The oil painting has been found.
The buyer who purchased the oil painting is dead.
Now the only one who knows the truth of the case is the mastermind of the oil painting heist, the Professor.
The Professor is on the run, and Luke has applied for a warrant.
As for Tom Stone's doubts, Luke has some speculations.
According to clues found by the police, the Professor initially didn't intend to rob but to steal, targeting some of the most precious paintings in the Getty Museum, as confirmed by several arrested accomplices.
It's just that the security measures at the Getty Museum were too tight, making the theft plan difficult to execute, so it was changed to robbing the paintings.
The danger was reduced, but the variables increased, and the looted paintings couldn't be chosen.
This can be seen from the ransom money prepared by Albus Stone as well.
Albus Stone had previously withdrawn ten million US Dollars in cash from the bank, so the stolen paintings should be valued between fifty million to two hundred million US Dollars, yet Albus Stone ultimately only paid three million US Dollars, indicating his dissatisfaction with the ten paintings that were robbed.
But the situation had already occurred, and he was severely ill with little time left, so he had no other choice.
The police found the stolen paintings, and the case's ins and outs were essentially clarified.
Albus Stone liked to collect oil paintings, hoping to be buried with some precious paintings after his death, but this idea was not supported by his family.
Maybe due to his serious illness, his obsession increased, and he wanted to acquire some precious oil paintings at a low price as burial items.
This coincided with the Professor, who was engaged in art and antiquities theft.
The most challenging part of stealing oil paintings is fencing them because these paintings cannot see the light of day and are difficult to cash in.
But as burial items, it doesn't matter, thus establishing a basis for cooperation to plan the theft of precious paintings from the Getty Museum, for which Albus Stone even paid a part of the deposit.
However, the theft plan did not go smoothly, and the Professor decided to switch to robbery.
To silence witnesses, the plan included killing officers twice.
In the end, most of the robbers were caught, but the Professor escaped.
As for some details of this case and the specific transaction between the Professor and Albus Stone, the truth can only be revealed once the Professor is caught.
Luke did not give up pursuing the Professor. From interrogation, he learned that the Professor had visited Albus Stone's home on December 24th. He searched the surveillance around Albus Stone's home and investigated some black vehicles, but no clues about the Professor were found.
This suspect is very cunning with strong anti-surveillance abilities.
With three cases solved, everyone could finally breathe a sigh of relief and went to the bar to celebrate in the evening.
The excitement tonight was palpable, not just because the cases were solved, but finding the paintings meant claiming the bounty from the Getty Museum.
Little Black eagerly asked, "A two million US Dollar bounty! How much can each of us get?"
The deputy stuck his right finger to his lips, "You loudmouth, keep it down. Want everyone to know?"
Little Black lowered his voice, "Sorry, I'm just too excited."
"Are you strapped for cash now?" Luke put down his glass and tossed a corn chip into his mouth.
"Do you think everyone is like you, one full means the whole family isn't hungry?
I'm not alone now; I have a wife to support and a child on the way.
Need to earn a bit more money." Little Black sighed, looking worried.
The deputy nodded, "Responsibility is the best medicine for a man's quick maturity."
Little Black suggested, "Is Reid here? Should we ask him?"
Jackson shrugged, "I don't think asking will help. The Getty Museum set the bounty, they won't hand it over to the police station so quickly."
"Rookie, you've only been here a few days." Little Black stood up, scanning the bar with his big eyes, "Hey, Chief, we're over here."
Reid walked over, smirking, "I don't recall making plans with you tonight."
Little Black pulled Reid down to sit, "We just missed you and wanted to update you on the case progress."
Reid asked back, "Any lead on the Professor?"
Luke wanted to punch him.
The deputy said, "The world is huge, there are so many perverts, not every case can be solved perfectly, otherwise, why would there be the term 'cold case'?
Only in TV shows do cops solve every case; reality isn't that perfect.
The Professor is just a minor distraction, insignificant.
Judging by his nickname, he watched too many shows, just a petty thug; we already have a criminal sketch of him, if he commits another crime, we'll catch him."
"Makes sense," Reid said calmly.
While others might not agree, the deputy gets his respect, as this old man understands him best.
Having been a cop for many years, Reid knows not every case gets solved, and if the old man mentioned the cold cases he handled, it wouldn't look good for him.
This old codger would definitely do it.
Little Black rubbed his hands, smiling, "Chief, how's the bounty distributed?"
"What bounty?" Reid had an expression as if he didn't know what Little Black was talking about.
Little Black got anxious, "We retrieved the paintings, the Getty Museum promised a two million US Dollar bounty, they won't go back on their word, right?"
Reid teased, "Rest your worries; whoever they owe, they dare not owe Detective Chief Marcus.
Today, the museum's head approached me about the bounty, and it's expected to credit tomorrow."