Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Kabool Community.

This is an upper-middle-class white community.

On Sunday afternoons, many people would throw parties in their yards.

They would gather with family, friends, or neighbors, grilling barbecue, drinking beer, and engaging in conversations about sports, politics, work... the content of the talks might not be substantial, but it's a great way to relax.

Number 122 is the home of Abal Flick.

At this moment, the Flick household was bustling with many neighbors, adults and kids mingling, laughter and cheerful chit-chats filled the air.

"Woo woo…" Two cars parked near the Flick's residence.

Several people alighted from the cars and headed towards the Flick home, leading them was Luke.

Following him were Raymond, Marcus, Jenny, and Jackson.

As if he was coming to join the party, Luke said with a smile, "Sorry, we're late."

A woman in a red dress approached, petite with curved features, "Hi, I'm Pani Flick, this is my house, I don't think I recognize you guys."

"Good evening, ma'am, we're friends of your husband, he invited us over."

"Woo woo…" A tall Caucasian man came over, with a beer in hand,

"Heh, are you looking for me? I don't usually invite strangers to my parties."

"You better get used to it quickly, because you're about to be partying with a lot more strangers, and they won't be as polite as I am," Luke flashed his badge.

"You're cops? What do you want with me? Have you got the wrong person?"

"Are you Abal Flick?"

"That's me."

"Then we've got the right person."

Just then, two patrol cars also arrived, stopping in front of Abal Flick's home.

Guests at the party became unsettled, some whispered among each other, some stepped outside, while others came up trying to find out what was happening.

Mrs. Flick looked displeased and questioned Luke, "What in the world are you doing here? Why have you come to our house?"

"Maybe you should ask your husband what he has done."

"I didn't do anything, you've definitely got the wrong guy," Abal Flick defended himself.

"Mr. Flick, do you own a Colt Law Enforcer handgun?"

"Uh…" Flick opened his mouth, his face revealing a hint of panic.

"That's right, my husband does have a gun like that, so what?" Mrs. Flick declared.

Luke smiled, "Mr. Flick, are you sure you want me to say it here? In front of your wife and neighbors?"

"Sir, I can explain, that gun was stolen a few days ago.

No matter what happened with that gun, it has nothing to do with me."

"Stolen? Then why didn't you report it to the police?"

"I was too busy and I forgot."

"You had time to throw a party, but no time to report a theft... you have a solid excuse there. I believe the judge and jury will love it," Luke gestured, "Cuff him."

Little Black and Jackson stepped forward and cuffed Abal Flick.

Abal Flick resisted a little but didn't dare to openly defy.

A few neighbors whispered from afar, but they too could only step aside in the presence of the police.

Mrs. Flick was quite angry, "How can you arrest my husband during my party, without giving him a chance to explain?

If you don't clear this up, I won't let you take him away."

Luke retorted, "Are you sure that's what you want to do?"

"Yes, I demand an explanation."

Luke nodded and presented the arrest warrant, "This is the arrest warrant just signed by the judge; your husband is suspected of involvement in a homicide, and we need to bring him in for investigation."

Luke then took out another document, "If that's not enough, here's a search warrant.

Our police have the authority to search your residence, including the yard where the party is being held.

Is that explanation satisfactory?"

Mrs. Flick covered her mouth in shock, "Oh my god, husband, say something, what's going on? Why would you be involved in a homicide?"

Abal Flick helplessly said, "Like I told you, my gun was stolen."

Mrs. Flick also demanded, "Then why didn't you report it, why didn't you tell me, and let the police come knocking to arrest you? Have you considered how I feel? How could you do this?"

After that, Mrs. Flick ran towards the house.

Jenny stopped her, "Sorry, Mrs. Flick, you can't go back until the police have finished the search."

Mrs. Flick pointed at the house, "This is my home."

"We have a search warrant," Jenny explained, "If you go in now, we have the right to assume you might destroy evidence. You could also be arrested."

"Oh my god, I could get arrested for going back to my own house? How can you be so overbearing?"

Jenny showed her handcuffs, "I've explained very clearly now, if you keep interfering with the police search, we will charge you for obstructing official duty."

Little Black called out to the surrounding neighbors, "Guys, the party's over early, you can all go home now."

After that, the officers began to mobilize. Some were assigned to keep watch, others to search the house, while Jenny and Raymond took Mrs. Flick to the car for a statement.

Only Luke, Little Black, and Abal Flick remained in the yard.

Luke picked up a beer from the table, popped the cap, and took a sip, "Mr. Flick, would you like to talk here? Or would you prefer to go back to the station to the interrogation room?"

Abal Flick shook his head, "You've got it wrong; I haven't committed any crime, I'm the victim here."

"Who has victimized you? Did you report it?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I... have my difficulties."

Luke smiled, "Would you prefer to explain it in court then?"

"No, I can tell you now, I was robbed. My cash and watch were stolen."

"When did the robbery happen? Where was the location?"

"Six days ago, on the evening of the 25th around ten o'clock. It was on Kabool Mountain."

Luke took a sip of his beer, "Describe what happened during the crime."

"Uh... that evening, I had a fight with my wife, and she imposed a 'star punishment' on me. I was feeling really down, so I went for a drive to clear my head.

Up on Kabool Mountain, a redhead flagged down my car, asking for a lift. We pulled over to enjoy the view.

Then I heard someone tapping on the window. I turned my head and saw someone pointing a gun at us from outside the window.

We were taken hostage. He stole our stuff, tied me up, and even dragged the redhead out to play poker.

What a sick, despicable bastard."

Luke asked, "What does this have to do with your gun?"

"My gun was in the car, it was stolen too."

Blackie asked, "What were you and that redhead doing in the car? Don't lie to the police, okay?"

"Uh... we were playing poker, naked. I had put the gun aside; otherwise, I wouldn't have been taken hostage so easily. That damn freak."

Blackie pressed on, "What was your relationship with the redhead? Got any contact information for her?"

"It was the first time we met. I don't know her contact details."

Blackie laughed, "You play poker on the first meeting? Are you some kind of Don Juan?"

"I'm not a Don Juan, but I have US dollars."

"Was that redhead a sex worker?"

"Yes."

Blackie, although a womanizer, never engaged in such activities, even looked down on them a bit, "Your wife is pretty and has a nice figure, why would you do this?"

"Don't look at me that way.

I'm not the kind of man you think I am. Only when my wife gives me the 'star punishment' do I..." Abal Flick gave a knowing look.

"What's a 'star punishment'?"

"Every time we fight, she gives me the silent treatment and won't let me touch her until she gets over it. Normally, this lasts from a week to half a month."

Blackie said, "Your wife sure has a temper. Why don't you try to appease her?"

"It doesn't work. My wife's anger works on a timetable; whether you sweet-talk her or not, you have to wait a week for things to get better.

Once or twice I could handle, but she frequently imposes 'star punishments', and I'm a normal man with needs."

Blackie said, "So you go up the mountain to find a sex worker for that?"

"I earn over ten thousand US dollars a month, most of which I give to my wife, but she never takes the initiative to play poker with me. It's always just a chore for her, lying there in bed like a piece of wood, not even moving her butt.

Outside, with three hundred US dollars, I can play poker with a girl, four hundred gets enthusiasm, and for five hundred, they'll call me daddy.

My wife never does that; she takes everything for granted.

I really feel exhausted, even more than from work."

Luke asked, "You were robbed. Why didn't you report it to the police?"

"Although I have a clear conscience, it's not exactly something to be proud of. If my wife found out, our marriage would probably be over.

I knew I should report it, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I was planning to take a day off during the workday to report it, at least that way it wouldn't make my wife suspicious.

I never thought things would go wrong so quickly." As he said this, Abal Flick looked at Luke, "Can you tell me what case my gun is involved in?"

"On the night of June 28th, a robbery and aggravated murder took place on Kabool Mountain. The killer used your gun."

"Oh my god!" Abal Flick's face showed regret, "I should have reported this. I should have done it sooner; I should have known that nothing good would come from that psycho getting my gun."

Luke seized the opportunity to ask, "Where were you between nine and midnight on June 28th?"

"At home, with my wife. She can vouch for me."

"Describe the suspect's features."

"He wore a black mask, a dark-colored long-sleeve shirt, gloves, and had a black handgun. He wouldn't let us open our eyes.

I could only hear his voice, very hoarse, like it was fake.

I was too scared to even look at him because I knew that if I saw something I shouldn't, I'd definitely be killed."

"How can we find that redhead?"

"I don't know."

"Describe her features."

"Red hair, about 170 cm tall, she has a heart-shaped tattoo on her right arm and 'come on' tattooed on her lower back.

That's all I remember."

Blackie laughed again, "Come on, you guys sure know how to have fun. What's her name?"

"I don't know."

Luke pulled out a photo of the deceased, Baron, "Do you recognize him?"

"No."

Luke then showed him a photo of the Yarter family of three.

"I don't recognize them."

Afterward, Luke asked for more details about the case, but Abal Flick couldn't provide any more valuable clues.

If Abal wasn't lying, he had no direct connection to Baron's murder on June 28th, and it's very likely the same person was the perpetrator in both cases.

But after stealing the gun, the criminal became more brazen.

This added another possibility to Baron's murder case – the killer might have been targeting random victims, with the common thread being people engaged in sex in their cars on Kabool Mountain at night.

Looking at the time and method of the crimes, the first was only robbery and sexual assault, but the second involved murder.

The escalation in the criminal's methods meant he was becoming increasingly bold and vicious.

It couldn't be ruled out that the criminal might strike again.