Dave stepped forward and greeted, "Good morning, Officer Luke."
"Good to see you. How's the recovery coming along?"
"Feeling better now. I'm here to give a statement and check on the case's progress. Have you tracked down that suspect?"
"Not yet," Luke said, glancing at the white BMW. "Did you switch cars?"
"I've had this one for years, mostly parked in the garage. I only started using it after the Mercedes was impounded," Dave replied.
"I've always wanted a ride like that. How does it handle?"
"It's pretty solid—four-wheel drive, great visibility, and ample space. Want to take it for a spin?" Dave offered, keys in hand.
"Thanks, but it's out of my price range," Luke said with a sigh. He then turned to Marcus. "Take Mr. Dave for his statement."
"Why don't you go?" Marcus asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"I need to make a call. Is that an issue?"
Marcus smirked. "Up for a challenge?"
"Don't keep Lawyer Dave waiting. Get going," Luke said, waving them off.
As Dave and Marcus headed into the detective building, Luke inspected the BMW more closely, even patting its rear. He then dialed Susan's number.
"Captain, got a moment to talk?"
"I just sent the Whites away and have some free time. What's up?"
"I've come across something that might relate to the Taser robbery. It's just a hunch, no concrete evidence yet."
"Where are you?"
"Downstairs at the Detective Bureau."
"Why not come up and fill me in?"
"This involves Attorney Dave. He's currently upstairs giving a statement."
"I'll be up in five minutes."
"Great."
…
Minutes later, Susan arrived downstairs. Seeing no one around, she handed Luke a cigarette.
"So, what's the deal with Dave?" Susan asked.
Luke pointed to a parking spot. "Tony Will's homeless acquaintance mentioned a wealthy man who frequents Tony. The man drives a white BMW X5 and wears a suit. Dave drives a BMW X5. It's his car."
Susan frowned slightly. "If your assumption is correct, Dave isn't just Steven's lawyer but also knows Tony Will. What's his role in this case?"
Luke considered, "One possibility is that Dave's involvement is coincidental. Knowing both suspects doesn't necessarily make him complicit. The other option is that he could be an accomplice. The scenario where Dave was supposedly kidnapped by Steven might have been staged by both of them, explaining why Steven didn't kill Dave but just locked him in the trunk to 'let him die'."
Susan leaned towards the second theory. "But why would a wealthy, well-established lawyer like Dave get involved?"
Luke speculated, "Perhaps Steven has leverage over him, or there's an undisclosed connection between the three."
Susan approached the white BMW X5. "There are hundreds of cars like this in Los Angeles. This alone doesn't prove Dave's connection to the Taser robbery."
Luke suggested, "We should investigate further and look for more evidence."
With no leads on Tony, Steven, or Alyssa, focusing on Dave seemed prudent. Susan agreed, and the two returned to the Robbery and Murder Division as if nothing had happened.
To avoid arousing Dave's suspicion, Luke refrained from further questioning and immersed himself in paperwork. An hour later, after Dave finished his statement and left, Susan gathered everyone for a meeting.
Luke shared his theories, leaving everyone a bit shocked.
"Wow, the lawyer who seemed so harmless turns out to be a major player. I like the theory," Marcus said with a smirk, then added, "But one thing doesn't add up. We rescued him from the desert. Without us, he'd have been trapped in that trunk."
Luke pondered, "He might have locked himself in when he heard the rescue team approaching."
"But he was cuffed," Marcus countered.
"Handcuffs are different from duct tape. He could've locked the trunk and then cuffed himself," Luke explained.
Marcus was taken aback. "So we've all been duped by him."
The deputy captain added, "He used his 'pants-wetting' trick to divert attention and lower our guard. While we laughed, he was already manipulating the situation."
Marcus, though visibly upset, kept his composure. "I despise lawyers; they're all deceivers."
Susan took charge. "If everyone agrees with Luke's theory, our next focus is investigating Dave and linking him to the case."
"Matthew, gather all information on Dave.
Raymond, track the BMW X5 through traffic cameras.
Marcus and Jenny, get the recent driving records from BMW.
Luke and David, check Dave's financial transactions."
"Understood, Captain."
Susan added a cautionary note. "Be discreet. If Dave learns we're investigating him, he'll not only be alerted but might also file a lawsuit."
The deputy captain chuckled. "Captain, I'm liking this new assertive side of you."
…
In a dimly lit basement on the outskirts of Los Angeles, a woman with golden hair huddled in a corner, her profile illuminated by a wall lamp. She exuded a tragic beauty that evoked a protective instinct.
The door creaked open, followed by the sound of footsteps.
"Nonono…" Alyssa whimpered, her body trembling as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I'm back, Alyssa. Brought your favorite dessert," Dave announced, casually placing a cake box on the floor and slipping off his shoes as if he were coming home from work.
"Do you want to eat now, or should we chat first?"
Gathering her courage, Alyssa asked, "Dave, why are you doing this? Are you planning to kill me?"
Dave approached her, squatting down with a gentle tone. "I would never hurt you. I care for you, Alyssa. As long as you stay calm, you're safe."
"What do you want? To keep me locked up forever? Is this your idea of love?"
"No, you're still not calm. Once you are, we can plan our new life together. We'll change locations, identities, and start fresh."
"That's impossible. The police will search for me, and if they catch you, you'll end up in prison. If you let me go now, I can pretend nothing happened."
Dave smiled. "Alyssa, you're already dead to them. The police won't waste resources looking for someone they believe is dead. In a couple of weeks, they'll stop searching. I know them well."
"Why would the police think I'm dead?"
"It's just a little trick."
"And even if they stop searching, Steven won't give up."
"Forget Steven. He took forty grand from me and vanished. He's likely enjoying himself in Mexico. He doesn't care about you."
"Why did Steven run? What did he do?"