Luke observed his expression, sensing signs of lying.

Luke asked a second question, "Last night, did you dig anything up from the pit?"

The white homeless man chuckled, "Hehe, I don't farm. Why would I dig in a pit?"

Without a direct answer, Luke pressed on, "Did you or didn't you?"

"No," the white homeless man shook his head, pointing to the other homeless men nearby,

"You should ask them instead; maybe those guys have seen something. Of course, beer is essential; they are the real alcoholics, haha..."

Luke didn't divert his focus because of his response and continued, "Do you want to earn some money?"

"Of course, who wouldn't?"

Luke pulled out fifty US dollars in cash, "Tell me what you found last night, and the fifty dollars is yours."

"I don't understand what you mean."

"I know you were lying just now. Last night, you definitely saw something. We are investigating a serious criminal case and are looking for witnesses. If you can provide any valuable clues, the fifty dollars is yours."

Compared to the overtime pay for many officers, fifty dollars was really nothing, it was a good deal no matter how you looked at it.

The white homeless man licked his lips, seeming a bit troubled, "Uh..."

Luke asked, "What's your name?"

"Jim."

"Jim, we found the body of a minor girl downstream in the river; she had been violated before her death, and her head had also been chopped off. It's pitiful.

Can you help her?"

"Oh my God! That's horrifying!" Jim took a deep breath, his expression hesitant.

Luke struck while the iron was hot, "Now only you can help her. What you saw could be the key clue for solving the case, it's very important."

Little Black echoed, "I've seen that body, it's really sad."

"Uh..." Jim took a deep breath, as if making up his mind, "Could you give me a hundred dollars?"

Little Black "..."

Okay, so Luke's heartfelt speech had been in vain; he pulled out another fifty-dollar bill and handed both bills to him.

"Tell me, what exactly did you find last night?"

The white homeless man secured the hundred dollars, "Can I also take these few bottles of beer?"

At this point, Luke was somewhat speechless, but having given the money already, what were a few bottles of beer? He placed them right beside the man's tent.

At the same time, Luke also became more wary, recognizing him as a greedy individual.

The white homeless man opened a bottle of beer, took a sip, showing a look of enjoyment, "Thank you, these few bottles should last me two days."

"You're welcome, now tell us what we're interested in."

"No problem.

Last night, I woke up needing to pee.

I'm usually in good health, it's not often like this, just occasionally.

We had an agreement among ourselves not to urinate within a hundred meters of the tent, so I tried to walk as far away as possible.

Then I saw a man sneaking from the riverbank, apparently carrying a bag in his hand.

I stood still, and he didn't notice me.

I watched him start digging a hole beside a tree, digging quite deep, then he threw the bag into the hole, covered it up, and didn't leave until the ground was level."

The white homeless man took another swig of beer and said, "I was very curious, wondering what he was up to?

Then, after he left, I went over, dug up the hole, and took out a black bag containing a blue lady's purse inside, quite a nice-looking one.

That's what I saw last night."

"Can you describe the man's appearance?"

"He seemed to be white, a bit far away, I couldn't see his face clearly and didn't dare to get closer. He was wearing jeans, a baseball cap on, and I don't remember much else."

Luke noted in his notebook, "Was he alone?"

"Yes."

"Did he have any vehicle?"

"I didn't see any; I only saw him walking westward. It was very dark, and his figure quickly disappeared."

"What time was it?"

"It should have been around midnight."

"Did he carry anything else?"

"I didn't see anything."

"Did he have any water on him?"

"It doesn't seem so."

Luke organized his thoughts, "Where is that purse now?"

"Uh... that purse is pretty nice, must not have been cheap..." the white homeless man implied meaningfully.

Luke laughed. Treat you nicely and you think I'm an easy mark? Am I too soft-spoken?

"Is that blue purse with you?"

"Uh... Is that purse important?" the white homeless man asked, a nervous look on his face.

"Give me that purse; it's involved in a case."

"Sorry, I can't quite remember where I put it."

"What would help you remember?"

"I've been wanting a new tent, but I'm short 200 US Dollars..." the white homeless man said, with a knowing look.

Got 100 US Dollars, now wants 200. A greedy fellow indeed.

Luke felt disgust, no wonder he ended up like this.

However, if the man dared to ask, Luke dared to give, taking out 200 US Dollars without a change of expression.

"Thank you, you're really a good guy," the white homeless man grabbed the money.

"Give me the blue purse."

"OK." The white homeless man turned around, went back into his tent, and came out holding a blue purse.

Luke put on gloves, took the purse, and checked the contents. There were several women's items, a driver's license, keys, but no cell phone.

Luke stared at the white homeless man, "Did you take anything from the purse?"

"No," the white man shrugged.

Lying.

"I'm asking you again, did you take any valuable items from the purse?"

"I really didn't, you are insulting my character."

Lying.

Luke turned to Jim, "Take him in."

Without a word, Jim took out handcuffs and ordered, "Hands on your head, get on the ground, don't move."

"Heh, why are you arresting me? I haven't committed a crime, I found that purse."

Luke said, "That blue purse is stolen property, you are suspected of dealing in stolen goods, we need to take you in for questioning."

"I didn't sell stolen goods."

"You did, you just took my money."

The white homeless man argued, "You can't do this, you wanted to give me money."

Jim handcuffed him, "Full of lies.

The first time I asked you, you clearly said you didn't see anything unusual last night nor any suspicious people.

It shows you wanted to hide the stolen goods from the start.

This is our second visit, and you wouldn't have admitted seeing someone suspicious last night without the money.

As for the money for the blue purse, you asked for it yourself, you greedy devil."

Jim pulled out 300 US Dollars from his pocket, returning them to Luke.

The white homeless man stared fixedly at the money, "My money, that's my money."

"You don't need it where you're going, everything's free in prison." Jim smirked, "Good news is, you won't need to change your tent either."

"I don't want to go to jail. Don't arrest me, I don't want the money anymore, take it back.

Please let me off this time for telling you the news," pleaded the white homeless man.

Other officers also came over upon hearing the commotion.

Luke gestured for Jim to take him away.

Afterward, he instructed Jackson standing nearby, "Search the tent, see if there are any other suspicious items."

Jackson frown slightly, "Do we need to call the Forensics team?"

"Up to you."

Jackson hesitated for a moment, put on gloves, took a deep breath, and started searching inside the tent.

After a while, Jackson climbed out with a look of disgust, "It stinks to death in there; that guy hasn't bathed in at least a month."

"Any findings?" Luke wasn't bothered by his complaint; if he couldn't handle this little difficulty, he shouldn't be a cop.

"I found an iPhone, pink case with rhinestones, quite out of place for this tent," Jackson stood up, handing over the iPhone.

Luke took the iPhone, put it in a transparent plastic bag, "Hard work."

Jim came back, looked at the iPhone, "This greedy devil even hid key evidence, really wicked, taking him was rightly deserved."

Luke scanned the remaining homeless, instructing the officers, "Take statements from everyone present, see if they noticed any suspicious persons last night."

"Yes, sir."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.