Los Angeles Detective

  Chapter 373 There is a problem

  Luke felt that the other party was evasive, and asked, "What clues did you find?"

   "Uh..." Franco Hood showed a hesitant look, "The morning the office was burglarized, someone saw Melanie Hickman sneaking into the company."

  Luke pressed, "When did she come to the company?"

   "After six o'clock in the morning, we asked to go to work at nine o'clock. She was two hours early, so there must be something wrong."

   "Did you tell the police?"

"No."

   "Why didn't you say that?"

   "I only found out after the fact. At that time, the police had concluded the investigation. Moreover, the person who saw Melanie Hickman was also an employee of the company, and the other party did not want to be implicated."

   "Did the witnesses leave any evidence? Like photos or something?"

  "No, no one thought of such a thing, it is impossible to take pictures in advance, that person only saw it during morning exercise.

   Moreover, Melanie Hickman is the assistant to the vice president, and this matter involves Hashimoto Yoshime himself, and the other party is not willing to cause trouble. "

   "What about you? You are also a company executive, so you shouldn't be afraid of Hashimoto Yoshimi, have you thought about doing something?"

  Franco Hood sighed, "I was really angry at first, thinking that Yoshimi Hashimoto was deliberately trying to trouble me, and I also thought about asking for an explanation.

   But the witness is also a company employee, and the other party is unwilling to completely offend Yoshimi Hashimoto, and even if the witness tells what he saw, so what?

   If this incident continues, it can only be that the two of them lose face.

   Moreover, after thinking about it carefully, I also feel that this matter may not be simple.

  Since it's not me, there must be someone else targeting Hashimoto Yoshimi, and simply sit back and watch the tiger fight.

  I didn't expect that something happened to her so soon. "

  Luke tentatively asked, "What do you think of Hashimoto Yoshime?"

   "It's not good, I don't like it very much, she is the kind of person who is dedicated to climbing, and many people in the company don't like her."

   "How is her relationship with the assistant?"

   "It looks fine.

  I don’t know what’s actually going on. Even if they have conflicts, they won’t show it in front of us. "

   "Where were you between ten o'clock last night and two o'clock in the morning?"

"sleeping at home."

   "Can anyone prove it?"

   "My wife and daughter."

   "As far as you know, besides this job, does Yoshimi Hashimoto have other part-time jobs?"

  Franco Hood looked puzzled, "What does this mean? Why are you still looking for a part-time job?"

   Luke further asked, "How is she in relationships?"

   "Sir, you asked the wrong person.

  My relationship with her is not very good, except for the occasional contact at work, I don't know her personal affairs at all. "

   "Can you tell us the identity of the witness?"

   "Sorry, I promised the other party that I would not tell the police.

  Why don't you guys ask Melanie Hickman yourself? "

  Luke talked with the other party, and there was no obvious sign of lying.

  Assuming that what he said is true, then the so-called theft should have something else hidden.

  …

  Out of the director's office, Jackson asked, "Where are we going to investigate now?"

  Luke thought for a while, "Talk to assistant Melanie Hickman."

   "We don't have evidence either. Even if she really has a problem, she might not admit it."

  Luke thought for a while, and he felt that it was unlikely that Melanie Hickman was the murderer. Judging from the situation at the scene, there was a high probability that Hashimoto Yoshime was killed by a man.

  Before, the conversation between Luke and Melanie Hickman was just a routine inquiry, and there was no targeted interrogation of the other party, and it was impossible to test out the other party's attitude.

  Luke is going to make a targeted inquiry to see if Melanie Hickman is related to Hashimoto Jimmy's death.

  Afterwards, Luke found Melanie Hickman again and said, "Miss Hickman, I still have a few questions for you."

  Melanie Hickman froze for a moment, "Okay, let's go to the office and talk."

  The three came to the lounge again. Melanie Hickman closed the door of the lounge and asked, "Captain Li, how did you talk with Franco Hood?"

  “We talked about the case of Yoshime Hashimoto’s office being stolen, but he did not admit to being involved in the theft.”

  Melanie Hickman shrugged, "If it were me, I wouldn't admit it either."

   Luke said, "I also want to know about the situation on the day the theft happened."

   "It's been a month since the theft happened. Is it related to President Hashimoto's death?"

   "We need to investigate to find out whether there is any relationship. There may be a casual clue that can help solve the case.

   So, I also want to ask about the day of the theft. "

   "OK."

  Luke said, "What time did you arrive at the company that day?"

   "Our company requires you to arrive before 9:00 a.m., and I usually arrive around 8:40 or 50."

   "Who was the first to find out the office had been burglarized?"

   "Director Hashimoto."

   "When did she arrive?"

   "She usually arrives at half past eight."

   "She came earlier than your assistant?"

  Melanie Hickman sighs, "In her words, that's why she's the vice president and I'm the assistant."

   Luke stared at the other party and said, "We just learned about a situation. Someone saw you coming to the company after six o'clock that day. What did you come to the company for?"

  Melanie Hickman's face changed slightly, "Did I read it wrong?"

   "The witnesses also took photos, you have to take a look, you can be sure that it is you.

  Didn't you say that you arrived at the company at 8:45? Why did you sneak to the company after six o'clock? Luke reminded, "Miss Melanie, what we are investigating is a murder case."

  You better tell the truth, lying can have serious consequences. "

  Melanie Hickman seemed a little nervous, "Captain Li, you don't suspect that I killed President Hashimoto?"

"is it you?"

   "Of course it's not me, you must have misunderstood."

   "Then make it clear and clear up our misunderstanding."

   "What would you do if I told the truth about the theft?"

   "I just want to know whether there is a connection between the promotion, the theft, and the killing of Yoshimi Hashimoto. I'm not interested in catching the thief."

  Melanie Hickman seemed relieved and said, "I did come to the company early that day."

   "What do you come to the company for?"

   "I have a planning plan that has not been completed. I originally wanted to come to the company to work overtime, but I didn't sleep well the night before, my mind was messed up, and I couldn't work at all.

  I did not complete the task assigned by President Hashimoto...

  In order to evade responsibility, I faked the illusion that the office was stolen, and lied that the plan I completed was also stolen. "

  Luke had some doubts about this statement, and felt that it was unreasonable, "Are you kidding me?"

   "No, what I said is true.

   That plan is very important, I promised President Hashimoto to complete it, I worked overtime until ten o'clock the night before, I was too tired to do it...

  I just want to go home early, and I will be more energetic the next morning and finish the plan.

  But I kept thinking about it that night and lost sleep.

  Because I didn't sleep well, I was very dizzy in the morning.

   Then, I came up with this way to avoid responsibility. "

  Luke still didn't understand, "Why didn't you just tell Yoshimi Hashimoto that you didn't finish the work?"

   "I can't tell."

"Why?"

  Melanie Hickman sighed, "My job is very stressful, and you can't understand it even if you say it. This is a tacit understanding between us. Both she and I feel that I should complete this job.

  I can't tell her, I can't finish it.

  I can’t open that mouth. "

   "Will she blame you?"

  “Not only that, but I would also feel uneasy and feel a deep sense of self-blame.

  I can't face her, and I can't face myself. "

   "Do you cherish this job?"

"Yes."

   "Because of money?"

   "It's not just about the money, it's a mixed feeling.

   I would feel guilty if I didn't get the job done. "

  Luke still couldn't understand the other party, "In order to get rid of this feeling of guilt, you lied that the planning book was stolen and it turned into an accident, so you have no responsibility?"

"Roughly the same."

   "You never thought about having a good talk with Hashimoto Yoshimi and admitting that you are not capable enough, maybe she will understand."

  “Some truths seem simple, but people have thinking difficulties, and it is difficult to get out.”

  Luke asked curiously, "If you were given another chance, what would you do?"

   Melanie Hickman thought for a moment, "I'd still do that."

  Luke stared at the other party for a while, then changed the subject, "Do you have any clues about Yoshimé Hashimoto's death?"

   "No, you came today, I just found out that President Hashimoto was killed."

   "Where were you between ten o'clock last night and two o'clock in the morning?"

"I'm at home."

   "Can anyone prove it?"

   "No, I live alone." Melanie Hickman swallowed, a little nervous, "Will you arrest me for lying about my office being stolen?

  At that time, I didn't expect that Vice President Hashimoto would call the police, nor did I expect that things would become big. "

   "We can ignore this matter, but you have to assist the police in investigating the murder of Hashimoto Yoshime." Luke took out a business card and handed it to the other party, "If you think of new clues, call me."

  Melanie Hickman breathed a sigh of relief, and took the business card, "Okay, I remember."

  …

  Out of the office, Jackson asked, "Captain, do you believe her words?

  I always feel that this woman is a bit abnormal. "

  This time, Luke didn't see any obvious sign that the other party was lying, but he also agreed with Jackson that this woman was indeed a bit paranoid.

   Seeing that Luke didn't answer, Jackson continued, "If according to what she said, she didn't finish the work until ten o'clock in the evening, this attitude is already very serious.

  Since it has not been completed, it means that the workload is too high or her ability is not enough, just tell the leader directly.

  But she didn't choose the most normal and easiest way. Instead, she chose to pretend that her office was stolen, which attracted police investigation. "Jackson pointed, "Suppose, she has a problem here, continue to develop.

  Next time, she didn't finish her work again, but she didn't dare to face up to it, let alone tell Yoshimi Hashimoto whether she would kill Yoshimi Hashimoto in order to avoid Yoshimi Hashimoto's detection. "

  Jackson's idea is very interesting. If Melanie Hickman's paranoia is serious and she has mental problems, she may not be unable to do this kind of thing.

  Just now Luke has made a targeted inquiry, and there is no sign that the other party is lying. Assuming that the other party is really the murderer, how did he deceive him?

  (end of this chapter)