Luke took out a photo of the deceased. "Do you recognize him?"
Yovon carefully examined the photo. "I've never seen him before. Is he the one who was murdered?"
"Yes, the night before last, this man was shot to death in his own car. We are now investigating this case."
"What does that have to do with me? I don't even know him. Why would you search my car? He surely wasn't killed in my car, was he?"
"No, he died in his own Mercedes, but Shirley was also at the scene when he died."
"So, you suspect my wife is the murderer?" Yovon scoffed, "That's ridiculous.
She doesn't even have a gun, nor does she know where the safety is. How could she possibly kill someone?"
"At the time of the victim's death, Shirley was also in that car, and she is the only eyewitness the police have found so far. Moreover, we do not consider her a suspect, as she too was a victim."
"Wait, you're saying my wife was a victim too?" Yovon looked concerned,
"She didn't say that; she said she was just showing a client around that community. Could the deceased have been her client?"
"From what the police have learned so far, the deceased was not Shirley's client.
The deceased was also a real estate agent; they possibly had some intersections in their work and were acquaintances."
"Then why did my wife lie? Why did she hide meeting him?"
Luke said, "That's what we need to investigate."
Yovon Alte seemed to think of something, gripping his hair, "Oh my god, you suspect Shirley and that man...
So, you came to me today because you suspect that I killed that man?
This is baseless. I had no idea they were meeting last night.
Shirley couldn't possibly wrong me.
Absolutely impossible."
Luke took out a picture of a white Volvo. "This photo was taken near the victim's house. What do you say to that?"
Yovon Alte enlarged the image. "This license plate number...it's my car."
"Yes, that's also why we're here."
Yovon Alte looked incredulous. "But I didn't drive there."
Luke countered, "Then who do you think did?"
Yovon Alte was stunned. "Could Shirley really be involved with that man?"
Terry found it hard to watch. "Man, isn't it obvious? How much more bluntly do we need to put it?
According to Shirley's description.
The man was murdered while they were on a date.
And your car was spotted near the victim's house a week ago, plus you have a motive.
If you were the police, wouldn't you suspect yourself?"
Luke didn't interrupt Terry; typically, the police wouldn't disclose the privacy of people involved in a case, but this time was different.
With the deepening of the investigation, it now involved Yovon Alte.
The premise of protecting the privacy of involved persons is that it does not affect the investigation of the case.
Yovon Alte shook his head. "I don't believe it; you must have made a mistake. Impossible."
Yovon Alte appeared very agitated, clenching his fists, but feeling helpless in front of the police, he could only turn and run inside, thumping up the stairs.
Seeing Shirley and his son on the second floor, he cowered.
"Shirley, come down. I need to talk to you."
Terry asked, "Dad, what's actually going on?"
Yovon Alte warned, "It's none of your business. Stay in the upstairs study and don't eavesdrop."
Then, Yovon brought his wife downstairs, asking in a low voice, "The police just said that you weren't showing a client houses last night, but that you were on a date with the man who was murdered.
Is that true?" Yovon Alte's eyes reddened, his voice hoarse, "I want to hear it from you.
If they are lying, if they dare to slander you,
even if they are the police, I will fight them."
Shirley looked down, afraid to look at her husband.
"Why won't you speak? Tell me it's not true!"
Shirley sobbed, choking up, "Sorry, husband, I was wrong."
So, what they said is true. Why did you do this?
Why would you do this to me?"
"It was my fault. I will explain it to you, please give me some time."
I trusted you so much, yet you went behind my back and did this. Now you want me to forgive you.
Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"No, I just..." Shirley attempted to argue but didn't know how to respond.
Terry said, "Yovon Alte, please calm down. Anger won't solve anything now."
Yovon Alte challenged, "You're telling me to calm down!
Have you been married? Has your wife cheated on you?
If not, then you have no right to judge me."
Fine, you win; I indeed have no right.
Luke also spoke up, encouraging, "Yovon, this is a matter between adults, and it's a private matter between you and your wife.
Your shouting won't only let us hear it, but your son will hear it too.
It might even attract the neighbors. Is that what you want?"
Yovon Alte clenched his teeth, revealing a furious expression, as if he were incredibly frustrated.
But Luke's words did reach him, "You've got the wrong person. I didn't kill that bastard.
However, when you catch the murderer, thank him for me.
That bastard deserved it!"
In the end, Yovon Alte conceded and didn't explode.