Chapter 20 Who is he?

The next morning, on a bus bound for the airport, Luke sighed and muttered, "What a troublesome woman. She can't seem to adapt at all."

David responded, "I figured that out during my first week with the Robbery and Murder Division."

"Wait, you've known her that long?" Luke asked, surprised. David had joined the team three or four years ago, while Susan had only recently been transferred.

David smirked, "She was still with the Ministry of Internal Affairs back then."

"We're different. I won't embarrass myself like you did."

"Right back at you, lazy jerk."

Luke stared out the window at the vast blue sea and asked, "Have you ever been to Las Vegas?"

"Yes, Lindsay and I went there for our honeymoon."

"Sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up..."

"It's in the past. We have to deal with reality."

Luke, still hopeful, said, "Do we get a chance to play a few rounds?"

"Don't count on it. Once we land, we'll head straight to Tony's hometown for the investigation. No time for leisure."

"Come on, even a general isn't bound by orders when away from home. After the investigation, we could relax a bit. Let's not go all the way there for nothing."

David pointed at his eyes, "You still don't get Susan, do you? She's not easily deceived. She'll monitor our schedule closely. Even if you go, you'll be too nervous to enjoy yourself."

Luke grinned, "So you're afraid of her too."

"Yeah, I'd rather have you as the captain than her."

The phone rang, interrupting their conversation. Luke glanced at the screen and saw Susan's number. "Do you think she bugged us?"

David turned his gaze out the window, "It's possible."

Luke answered, "Captain."

"Where are you?"

"En route to Los Angeles Airport."

"Forget the airport. Return to the station."

"Why?"

"Tony's dead."

"Dead? When?"

"Twenty years ago."

Luke chuckled, "Captain, didn't expect you to be joking."

"I'm not. I contacted the Clark County Police Department in Nevada. They verified Tony Will's death certificate and spoke with his father, who confirmed Tony died in a traffic accident two decades ago."

Luke was bewildered, "So who are we investigating? He's been living in Los Angeles."

"That's still under investigation. We'll discuss it when you return," Susan said before hanging up.

David asked, "What happened?"

"What a mess."

…

At the Detective Bureau, Robbery-Murder Division, Luke dropped his travel bag on the desk and said, "Can someone explain what's going on? I should be on a plane right now."

The deputy captain replied, "Weren't you eager to go? Looks like you got your wish."

"Deputy Captain, that's not what I meant. I've packed my bags and told my mom I wouldn't be home tonight. Now I'm stuck. Can I crash at your place?"

The deputy captain laughed, "Not a chance."

The captain's office door creaked open.

"Now that we're all here, let's go over what we've learned from the Clark County Police Department." Susan placed a stack of documents on the desk. "They confirmed that Tony Will's death certificate is authentic and that he died in a car accident twenty years ago."

Jenny remarked, "So, the suspect must have used Tony Will's stolen identity to buy the gun."

Susan shook her head. "It's more complicated. There's another Tony Will in Los Angeles who has been living under that name for at least a decade. He has a driver's license, medical records, and rehab history."

Luke processed the information and said, "Tony Will's identity has two phases: the original Tony Will who died twenty years ago, and the current Tony Will, who stole the identity. This means the suspect was impersonating someone else two decades ago."

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the implication. A suspect who's used a false identity for twenty years could have erased all traces of their original identity.

Jenny frowned and asked, "If Tony Will is truly dead and his death certificate is issued, why is his social security number still being used fraudulently?"

The deputy captain explained, "You're missing a key point—timing. Back then, information wasn't as interconnected as it is today, making such fraud easier to commit."

Luke added, "If the suspect who bought the modified Taser isn't the real Tony Will, he must have another true identity. If he reverts to his original identity, we'll never catch him."

Marcus grinned, "Twenty years with a fake identity—imagine how many layers he's hidden behind."

Ignoring Marcus, the deputy captain said, "Luke's right. The suspect probably used Tony Will's identity because of something criminal in his past. We should look at crime records from 2002 for any unsolved cases or wanted suspects, especially those involving Tasers."

Luke glanced at the deputy captain, impressed. Despite his age, the deputy was clearly sharp. This approach could be a breakthrough.