But faced with the police at the door, she had no room to evade, and had to steel herself to open the door.
Dragging out time would only arouse the suspicion of her husband and son, so the best strategy was to quickly clarify the police's purpose and send them away.
"Creak..." Shirley got straight to the point as she opened the door, "Deputy Luke, why have you come again? Didn't I make everything clear yesterday?"
Shirley lowered her voice, "And I also underwent a physical examination, the report proves I didn't lie."
Luke said, "We're just here to ask a few questions."
"Have you been to Baron Smith's house?"
"Were you seen in a white Volvo near Baron Smith's house?"
"No, why would I do that? I only had a private relationship with Baron Smith and never thought to disturb his family.
That night was a mistake, nothing more than that," she said.
"Can I believe your words?"
"Of course, I have no reason to lie to you. Anything else you want to ask?"
Luke said, "Nothing else for now."
"OK, then please leave quickly and stop disturbing my life," Shirley said, about to close the door.
"Bang!" Luke blocked the door with his hand.
Shirley asked with a hint of dissatisfaction, "I've already made everything clear, what else do you want?"
"You did make it clear, which is why we're not looking for you now."
Shirley's eyebrows were knitted together, her voice trembling slightly, "What do you mean?"
Luke took out a photograph, "A week ago, someone drove a Volvo near the victim's house.
The victim's family reported the car as suspicious."
Shirley glanced at the photo and her face revealed a panicked expression, "Oh my god, how could it be my car..."
"That's why we're here. Why would your car be seen in front of Baron Smith's house?"
Shirley shook her head, "I don't know."
"OK, then we'll ask someone who knows. The car is registered in your husband's name, right?
Shirley said with a trembling voice, "You want to talk to my husband?"
"Is there a problem?"
"You promised me you wouldn't tell my husband and son about this, you promised."
"We did, but that was under the condition that it wouldn't affect the investigation. But now your husband is involved in the case, we can't ignore that.
If you were in our shoes, what would you do?"
Shirley's tone was resolute, "You must be mistaken, my husband doesn't know about this."
"Have you ever told him about your relationship with Baron Smith?"
"No, how could I possibly tell him."
"Exactly, just as you can conceal, he might as well. Perhaps, neither of you understand each other as well as you think.
Get Yovon out here; we need to take his statement."
"Hey, were you guys talking about me just now? What's going on? Why have you come again?" Yovon, hearing the commotion, walked out of the house.
Luke pointed to the white Volvo next to the garage, "Mr. Yovon Alte, is that your car?"
"Yes, that's my car, what about it?"
"If it's convenient, I'd like to ask you a few questions."
"Why ask me? What's wrong with my car?"
"I'd like to talk to you in private."
"Another confidentiality agreement?" Yovon Alte spread his hands and asked Shirley, "Honey, what's going on? Why is that case getting connected to me?"
Shirley's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and she remained silent, as she didn't know how to respond.
Luke presented a search warrant, "Mr. Alte, we need to search this car. Please hand over the car keys."
Yovon Alte was slightly aggrieved, "Can someone tell me what's going on?"
Luke extended his hand, "Give me the car keys first, and after our talk, you'll naturally know the whole story."
Yovon Alte looked at his wife, who still offered no response, so he went back inside to retrieve the car keys and handed them to Luke.
"Be careful with it, don't scratch my car."
"We'll be careful," Luke assured as he passed the keys to Matthew and Jackson, instructing them to search the Volvo.
Luke turned around, "Mr. Alte, let's have a private talk."
Watching the two officers enter his car, Yovon Alte felt frustrated, "Great, I've been wanting to speak with you privately too. Let's see what law I've apparently broken that you even had to bring a search warrant.
You guys are something else."
Yovon Alte turned to Shirley and said, "Honey, take the kid upstairs."
Shirley opened her mouth as if to speak but could find no words; she turned and entered the house, saying, "Terry, upstairs."
"No, I'm a part of this family too; I want to know what's going on!"
"The police don't care about that, follow me." Shirley took her son upstairs without further discussion, not wanting him to hear the conversation that would follow.
Yovon led Luke and the others into the living room, "OK, there's no one else here now, so you can speak.
What exactly is going on that you keep coming to my house again and again?
First, you contact my wife, now me, what exactly are you investigating?"