Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth
Chapter 75 - 75 Cause
Telson Manor.
David heard the gunshot and, worried about Luke's safety, immediately led his men to rush in.
"Luke, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, the suspect has already been caught." Luke handcuffed Cole and was helping him stop the bleeding.
David looked at Cole and Cindy, who were lying on the ground, with an expression full of complexity on his face, "Wow... you've caught two suspects at once, well done."
"Yeah, 'Kuta' is really tasty, you should have come with us." Luke smiled, catching the two suspects this time was entirely coincidental.
David asked Cole, "Why did you come here?"
Cole glared at Cindy beside him, "She hid Schelder Hasen's painting here."
"No, I don't have that painting, I was just deceiving him." Cindy defended herself.
Luke didn't want the two to collude, so he had the Los Angeles County officers take Cole to the Haim City Central Clinic for treatment.
"Cindy, did you hide that painting?"
"No, I didn't."
"Then why did you lie to Cole?"
"If I hadn't said that, he might have killed me already, I could only use this method to buy time."
"Then why mention this place?"
"He pointed a gun at me, my mind went blank, and this place was all I could think of."
Luke continued, "What's your relationship with Tony?"
"He's my boyfriend."
"This morning, we came to your house to take a statement, why did you lie and say you didn't know Tony?"
"I was afraid you'd suspect me of being involved with the 'Telson Manor Disappearance Case'."
"Then what's your relationship with this case? Think carefully before you answer."
Cindy sighed with a hoarse voice, "Yes, I'm involved with this case."
"In what way?"
"Madam Anna... I killed her."
"How did you kill her?"
"It was an accident, I never meant to kill her, I never thought about it."
"Who all were involved in the 'Telson Manor Disappearance Case'?"
"Me, Cole, Lorne, Tony."
"Who was the mastermind?"
"There was no mastermind, we didn't intend to kill anyone, it was completely an accident."
"Then what was your goal?" Luke sat on the ground, probing, "Madam Anna fired all of you, so you harbored resentment, and planned to steal a sum of money to compensate for your losses."
"No, it was all an accident from the start, something that should have never happened." Cindy fell into a reverie.
"Twenty years ago, Mr. Hans lost money in business, and he would often argue with Madam Anna about money. Mr. Hans even fired many of the servants, which Madam Anna was very unhappy about.
She decided to leave Mr. Hans.
One time, taking advantage of Mr. Hans being out, Madam Anna found me and asked for my help to pack up, intending to leave this place and live in Los Angeles.
There was too much stuff, one car couldn't carry it all, so she asked me to find another car, and I got Tony to help.
Cole was the manor's driver, and he had also been bribed by the lady.
Lorne was the lady's lover, in constant contact with her, and he also came from Los Angeles to help move.
Everything packed, we loaded it into three cars, and that's when the accident happened..."
Cindy sighed lightly, as if reluctant to continue recalling.
Luke pressed on, "What accident?"
"It was raining that day, and as Tony and Cole were carrying a box, Tony slipped and fell, and the contents of the box spilled all over the ground—bundles of cash, jewelry, ornaments. Everyone was stunned.
The atmosphere suddenly turned sour.
Tony and Cole's expressions changed.
Madam Anna also grew anxious.
The young master, fearless due to his inexperience, saw that the items from the box belonged to him, and began to furiously scold Tony and Cole. Although the lady stopped the young master's behavior, the damage was done."
Cindy pointed to a spot not far away, "I remember, that's where they fell. I can't forget it for the rest of my life; it was also the first time I saw so many treasures.
The lady then became prejudiced against Tony and Cole, she didn't trust them.
This was apparent just from the way we got into the cars.
The lady, the mistress, and Lorne in one car.
Me and Cole in another car.
The young master and Tony were in one car. The lady had already started to be suspicious of us. It was because of this opposition that the accident happened later on.
Afterward, three cars left the mansion.
Lorne's car was in the lead; he was familiar with the road to Los Angeles.
Tony and the young master's car was in second place.
Mine and Cole's car was in third place.
Some distance after leaving Haim City, Tony and the young master had a conflict in the car, and the young master asked Tony to stop the car, but Tony refused.
The young master cursed at Tony, calling him a poor man, a servant, someone trying to steal their family's money.
Tony and the other party argued, and the young master asked Tony to stop the car again.
Tony ignored him.
Then...
The young master jumped from the car. His body rolled on the ground, and his head hit a tree."
Cindy sobbed softly, choking up as she said, "No one expected it to turn out like this. Tony didn't do it on purpose; he was scared out of his wits. He hurriedly got out of the car to check on the young master, but it was too late."
Lady Anna got out of the car; she was both frantic and furious, holding the young master and crying bitterly.
Tony kept saying sorry over and over.
The lady thought Tony had killed the young master and took out a handgun from her purse to kill Tony.
Tony was already scared stiff.
I quickly tried to persuade the lady to stop, but she wouldn't listen.
For Tony's safety, I struggled with her for the gun.
As a result, the gun went off and hit the lady... she also..."
"Wuuu..." Cindy cried aloud, "I swear, I didn't do it on purpose. I just wanted to save Tony, to take away the gun. I never thought it would hurt the lady."
Luke asked, "If it was recognized as accidental manslaughter, the sentence wouldn't be too severe, so why didn't you call the police?"
"You make it sound simple. With the lady and the young master both dead, I was facing a situation like this for the first time. I was scared to death; I had no idea what to do.
That's when Cole suggested we divide the property; it would be good for everyone.
Lorne agreed as well.
I was afraid of going to jail, so I agreed too. That's how it happened."
"How exactly did you divide the property?"
"Cole took the most cash, about two hundred thousand US dollars.
Tony and I took some cash and jewelry.
Lorne took some cash and oil paintings."
Luke asked, "Why was there so much cash?"
"Hans's business suffered severe losses. Lady Anna was afraid her husband would use her money and also feared the accounts would be frozen, so she withdrew all the cash."
"How did you and Tony split up?"
"Ever since that incident, Tony was very self-reproachful; he felt it all started because of him. If he had just backed down that day, the young master might not have jumped from the car.
If the young master hadn't died, Lady Anna wouldn't have died; we wouldn't have become murderers.
He was always tormented by guilt, drinking, using drugs, completely falling apart.
One day, I realized I couldn't stay by his side any longer. He would not only affect me but could also harm our daughter.
Three or four years had already passed by then, and the 'Telson Mansion Disappearance Case' had calmed down.
I took my daughter back to Haim City."
"Why did Cole kidnap you?"
"Cole was often running errands for the lady, and on the day of the incident, neighbors saw him, making him a suspect in the investigation. Cole ran away, afraid to be recognized by locals, and he didn't dare to come back.
Later, he learned about the value of that painting and felt extremely bitter.
He thought he was stuck holding the bag but ended up with the least wealth. Plus, he had squandered all his money and was living poorly, so he plotted to take back the painting." At this point, Cindy's voice choked, and trembling, she asked, "Tony... was he killed by him?"
Luke nodded, "Yes, he killed Tony and also attacked Lorne."
Cindy clenched her fists, cursing, "That heartless bastard, nobody owes him a thing. It was his idea to divide up the money from the start."
Luke continued to ask, "How did you dispose of the bodies?"
"I don't know the details; Cole ran off with the money, Tony was completely out of it, and I took care of the lady's little girl Lily. It was Lorne who took care of the bodies."
"Do you know where they buried the bodies?"
"I don't know."
"Where is Lily, Lady Anna's little girl?"
"Lorne took the child away."