Sichuan and Chongqing Restaurant.

Just after eleven, there weren't many customers in the restaurant yet.

A middle-aged woman was bending over wiping tables when she saw someone enter the restaurant and turned her head, "Welcome... Officer Luke, what brings you here?"

"Ms. Wang, we are here to inquire about some matters."

"Please have a seat, I'll pour you some tea."

Luke picked a table to sit down, "No need to busy yourself, we just drank a bellyful of soy milk."

Wang Huifang sat across from Luke, "Officer Luke, how is Ms. Layli's case going?"

"It is still under investigation. We came today to ask a few questions concerning the case."

"Alright, go ahead and ask."

Luke glanced towards the back of the restaurant and made a tangent comment, "You didn't rest for a few days before you started working again."

"This restaurant is run by my son-in-law; usually, my daughter and son-in-law manage it. I was idle at home, so I came to help out. I'm just the type who can't sit still."

Luke nodded, turned on his body camera, "Ms. Wang, do you have a handgun?"

Wang Huifang shook her head, "A gun? No, what do I need that for?"

"Don't be hasty in answering. Think carefully, have you ever bought a gun?"

"Buy a gun, I..." Wang Huifang paused as if she remembered something, her tone becoming frantic, "Right, I did buy a gun once, but it wasn't for me, it was Ms. Layli who asked me to buy it."

"Where is the gun?"

"I don't know, I really don't know.

One day, while I was cooking at Ms. Layli's house, she asked me to help her buy a gun. I was also puzzled as to why she wouldn't buy it herself and wanted me to purchase it for her.

She said that due to her job, it would be inconvenient for her to buy a gun in her own name.

I was also worried at that time, so I didn't agree." Wang Huifang sighed with a regretful expression, "Later, another incident occurred, Ms. Layli's house was attacked by a gunman, shattering the glass.

It was really scary.

Ms. Layli asked again for me to help her buy a gun for self-defense, promising to give me ten thousand US Dollars for the purchasing fee.

Moved by pity, I agreed.

I handed over the gun to her right after buying it and never saw it again.

Did something happen with that gun?"

Luke stated truthfully, "That gun was used in a murder; it is now considered a murder weapon. You, as the owner of the gun, must also bear some responsibility.

"What? A murder occurred." Wang Huifang was so startled that she trembled, her voice quivering, "It's not my fault, I really gave the gun to Ms. Layli. I only saw it that one time; after that, I never touched it again.

It really isn't my fault."

A couple, both in their thirties, came out from the back kitchen upon hearing the commotion outside.

"Mom, what's wrong? What happened?"

Luke displayed his badge, "LAPD, we are taking Mrs. Wang's statement. Please step back for a moment."

"My mom is just a babysitter there; she has nothing to do with Ms. Layli's death," Mrs. Wang's daughter argued.

"Regardless of the involvement, we need to take her statement according to regulations, understand?"

"Alright, we'll step back." Mrs. Wang's daughter and son-in-law returned to the back kitchen.

"Ms. Wang, does anyone can verify that you gave the gun to Ms. Layli?"

"No one else was there, just the two of us." Wang Huifang seemed anxious that Luke might not believe her, adding, "I'm telling the truth. Someone shot at her house. I bought the gun for her concerns for her safety. Otherwise, why would I need it? I'm just a poor old woman without power or influence."

"You mentioned someone shot at Ms. Layli's house, when did this happen?"

"Early January this year, just a few days later I helped her buy a gun. My son-in-law even accompanied me; I know nothing about guns."

David stood up and went outside to make a call.

Luke continued questioning, "Where were you between eleven o'clock the night before last and two o'clock?"

"Officer Luke, Ms. Layli's death really has nothing to do with me. If I were the murderer, I would have already fled and wouldn't have gone to her house, let alone called the police. I'm truly innocent."

"Exactly because you are innocent, a statement is even more necessary. If things aren't clarified and recorded, it could unfavorably affect you later on."

Wang Huifang realized the point then nodded, "You're right, I'll make a statement. Last night, I was at home asleep. My daughter and son-in-law can testify to that.

I left at twenty past seven in the morning, arriving at Ms. Layli's house at fifty past seven, and you know what happened afterwards.

Ms. Layli was already dead by that time; I couldn't possibly be the murderer."

David came over, whispered, "Matthew looked into it."

On January 7, indeed, Ms. Layli Harry's house faced a gunman attack. The individual who attacked her home was Bowen Cano, who is opposed to gun control and a radical member of the militia."

Luke asked Wang Huifang to step aside and called her daughter and son-in-law out for questioning; both confirmed that Mrs. Wang hadn't left home the night before.

Luke warned Wang Huifang not to leave the urban area, to be on call 24 hours, and then left the restaurant.

...

Speey convenience store.

A Caucasian man staggered out of the convenience store, carrying a plastic bag in his left hand and a beer in his right hand, taking tiny, unsteady steps, his head swaying as he took a sip every couple of steps.

Two tall men walked towards him and blocked his path.

One of the men with dark hair smiled and said, "Hey, Bowen."

The Caucasian man paused, glanced at Luke, then at David, and threw the bag he was carrying at them before turning to run.

"I'll go get the car." David threw out a statement and ran back to the car.

"Fuck!" Luke could only throw his arms and chase after him.

The two men and a car began a highway pursuit.

Luke was physically fit, but the militia wasn't weak either, and the two ran through two streets.

David followed in the car, which turned out to be the easiest role of all.

Of course, that didn't mean driving was easy; if the skills and experience were lacking, it was very easy to lose track and get thrown off.

After running a few hundred meters more, Bowen Cano was visibly slowing down, unable to keep up the pace.

Luke lunged forward and tackled him to the ground, "Bowen, congratulations on your arrest for assaulting an officer."

"No, I didn't assault anyone."

"The contents of your bag hit me, and it hurt, I'm considering whether I should get a disability assessment done."

"Come on, it was just instant noodles and a sandwich, how could that hurt you. Pack up your trumped-up charges. I haven't committed any crimes; you have no right to arrest me."

"I do have the right." Luke spoke with certainty, "You're on probation, your eyes darting nervously, sneaking around. As cops, we have the right to question you.

Your running only proves something is wrong, and the police can legally search you."

"I was just going to the convenience store for some noodles; you guys don't need a reason to make arrests."

David got out of the car and approached, "You can really run, it's a waste not to go to the Olympics."

Bowen demanded, "What exactly do you want from me?"

Luke pulled him up, pushed him against the wall, and frisked him, "Wow... look what we have here?"

A black pistol was found on Bowen, and David handled it, "Stoeger STR-9S, 4.17 inches long threaded barrel, standard capacity of 20 rounds.

You're on probation and dare to carry a gun in public, blatantly violating the probation terms, we have the right to arrest you.

Two charges to deal with now, get ready to go to prison."

"Hey, you can't treat me like this, I didn't provoke you."

David said, "You broke the law, we're arresting you by the book, feel wronged, take it up with the judge."

Bowen Cano pleaded, "What good does this do you? Let's talk, what do you exactly want? I'll cooperate."

Luke pushed him into the car, "Layli Harry, you should be familiar with her, right?"

Bowen Cano sighed, "I knew it would come to this."

"So you admit you killed her?"

"No, I'm restricted from being within 100 yards of her; how could I possibly have killed her? I only knew from the news."

"Even if it wasn't you, it could have been someone you know, like-minded individuals, or even your accomplice. After all, how could a militia not have guns?"

"You've got it wrong, Layli Harry and I had no quarrels, there were no like-minded individuals, I know nothing about her death."

David took out his phone, "If you're unwilling to talk, I can only contact your probation officer."

"Heh heh, stop! Don't make that call."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you everything," Bowen Cano resignedly said, "Are you suspecting me because I shot at Layli Harry's house in early January?"

"You have motive and a criminal record, we have every reason to suspect you."

Bowen Cano hesitated for a moment, "That was fake."

"What do you mean?"

"My attack on Layli Harry's house was staged, someone hired me to do it, I don't hate Layli Harry, nor did I ever intend to harm her, it was all an act. I knew there was no one home."

"Who hired you?"

"Layli Harry's Black chauffeur, he gave me two hundred thousand US dollars."

"Badman Pole?"

"Yes, that's him."