Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

They arrived at the Detective Bureau.

Luke directly took Shirley Yarter to the break room.

Actually, from the silence on the way here, Luke could tell that Shirley Yarter definitely had something to do with last night's case.

He just wasn't clear on the role she played yet.

A few minutes later, Luke and Officer Black entered the break room.

Luke poured himself a cup, and handed Shirley Yarter a cup of coffee.

"Thank you," Shirley Yarter accepted the coffee and took a symbolic sip.

"Ms. Shirley Yarter, thank you for being willing to assist our Robbery and Murder Department's investigation. If there's no problem, we can start the record now."

"Okay," Shirley Yarter held the cup with both hands.

"Do you know Mr. Baron Smith?"

"Baron Smith?"

"Yes."

"I know him, what about him?"

"How do you know each other?"

"We're in the same profession, both real estate agents, we meet occasionally."

"When was the last time you met him?"

"It's been a while, uh... one of his clients took an interest in my client's house, but unfortunately, the deal didn't go through."

"Did you see Baron Smith last night?"

"No."

Luke stared at her expression, "Where were you between nine and midnight last night?"

"Uh... at home." Shirley Yarter looked nervous and uneasy, "What exactly do you want with me?"

"Is there anyone who can verify that you were at home?" Luke could tell from her micro-expressions that she was lying.

Shirley Yarter pursed her lips, "The way you're asking this makes me feel offended. Do I need to call a lawyer?"

Luke countered, "Do I need to apply for a search warrant and an arrest warrant?

Or perhaps ask your husband for some information? Maybe he can verify whether you were at home last night?"

"No, no, no, don't do that!"

Shirley Yarter covered her forehead, "Oh my god, why is this happening? I never thought something like this would happen, it's too terrifying."

Luke took the opportunity to ask, "What exactly happened last night?"

Shirley Yarter's eyes reddened, she sobbed softly, "I don't know what to say?""

"Then let me ask. Between nine and midnight last night, did you see Baron Smith?"

Shirley nodded her head.

"Answer directly."

"I saw him."

"Why did you meet?"

"We're in the same profession, he wanted to work with me, to develop business together, so I agreed…"

"What time did you meet and what time did you part ways?"

"We met at nine, parted ways at ten."

"Tell me about what happened when you two met, what took place?"

Shirley didn't answer immediately and shook her head, "I really don't know how to say it."

Luke cut to the chase, "Was it you who killed Baron Smith?"

"No, how could I kill him?

I had no grudge against him. It wasn't me who killed him." Having said that, Shirley appeared to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Then who did kill him?"

"I don't know..." Shirley closed her eyes, reminiscing, "We were in the car at the time, then suddenly we heard someone knocking outside, I turned my head and saw someone wearing a mask standing outside the car, holding a gun in their hand.

I was terrified, Baron Smith was terrified too."

"What kind of mask?"

"A black mask, a very strange shape, covering the entire face, very scary."

"Can you draw it?"

"I can't, I don't remember clearly anymore."

"What kind of gun?"

"A black revolver with a wooden handle."

Luke noted it down, "How did you get taken hostage so easily when he approached the car, didn't you hear anything?"

Shirley shook her head, "Not at all."

Officer Black looked curious, "What were you doing at the time that you didn't notice?"

"Uh..."

Shirley looked embarrassed, "We were… in the car, getting intimate.

I know it wasn't right, but he hugged me… and one thing led to another."

Luke asked, "Were you in the front or the back seat at the time?"

"The back seat."

"I see the back seat has tint on the window, so you should not be able to see clearly inside. Which direction did the assailant point the gun at you from?"

"It was a bit hot last night, the car got a little stuffy. We had the windows half open at the time.

I was a bit embarrassed at first, asked him to close the windows and turn on the air conditioning, but he refused to listen.

He thought it was more thrilling like that..."

"Wow..." Officer Black muttered under his breath, "Suddenly I don't regret breaking up with Julian."

Officer Black always thought he was good at playing the field, but recent cases… taught him something new.

After breaking up with Julian, he had the first idea of hitting on girls.

Luke continued to ask, "Can you describe the assailant's characteristics?"

Shirley thought for a moment, "Sorry, I can't say.

I only glanced at the attacker quickly, then he told us to close our eyes or he would kill us.

I know I was useless, but…

the situation at that time was really frightening and helpless."

Luke pressed on, "What about his clothes?"

"Seemed like a black long-sleeve shirt."

"What about the assailant's voice?"

"The voice was very hoarse, kind of robotic."

Luke jotted down in his notebook that the suspect might have used a voice changer.

"What happened after that? What took place?"

"He threw three plastic handcuffs in and told me to tie Baron Smith's hands and feet, to gag his mouth with my stocking, then had Baron Smith tie my hands." Speaking of which, Shirley showed Luke and Officer Black the marks on her wrists.

Luke probed, "What was Baron Smith wearing at the time?"

"He... wasn't wearing anything."

"Socks?"

"He seemed to be wearing socks."

"What happened after that?"

"The assailant made me get out of the car, to lean on the front of the car... from behind..." Shirley covered her eyes, beginning to cry softly.

Officer Black handed her a tissue, "It's all over now, this isn't your fault, you shouldn't punish yourself."

"I know, but when I remember what happened..." Shirley cried miserably.

"I really regret going to that appointment that night. If I hadn't gone, this wouldn't have happened, and Baron Smith wouldn't be dead."

"How did Baron Smith die?"

Shirley wiped her eyes, "After it was over, the killer told me to get back into the car."

I was very scared at the time, afraid he would kill us, but I didn't dare to disobey.

I walked over and opened the car door.

Just then, a sedan drove over from the east.

Baron Smith knew this might be his only chance to be saved, so he stuck his head out to call for help...

The killer fired directly.

I was terrified.

Instead of getting into the car, I ran straight into the woods. I don't know what happened after that.

"How many shots did the killer fire?"

"It seemed like six or seven shots. I was too scared at the time to remember clearly."

Luke wrote down a six in his notebook. A revolver only has six bullets, which is also a disadvantage of the gun.

Too few bullets.

It's not easy to hit the target at night.

An average shooter, even after firing six bullets, might not hit a person running away.

This could explain why Shirley wasn't killed.

"Describe the car?"

"It was a bit dark at the time, I only glanced at it, and when the gun went off, I ran. I didn't get a clear look."

"The color?"

"It seemed to be a dark color, gray or black maybe."

"The make?"

"It might have been a sedan. I was just focused on running away and didn't pay attention."

"Did the people in that car stop?"

"No."

"After I ran into the woods, although I couldn't see the car, I could see the headlights. They didn't stop and just drove away."

Luke took note of the key points. It was very possible there was a witness.

"After you escaped, did the killer chase you? How were you rescued?"

"I don't know if he chased me.

I just kept running, then there was no sound, so I rubbed the plastic handcuffs against a sharp stone until they broke, made it down the mountain, found my car, put on a spare set of clothes, and drove home."

Luke flipped through the report from the scene investigation team. The lady's clothes weren't found at the scene, "What were you wearing when you escaped?"

"A skirt and a bra."

"Did you leave any clothes behind at the scene?"

"Yes, a shirt and underwear."

"Why didn't we find them at the scene?"

"I'm not sure."

In fact, not only were these items not found, but the plastic handcuffs on the deceased and the stockings in his mouth were missing as well.

Besides the victim's belongings, almost nothing else was found at the scene.

In other words, someone had cleaned the scene.

Luke stared at her expression, "Did you go back to the scene afterward?"

"No, that place is my nightmare. I never want to go there again."

"Were you followed at the time, or did you see any suspicious people?"

"I don't think so."

"Have you offended anyone recently?"

"No."

"Did you and Baron Smith carry any valuable items with you at the time?"

"I only lost a few hundred US dollars in cash and my cell phone. I don't know about Baron Smith's financial status."

"How long have you been having this affair with Baron Smith?

"Last night was our first time..."

Marcus "..."

I don't believe you.

Marcus pointed to his eyes with his fingers, "Hey, don't try to deceive the police. No one can escape my eyes."

"It really was the first time, I swear to God." Shirley showed a pleading look and spoke with a trembling voice, "Deputy Chief Luke, Detective Marcus, please don't tell my husband and son about this.

I beg you.

I know I was wrong and I'm sorry for them.

But I don't want to hurt them. You can come directly to me if there's anything, but please don't tell them."

Luke said, "That's assuming you're not lying.

If you're lying, according to the investigation procedure, we will need to check with them."

"I swear, everything I just said is true."

"Did your husband know about you going out last night?"

Shirley sighed softly, "Yes, I told him."

"What did you say?"

"I told him I was showing a house to a couple, and they invited me to dinner to express their gratitude.

I might be home late.

My husband has been out of town for the past few days and only got back this morning...

He didn't ask much."

Marcus sighed, "Your husband trusts you a lot."

Shirley looked down, "Yes, I failed his trust. I was wrong."

Marcus spread his hands, "Although I'm a playboy and love to have fun, you're different. You're married and should be responsible for your family."

"You're right, I will make it up to them from now on."

While Marcus was talking to Shirley,

Luke reread his notes. If Shirley wasn't lying, she was involved in the case from start to finish, and she was also a victim.

But what was the killer's motive?

Robbery?

Sexual assault?

A crime of passion?

Revenge?

Then, considering the mask and voice changer the killer used,

There are not a few killers who wear masks, but not many use voice changers.

Luke had a feeling that it might be someone they knew.

"You just said Mr. Yarter went out of town, where did he go?"

"Boneas City."

Boneas City also belongs to Los Angeles County and is not far from Los Angeles city, roughly a two-hour drive.

Shirley Yarter's husband definitely had a motive for the crime, now the question was whether he knew about his wife's infidelity?

If he knew, then he would be a major suspect.