The next morning, at the Robbery and Murder Department office.
Luke walked into the office, "Guys, put down what you're working on, let's have a meeting."
Usually, Susan preferred to hold meetings in the conference room, which was more formal.
Luke, on the other hand, preferred to have meetings in the office area where everyone could be more relaxed.
The deputy asked, "Chief, when are you planning to interrogate Henry Rogers?"
"After the meeting," Luke glanced around, not seeing Marcus, "Where is Marcus?"
Jackson answered, "He went to wash his hands."
Luke laughed, "He's already been all night, and still washing?"
Jackson spread his hands, "He has to wash every half hour; he feels it soothes him mentally."
The deputy suggested, "We should get him to see a psychologist, to avoid any lasting trauma."
"I will," Luke's tone became serious. Mental health is a serious issue and should not be neglected.
Joking aside, he still cared deeply for Marcus.
"Deputy, later I'll interrogate Henry Rogers with Jackson, and you lead the team to collect evidence for closing the case."
The deputy was experienced and didn't need too much direction from Luke.
"Knock knock." The office door sounded, and then the door was pushed open from the outside, Marcus entered with a white woman.
"Guys, guess who's here?"
Luke looked up and saw a woman both familiar and unfamiliar—unfamiliar because it was their first meeting, familiar because he had seen her photo before.
"Marta, what brought you here?"
"I remember your voice, Officer Lee?"
"Yes, it's me. Let me formally introduce myself, I'm Luke Lee, squad leader of the first team at the Robbery and Murder Department.
This is Vincent, the deputy chief, Detective Raymond, Detective Jenny, Detective Jackson, Detective Matthew."
"Thank you all for what you've done for Rona. I... bought some donuts on my way here... I hope you'll like them..."
The deputy laughed, "Of course, there's no better gift than donuts."
"I'm glad you like them. I hope my visit hasn't interfered with your investigation."
Luke said seriously, "Marta, I was just about to call you. We've caught Henry Rogers."
"Oh my God, have you found evidence of his crimes?"
"Yes, caught red-handed."
"Um... I have mixed feelings, but I still want to say, thank you.
Rona was my best friend... yet killed by my husband.
I'm really heartbroken and wanted to do something for her..." Marta's tears couldn't stop flowing.
"Marta, I'm surprised you could come back to Los Angeles.
You came back to Los Angeles without knowing Henry Rogers was caught, and that's already helping Rona in your own way.
It hasn't been easy, and I can feel your affection for Rona.
She would understand too."
"Thank you, thank you for your understanding."
Luke gestured for Marta to sit down and handed her a pack of tissues, "Even though Henry Rogers has been caught, we haven't interrogated him yet.
He's smart and cunning, and he might use all sorts of methods to avoid legal punishment.
Before the interrogation, I hope to understand him better."
"No problem, I will tell you everything I know."
Luke had investigated numerous cases involving suicides, crimes of passion, crimes for profit, and revenge killings, but this case was different. Henry Rogers not only murdered his victim but also decapitated her, making him a typical psychopathic murderer.
Typically, when a murderer has achieved their goal, that's it, but psychopathic murderers often mutilate the victim's body to satisfy some pathological need.
This kind of pathology isn't formed overnight and often stems from tragic experiences. Understanding these is crucial for the upcoming interrogation.
Luke had someone pour Marta a cup of tea and asked, "Did Henry Rogers have any violent tendencies before?"
"He was a good person normally, but he became very irritable when drunk, staring at you with a frightful gaze, and sometimes he would physically assault people."
"When did he start behaving ?"
"We hadn't known each other long when we had an argument, I don't remember exactly what about. After the argument, I stayed at Rona's place temporarily. That's when I felt something was off about his mood. He grabbed my neck and loudly questioned why I was leaving him.
It was terrifying; I cried and begged him to let me go.
He demanded that I promise never to leave again." Marta covered her eyes, regretfully saying, "I should have left him then."
Marcus, puzzled, said, "Then why didn't you leave?
Henry Rogers had already shown violent tendencies, I can't understand why you continued to date him, even eventually marrying him."
"I thought about leaving him, but his... past made me feel pity for him. Looking back, I feel ridiculous for pitying a psychopath—I really am a fool."
"Could you share what about his past made you feel pity for him?"
"Henry originally came from a happy family of seven, with four older siblings. However, the good times didn't last long. When he was three, his father died unexpectedly. His mother, struggling to support the family, worked multiple jobs as a waitress, bartender, and food truck driver, almost never stopping, hardly able to spend any time with her children, leaving them in foster care.
At first, Henry was very attached to his mother, crying and begging her not to leave him, but it was futile; Henry was still sent to foster care, which made him start to resent his own mother.