The two got into the police car, and Little Black rested his hands on the steering wheel, "Where are we headed now?"
Luke took out his phone, "I'll give Andesie a call first to check on the situation."
Jackson asked, "Why not just apply for a phone location tracking directly?"
Little Black chuckled, "Rookie, unless it's an emergency, you can't just apply for phone location tracking whenever you want."
Based on Luke's experience, he didn't think it likely that Andesie had fled, which was why he decided to call. He then dialed Andesie's mobile number.
A moment later, the call was answered, and Andesie's voice came through, "Hello, Deputy Luke, are the identification results out?"
"Yes, do you have time to come to the police station?"
There was a pause, "I will, but it'll be later."
Luke probed, "Where are you now? At home?"
"No, I've got some things to deal with, I'll come by later."
"What things? Do you need help?"
"No, I'll come to the police station as soon as I'm done."
"Are your children at home?"
"In the car, uh... I'm planning to send them to stay at my sister's house for a while."
"Hey, remember what I said yesterday? We need to take statements from your children. They are your deceased wife's relatives and have lived with her all the time; they might provide some valuable clues."
On the other end of the phone, there was silence for a moment. It seemed Andesie had stepped out of the car as he said, "Deputy Luke, is the person who was burned to death my wife?"
From the phone faint sobbing could be heard, "I knew it, I knew it... Listen, I've already talked to the kids, and they don't know why my wife disappeared.
I don't think they can provide any valuable clues."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I don't want... to expose them too much to this matter, they're too young... They simply can't bear it.
Do you understand a father's feelings?
They've already lost their mother, I must fulfill a father's responsibilities, I need to protect them better."
"Is that why you took them away from home early in the morning?"
"Yes. They're just children, Nancy's departure has already hurt them.
The police questioning is like rubbing salt into their wounds; they're too young to endure all this.
I just want to protect them."
Luke fell silent; he could hear the man's sorrow and helplessness over the phone.
If he wasn't lying, then indeed his behavior could be seen as a form of love for his children, or at least, that's what he believed.
But as an officer, Luke thought further.
If there was more to Nancy's death, and Andesie was involved to some extent.
Then his taking the children away might not just be to shield them from harm, it could also be out of fear that the children might provide clues that could be unfavorable to him.
Considering the second possibility, it was still necessary to take the children's statements, however harsh it might be, that was better than regretting it later.
If Luke played the nice guy now, avoiding statements from the children to spare them pain,
years later, when those children grow up, become capable of discernment, and start to suspect something fishy about their mother's death, they might turn around and accuse Luke of inaction.
Having been in service for many years, he had seen too many instances of ingratitude.
His principle was, don't help others lightly if incapable.
If capable, assist even with the simplest of efforts without expecting anything in return.
If you lack the ability and still try to help others expecting gratitude, it often doesn't end well.
"Andesie, there are some things you can't avoid; your wife is dead, and the police need to ascertain the cause of her death.
Your children, as cohabitants, need to be interviewed, we need to ask them some questions.
I can understand your feelings as a father, and we will be considerate in our approach when talking to the children.
This is something they must face; your children may not be very old, but they already possess independent cognition. Facing reality sooner, learning the truth about Nancy, might not be such a bad thing."
After a long while, Andesie, seemingly realizing he could not evade the issue, sighed deeply, "I understand.
I will bring the children to the police station with me."
Luke worried he might deliberately delay or play tricks, "At half-past ten if I don't see you and the children at the station, we'll apply for a warrant for your arrest."
Andesie's tone was disgruntled, "Why, on what basis..."
Luke hung up directly, turning to Little Black, "Back to the station."
Actually, it wouldn't have been hard to find Andesie, but it would have taken some time, using certain methods.
Given Andesie's current situation, there was no need to employ those methods yet.
The problem lay exactly there; if Andesie kept dragging this out, it might delay things for a long time, or even lead to unexpected complications, preventing the police from taking the children's statements in a timely manner.
So, Luke set a deadline. If by ten-thirty, Andesie brought the children to the station, things would proceed normally.
If not, they would investigate using unconventional methods.
Andesie, his expression somber, walked into the Robbery and Murder Department office, three children in tow.
The eldest daughter appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, with short hair, glasses, and a black backpack on her shoulders.