Los Angeles Detective

late at night.

There was a haze in the sky, blocking the moon and stars from seeing a glimmer of light.

The cemetery was pitch black, and occasionally a few birdsong and cat meowing could be heard, which added a bit of eerie feeling out of thin air.

A tram drove slowly, the headlights were not very bright, only the road ahead could be seen clearly.

The tram drove to a newly dug cemetery and stopped slowly. Tom Stone got off the tram and looked around.

In vain, it was so dark that he couldn't see clearly.

Tom Stone turned on the flashlight and looked around again, but found nothing unusual. He took a deep breath and boldly walked to the newly dug grave today.

He looked at the grave and sighed softly, seeming a little annoyed.

There were five boxes at the back of the tram. Tom Stone struggled to lift the boxes down. They were very heavy, and each box had been treated with moisture and water resistance.

Fortunately, he goes to the gym 3 times a week and is much stronger than his peers.

"rustle……"

There was a commotion all around.

Tom Stone was startled, his hairs all over his body, "Who's there?"

"Crack." With a sound, several bright flashlights were turned on, illuminating the surrounding area brightly.

Tom Stone couldn't adapt for a while, he covered his eyes with his hand, and it took a while to see the person coming, "Captain Li, why are you here?"

This evening, Luke came to the cemetery to meet Tom Stone. He talked about the getty museum painting robbery and his father's hiring of detectives.

Luke found that Tom Stone's expression was a little strange, and he had more eyes, making people stare at Tom Stone all the time.

At seven o'clock in the evening, Tom Stone left the cemetery and returned to Stone's villa.

At eleven o'clock in the evening, Tom Stone drove out of the villa and returned to the cemetery.

He ran back to the cemetery at night, either there was a ghost in the cemetery, or he had a ghost in his heart, and sure enough, he saw this scene.

"Mr. Tom Stone, what are you doing here if you don't sleep at night?"

"My father is going to be buried in the morning, and I'm a little worried, so come and have a look."

Luke patted the big box on the tram, "Why don't you take a look, what's in it?"

"The things my father used frequently during his lifetime, he told me to bury them with him before he died. I don't know what they are, but I just follow the old man's last wish."

"Can I see it?"

"It's disrespectful to my father."

"Your father has passed away. Now these boxes are kept by you. I think you can help him decide."

"I reject."

"That's the wrong answer. I suggest you let me see."

Tom Stone took a step back, "Are you forcing me?"

"No, this is just a suggestion."

"Do you have a search warrant?"

"No." After talking with Tom Stone in the afternoon, Luke felt that the other party was suspected of lying, but he was not sure what the other party would do. Naturally, it was impossible to apply for a search warrant in advance.

"Then I refuse." Tom Stone breathed a sigh of relief.

Luke nodded, "Very wise choice, if stolen goods are found in the box, it will be a big trouble."

Tom Stone looked serious, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Luke pointed to the boxes and said, "Five boxes, each containing two oil paintings, exactly ten oil paintings, the same number as the Getty Museum looted oil paintings."

"Hey, please stop talking nonsense, I can call up a team of lawyers."

"I can apply for a search warrant with just one phone call, and our Robbery and Murder Division has always been the darling of the media. As long as we make any moves, reporters will follow like African vultures.

Mr. Tom Stone, you are going to be famous. Luke also shook the phone, "Guess which of us will get on the phone first." "

Tom Stone's teeth chattered in anger, he looked at Luke, then at the box on the tram, "I'm leaving."

"Unfortunately, the tram broke down, so you had to carry the boxes and leave.

I don't know if you moved the five boxes first, or if my search warrant came first. "After Luke's voice fell, Xiao Hei had already walked to the tram. He had been on the street when he was a teenager. He may not be good at repairing cars, but it is easy to make a tram temporarily immobile.

"What's the difference between you and a rogue?"

Little underworld, "You call me a scoundrel, who gave you the guts to insult lapd."

"I didn't insult anyone, why don't you see what you've done before you say I insulted you?"

Luke asked, "What about you?

Under the guise of his father's name, he bought the stolen oil painting.

You are not only collecting stolen goods, but also pouring dirty water on your father.

If your father found out, he might be able to recover from anger. "

Tom Stone defended, "I didn't collect the stolen goods. I don't know what you are talking about. You are framing it."

"I didn't apply for a search warrant before because I didn't know where the oil painting was hidden. Now that the box is here, I can apply for a search warrant at any time."

Tom Stone showed an angry look, "Are you threatening me?"

"On the contrary, I'm helping you.

You took the initiative to open the box to assist the police in the investigation, and everyone still has something to talk about.

If I had come with a search warrant, it would have been stolen.

How to choose, you should be very clear. "

"I said, these things belong to my father and have nothing to do with me."

"Your father is dead, you are the biggest beneficiary of these boxes, and you refuse to cooperate with the police.

I have every reason to suspect that these boxes belong to you and are hidden in the grave to avoid the police.

Mr. Tom Stone, have you ever been to a prison?

There you will see a new world. "

The night wind was cool, but Tom Stone's forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, "What should I say, you believe that the things in these boxes have nothing to do with me."

"Actively and voluntarily opening the box.

Since what's in the box has nothing to do with you.

Your father is also dead.

What else is there to worry about? "

"You're right, this has nothing to do with me, my father is dead..." Tom Stone said to himself, as if trying to convince himself, then he walked to one of the boxes and took out a box from the tram. With a crowbar, he forcefully pried open the box.

The box is wrapped with a layer of black oil paper, no specific material can be seen, it is very tough, and there is a soft plastic foam box inside after tearing open, and there is also a layer of yellow packaging inside, and it is only when it is opened again that the true appearance is revealed.

There was an oil painting in a transparent plastic bag. Luke picked up the oil painting to check, and there was another oil painting underneath.

These are two of the paintings Luke has seen in the Getty Museum's lost photographs.

Luke can't judge the authenticity of the oil painting, but it is not easy to produce ten high-quality imitation oil paintings in a short period of time.

"Open the rest of the boxes."

Soon the remaining four boxes were also opened, and each box was packed layer by layer, with two oil paintings inside. The remaining eight oil paintings were also the same as the oil paintings that were robbed from the Getty Museum.

The team members present were very excited. These ten oil paintings represented stacks of green dollars.

Tom Stone's face was ashen, and he sat on the ground a little slumped, as if he had collapsed.

Luke said, "Mr. Tom Stone, these oil paintings are exactly the same as the oil paintings that were robbed from the Getty Museum. Why are they in your hands?"

"I told you, it was left by my father."

"You said earlier that these were items commonly used by your father, so they were buried with him.

If I'm not mistaken, these ten oil paintings should be stolen from the Getty Museum.

You should be clear about what that means. "

"I really don't know, these oil paintings have nothing to do with me, otherwise, I wouldn't take the initiative to open the box."

"Let's not say whether these oil paintings are related to you.

Taking the initiative to open the box to assist the police in the investigation is indeed the most correct choice you have ever made.

You will be grateful for this choice for the rest of your life. "

If Tom Stone refused to cooperate, but let Luke open the box with a search warrant, then Luke would definitely be charged with buying stolen goods on Tom Stone.

"Captain Li, please believe me, these oil paintings really have nothing to do with me, they are funeral objects chosen by my father himself.

I just put him in the grave as he ordered.

I had no idea what was in these boxes, let alone that the paintings were stolen. "

Luke said, "I would like to believe you.

But after all, you are the person who handles these oil paintings. If you want to completely clear yourself of suspicion, some procedures are still necessary. "

"I understand, I will cooperate with you."

"Then please come with us to the police station. In addition, these oil paintings will also be brought to the police station for identification by the technical team and experts from the Getty Museum. Is there any problem?"

"No, I will follow your arrangement."

"good.

You're a smart man, no wonder Albus Stone entrusts you with everything. "

...

Robbery Murder Division.

It was already two o'clock in the morning, but after finding the oil painting, not only did everyone not fall asleep, but they were excited.

Luke decided to interrogate Tom Stone overnight.

In view of Tom Stone's initiative to open the box, Luke did not take him to the interrogation room, but took him to the lounge for questioning.

Tom Stone sat at the table, rubbing his hands, looking a little embarrassed.

Luke came in with a cup of coffee, and Xiao Hei held two cups of coffee, and handed one to Tom Stone.

"Thank you." Tom Stone held the coffee cup with both hands, "Do I need to call a lawyer?"

Luke took a sip of his coffee, "If you don't think the oil painting case has anything to do with you, there's no need to call a lawyer.

If you feel this case will affect you, call a lawyer. "Luke returned the option to the other party.

If a lawyer is called, there will always be a layer of separation between each other when talking to each other, which proves that he has a guilty conscience.

"I had nothing to do with the getty painting robbery. There was a lot of work waiting for me in the company, so I didn't have the mind to pay attention to those messy things."

"Then why did your father hire detectives to investigate the Getty painting robbery?"

"I have no idea."

"Hey, don't answer so simply.

Your father is dead. If we want to find out about this matter, we need to find the dealer of the oil painting.

Regardless of whether you have anything to do with the oil painting robbery, there must be a reasonable explanation for the discovery of these oil paintings in your hands.

Rather than just asking three questions and ignoring them.

Blind evasion will only leave a lot of doubts, and the case cannot be closed.

We can only shift the direction of investigation, from investigating your father to investigating you, the person who handled the oil painting.

You should know what I mean.

honest.

Tell me everything you know so that I can help you.

Your father is dead, you don't have to worry about him being affected.

On the contrary, if, if you deliberately conceal something, it will only make the police suspect you. "

Tom Stone spread his hands, "What doubts do I have?"

"How is your father's health?"

Tom Stone didn't know why Luke asked that question, but he still said slowly, "It's too bad, I need medical staff to take care of me 24 hours a day."

"Some people once suspected that your father's physical condition simply did not have the energy to do these things.

He is likely to be a puppet pushed to the front desk, and there is a real buyer behind the scenes.

Some people even suspect that his death was silenced.

And whoever owns the oil painting may be the real buyer behind the scenes. "

Tom Stone was in a hurry, and hurriedly defended, "This is nonsense, my father has always said one thing, he can't be anyone's puppet.

I'm not a so-called backroom buyer, and I haven't done anything illegal. "

Luke said, "Whether you are the buyer behind the scenes or not, you should be aware of it and tell me everything you know.

This will clear your suspicions.

If the case does not make sense, the reasoning is not smooth, and the case cannot be closed, we still need to investigate whether there is a buyer behind the scenes. "

"OK, I'll tell you, I'll tell you everything." Tom Stone showed a look of reminiscence, "My father is a successful investment businessman, and besides investing in stocks, he also likes to invest in antiques.

Especially in the past ten years, he has been fond of collecting oil paintings. He feels that these oil paintings are not only works, but also the crystallization of literature and art of a certain era.

In the past two years, his physical condition has been very poor. He intentionally or unintentionally revealed that he wanted to bury several oil paintings with him after his death.

Because of his poor health, in order to avoid his anger, I have not objected.

My mother and sister didn't object either, but they also didn't take the initiative to go along with it.

In the past few months, his condition worsened. He called me over and solemnly proposed this idea. I wanted to evade it, but his attitude was very firm and he asked me to make a clear statement.

I didn't want to make him angry, but there was no way I could agree to the decision.

Those few oil paintings are very precious, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Even for a family like ours, it is a huge fortune, which can be left as a family heirloom for future generations. This is the glory of the whole family.

In addition, once news of this kind of thing gets out, it is likely to be grave-digged, and the oil painting will only be cheaper for the tomb robbers.

So I turned him down.

Although my father said one thing, he had absolute control over oil paintings.

But this matter is different, this is his aftermath, if I don't agree, no one can help him with the aftermath.

Although he was unhappy, he didn't mention it again.

A few days ago, he came to me again. He first handed over the precious oil paintings of his family to me for preservation, and then asked for the oil paintings to be buried with him.

However, the oil paintings buried with him this time were not the few precious oil paintings in the family, but the oil paintings he bought for more than three million dollars.

More than three million dollars is not a small amount, but I knew it was his last wish, and I couldn't bear to refuse it, so I agreed.

You know what happened next. "

Luke pressed, "Have you ever seen the painting in the box?"

"No, my father didn't let me open it, and I didn't take the initiative to read it."

"Aren't you curious?"

"If it is an oil painting worth 30 million yuan, I will definitely be curious.

But the 3 million oil paintings are not bad. "

Luke tentatively asked, "When did you suspect that there was something wrong with these oil paintings?"

"Yesterday morning, when you went to talk to my mother, I noticed something unusual.

I linked the robbery of the Getty Museum oil painting with the oil painting buried with it.

But I have no proof, just suspicion...

Or do as your father asks you to do.

Last evening, when you found me, this suspicion was even heavier.

But I have no proof, and neither do you.

I have no reason to take the initiative to pour dirty water on my father...

So, I still follow my father's request.

Until you found me again this morning...

I decided to assist you in the investigation. "Tom Stone sighed with a sincere tone, "I am sorry for my father's behavior. "

Luke said, "This is not something that can be solved with an apology.

Your father is most likely behind the painting heist, which involved multiple deaths, including several police officers. "

Tom Stone stated, "I am deeply sorry for what happened to them, and we will actively compensate and seek forgiveness from their families.

It was indeed my father's fault. "

Luke took out the 'Professor' criminal investigation sketch again, "How much do you know about this man?"

Tom Stone picked up the criminal investigation sketch and looked at it, "I saw him once.

That day my mother went out on business, and I was worried about my father, so I went to see him after get off work.

Just saw this person leave the villa.

He claimed to be a friend of my father's, but I don't recall my father having such a friend.

I asked my father, but he was unwilling to say more.

Now that I think about it, he might have intentionally distracted my mother that day. "

"When did you see him?"

"Before Christmas, it should be around December 24, around four o'clock in the afternoon."

"Were there any distinguishing features about him then?"

"He was driving a black sedan."

"What's the license plate number?"

"I did not notice."

"brand."

"Can not remember."

"What role do you think your father played in the painting robbery?"

"I have no idea.

But he was not a murderous man.

I don't think he was the mastermind of the oil painting robbery. He should just want to buy a few oil paintings buried with him.

Moreover, he was in poor health and had no energy to participate in the robbery.

I think he's just a guy who buys stolen goods. "

"What did you think after seeing those ten oil paintings?"

Tom Stone shook his head, "I didn't look carefully."

Luke took out the photos and information of the ten stolen oil paintings and handed them to him.

After watching it, Tom Stone was silent for a moment, "Although these oil paintings are very precious...

But it is not the painting style and painter that my father likes, and it is far inferior to the few paintings in our family's collection.

Based on my understanding of him, these oil paintings should not be chosen as funeral objects.

I also do not understand.

Choose these at the risk of committing a crime?

Not his style at all. "