"Did you park your car outside the Bomary Bar?"
Luke confirmed again, "Are you sure your car was stolen, and not for some other reason that it's not with you?"
"Do you now know where that car is?"
"Did you hide the car yourself?"
"I didn't," Archil said firmly.
Luke observed his expression, this time he wasn't lying.
The car wasn't stolen nor had he hidden it, it was more likely that he had lent it out.
"Did you lend the car to someone else?"
Luke seriously stated, "Archil, you might not yet realize the seriousness of this matter.
We are investigating a robbery and murder case, which is a serious felony.
Even though you're a minor, if implicated, you will be tried as an adult.
Your car appearing twice at the crime scene is hard to explain away as a coincidence.
You are the actual user of the Tesla, and it's likely that you'll have to testify in court. If you dare lie in court, you might be prosecuted for perjury.
This is a serious offense, and if convicted, your life will be ruined."
Mr. Martinez, I think you need to remind your son.
As his father, you should understand the importance of this matter."
Brian appeared somewhat irritated, "Deputy Chief Luke, could we have a private word as father and son?"
Then, Brian dragged his son into the bedroom.
Luke could faintly hear a scolding voice.
After a while, Brian brought his son back out, "Sorry, this kid drank too much yesterday, wasn't thinking straight, I helped him recall a bit.
Could you redo his statement?"
Luke glanced at Archil, whose eyes were red and cheeks puffed up, likely from being hit, and smiled, "No problem."
In America, severe beating and child abuse can lead to losing custody rights.
But hitting kids is still relatively common.
Kids throwing temper tantrums can make adults cry, and it's normal to spank them on the buttocks, parents all over the world do the same.
Not to mention Archil was older.
Luke asked again, "Archil, was your car stolen?"
"No. I lent the car to a friend."
Archil hesitated for a moment, "Dominic James."
"Then why did you lie before?
Don't use being drunk as an excuse. As long as you tell the truth now, the police might not pursue your earlier lying."
Archil glanced at his dad, who nodded slightly.
"Yesterday afternoon, Dominic came to me wanting to borrow the car. I asked him what for, and he said he just wanted to go for a drive.
I didn't really want to lend it but didn't want to refuse either, so I agreed.
Then, he called me this morning, said something happened last night, and if the police asked, I was to say the car was stolen.
I panicked and asked him why. He wouldn't say," Archil sighed lightly, showing a helpless look.
Luke challenged, "You lied to the police just for a so-called friend, don't you understand the consequences?"
Archil showed a helpless look, "I didn't want to, but you don't know him.
Dominic James is not someone to mess with, he's crazy, capable of anything.
I didn't dare provoke him, I just did as he told me to."
"Is the Tesla still with Dominic?"
"Can I trust what you're saying?"
"I swear to God, this time I'm telling the truth."
Brian also said, "Deputy Chief Luke, rest assured, if he dares to lie again, I'll immediately throw him out of this house."
If Archil is telling the truth, then his so-called friend Dominic definitely has issues. Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked him to deceive the police.
"Where does Dominic live?"