North American Detective: I am Proficient in All Kinds of Gun Quick Draws
Chapter 113 - 102 Crime Scene, Shoeprint_1

Chapter 113: Chapter 102 Crime Scene, Shoeprint_1

Los Angeles Greyhound bus station.

A Black police officer, leaning against the wall, was chuckling with two scantily clad women while impatiently scanning the surrounding streets with the corner of his eye. He was supposed to be slacking off comfortably today. Then a call from the detective bureau came in, sending him to this godforsaken place. If not for his luck in running into two mature women who flirted with him enthusiastically, he’d probably be cursing by now...

Just then, the Black officer’s cell phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, it was that annoying number. "Hey, buddy, where are you? I’ve been waiting forever!"

"Sorry, I took a quick look around. If it’s okay, could you bring those two women by your side to the fast-food restaurant? I’d like to have a word with them."

The Black officer glanced at the two ’mature women’ beside him, gave a whistle, and flashed a lewd smile. "Alright, buddy, since you have the same taste as me, I forgive you. Is it the drumstick fast food on the corner?"

"...Yes!"

「After hanging up the phone.」

Inside the drumstick fast-food restaurant, Dean was looking at the used small umbrella in the bag in front of him, tapping on the table.

Howard had been talking to his mother when he was attacked. Afterwards, he lost contact. Howard’s mother chose to call the police. Unfortunately, near the station, the officers found neither eyewitnesses nor the spot where the attack occurred, let alone Howard’s cell phone or similar items.

Dean’s purpose for coming here was simple: to find the exact location where Howard was attacked!

Without any leads, it was not easy to pinpoint an assault location in such a vast area. And the information Howard told his mother might not even be true.

This required thinking like both the perpetrator and the victim. First, if Howard arrived at eight in the evening, why was he still here at ten at night? Second, how did the perpetrator know Howard’s exact itinerary? And how did they identify Howard in the crowded transit station and attack him successfully? Third, what kind of location would be most suitable for an ambush and for moving Howard’s not-so-light body without attracting attention?

After circling the area, Dean found a useful clue. In the alley behind this fast-food restaurant, he discovered several used small umbrellas. The model of the small umbrella was the same brand as the one Howard had on him.

Through a combination of money and charm, Dean learned a very important piece of information from the female cashier at the fast-food restaurant: For the past two years, a group of older streetwalkers had frequented the area, specifically targeting newly arrived passengers for "quick meals." Some customers, to save money, would opt for a quick transaction in some alleyway.

Key point: Older!

From a psychological standpoint, Howard, having grown up in a single-parent family without a father’s love and, after a tragic childhood, having only his mother for constant companionship and encouragement, would likely have developed a particular Oedipus complex. As an adult, Howard might have suppressed these feelings towards his mother due to ethical considerations. But using this, along with other known information, Dean made a reasonable deduction about Howard’s experience after getting off the bus:

Howard had been away from his mother for a long time due to college. This time, using Duren’s parole hearing as an excuse, he had taken a long leave from school, planning to combine it with his winter break to spend quality time with his mother. At that moment, he must have been eagerly anticipating seeing his mother, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Then, as he passed an alley, a ’mature woman’ fitting his specific fetish, dressed scantily, beckoned to him, cooing, "Hey handsome, come and play." What young man with a mother complex could resist such a test? Howard’s long-suppressed little volcano erupted. After a thoroughly satisfying encounter, Howard, content, took two "souvenirs" and resumed his journey home, calling his mother on the way. And then...

As for the reliability of Dean’s speculation, one only needed to ask the two mature women flirting with the Black officer.

Dean didn’t wait long. The Black officer approached, leading two mature women who looked alluring from a distance but whose faces were caked in cheap makeup up close.

Dean sat in a corner and waved at the three of them.

Upon seeing Dean, the two women’s eyes lit up. "Wow, your partner looks handsome. I wonder if he tastes as good."

"Definitely not as strong or long-lasting as me!" the Black officer撇了撇嘴, muttering under his breath, before leading the two women over. "Hello, I’m Alido. You must be Detective Dean?"

"Yes," Dean said, handing a wad of cash to the Black officer. "Sorry to keep you waiting, buddy. Go get yourself a hot drumstick combo. I need to talk to these two ladies."

The wad of cash amounted to a good one or two hundred US dollars. Forget drumsticks; it was enough for him to afford two younger ’quick meals.’

A smile immediately spread across Alido’s face as he took the money. "Sure, I’ll wait until you’re done. Even if you and these ladies chat for a long time in the alley out back, I swear, I’ll wait."

As soon as the money appeared, the women’s gazes on Dean grew even more intense. Reeking of cheap perfume, they tried to sit down next to him. Dean, not wanting to be covered in that rather pungent scent, quickly raised his hand to stop them. "Ladies, I’m a bit pressed for time. Could you answer a few questions for me?"

As he spoke, he pulled out an even thicker wad of cash from his pocket. These "nightingales" had a natural aversion to police officers; otherwise, the previous officers wouldn’t have come up empty-handed. Dean preferred not to waste time on problems that could be solved with a little money.

Sure enough, for these two worldly-wise old nightingales, money was far more effective than Dean’s handsome face. They nodded cooperatively. "Ask away."

"Have you seen this person?" Dean pulled out Howard’s photo and showed it to them.

They took a look, their expressions changing slightly. They hesitated before shaking their heads. "No."

"Life soliciting at the station isn’t easy. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be out here in broad daylight, enduring those disdainful looks. We’re all just trying to get by. I don’t want to make things difficult for you, so please don’t treat me like an idiot. What do you say?"

The two women exchanged a glance. The older one took out a pack of cigarettes from her purse, lit one, took a deep drag, and then said in a low voice, "Alright. That man did use one of our sister’s services about four days ago. He looked young but had a bit of a mother complex. During the act, he paid extra for my sister to call him ’son.’ Such clients aren’t actually uncommon. But when he left, he took several of my sister’s condoms and a bottle of lubricant as mementos. Usually, men like him prefer to take our stockings; it’s more convenient for them to savor later. He was very... peculiar. So, when a few patrol officers came around asking about him with his photo, our sister told us about it."

After speaking, she even chuckled. "I suspect that little fellow, after taking those things, will eventually give in to temptation. After all, women our age need the help of lubricant to get into the mood."

Dean: "..."

"I need to know the time he left and from where."

The woman glanced at the money on the table and shrugged. "You’ll have to ask my sister for that. This isn’t enough for the three of us to split."

"My patience is limited," Dean said, tossing the last of his loose cash onto the table.

With the money taken, the woman was efficient.

Soon, Dean got what he wanted. Howard, just as he had guessed, couldn’t resist the allure of these forty-to-fifty-year-old women on his way home. Young men tend to be self-conscious. He hadn’t opted for an alleyway transaction but had the woman take him back to their rented apartment. Driven by pent-up desire, Howard was ’busy’ from just after eight until past nine in the evening before leaving, somewhat unsteadily, with his ’trophies.’

Led by the two women, Dean and the Black police officer arrived near the women’s rented apartments. The area was filled with old apartment buildings, some with rickety external iron fire escapes that looked like they could collapse at any moment.

Dean considered how Howard might have planned to get home. He didn’t have many friends. At that time of night, he would either take a taxi, find a motel for the night, or call his mother to pick him up.

According to Howard’s mother’s statement when she reported him missing: Howard had only mentioned being near the station and discussed his holiday plans for when he returned. Before they could talk about anything else, Howard’s mother heard a piercing noise over the phone, and then she could no longer reach her son.

Thinking from Howard’s perspective, he had just spent over an hour in bed with a woman reeking of cheap perfume; he would undoubtedly smell of it too. So, it was unlikely Howard would call his mother to pick him up. He was more likely planning to find a motel for the night and go home the next day.

Following this line of reasoning, Dean eventually found some bloodstains, already covered in dust, on a path leading towards the motels. The bloodstains were at the corner of an alley. There were footprints from passersby over them, offering little information. However, Dean noticed that right by the alley wall, a clear heel print was embedded in the soft dirt!

If these bloodstains were indeed Howard’s, then the assailant must have been waiting here for some time, striking Howard hard on the right side of his head as he passed by!

After seeing Alido off, Dean called Holz from the forensics department.

Around three in the afternoon, Holz arrived with his two twin assistants, carrying the familiar portable DNA testing kit.

"Dean, you actually found where Howard was attacked!" Holz exclaimed, his face full of disbelief. After all, so many patrol officers from the precinct had been mobilized without finding any clues, yet Dean had managed it in just one morning.

Dean flicked ash from his cigarette. Under the curious gazes of Holz’s twin assistants, he said lightly, "Well, I’m Dean, after all. Alright, buddy, let’s first confirm if these bloodstains are Howard’s."

Since they already had Howard’s DNA sample, it only took about ten minutes. Holz looked up. "It’s almost certain these bloodstains are Howard’s. However, I’ll need to run it through more precise equipment back at the lab before I can issue an official report."

"That’s enough!" Dean gestured for Holz to come closer. "This must be the assailant’s footprint. They were leaning against the corner, waiting for Howard to walk right into their trap. Although I don’t know how they knew Howard’s exact route, this footprint is unusual. It looks like a woman’s wide-heeled shoe, but the heel itself is quite large."

Holz leaned in, examined it, and nodded. "This shoe print is indeed uncommon. However, our forensics department has experts in this field. I’ll take an impression and bring it back. We should have a result for you by tomorrow."

"Alright, let’s hope it’s a good one," Dean nodded resignedly.

Just when he thought the day wouldn’t yield much, a call from Robert brought a pleasant surprise.