The door opened, and a portly middle-aged Caucasian man stood in the doorway, frowning, "Are you here to rent an apartment?"
Little Black flashed his badge, "NO, I'm Detective Marcus, and this is Detective Chief Luke, we want to talk to you."
"Is there a clue about my theft case?"
"We are here specifically to investigate the theft case, are you Rachel Philips?"
Little Black retorted, "Do you plan on chatting out here the whole time?"
"Sorry, please come in." Rachel stepped aside, inviting Luke and Little Black in.
Luke scanned the apartment's setting, about fifty to sixty square meters in size, entering straight into the living room, with a kitchen and bathroom, and the bedroom to the right of the living room, all in one open space without separation.
Luke sat on the couch and got straight to the point, "Rachel, when did your gun go missing?"
"About half a month ago, I haven't seen you before? Are you really cops, or are you scammers?" Rachel Philips examined Luke and Little Black with a suspicious look.
"We are cops, you don't need to worry about that."
"Then why aren't you wearing uniforms?"
"We're detectives, we don't need to wear uniforms."
Rachel seemed surprised, "My case actually got the attention of the detective bureau, I'm flattered."
Luke stated truthfully, "We are investigating other cases and just happened to look into yours as well."
"Wow, you guys are so dedicated." Rachel said sarcastically.
Luke spoke seriously, "Rachel, if the detective bureau can't solve your case, then it will become a cold case, unsolved by anyone."
Rachel seemed not to have high hopes, "Just ask whatever you want to ask."
"Can you describe the process of the theft?"
"I don't want to remember, it's not a pleasant memory."
Luke countered, "Do you want to get your belongings back?"
Rachel thought for a moment and said, "Are you sure that after so many days, you can still find it?"
"At least you're not lying." Rachel fell into memories,
"Half a month ago, on my birthday, around seven or eight in the evening, someone knocked on my door.
I opened it to find a birthday cake placed at the door with 'Landlord, Happy Birthday!' written on it. I was touched, I've rented to many people, but this was the first time someone remembered my birthday, it felt great."
"Then, I ate the cake, and when I was halfway through, I felt dizzy, and then I passed out. When I woke up again..." Rachel showed a mix of excitement and anger, "I found myself lying on the ground with something stuffed in my mouth, it smelled awful. When I spat it out, it turned out to be feces.
Someone drugged me, then stuffed feces in my mouth. I was furious, what kind of person does such disgusting things."
Little Black's mouth fell open in shock, suddenly feeling a bit reluctant to talk to him anymore, and shifted to the side.
Luke asked, "Why did the cake say 'Landlord, Happy Birthday!'"
"I own over a dozen apartments for rent, to be precise, I'm a sublandlord. I signed the apartments from the property developers, then rented them out to tenants; it's completely legal."
"Have you offended anyone recently? Like a tenant, for instance?"
"Plenty, a lot of the renters are Black, and they have no idea what gratitude is. They think my subletting is exploiting them, but they just don't understand. In the eyes of the property developers, they're just a bunch of troublemakers. If it weren't for my assurance, no one would rent to them."
Little Black pursed his lips as if to say, speaking of Blacks as if I'm not here, assuming I don't exist? "I know why someone stuffed feces in your mouth, because it stinks too much."
"I'm speaking the truth, if you're not tough enough, you can't handle those troublemakers, getting rent from them is not an easy task, but I did it."
Little Black mocked, "Mmm, did the feces taste good?"
Rachel looked to Luke on the side, "Detective Chief, is what he said considered a personal attack?"
"I'm here to solve problems, not to listen to your arguments, how about we get back to the matter at hand?" Luke replied, avoiding a direct answer.
From the conversation, it was evident that Rachel had a deep prejudice against Blacks, not directed at Little Black in particular, but revealing an instinctive revulsion towards most lower-class Blacks.
As a member of the Black community, Little Black's rebuttal was also justified, although they each had different perspectives and interests.
Luke continued to inquire, "Rachel, is there any surveillance in the apartments?"
I've installed it before, and I thought it would keep Black..." Rachel caught Little Black glaring at him and quickly corrected himself, "would keep the tenants honest. I installed some cameras, but they were destroyed by someone with a mask the next day.
I repaired them a few more times, but each time they were damaged within a week, so eventually, I gave up.
I could only protect myself, so I bought a handgun."
"Knowing that tenants were dissatisfied, why did you still eat the cake?"
"I particularly like sweets," Rachel said, swallowing, "I hesitated at the time. I cut the cake open and didn't find anything wrong.
It was my birthday, and I really wanted to eat it. Not all tenants are bad; some are good, and I have a decent relationship with them. I thought one of them had sent it.
Rachel showed anger, "That scoundrel is utterly shameless, to do such a thing on my birthday, it has left me traumatized. I used to love eating sweets, but now I feel nauseous at the sight of a cake..."