LA Detective

Chapter 548 Martin
Speck Avenue.

The street is located in the southern part of the urban area. It has been in disrepair for a long time and looks a little dilapidated. On both sides of the street, there are many tents where homeless people live and colorful graffiti.

Two black cars pulled into the street and parked on the side of the road near the Takito convenience store.

The door of the passenger compartment of the car was opened. Luke walked out of the passenger compartment, glanced at the signboard of the convenience store, and looked around. He took Xiao Hei into the convenience store, and the others stayed outside the convenience store.

Sitting at the counter was a Mexican woman in her twenties with a plump figure. She glanced at Luke and the two before lowering her head to apply nail polish.

Xiao Hei leaned against the counter like a soft bone, "Hey, beauty, I want to ask you something."

The saleswoman glanced at Xiao Hei, "I'm married, my eldest son is five years old, and my youngest daughter is three years old.

My husband is still alive, you have no chance. "

"Haha..." Xiao Hei smiled, "You are very interesting, I like it."

"It doesn't matter if you like it. I don't want to be shot to death by my husband for cheating. Believe me, he can definitely do it."

"Your husband is not the only one with a gun." Xiao Hei flashed his police badge, "Ma'am, I am Inspector Marcus of the Robbery and Murder Division. We are investigating a serious criminal case and would like your assistance.

I'm sure your husband wouldn't shoot you for this. "

"Sorry, I misunderstood, but you really look like..." The female clerk shrugged, did not continue, and asked instead, "What do you want to ask?"

Xiao Hei said, "Four or 10 minutes ago, did someone here use a Wells Fargo credit card?"

"Yes."

"We're going to find that person."

"Can I refuse? After all, I have no reason to disclose the whereabouts of customers."

"Of course you can.

Next time we will apply for a search warrant and conduct a comprehensive inspection of your convenience store..." Xiao Hei raised his eyebrows, showing a look that you understand.

The female clerk snorted softly, with some reluctance on her face. After hesitating for a while, she walked out of the counter, looked at the door of the store, and said, "The person you are looking for bought a bottle of brandy and a bag of cornflakes."

Xiao Hei said, "I'm asking about his whereabouts."

The female shop assistant stared at Xiao Hei without saying a word.

Luke walked to the door of the store and looked outside. His eyes fell on a suspected homeless man across the street. There was a bottle of brandy and a bag of cornflakes next to the homeless man. "Is that him?"

The female clerk nodded and returned to the counter.

"Thank you."

Luke winked at Xiao Hei, and the two left the convenience store.

Luke walked across the street and looked at the homeless man, with short hair, gray beard, jeans, and floral shirt, who looked about five or sixty years old, sitting casually on the steps of the street.

Luke walked to the side, looked at the homeless man, and took the initiative to start the conversation, "The weather is fine today."

The bum wiped the corn flakes from his beard. "Yeah, I love every day in LA. What's up, man."

"Luke."

"Martin."

"Hey, Martin, I want to ask you about someone."

"OK, I'll let you know if I know." The tramp took a sip of his brandy.

"Did you know Rochelle Horn?"

The homeless Martin glanced at Luke, "Who are you?"

Luke flashed his badge.

"Yes, I know Rochelle Horn.

What happened to him? "

"he died."

Martin sighed and took another swig of brandy, "He's a nice guy..."

Luke saw that there was no surprise on his face, "You know he's dead?"

"I have no idea……

But his recent state is not very good, very negative, to be honest, I do worry about him. "

"Have you known each other for a long time?"

"About a few months, I can't remember exactly."

"When was the last time you saw him?"

"It should be the day before yesterday. He seemed to be very preoccupied. He drank a bottle of beer with me, left a credit card and left without saying a few words."

"Wells Fargo credit card?"

"Yes, I just went to the convenience store to buy a bottle of wine and snacks."

"Why did he leave you his credit card?"

"You should ask him."

"I can only ask you now."

"It's not as complicated as you think, he probably just wanted to buy me a drink.

I thought I would return the credit card to him the next time I meet him. Martin sighed, and pulled out a Wells Fargo credit card from his pocket. "Can you pass it on to his wife for me?" "

Luke took the credit card, "Do you know his situation well?"

"Although we haven't known each other for a long time, we do have a good chat."

"Can you tell me about him?"

"Do you have a cigarette?"

Luke took out two cigarettes, handed him one, and smoked one himself.

Martin lit his cigarette, took a sip, and said with a look of enjoyment, "You know what? He envies me very much."

Luke was a little surprised, "What?"

"You heard that right, that guy envies me." Martin smiled, pointing to the wine bottle and cornflakes on the floor, "A $3.5 bottle of brandy and a bag of cornflakes can make me happy all day long.

Happiness is actually very simple, don't regret the past, don't worry about the future, live well in the present.

I know it's a bit of a cliché, but there's not much that can really be done. "

Martin pointed to himself and said proudly, "I did it.

I live each day as if it were my last.

Being able to see the sun the next day is equivalent to making money.

Then another happy day. "

Martin turned to look at Luke. "Are you happy?"

Luke froze for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, I'm very happy."

"Looks like you, like me, are a lucky fellow.

We should celebrate. Martin handed the bottle to Luke. "Would you like a sip?" "

"No, I don't drink at work." Luke declined, he didn't like sharing a bottle with men.

Luke pressed, "Did you know that Rochelle Horn lost his job six months ago?"

"Of course, if he hadn't lost his job and was still working hard, maybe the two of us would never see each other, nor would we be able to become friends." Martin's eyes were a little red, "I kind of miss him.

But that's okay, maybe we'll meet tomorrow, who knows? "

"Do you know what he does for a living when he loses his job?"

"Yes, this guy has racked his brains to support his family, and I have also helped him with ideas.

At the beginning, he also expected to work in other travel agencies, but he interviewed more than a dozen companies one after another and failed.

He tried other jobs, but they either didn't work up to standard, or the pay was too low to support his family.

This guy is lucky, and he can go to the casino to win some money to support his family at first, but luck can't always be there.

As far as I know, he lost a lot of money and borrowed a lot of usury..." Martin sighed softly, took a puff of cigarette, "poor guy.

In order to get money, he finally chose to work as a drug tester in a pharmaceutical factory.

I've talked him through it, it's not a good job.

But he still went.

In his words, he is not alone, there are his wife and children behind him, waiting for him to earn money and go home.

At that time, I had a bad premonition that he was unable to take on this responsibility now, but he refused to let go, and if he persisted, it might kill him. "

Luke asked, "Is he working as a drug tester recently?"

"Yes."

"Do you know which pharmaceutical company he is in and which drug he is trying?"

"No, I didn't ask.

This is a sad topic in itself. Everyone knows that drug testing is harmful to health, but some people have to work as drug testers for money, which is very sad in itself.

But this kind of system happens to be legal, don't you think it's scary? "

"Do you know where he went yesterday?"

"I don't know. We had a good chat, but he couldn't tell me everything.

Essentially, we are two different kinds of people.

That's why he was willing to open up to me. "Martin lay on the street, changed into a comfortable position, and said sadly, "I know many people look down on homeless people, but not everyone can be a homeless person.

I can feel that Rochel is very envious of my current life, but for various reasons, he can't be as chic as me.

Sometimes, I really feel sorry for this guy, but I can't help him, he has to come out on his own.

Obviously, he still couldn't make it in the end. "

Luke left a business card, "If you think of any clues about Rochelle Horn, you can contact me at any time."

Martin looked at Luke's business card, "It's actually good to be dead, he doesn't have to carry those heavy things anymore.

He's too tired, it's time for him to rest. "

After getting in the car, Xiao Hei picked out his ears, "I'm actually listening to a homeless man showing his superiority, what's even more annoying is...

I think what he said is quite reasonable. "

Jackson quipped, "So, are you going to quit your job and be a bum?"

"I'm not going to vacate the position of inspector for you, don't even think about it.

What's more, I still have a lovely daughter to raise.

I don't want her to wander with me. "Speaking of this, Xiao Hei felt a little inexplicable, and changed the subject, "Captain, where are we going to investigate now?" "

Luke said, "According to Martin's description, Rochel Horn is likely to be a drug tester, which explains why there are ingredients in his body similar to antihypertensive drugs. We should talk to the pharmaceutical company where Rochel Horn is a drug tester."

Xiao Hei said, "But Martin doesn't know which pharmaceutical company Rochelle Horn is testing the drug in?"

Luke said, "I checked, and there are more than a dozen pharmaceutical companies in Los Angeles. Among them, Jelson Pharmaceuticals, which produces Nebivolol antihypertensive drugs, is also in Los Angeles."

Xiao Hei shrugged, "Perhaps this is not a coincidence."

Jackson thought for a while and questioned, "But as far as I know, the Nebivolol antihypertensive drug is already on the market, so there should be no need to try it anymore."

Luke said, "You're right, the ingredients in the deceased's body are similar to those of the Nebivolol antihypertensive drug, but not exactly the same, either Jelson Pharmaceuticals is developing a similar new drug, or other companies are developing it.

Jelson Pharmaceuticals always knows better than the rest of us.

After all, it is often your competitors who know you best. "

(End of this chapter)