"Detective, well done!" Luke praised with a thumbs up.
Xiao Hei spread his hands and said indifferently, "It's just a small scene. Even if you don't arrive in time, I can still subdue them."
As he said, Xiao Hei patted Ronnie Prada on the cheek, "Man, which one is more powerful, me or my ID photo?"
Ronnie Prada glared at Xiao Hei, "Why arrest me?"
Xiao Hei smiled, "Because you are handsome, haha..."
Ronnie Prada “…”
Luke didn't talk nonsense to him and asked, "Do you have a black Chevrolet?"
"Yes."
"What's the license plate number?"
"2Huy377."
Luke took out a photo of the deceased Rochelle Horne, "Do you know him?"
"No."
Luke pointed into his eyes, "Look at me, we're not here to hear you lie, understand?
Let me ask you again, do you know him? "
Ronnie Prada hesitated for a moment, "Yes."
"What's your relationship with him?"
"He... borrowed money from me."
"How much?"
"Fifty thousand dollars."
"Usury?"
"Yes."
"Did you get that money back?"
"He didn't borrow fifty thousand dollars at once, and he has already repaid part of it."
"He can't pay back the rest of the money, so you kill him."
"No, he hasn't paid back my money, I can't kill him.
Kill him, and I won’t get my money back. Ronnie Prada seemed to realize something, and asked, "Is he dead?" "
"Yes."
Ronnie Prada waved his hands, "This has nothing to do with me, I swear, I didn't kill him."
"On the afternoon of July 10th, between two o'clock and six o'clock, where were you?"
Ronnie Prada thought about it carefully, "At that time...I should be in this apartment."
"We checked the surveillance, and you drove that black Chevrolet sedan to the Talip community where the deceased was killed."
Ronnie Prada opened his mouth wide, "Nonono, there is a misunderstanding, that black Chevrolet is indeed mine, but I haven't driven that car recently.
I'm driving a black Mercedes right now in the parking lot downstairs, and they can all testify.
I have never been to the neighborhood you speak of, I swear to God. "
"Then tell me, who drove that black Chevrolet on July 10th and July 11th?"
Ronnie Prada blurted out, "Walda Baker, yes, that's the guy.
My black Chevrolet is always driven by him. Ronnie Prada pointed to the two younger brothers, "The two of them can testify." "
The two younger brothers nodded quickly, "That's right, that car has always been driven by Walda Baker."
Luke looked at the three of them as if they were lying, and asked, "Where is Walda Baker?"
“Yesterday, the guy said his mom wasn’t feeling well, and he was going to see his mom in Arizona, and he wouldn’t be back in a few days.”
Luke pressed, "Has he had contact with Rochelle Horn?"
"Yes, he is usually responsible for contacting Rochel Horn and getting money from Rochel Horn."
Luke checked the road surveillance video on a tablet. The black Chevrolet car must be fine, but the driver was wearing a peaked cap and a sun visor at the same time. Can find people by car.
Luke clicked on a clearer screenshot. Although he couldn’t see the face, he could see part of the body. “Is this your Chevrolet sedan?”
Ronnie Prada glanced at the tablet, "Yes."
"Who is driving?"
Ronnie Prada scrutinized, "Like Walda Baker."
Luke asked the two younger brothers to identify him again, and they also felt that the driver was very similar to Walda Baker.
Luke also compared the surveillance video with Ronnie Prada, and it is indeed not the same person.
Luke tentatively asked, "Do you think Walda Baker killed Rochelle Horn?"
"I have no idea.
I can't think of any reason why he would do that? "
Luke continued to test, "Is it because Rochelle Horn refused to pay back the money, so you asked Walda Baker to teach Rochelle Horn a lesson, but the other party accidentally killed him."
"Nonono, Rochelle Horn has already paid back the money within the agreed time. I didn't let Walda Baker trouble him. I didn't even know that Walda Baker had gone to him."
"Then why do you think Walda Baker killed Rochelle Horn?"
"I really don't know why that **** did that?" Ronnie Prada finished speaking and asked, "Are you sure that Walda Baker killed Rochelle Horn?"
Luke pointed at each other, "Is it me asking you now, or are you asking me?"
"Do you know Kallman Pharmaceuticals?"
"never heard of that."
"Do you know how to find Walda Baker?"
"I don't know, he just told me to visit his mother in Arizona, and I don't know where he is now."
"Where does he live?"
"It's in room 209 of this apartment."
"Do you have the key to the room?"
"Yes."
"Can I go into the apartment and check it out?"
Ronnie Prada looked at Luke and nodded slowly, "Of course, I rented that apartment, and you can search it as you like."
"Thanks."
Ronnie Prada said, "I have a clear conscience, because the death of Rochel Horn has nothing to do with me, and I am not afraid of your search."
"very good."
Raymond led a team to search the room, and after confirming that it was safe, Luke entered the room for a careful inspection.
The apartment room is not big, just a large bay and a toilet, it is very messy, there are a lot of sundries on the table and on the ground.
Luke walked to the table and saw a layer of white flour scattered on the table, wiped it with his finger, put it under his nose and smelled it, like drugs.
Porter put away his pistol and said, "Captain, the doors of the closet are all open, and all the clothes inside are gone. Walda Baker probably ran away, and he left in a hurry depending on the situation."
Luke nodded.
Jackson picked up a piece of clothing on the ground, "Captain, I have discovered the situation here.
The cuffs of this dress have burnt marks. "Jackson put the clothes under his nose and smelled them, "The smell of smoke and suspected combustion accelerant remains on the clothes. "
Xiao Hei guessed, "Perhaps on the night of July 11, Walda Baker was also involved in the arson case of the Kallman Pharmaceutical Company, and he was wearing this dress at the time.
I didn’t take it because the sleeve was burned. "
Luke also picked up the burned clothes and observed them carefully. It was very similar to the clothes of the driver of the suspected black Chevrolet vehicle, and it was probably the same clothes.
All the clues and evidence point to Walda Baker.
Subsequently, Luke began to assign tasks to investigate the whereabouts of Walda Baker.
The car monitoring in the parking lot of the apartment showed that at 1 am on July 12, Walda Baker returned to the apartment, drove away at around 2 am, and never came back after that.
Twenty hours have passed since Walda Baker fled.
Subsequently, the police tried to locate Walda Baker's mobile phone number, but his mobile phone number was out of contact and could not be located.
At this time, it was already past ten o'clock in the evening. Since Walda Baker's whereabouts were not found, the police could only temporarily close the team.
…
the next morning.
After Luke came to the police station, he convened a meeting to discuss the plan to capture Walda Baker.
Luke glanced at everyone and asked, "Guys, tell me, how do we catch that guy?"
Jackson said, "Walda Baker left the apartment in a black Chevrolet sedan, and we can continue to track down the whereabouts of this car."
Xiao Hei pouted, "Comeon, that guy is not an idiot, he must have abandoned the car."
Jackson said, "You are right. I also know that there is a high probability that he will abandon the car, but that car is also important evidence, and we can also continue to track it from the place where he abandoned the car."
Porter said, "Will Walda Baker run away to his hometown in Arizona?
I know this sounds silly, but many suspects hide around their hometown when they are wanted.
These people are definitely not stupid, on the contrary, they are also very smart.
Hiding in familiar places has great advantages, and family and friends can also help cover. "
"Porter is right. We are not familiar with the situation in Arizona. Even if we go there, it will be difficult to investigate. We can only ask the local police to assist in the investigation, but the investigation intensity..." The deputy team spread their hands, showing a look that everyone understands expression.
Xiao Hei curled his lips, "Hiding in his hometown after committing a crime? How long can he hide? The arrest warrant will always be in effect. I think this possibility is unlikely."
The deputy team asked back, "OK, Inspector Marcus, what good idea do you have?"
Marcus thought for a while and said, "Actually, we can ask Ronnie Prada to help us find Walda Baker.
Ronnie Prada is Walda Baker's boss, the two have the same criminal experience and connections.
Ronnie Prada probably knows more about Walda Baker's escape route than we do.
Can give Ronnie Prada a chance to make a difference. "
"That's a good idea. You can talk to Ronnie Prada. If he can help us catch Walda Baker, you can give him a favorable plea agreement, and even consider not prosecuting him." Luke affirmed Xiao Hei At the same time, he has been thinking about why Walda Baker did this?
What is his motivation?
What role did play in the two cases?
"Boom..."
There was a knock on the door outside.
Red pushed the door open and walked in, "Good morning, guys."
The deputy team greeted, "Director, you came just in time. We are discussing the arrest plan for Walda Baker, and we want to hear your opinion."
Rett said, "I have no objection, you guys discuss the plan and just report to me."
The deputy team shrugged, "Is it so direct?"
Rett pointed to the deputy team, and then to the others, "I believe in you, and you.
Luke, I want to speak with you alone. "
"No problem." Luke led Reid into the captain's office, "Want something to drink?"
"No, I'll leave after a few words." Reid sat on a chair and leaned against his desk, "Is the operation to capture Walda Baker going well?"
"There is no news about him yet."
Rett asked, "Do you think he has something to do with the arson case?"
“Yes, we found a burnt piece of clothing in his home that also had accelerants detected on it.
Both cases have Walda Baker's shadow. "
Rett nodded and continued, "This morning, Fred Cramer, the director of research and development of Kallman Pharmaceuticals, approached me and hoped that you could take over the investigation of the arson case."
Luke was a little surprised, "Why?"
"This arson case has caused Kallman Pharmaceuticals a lot of losses. They don't trust the police officers of the branch office. They feel that it is difficult for the police officers of the branch office to find the arson suspect in a short time. They can't wait and hope you can take over the investigation of the case.
Fred Cramer made a good impression of you. "
Luke laughed, "Why didn't I see it at the time."
"Maybe he figured it out after the fact. He attached great importance to the newly developed antihypertensive drug. This arson case hit him hard."
Luke asked, "You agree?"
"Kalman Pharmaceuticals is willing to donate a free donation to the police department for equipment replacement, and also offered a reward of one million dollars for the arrest of the arson suspect.
Are you interested? "
"If one of our squadrons takes over the case and catches the arson suspect, the bonus will be ours."
"Yes."
"Sounds good."
Although Luke is not short of money now, his team members are short of money. It would be nice to be able to earn some bonuses with his men.
Moreover, Walda Baker, whom he just found out, is not only the suspect in the murder of Rochel Horn, but also the suspect in the arson case. The two cases themselves are related to a certain extent.
This is the difference between taking the initiative to take the case and others begging you to handle the case.
If you take the initiative to take the case, people may not appreciate it, and think you are greedy for credit.
Now that the other party is actively begging Luke to take over the case, he has to show some sincerity.
Of course, the premise is that there is sufficient ability and a high detection rate.
Otherwise, the executives of other pharmaceutical companies are not stupid, why should they give you money.