Los Angeles Detective

  Chapter 405 Visit

  In the evening, Luke and Ortillo met at a grocery store.

  Japanese-style private rooms, wooden tables and chairs, tatami mats, and the waiters next to them are also wearing kimonos.

  Don't say it, it's quite a feeling.

  After ordering, the waiter first served a pot of sake and a pot of oolong tea.

  Luke picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of oolong tea, "How is it? The restaurant I'm looking for is not bad."

  “I have been to Japanese restaurants before, but I ate sushi or teppanyaki, and it was the first time I sat on tatami, and it felt strange.

   And the clothes of those waiters have a sense of age. "Orti seemed very interested in this restaurant, his beautiful big eyes full of curiosity.

  Luke took a sip of oolong tea, "How did the investigation go?"

  Before, two unidentified individuals posed as members of the Robbery and Murder Division to 'investigate' a painting heist.

  Luke guessed that the two people might be detectives, with the purpose of finding the oil painting and getting a reward.

  Luke met Shukri Brad, the deputy curator of the museum, and asked which detective agencies had accepted the commission.

   I learned that the museum has hired a total of 3 detective agencies, Pinkerton Detective Agency, Stanley Detective Agency, and Carden Detective Agency.

   Shukri Brad had only met the receptionists of the three detective agencies, but never the detective in charge of the investigation.

  Luke thought about meeting with the heads of three detective agencies, but he was worried that he would scare the snake away, and he didn't have sufficient evidence to suspect that the "fake police detective" was a member of these three agencies.

   To be on the safe side, I asked Ortie to help find out the news. She has a lot of contacts in the Los Angeles detective industry, and she might be able to find out the identities of the two 'fake police detectives'.

  Orti said, "Three detective agencies accepting rewards, among them is our Pinkerton Detective Agency.

  I can assure you that no one at the Pinkerton Detective Agency is posing as a detective.

  As for the other two detective agencies, we also have acquaintances. We asked them to identify the two criminal investigation sketches you sent, but they did not recognize anyone who matched the characteristics. "

   "Dong dong." The door rang.

  The waiter from the Japanese grocery store opened the door and walked in, holding a wooden tray with several small dishes in it.

  The waiter put the side dishes on the table, turned and left, and closed the door.

   Luke said, "These two people may have made some disguises in appearance."

  Orti nodded, "I know.

  The people who assisted in the identification were also experienced detectives. If it was their people, they should be able to recognize them. "

   "That may be because I guessed wrong." Luke frowned slightly. If the two fake police detectives weren't detectives, who were they?

   "Don't worry, I haven't finished my words yet.

  How can I not pay attention to what Captain Luke ordered. Orti showed a playful look, "I asked a lot of people to help identify them, and one of the detectives felt that these two people looked familiar, and they looked like two detectives from the Navis Detective Agency." "

  Navis Detective Agency?

  Luke frowned slightly. Could it be that Shukri Brad, the deputy curator of the museum, lied, and there were not only three detective agencies who accepted the commission?

   But what's the point of him telling this lie?

   Could it be that Shukry Brad knows that people in this firm are pretending to be police detectives and deliberately cover for them?

  Luke felt that this possibility was unlikely. The investigations of the police and detectives did not interfere with each other, and in terms of the strength of the investigation and the resources mobilized, the ability of the police to solve cases was much higher than that of the detectives.

   Of course, detectives also have their own advantages. Cats have cats and mice have mice.

  If the police are unable to detect the oil painting robbery, then the Getty Museum is likely to inquire about the oil painting through a detective agency, and then repurchase the oil painting through a middleman.

   To put it bluntly, where there is sunshine, there will be shadows.

  Orti took out a blank envelope from the exquisite blue leather bag, "Here are the information of those two people."

  Luke took the envelope, smelled a faint fragrance, opened the letter, glanced at it, and put it away.

   Another dish was served one after another, and the two chatted while eating.

  Luke also took the opportunity to ask about the detective industry, such as hiring a detective to investigate a person's information, what methods do detectives usually use?

  Orti’s answer is also very simple. The detective is not as mysterious as imagined. It is nothing more than monitoring, tracking, visiting, and consulting information...

   These methods, they will, and so will Luke.

  Originally, Luke also wanted to ask Orti if he could find detailed information on potential buyers of oil paintings.

  After careful consideration, he felt that it was inappropriate. The detective circle in Los Angeles was so large. Those who were familiar with the detective circle in Orti might not be familiar with these four potential buyers.

  The detective's investigation methods may not be very clever, and Luke was also worried about leaking the news, so he didn't mention it at all.

  The deputy team's suggestion is more secure.

  This time we found two suspects who were suspected of being fake police detectives, so it was a worthwhile trip.

  …

the next day.

  Luke re-arranged the task, Marcus, Jenny, and Raymond investigated the two people who were suspected of murdering the police detective in a fake robbery.

  Originally, Luke guessed that the two people who pretended to be police detectives were probably detectives who accepted a reward from the museum and investigated under the guise of the police.

   Now it seems that it may not be that simple.

  Luke and the deputy team each brought one person and took the initiative to talk to the four potential buyers.

   Among them, Luke is responsible for visiting Ruth. Morgan and Albus Stone.

   The deputy is in charge of visiting Dormer Wood and Buddy Caddis.

  The clues about Ruth Morgan mainly come from Matthew's investigation.

  Ruth Morgan is 50 years old this year. Her husband passed away a few years ago. She lives alone in a manor in the suburbs. It is not difficult to find her address.

  In addition, Matthew also found some records of her purchases at the auction house. This information is very important, and it is also an excuse for Luke to talk to the other party.

  Around eleven o'clock in the morning, Luke and Jackson arrived at Morgan Manor.

   After arriving at the manor, Luke's first impression was that it was very big.

  The two parked the car at the door, and Jackson went to the big iron gate and rang the doorbell.

  A moment later, the screen of the video doorbell turned on, and a white woman in her forties appeared on the screen, "This is Morgan Manor, do you have an appointment?"

  Jackson flashed his police badge, "Is this okay?"

  The white woman asked, "Who are you looking for?"

   "Ruth Morgan."

"Is there a problem?"

  “Recently, there was a robbery at the Getty Museum, and ten valuable oil paintings were taken away. We want to ask her for some information.”

   "Robbery? Are you kidding me? Is it April Fool's Day?"

  How could our wife have something to do with the robbery. "

  Jackson curled his lips, "I guess the Getty Museum thought the same way before."

   "What do you mean? Do you suspect that someone is going to rob Mrs. Morgan?"

   "Are you Ruth Morgan herself?"

   "No, I am her housekeeper."

   "This case is currently in the confidential stage, I can't tell you.

  We need to talk to Ruth Morgan herself, it's about her safety. "

   "I will report to my wife, wait a moment." After speaking, the white woman turned off the video.

   "Really polite?" Jackson couldn't help complaining.

   Luke smiled, "Perhaps it is kind of kind to her to give you time to show the police badge."

  Jackson whispered, "I used to have a little guilt for lying, but now, it's completely gone."

   "Then behave well."

   After a while, the video doorbell rang again, and the white woman said flatly, "Ma'am, please come in."

   After speaking, the screen went black again, but the big iron door opened automatically.

  In the distance, a tram drove over, a bit similar to a golf tour bus.

  Luke and Jackson looked confused.

  A black man in a suit was sitting in the cab of the tram. After getting off the bus, he saluted Luke and the two, "Two distinguished guests, please get on the bus."

  Luke and the two got on the tram and enjoyed the beautiful scenery in the manor. Then, the tram stopped in front of a three-story villa.

   After getting out of the car, a white woman came over. It was the housekeeper who had shown up on the video doorbell before, "Two police officers, please follow me."

  Led by the housekeeper, the two of Luke entered the villa and were invited to the sofa in the living room.

   Afterwards, a maid brought tea and pastries, and the housekeeper bowed slightly again, "Please wait a moment, Madam will be there soon."

   This wait is half an hour.

  However, Luke and Jackson were not annoyed, and there were maids serving them all the time.

  Drink black tea, coffee, and various exquisite pastries, each piece is delicious, sweet but not greasy, and the ingredients are very particular.

After the two were full, the door at the back of the living room opened, and a white woman in her forties walked in. She was stylishly dressed, elegant, with a faint smile on her face, and walked straight to the sofa, "Sorry, let the two The officer has been waiting."

  Luke stood up, "Are you Mrs. Ruth Morgan?"

"it's me."

   "Please sit down, what's your name?"

   "Captain of the First Squadron of the Robbery and Murder Division, Luke Lee."

   Ruth Morgan took a sip of the coffee that the maid had just served, and asked, "Captain Li, what can you do for me?"

   "At the end of last month, ten oil paintings from the Getty Museum were robbed, did you know?"

   "I heard a little bit."

   "Where did you hear that?"

  Ruth Morgan smiled, "The robber told me."

  Luke also laughed, "You really know how to joke."

   "I'm not used to being asked about my privacy, so let me just tell you why you're here." Ruth Morgan became a little impatient.

   "I heard that you have an oil painting by impressionist master Duke West."

   "Yes, I do have a piece of work "Spring Return" by master Duke West. I bought this oil painting at an auction house for 9 million US dollars. The procedures are complete. Is there any problem?"

   "Among the oil paintings robbed from the Getty Museum, there is also a work by master Duke West, and it is also the most precious one among the robbed oil paintings." Luke began to perform.

  Actually, the ten oil paintings that were robbed from the Getty Museum did not contain works by Duke West. The reason why Luke said this was purely to pave the way for the following words.

  Ruth Morgan thought for a while, "As far as I know, there are eight works of Master Duke West in existence.

   Among them, an oil painting called "Starry Night" is preserved in the Getty Museum. "

"No, one of the ten stolen oil paintings is called "Rainy Night", which is said to be the work of Master Duke West." Luke did some homework before coming, and there was no Duke West among the ten stolen paintings. Master West's work, but the Getty Museum does have an oil painting "Rainy Night" by Master Duke West.

   "Sorry, I misremembered." Ruth Morgan smiled, with a more serious look, "However, what does this have to do with me?"

  "I have been investigating this case, and based on the available evidence, this group of robbers is very crazy, and they are probably a group of fanatical artists.

  We have found one of their strongholds, and found some information about Master Duke West's works in the stronghold.

  We suspect that they are likely to commit crimes again, and the target may still be the work of Master Duke West.

  And you just own an oil painting "Spring Return" by Master Duke West. Luke said solemnly, "Mrs. Morgan, this group of robbers is very brutal, you'd better be prepared." "

  "You think they will rob my oil painting "Spring Return"."

  Luke shook his head, "The police have been investigating the case, in fact, I don't think they dare to continue to commit crimes against the wind, the possibility is very small.

   But... it's always good to be careful. "

   "Thank you for the reminder." Ruth Morgan showed a grateful look, "What do you think I should do?"

   "I came here this time just to see if there is anything unusual around you?"

   Ruth Morgan shook her head, "It seems not."

   "If it's convenient, I would like to ask you a few questions. These robbers are very cunning, and it is difficult for ordinary people to find them."

   "OK, you can ask."

   "Where did you put the oil painting called "Spring Return"? Is it safe?"

  Ruth Morgan smiled, "I put it in the bank, so I don't need to say which bank it is. I can guarantee that the oil painting is safe now."

  Luke was a little disappointed. He originally wanted to take the opportunity to check, "Are there any suspicious people around you?"

"No."

   "Do you plan to buy oil paintings recently?"

   "If there is a work I like, maybe it will be."

   "Where do you usually buy oil paintings?"

"auction."

   "Did you buy oil paintings through illegal channels?" Luke knew that even if there were, the other party might not be telling the truth, he just wanted to see the other party's reaction.

"No."

  Ruth Morgan was very alert, staring at Luke, "I suddenly remembered that I still have a date.

   That's all for today.

  Sophie, see off my guests. Ruth Morgan nodded slightly to the housekeeper, then got up and left without looking at Luke and the two of them again.

   "Two, please."

  Luke and the two were "gifted" out by the housekeeper.

  Jackson glanced at the manor behind him, "Captain, do you think there is something wrong with Ruth Morgan?"

  Luke shook his head. During the conversation with Ruth Morgan, he found no obvious signs of lying.

  However, this woman was also very vigilant, feeling that Luke's question was a bit invasive, and directly kicked them out.

  However, thinking that he failed to see through Mrs. Gray's lie the first time last time, Luke felt a little uneasy.

   After getting in the car, Luke asked, "What do you think?"

  Jackson shrugged, "It looks very polite on the surface, but there is a feeling of repulsion, I don't like her very much.

  Her official age is fifty, but she looks only forty, very young.

   I bet she spends more money on grooming than I do every month. "

  Maintenance, beauty.

  Luke seems to have hit the mark.

  (end of this chapter)