The deputy team leader questioned, "How did you know Barbara had woken up and just happened to arrive in time?"

Luke smiled, "I had help from a noble person."

The deputy sighed, "In my life, everything is good except my luck; I've never encountered a noble person."

Luke thought to himself, it's not that you haven't met a noble person, it's that no one dares to be your noble person. Reid was not a man jealous of talents, as evident from his promotion of Luke.

If that was the case, why didn't he promote the deputy team leader, who knew him longer and had a better relationship?

It must be because the deputy himself had certain issues.

From what Luke knew about the deputy, the old man was bad-tempered and foul-tempered; in his youth, he might have been even more explosive than David—who would dare promote him lightly?

If a problem arose, one would also be responsible by association.

Luke, on the other hand, was much easier to deal with; he was ambitious, capable, and could measure his actions, which naturally made Reid willing to promote him.

Seeing everyone congratulate Luke, Dirk felt somewhat bitter, "I went to the hospital to record Barbara's statement too, and Bowen's confession was partly my merit, why isn't anyone congratulating me?"

Why?

...

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Robbery and Murder Department's main conference room.

Reid presided over the meeting, sitting in the middle of the conference table.

"Gentlemen, discuss your latest investigative findings. Luke, you first."

Luke organized his thoughts, "After the victim Barbara woke up at the teaching building, I took her statement. From what she reported, we learned some details about the crime scene.

This includes the process of Bowen Pilton killing the bully Chad Clays. Bowen has already admitted to killing Chad Clays for self-defense reasons."

It also explained why FBI Agent Fannie's gun ended up killing the bully Chad Clays.

I think perhaps we can temporarily set this case aside, which might elucidate the gunshot case's clues more clearly," He said.

Reid nodded, "What do others think?"

The deputy said, "I agree with Luke's view. If we remove the FBI agent's gun, only two handguns, Gun B and Gun C, remain in the shooting case.

The bullets from Gun C appeared only in the music building.

Whereas Gun B was used in shootouts at the teaching building, the music building, and the science building.

This suggests that the criminal using Gun B is likely the mastermind, while the user of Gun C is an accomplice.

Moreover, the person holding Gun B first went to the teaching building, then to the music building, and lastly to the science building, appearing to purposefully pursue someone."

Second team squad leader Clint said, "I also feel the shooter was targeting someone.

But I think the path of Gun B wasn't the teaching building, music building, science building; it should be the teaching building, science building, and finally the music building."

The deputy countered, "But according to the statements, the gunfire at the music building happened before the teaching building."

Clint said, "Don't forget about Gunman C; he likely rushed to the music building to shoot, then Gun B moved from the science building to support him.

The reason I say this is mainly based on the campus police's statement.

According to the campus police, he heard gunshots and immediately rushed to the teaching building. In this process, he saw Gunman B heading towards the science building; subsequently, Gunman B pursued a Black man in the science building, where the campus police engaged Gunman B in a gunfight.

Later, that Black man was killed on the rooftop, the only fatality in the science building, while the injured were hit by shattered glass during the gunfire," he explained.

The deputy shook his head, "This campus police officer really is..."

Clint said, "He is just a campus police officer; you can't expect too much from him, but he did fulfill his duty."

Luke listened to the two discuss, pondering in his mind.

In his view, the real target of the murderer should be three people: the first, the cheerleader captain Josie, killed in the restroom; the second, the man killed on the rooftop; the third, the student council member Herman. If the connections among these three were clarified, perhaps the murderer's motive could be discovered, leading them to trace back to the murderer itself.

Barbara, Chad, Lev, and Holip were ruled out for various reasons—they were likely not the real targets of the murderer.

Take Barbara, for example, if the murderer had wanted, he could have shot her again, but he did not do so.

Chad was killed by Bowen and unrelated to the murderer.

Lev and Holip were impulsive and got involved in the shooting incident on their own.

Just then, the investigation team's Mary walked in, "Chief Reid, the ballistic examination of Gun C has come back; this gun is registered to Rachel Philips.

The bad news is, she reported it stolen not long ago, and now it's whereabouts are unknown."

This news really was a rollercoaster; it meant the identified gun had disappeared again.

Reid immediately said, "Luke, Marcus, the investigation into this gun's lead is up to you; any problems with that?"

"No problem, Chief," Luke promptly agreed.

That's the advantage of being thought of by the leadership; you must also be capable of resolving difficulties, or else why would they need you?

...

Downtown Los Angeles.

Bersca Apartments.

In the eyes of many, downtown real estate prices are higher than in the suburbs, but this isn't necessarily true in Los Angeles.

Many wealthy people in Los Angeles reside in the suburbs, where the better communities and facilities are located.

Downtown, in contrast, appears somewhat run-down.

This has created a phenomenon where downtown is bustling during the day but deserted at night.

Many dilapidated apartments in downtown are rented to the poorer Black population.

Rachel Philips, the owner of the lost gun, resided here.

The two found apartment 105 where Rachel Philips lived according to the address.

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