Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

"One night, the two of us were sitting on the window sill," seeing Luke glance at himself, Little Black nodded affirmatively and laughed,

"Yes, just like you're thinking.

Then, we accidentally fell off the window sill.

Oh my god, we were only wearing shirts, rolling on the lawn like that.

Just then, a car passed by, and the lady sitting in the passenger seat was stunned.

Ha ha... It was a crazy night."

Luke looked at Little Black. "Poor guy, have you noticed that you talk about Julian a lot lately, and every time you can't help but laugh?"

"Really?"

"Yes.

"Uh... that means I've completely let go.

"Are you sure you're not missing her?"

Little Black showed a melancholy look, "I... I must let go, it's better for her, for me."

The car fell silent, and neither spoke again.

Suddenly, Little Black hit the brakes and stopped by the roadside.

Luke, leaning forward, complained, "Are you upset? You say you don't miss Julian."

"No, I didn't stop the car because of Julian," Little Black pointed to the front right of the car.

Luke looked up and saw a black woman dragging a large suitcase nearby, with a young boy about ten years old next to her.

Laura and Jaden.

What are they doing here?

Little Black got out of the car, waving and said, "Laura, Jaden, what are you doing here? Why are you dragging luggage?"

Luke also got out of the car and nodded in greeting.

Jaden said, "Marcus, I was just about to contact you... please help."

Marcus responded with concern, "What happened, buddy?"

Jaden said nothing, glancing at Laura beside him.

"Laura, what happened?"

Laura pursed her lips and sighed, "We're behind on the rent, and the landlord kicked us out."

"Behind on rent?" Little Black was surprised, "Why are you behind on rent? Didn't the police station return some money to you guys? It should have been enough for quite a while."

Laura said helplessly, "I... I got scammed, and all the money is gone."

"What? You were scammed? By whom?" Little Black's face was filled with confusion.

Laura appeared somewhat uneasy, "A 'friend,' someone whom I thought as a friend, treated me really nicely, cared about me at the beginning.

He knew about Jaden's father's death, always consoled me, encouraged me to come through it.

He also said he grew up in a single-parent family, understands and sympathizes with the difficulties of a single mother.

So, he was willing to help me, got me into investing with him."

Laura stopped, hesitated to continue.

Little Black pressed on, "How did he trick you into investing?"

"He explained about a profitable project in its investment prime, promising high returns, inviting me to join.

I was worried initially, but he was enthusiastic, I didn't think he was a bad person, so I tried investing a thousand US dollars.

Then, just like he said, I really made money, and quickly saw profits. I could even withdraw it through the software."

"Later, I increased the investment and ended up losing it all.

That's when I realized, I was scammed."

Little Black opened his mouth, unsure what to say.

A woman, a black woman...

Oh...

After a long time, Luke asked, "Where do you plan to go now?"

Laura pointed to the right, to the aid center, "We were planning to go to the shelter, but it's already full, we can't stay there, we have to leave."

Little Black looked at Laura, then glanced at Jaden, "Come with me."

The group re-entered the shelter where the hall was filled with many people, including homeless men, homeless women, and others like Laura with children.

Even in a prosperous city, there are those living at the bottom suffering from hardship.

Little Black approached the service station's front desk, behind a glass window sitting a middle-aged Latin woman.

"Hey, I'm Detective Marcus. I found a mother and son requiring help by the roadside, can they stay here?"

The Latin woman looked at Laura and Jaden, said hesitantly, "Sorry, the shelter has only 90 beds, and it's already full."

Little Black asked, "It's so late, a single mother with a child, it's really tough for them. Can you help find a bed?"

The Latin woman sighed, "Detective Marcus, I understand how you feel, but look at those people in the hall, they are all waiting in line for a bed.

It's indeed full, I'm helpless.

You might try other shelters."

Little Black looked over the crowded hall, resigned to lead Laura and Jaden away.

"Wait here for a moment."

After saying that, Little Black walked aside with Luke to talk.

Luke asked, "What do you plan to do?"

"Take them to another shelter. If I don't handle this, they'll definitely end up sleeping on the streets." Little Black shrugged, "Sorry, you'll have to take a cab to the bar."

"Good luck," Luke dropped the statement, waved at Jaden and his mother, and then left.

Little Black patted Jaden's shoulder and comforted, "Come on, I'll take you to another shelter, first find a place to stay.

As for the money you were scammed out of, tomorrow I'll ask the financial crime division to see if we can retrieve it."