Chapter 47: Concealment

"Knock, knock..."

There was a knock on the door.

Susan glanced towards the door. "Come in."

Creak... The door opened.

Mary Sue from the on-site investigation team entered. "Captain Susan, the investigation report on last night's illegal break-in is ready."

"Thank you for your hard work." Susan took the report, skimmed through it, and handed it back. "There are a lot of technical terms. Let me translate it."

"OK, I'll summarize the key points."

Mary sat down at the conference table and began. "First, the camera in the study transmitted a signal via a wireless device, but we haven't detected a receiving device. It's likely the suspect noticed and left early.

Second, we collected biological traces, including fingerprints, hair, DNA, and footprints, but no suspicious biological traces were found.

Third, there were pry marks on the window on the east side, and the window lock was newly replaced. The suspect likely entered through the window and replaced the lock to avoid detection by the homeowner.

Unfortunately, no valuable clues were found at the scene."

Susan replied, "No, not finding anything is a discovery in itself. This shows the suspect is a professional. Good job, Mary."

"I've done my job; now it's up to you." Mary stood up and left the room.

Marcus was visibly frustrated. "We spent most of last night working on this, but the clues are gone again."

"Don't be so pessimistic," Luke interjected. "I think we should re-examine Tim. If our theory is correct, he might be involved in the will case. If he agrees to cooperate, we can solve the mystery. It's the most direct approach."

The deputy captain, holding a coffee cup, nodded. "Good idea. I'll go with you."

Susan ordered, "Alright, the deputy and Luke will re-examine Tim. Matthew, investigate the family situation of the testator, Lawn. Everyone else, sort through files and reports on Taser robberies."

"Yes, captain."

In the Robbery-Homicide Division interrogation room, half an hour later:

Tim was brought in, wearing an orange prison uniform and chains on his hands and feet. He looked thinner than when he was captured.

Luke and the deputy captain sat across from each other at the interrogation table, whispering.

After a while, the deputy captain looked up. "Hey, Tim, do you still recognize us?"

Tim raised his head, looking at them expressionlessly. "I'd remember you even if you turned to ashes. My grandmother is younger than you, old man."

Luke laughed. "Are you talking about me?"

Tim challenged, "Yeah, only a rookie would arrest someone by the book."

It was indeed Luke's first arrest since he joined the force. "Mr. Tim, how does it feel to be arrested by a rookie?"

Anger flashed on Tim's face. "Fuck!"

Luke warned, "Hey, this isn't your home. Watch your language and don't make things worse for yourself."

Tim closed his eyes and exhaled. "I've said everything I needed to. What more do you want? To mock me?"

"We're offering you a chance to reduce your sentence."

"You guys are so kind? I don't believe it."

The deputy captain waved his hand. "Listen, as you said, I'm old and my time is precious. Let's talk calmly; it will benefit both of us."

Tim leaned forward. "Alright, I'm listening."

"Do you want a reduced sentence?"

"If I said I don't. Will you believe me?"

"Why did you lie about the robbery?"

"I admitted to the robbery. What do you mean by lying?"

"Do you have any accomplices?"

"That rookie was right there. If I had accomplices, how could I have been caught?"

"I don't just mean that robbery."

"Wow... you want to add new charges. This is your idea of reducing a sentence? I'm not an idiot."

"We have new clues. Cooperating is your only chance to reduce your sentence. You don't want to stay in prison for years, do you?"

Tim was silent for a moment. "I don't want to talk to you. I want to talk to the rookie."

"Are you discriminating against the elderly?"

"I don't trust you."

The deputy pointed at Luke. "You trust him?"

"No, but he can't fool me."

The deputy captain quipped, "Luke, you're being underestimated."

Luke smiled. "Alright, I'll talk to you. Why did you rob Daisy?"

Tim hesitated. "Who is Daisy? I've never heard that name."

"Don't play dumb. I asked clearly, but you deny knowing Daisy."

"Maybe I've been locked up too long, and my memory's failing."

"Why did you break into Daisy's office on March 2?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a robber, not a thief."

"Who instructed you to rob Daisy? What were you after?"

"No one. I saw a Taser robbery on the news and wanted to copy it to evade the police. But I had bad luck and ran into you."

"Why did you choose her?"

"She's beautiful, dresses well, looks rich. Why not choose her?"

"You'd rather go to a heavy prison?"

"I don't get what you're saying."

"If you cooperate and reveal the mastermind, we can make you a tainted witness and reduce your sentence or even exempt you."

"Wow, tempting. But... I don't have a mastermind, so I can't make one up."

"Is it worth it?"

"I'm telling the truth."

Luke turned to the deputy captain and shrugged.

The deputy captain continued, "Tim, think about your family. Even if you can hold on, they don't want you in jail."

Tim shook his head. "I don't have any family."

"Think about your girlfriend."

"She has other boyfriends. She doesn't need me."

The deputy captain sighed. "Your life's so miserable; you want to find happiness in prison? Maybe even a boyfriend?"

Tim smiled. "If someone pursued me, I wouldn't mind."

"Write to me when you get married, and I'll send you lubricant." The deputy captain got up and left.

"I wish you a happy wedding!" Luke smiled and left the interrogation room.

"Deputy Captain, what do you think?"

"From Tim's attitude, he's hiding something."

"You're experienced. Any way to make him talk?"

"Kid, don't flatter me. I'm not the captain."

"I'm being honest."

The deputy captain stroked his chin. "We made our offer clear, but Tim didn't bite. Either he's hiding something, was threatened by accomplices, or has a more serious criminal record. Or he's close to his accomplices and doesn't want to betray them. He's determined, and it will be tough to make him talk without knowing why."

Luke gave a thumbs up. "There's a Chinese proverb: 'Old ginger is still spicy.'"

The deputy captain looked confused. "I prefer onions."