was taken but no ransom calls were made, what could be the kidnapper's motive and purpose?"

Black Junior stroked his chin and analyzed seriously, "I think it's very likely that Betty staged it herself.

Children from wealthy families have abundant material lives but lack parental companionship, they seek more attention, just like the previous threats.

Perhaps Betty thought the previous threat letter was unsuccessful and wanted to play something bigger.

This also explains why Betty's parents have not received any ransom calls, because Betty's goal was just to seek attention, not money."

Susan said, "Even if she staged the kidnapping case to gain her parents' attention, she would need accomplices; it's hard for one person to accomplish such a feat."

Jenny said, "Raymond and I went to investigate at the school, the few classmates who are on good terms with Betty were all attending school normally and were not aware of Betty's kidnapping."

Black Junior spoke up, "The nanny, that nanny could very well be the accomplice, didn't she disappear together with Betty?"

The deputy shook his head, "The nanny is an adult, she's not a child, she should know that even a staged kidnapping is illegal.

I don't think she would assist a child in such a matter, unless she has a mental issue or another motive."

Susan said, "The forensics team has new results. The blood found at the staircase belongs to an Asian female and matches with the DNA samples of the hair from the bedroom on the first floor and Amy Ma's rental room.

The blood most likely belongs to Amy Ma, so I think it's unlikely that Amy Ma helped Betty stage the kidnapping."

Luke speculated, "Often, right and wrong are a matter of a single thought, is it possible that Betty indeed wanted to stage a kidnapping scene to gain her parents' attention, but something went wrong midway?

The fake turned into real."

Susan pressed, "If the fake turned into real, then why haven't the kidnappers demanded a ransom?"

Luke continued his analysis, "Either it evolved into another form of crime, or someone is lying."

"Snap!" The deputy clapped his hands, "Luke and I are on the same page, I also think someone is lying."

Susan asked, "Who?"

The deputy pointed with his right index finger, speaking earnestly, "Lee Mei.

She is not only a mother but also a politician, a Chinese woman who becomes deputy mayor of America's second-largest city is definitely no simple figure.

Many politicians' acting skills are no worse than those of actors.

If she wants to lie, it's hard to detect.

This circle is filled with plenty of grey income, networks of relationships, compromises, exchanges, etc.

Even if Lee Mei was really being extorted, she might not tell the police but choose to deal with it in her own way.

I think we should investigate her surrounding relationships, and if necessary, even monitor her phone."

Susan appeared troubled, "Good idea.

However, to monitor the Deputy Mayor's phone, we likely need the approval of Chief Reid, that's beyond my authority to decide."

The deputy spread his hands, "I just mentioned that, this is the bloody bureaucracy!"