Chapter 548 Martin
Speck Avenue.
The street is located in the south of the urban area. It has been in disrepair for a long time and looks a bit dilapidated. There are many tents and colorful graffiti on both sides of the street.
Two black cars drove into the street and parked on the side of the road near the Takito convenience store.
The door of the passenger cab of the car opened, Luke walked out of the passenger cab, 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 plump Mexican woman in her twenties. 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 guns." 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, "Forty minutes ago, did someone use a Wells Fargo credit card here?"
"Yes."
"We need 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."
Little Heidao, "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, looked outside, and 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.
"Thanks."
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. He looked fifty or sixty years old, and he sat 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 homeless man wipes the corn flakes from his beard, "Yeah, I love every day in Los Angeles. What's the matter? Dude."
"Luke."
"Martin."
"Hey, Martin, I want to ask you about someone."
"OK, if I know, I'll let you know." The **** took a sip of his brandy.
"Do you know Rochelle Horn?"
The homeless Martin glanced at Luke, "Who are you?"
Luke flashed his police badge.
"Yes, I know Rochelle Horne.
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 surprised expression 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 have been the day before yesterday. He seemed 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 might just want to buy me a drink.
I thought the next time I met him, I would return the credit card to 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 his situation?"
"Do you have a cigarette?"
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 is very envious of me." Martin smiled, pointing to the wine bottle and cornflakes on the ground, "A bottle of brandy for $3.50 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 every day as if it were my last.
Being able to see the sun the next day is equivalent to earning money.
Then another happy day. "
Martin turned to look at Luke, "Are you happy?"
Luke froze for a moment, nodded, "Yes, I am very happy."
"Looks like you, like me, are a lucky guy.
We should celebrate. Martin handed the bottle to Luke. "Would you like a sip?" "
"No, I don't drink during work." Luke declined, he didn't like to share a bottle with a man to drink.
Luke pressed, "Did you know that Rochelle Horn lost his job half a year 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 it doesn't matter, maybe we will meet tomorrow, who knows? "
"Do you know what he did for a living when he lost 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 expected to work in other travel agencies, but he interviewed more than a dozen companies one after another and failed.
He also tried other jobs, but either the work was not up to standard, or the salary was too small to support the family, or nothing.
This guy is lucky, and he can go to the casino to win some money to support his family at the beginning, but luck can't always be there.
As far as I know, he later lost a lot of money and borrowed a lot of usury..." Martin sighed softly and 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 out, it's not a good job.
But he went anyway.
In his words, he is not alone, there are wives 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 it might kill him if he persisted. "
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 have a good chat, but he can't tell me everything.
Essentially, we are two different kinds of people.
This is why he is 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 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 is too tired, it is time to take a good 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 give you the position of inspector, 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, there are more than a dozen pharmaceutical companies in Los Angeles, and 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 the drug 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)