I have enough reasons to suspect that these boxes belong to you, and you are hiding them in the gravesite to evade police pursuit.
Mr. Tom Stone, have you ever been to prison?
The place will introduce you to a new world."
The night breeze was cool, yet Tom Stone's forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat, "What can I say to make you believe that the things in these boxes have nothing to do with me."
"Voluntarily open the boxes.
Since the contents of the boxes have nothing to do with you.
Your father is already dead.
What are you worried about?"
"You're right, it has nothing to do with me, my father is already dead..." Tom Stone muttered to himself, as if convincing himself, then he walked to one of the boxes, took out a crowbar from the car, and forcefully pried open the box.
The box was wrapped in a layer of black oil paper, indistinguishable in material, very tough. After tearing it open, there was a plastic foam soft box inside, and then another layer of yellow packaging, which, when opened, revealed the true contents.
A transparent plastic bag contained an oil painting, and Luke picked up the painting to look at it, and there was another oil painting beneath it.
Luke had seen photos of the missing oil paintings from the Getty Museum; these two paintings were exactly two of them.
Luke couldn't judge the authenticity of the paintings, but producing ten high-quality copies in a short time is not easy.
"Open the remaining boxes."
Soon, the remaining four boxes were also opened; each box was layered in wrapping, with two oil paintings inside, identical to those stolen from the Getty Museum.
The team members present were very excited; these ten oil paintings represented stacks of green US Dollars.
Tom Stone's face was ashen, sitting on the ground in a somewhat dejected manner, as if utterly exhausted.
Luke said, "Mr. Tom Stone, these paintings are exactly the same as those stolen from the Getty Museum. Why are they in your possession?"
"I told you, they were left by my father."
"Earlier you said these were your father's usual items, hence used as burial objects.
If I am not mistaken, these ten paintings should be the stolen goods from the Getty Museum.
You should understand what that represents."
"I really don't know; these paintings have nothing to do with me, otherwise, I wouldn't have voluntarily opened the boxes."
"Let's not discuss whether these paintings have anything to do with you for now.
Voluntarily opening the boxes to assist the police investigation is indeed the best choice you have made.
You will be grateful for this decision for the rest of your life."
If Tom Stone refused to cooperate and let Luke open the boxes with a search warrant, the charge of acquiring stolen goods would surely be placed on Tom Stone.
"Captain Li, please believe me; these paintings really have nothing to do with me. They were my father's chosen burial items.
I simply followed his instructions and placed them in the grave.
I did not know what was in the boxes, nor did I realize these paintings were stolen."
Luke said, "I am willing to believe you.
But since you were the handler of these paintings, some procedures are necessary to clear your suspicion completely."
"I understand, I will cooperate with you."
"Then please come with us to the police station, and we will also take these paintings to the station for analysis by the technical team and experts from the Getty Museum. Is there any problem?"
"No, I'll follow your arrangements."
You're a smart person, no wonder Albus Stone entrusted everything to you."
Robbery and Murder Department.
It was already 2 AM, but after finding the paintings, everyone was not sleepy and instead very excited.
Luke decided to interrogate Tom Stone overnight.
Considering Tom Stone's act of voluntarily opening the boxes, Luke did not take him to the interrogation room but rather to a lounge for questioning.
Tom Stone sat by the table, rubbing his hands, looking slightly uneasy.
Luke entered with a cup of coffee, followed by Xiao Hei with two cups of coffee, handing one to Tom Stone.
"Thank you." Tom Stone held the coffee cup with both hands, "Do I need to call a lawyer?"
Luke took a sip of coffee, "If you believe that the stolen painting case has nothing to do with you, there's no need for a lawyer.
If you think this case could impact you, then call a lawyer." Luke again left the choice to him.
If a lawyer is called, the conversation will always be guarded, indicating guilt.
"I have nothing to do with the Getty Museum's painting robbery case. There's a lot of work waiting for me to do at the company; I have no mind to deal with such mess."
"Then why did your father hire a detective to investigate the Getty Museum painting robbery case?"
"Hey, don't be so quick to answer.
Your father is dead, and to clarify this matter, we need to find the handlers of the paintings.
Regardless of whether you are involved in the painting robbery case, but the batch of paintings was found in your possession, this thing needs a reasonable explanation.
Not just evasive answers.
Continual evasion will only leave numerous doubts, and the case cannot be closed.
We will have to shift the investigation direction, from investigating your father to investigating you as the handler of these paintings.
You should understand my meaning.
Tell me everything you know truthfully, so I can help you.
Your father is already dead, you need not worry about him being affected.
Conversely, if you deliberately conceal something, it will only make the police suspect you."