Since the location of the murder was not within the jurisdiction of Bureau 21, Jin and Hailey were not qualified to take over the case.
Soon, a pair of police detectives, one old, one young, one black and one white, came to the scene and took over the case. The old black policeman seemed to be very famous. When he appeared, all the policemen present greeted him, including Hailey. Jin was a bit shy and did not come forward, but it could be seen from her facial expression that She also knew the black detective.
Kai asked curiously and found out that the black police detective was also a famous figure in Chicago. His name is William Somerset, a criminal police officer in the Chicago Police Department and a homicide expert. He has been a police officer for 42 years. Over the years, his crime detection rate has been the highest in the entire Chicago Police Department. However, this saga is coming to an end. He is getting old, and in the past two years, everyone knows that William no longer has the energy he had when he was young.
He muddles along at first, but most people understand him.
He is 65 years old and should have retired long ago. The police profession also relies on youth. Like Kai in his previous life, the front-line detectives in the criminal investigation team were young people in their thirties, and those in their forties were all old comrades. The older they were, the harder they would be to handle the work. The fact that William is still working on the front line at the age of 65 is a legend in itself.
But people who are really familiar with William know that there is still gas in William's gas tank. His regular life for decades has made his physical condition not bad, but his heart is tired. Over the years he had worked hard almost every minute, but he had also seen and felt too much misfortune, which made him feel extremely tired.
No one could understand how he felt. He once worked conscientiously to bring criminals to justice as much as possible, but in the end he found that nothing he did could change the city at all. William once said this: "In this city, when a woman encounters a robbery, she has to call for fire, because someone will help you to put out the fire, but to save lives, residents are afraid of getting into trouble."
This sentence is also the reason why William wants to leave the police station. Because the people here have lost their original "concept of humanity". Everyone began to feel numb, and the police were just staff handling the numb bodies. Whenever there is a case or something illegal, the police seem to act as the ones who deal with the aftermath. Their work cannot improve society or change people.
This is such a tragedy. William feels that what he has stood for and fought for in his life has become worthless...
"Hi Kim, how are you doing?"
After William greeted others, he actually said hello to Jin. This old black policeman could actually remember the names of everyone present. Jin was also a little flattered to see the police legend greeting him.
But the white policeman next to William was a little impatient. That is a person who is completely opposite to William.
William is black, he is white, and William is just a little old man with a kind face. But he is a powerful and tall man. William always had a friendly smile, but he always looked impatiently with a frown on his face.
"Hello, Kai. I know you. The case you handled last time in Bureau 21 was really great. I've always wanted to meet you, but I didn't expect it to be like this." William obviously knew Kai's deeds, but For some reasons, William did not say much about Kai's great achievements.
This is not because the Chicago police are jealous of their ability to hide Kai's record. On the contrary, this is to protect Kai in a sense. For police officers, especially those on the front line, being famous is not a good thing, especially a police officer like Kai who has human lives on his hands. Their information is kept strictly confidential to prevent revenge from some people with a grudge.
"Hello, I've heard about you too, William." For an old man who has been working on the front line for forty years, Kai needs to maintain respect no matter what.
"Okay, let's talk about the case. The police department doesn't pay us just to chat." Unexpectedly, the white policeman had no intention of letting them continue chatting.
His attitude made everyone present frown.
But William had a good attitude. He didn't care what the young man said, but instead took the initiative to introduce himself to him.
"His name is David Mills, and he's here to replace me."
Kai nodded as a greeting. The case is then briefly described.
Both William and Mills listened very carefully, and Mills even took out a small notebook and wrote down all the important points. Seeing his serious attitude made Kai feel better about his senses. For Kai, the way a policeman behaves is almost insignificant. The policeman is not a social butterfly anyway, so he just needs to be able to handle cases seriously.
William was also very serious, but as he listened, his expression changed. He is a real veteran detective and has a natural sense of the follow-up development of many cases.
"Trouble..."
"Indeed. The murderer obviously has his own purpose. This is not a simple murder."
"Why do you say that?" Mills asked immediately.
Kai glanced at Mills, and then said: "The murderer did not simply want to kill the victim. If he just wanted to kill the victim, one shot would solve the problem. There is no need for such trouble, and there is no need to leave a mark at the scene. ." When Kai said this, he also pointed to the words on the back of the refrigerator.
"It's more like he was expressing something, and the victim was just a tool for him to express his point of view! From this point of view, I even doubt that the murderer and the victim themselves have no emotional connection."
This kind of case is the most difficult to handle, because once there is no connection between the murderer and the victim, it means that the investigators cannot start from the victim's interpersonal relationship to detect the case. Almost 90% of homicides occur within the victim's interpersonal network.
After thinking about it, Kai threw out another theory.
"Gluttony, what can you think of, don't think too much, what is your first reaction?"
"Seven deadly sins..." William said in a low voice.
"That's right! If...that means there will be another murder." At this point, Kai felt a little heavy. Don't forget, Susie's mother had contact with the victim before she disappeared! Now that the innkeeper is dead, what about Maria?
More importantly, there is one more crime among the seven deadly sins-**!
And Maria's career...Maria's disappearance at this critical point can't help but make Kai think too much.
Kai didn't stay at the scene for long. After all, this was someone else's case and he couldn't always stay there.
…
Back at the hotel, as soon as Kai opened up about himself, Susie ran out of the room opposite. Seeing Susie's expectant expression, Kai really didn't know what kind of expression he should give her.
Seeing Kai looking a little embarrassed, Susie said nothing and just returned to the room disappointed.
Ever since Maria disappeared, Susie has become like this, unusually silent. In the past, she always liked to pester Kai, but now, she only talks to Kai at most three times a day, and Kai usually does the talking while she remains silent. Kai was worried about her mental state, afraid that she would become the same again. But he didn't have any good ideas.
Kai also arranged for Kim and Hailey to enlighten her, but... it didn't work.
And just when Kay was in trouble, William and Mills also got into a quarrel.
William doesn't want to take this case. He will retire in a few days. He also doesn't want Mills to take this case because he is too young. His fiery and impatient personality is his Achilles' heel. Mills was very disappointed. He was very excited when he learned that he was going to take on the role of police legend William Ben. Because William has always been a benchmark in the industry. Although Mills has a bad temper, he still retains a strong sense of justice in his heart about the social chaos he has seen, and hopes to do his best to improve people's evil and dark sides.
Now he is very disappointed to see that William, a benchmark in the industry, is beginning to be timid about committing crimes. He moved to Chicago from Springfield with his wife, Tracy, not just to hang out. At first Tracy did not agree to come to this chaotic city, but Mills believed that only here could he take on some important cases, so after his persuasion, Tracy agreed.
What William is doing now makes Mills feel like he has been cheated.
The two broke up unhappy.
Mills returned home to find his wife preparing dinner. Mills had just arrived in Chicago and was in a hurry, so he didn't have time to look for a house, so the place they lived in was not good. It was next to the Chicago subway. Every time a train passed through, the whole house shook.
But Tracy never complained. On the contrary, she was very optimistic and said that this way they would not need an alarm clock.
Seeing Tracy's busy figure, Mills immediately softened and was no longer as aggressive as he was at work.
"Hey, Tracey, what day is it today? It's so rich?" Mills asked a little surprised when he saw the steak that Tracey brought out. Even though Mills looks like this, he remembers all their anniversaries clearly. Today is by no means an anniversary, is it the first hand-holding day? Mills thought about it and realized it was close, but they had never celebrated this day before. What happened today?
"I invited two important guests today, so it must be rich." Trish said casually while busy without even raising her head.
"who?"
Mills asked casually while playing with his two dogs. He didn't actually want Trish to stay home all day. They had been dating since high school, and had separated in the middle, when he went to join the army and Tracy went to college. But the distance did not affect their relationship. When Tracy graduated and Mills retired, they got married, and everything went smoothly. Mills never asked Trish to stay at home and be a full-time housewife. In Mills' view, Trish graduated from a prestigious school and could have a better future. There was no need to stay at home and serve him, a poor policeman.
But Tracy told him that she liked this life.
Mills knew that Tracy was worried about him. She was worried that he would not have a hot meal when he returned home, and that no one would greet him when he returned home. She also wanted Mills to understand that she would always wait for him to come home.
"Pepper is here!"
"She came to Chicago? Isn't she in Los Angeles?" Pepper is Mills's college classmate. Talking about the two of them, Mills also feels that the world is really amazing. There are two people in this world who are so similar. Pepper is from Connecticut and Tracey is from Illinois. The two had no idea each other existed until they met at Yale University and became classmates and roommates!
However, after graduation, Tracy chose family, while Pepper went to Los Angeles to pursue his career. It is said that Pepper has now become the secretary to the president of the famous Stark Industries.
"It is said that Stark Industries is going to hold an industrial expo in the old factory area of Chicago. Pepper is here to inspect and make preparations."
When Mills heard this, although he didn't show it on his face, he couldn't help but feel an unspeakable guilt in his heart. Pepper and Tracy's conditions are almost identical. They are both outstanding graduates from prestigious schools, the same height, and the same appearance. Pepper is now having a smooth career and is high-spirited. But for him, Tracy...
"Are you listening to what I'm saying?"
Tracy kept talking, but there was no response for a long time, so she shouted loudly.
"What?"
“I said, I also invited William!”
"who?"
"Your partner, William!"
"Why invite him?"
"Because he is your partner! Mills! You need to have a good relationship with your colleagues. I hope that when you are at work, someone can take care of you on my behalf! Is this reason enough?" Tracy didn't even leave the kitchen. The reasons are stated in it.
The most important reason why Tracey wanted to accompany Mills was because of Mills' temper. He is kind and has a sense of justice. But my temper is too irritable, and I always have bad relationships because of work matters and co-workers. For example, in Springfield City, because of a case, he not only beat up his colleagues, but also scolded his boss. If it weren't for his outstanding professional ability, he would have been kicked out of the police station long ago, but even so, he still sat on the bench for three years in the police station.
It wasn't until one of his comrades learned about his situation and helped him move to Chicago that he got rid of his previous predicament.
"But, dear..."
"Listen, fool, except for work, you have to listen to me on everything, as you promised!" Tracey knew that Mills was not very good at dealing with interpersonal relationships. That's why she made an agreement with Mills, otherwise she wouldn't have agreed to move to Chicago.
"Okay, idiot." He never broke his promise to her. This is the only thing he can give her.
…
Soon an old black man and an aristocratic workplace beauty knocked on the door of Mills' house.
There is no need to say more words of greetings, you can't escape those words.
"Pepper, this is William, he is a colleague of Mills. William, this is Pepper, my college classmate and roommate!"
"College classmates? Aren't you sisters?"
William is very humorous, and he is not the type who pretends to be humorous. On the contrary, he has a rigorous style, is mature in his work, and speaks in a serious manner. But somehow, I have a natural sense of humor. This apparently not surprising sentence, coupled with his expression and tone, was particularly interesting.
The two girls were amused, but Mills was confused. He couldn't figure out what the point of the joke was.
Pepper is a very capable woman who doesn't mince words or minces words or actions, and is very good at interpersonal communication. Not only because of her and William's guidance, the dinner that was originally a little stiff because of Mills's petty temper immediately became lively. , Mills also temporarily put aside his prejudice against William.
"Did you grow up in Minnesota?" During the chat, Pepper suddenly learned that William grew up in Minnesota, which surprised her.
"Yeah. But I don't like it there. There, people's discrimination against black people is almost obvious. My parents fled from the south to the north, wanting to find a place to live without discrimination. But they obviously made the wrong choice. It’s a place where I’ve never felt friendly or warm in my childhood and youth. What? Are you from Minnesota, too?”
"Oh...I'm sorry."
"It's okay, that was more than forty years ago. Tell me about you, why are you so surprised?"
"I'm not from Minnesota. I was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but I went through high school in Minnesota. My dad was in the insurance industry and was transferred to Minnesota that year for work."
Connecticut is one of the safest and wealthiest states in the United States and also has the most prosperous insurance industry in the United States. It’s also not unusual for Pepper’s father to be in the insurance business.
"Then where did you go to high school?"
"Wyndham City."
"Well, it's a nice town, and the surrounding farms are beautiful."
…
The four people chatted more and more happily, and the atmosphere reached its highest point after a subway drove over.
Mills was deceived. His real estate agent only let them stay for five minutes every time he took him to see the house, so Mills had no idea that the subway would pass by them and make the house feel like an earthquake. .
This made William laugh, and then the two girls laughed too. Mills saw everyone laughing and laughed too.
…
After dinner, the ladies continued chatting and the men talked about work.
But before they could chat for a while, a phone call came.
Another murder occurred in their jurisdiction. The men had to go on an emergency mission.
The party could only end here. Mills planned to send Pepper to the hotel first, and then they would go to the scene. But Pepper obviously didn't have enough time with his old classmates, so he asked Tracy, who was home alone, to go to the hotel with him for a ladies' night.
Mills wholeheartedly agrees with this!
He originally didn't want Tracy to stay at home.
So it became that the two ladies were sent to the hotel together first, and then they went to the scene.
At the same time, Jin also called Kai and told him that another murder had occurred. Chicago is a big city, very big. There are murders here every day. Logically speaking, such things have nothing to do with Kai. But Jin told Kai on the phone that a word written in blood appeared at the scene of the murder.
'greed' greedy!
Kai got up immediately and planned to rush to the scene of the crime.
Just when he came to the door of the hotel, he happened to meet Mills and others sending Pepper and Tracy to the hotel.
Pepper booked the same hotel as Kai.
Mills and the others did not expect to meet Kai here. As soon as they saw Kai's appearance, they knew that Kai had also received the news. So after saying hello, he naturally talked about the case. Before that, Kai noticed two women who looked exactly the same next to Mills, but he didn't pay attention.
"Are you...Adam?" But he was recognized.
Kai turned back to look at the workplace beauty who spoke out. He was thinking, or rather he was looking through Adam's memory, trying to find information about her.
"By the way, I remember Kay, you work near Wyndham City, right? Pepper used to study at Sam High School in Wyndham City." William felt that Pepper was a little embarrassed, so he immediately assisted. After all, Kai's expression showed that he had no idea who Pepper was.
Pepper and Sam High School, these two keywords are enough for Kai to retrieve Adam's memory.
"Pepper?"
Pepper's full name is pepperpotts, and pepper means pepper. In addition, as a transfer student, in order to prevent being bullied, Pepper had a hot personality when he was in school, so he got this nickname.
Of course, this is not the point. There is a reason why Pepper was able to recognize 'Adam' whose appearance changed greatly in the first place. That means Adam was Pepper's first love!
Adam was a handsome young man back then, and he was also a top student and football quarterback. He was a popular school boy, and Pepper was also a popular figure, so the two naturally came together. But Adam was a devout believer and took chastity very seriously, so it was really pure first love between them, and they gave each other their first kiss.
Kai didn't expect him to be so cruel.
