After leaving the hospital, Lawrence eagerly asked, "How did it go?"
"Got some leads." Dean handed him a cigarette and lit one for himself. After exhaling a cloud of smoke, he continued, "Marcus mentioned that when he visited the Shane family, he never saw their dog. Also, when the Shane family left, all four members seemed preoccupied and departed in a hurry."
"All four members..." Lawrence frowned. "If what he’s saying is true, it certainly fits with your first hypothesis that the Shane family is acting suspiciously."
"Yes," Dean nodded. "So I’m planning to head to Shane’s company to learn more. His colleagues might know something about him."
Marcus’s words might not be true. But until the results from other investigations came in, Dean had to treat his statement as factual and proceed accordingly. That’s the reality of cracking a case. Before any clear leads emerge, detectives can only gather clues and test theories bit by bit, hoping that eventually, all the clues will form a net to ensnare the hidden criminal.
Shane was employed as the financial director at a large machinery company in the suburbs of Los Angeles. After making an appointment by phone, Dean and Lawrence met with the company’s owner at two in the afternoon. He was a kindly-faced, rotund old man named Hutt, a rare Black business owner.
Hutt gestured to his curvaceous, scantily-clad secretary. "Good afternoon, Detectives. What would you like to drink?"
Seeing the secretary’s sensual figure, Lawrence gulped. "No, thank you, Mr. Hutt."
This embarrassing display drew a teasing gaze from Hutt. The buxom, provocatively dressed secretary also covered her mouth and giggled, her beautiful eyes occasionally glancing at Lawrence, whose face turned beet red.
Dean interjected with a joke, "Mr. Hutt, it seems the years haven’t diminished your pleasures."
"Indeed. Maintaining my libido is key to my vitality," Hutt said, patting his secretary’s shapely rear. "But Detectives, your visit today surely isn’t to discuss my sexy secretary, is it?"
The secretary, taking the hint, left.
Only then did Dean state their purpose, "We’d like to learn more about Mr. Shane, and if possible, speak with his colleagues."
"Shane?" Hutt’s expression changed. "I fired Shane over a month ago. If he’s committed any crimes, it has nothing to do with our company!"
"Mr. Shane was fired?" Dean quickly inquired. This was another new lead!
"Yes! The bastard embezzled over a million US dollars from the company accounts. I initially wanted to give him a chance because he was a long-standing employee, but he wouldn’t admit to it. In my anger, I fired him!" Hutt still looked furious as he recounted this.
However, Dean sensed something was off. Over a million US dollars was not a trivial sum. Why had Shane disappeared for over a month, yet Hutt had only fired him without any inquiry into the missing money? After all, if Hutt had filed a police report, the authorities would likely have discovered the Shane family’s disappearance long ago. Since he hadn’t, it implied there was more to this story.
Dean casually asked, "Being betrayed like that must be heartbreaking. I wonder if you managed to recover the money, Mr. Hutt."
Upon hearing this, the anger on Hutt’s face faltered, and his tone became curt. "That’s my business! Now, I have an important meeting this afternoon. If you have no further questions, you may leave!"
This reaction clearly indicated a problem.
"Mr. Hu—" Dean began.
But Hutt wasn’t willing to give them another chance. He stood up and shouted towards the outer office, "Annie, see these two detectives out—"
Before he could finish, Dean had already risen and walked over to him. Towering over Hutt, he met the man’s puzzled gaze and said calmly, "Old man, you’ve misunderstood something. This may be your company, but right now, I’m in charge. I’m not asking for your opinion; I’m telling you to answer!"
Hutt was initially taken aback, then burst into laughter. "HA HA, HAHAHA!" He laughed until he was out of breath, tears welling in his eyes. "HA HA! Sorry, that’s the funniest joke I’ve heard all year! A mere detective claiming he’s in charge."
Dean simply watched him, as if observing a clown.
Lawrence, standing nearby, was dumbfounded by Dean’s actions. His lips twitched; he wanted to warn Dean that these capitalists weren’t to be trifled with. However, remembering Dean’s recent performance, he held his tongue. But he had already made up his mind: if this Black bastard dared to cause Dean trouble later, Lawrence would definitely beat him up.
Once Hutt had nearly finished laughing, Dean continued, "Done laughing? If so, answer my earlier question!"
Hutt was now certain that this good-looking young man in front of him was unhinged. He took out a silk handkerchief, wiped away his tears, and the smile vanished from his face. "Seeing as you’ve given me such a good laugh, leave this place. Don’t ever appear before me again, or I’ll show you what the power of capital truly means!"
In the United States, those with money rule the roost!
"Ah," Dean sighed. I gave you a chance, and you didn’t take it!
His right hand shot out, seizing the stout Black man’s neck. He slammed Hutt onto the nearby glass coffee table as if pinning down a dog. As Hutt stared in horror, Dean’s left hand grabbed a nearby ashtray and smashed it hard onto his forehead.
The glass coffee table groaned under the strain.
Dean tossed aside the bloodstained ashtray. He picked up the silk handkerchief Hutt had used, wiped his hands, and then said to Lawrence, "Buddy, keep watch outside for me. Don’t let anyone in."
Lawrence gave Dean a long, searching look, then left the office without a word.
「Outside the office.」
Secretary Annie was flipping through a fashion magazine. When she saw Lawrence emerge, she gave him a flirtatious glance. "Detective, can I help you with anything?"
Perhaps due to certain... proclivities, the office soundproofing was excellent, so she hadn’t heard Hutt’s earlier shouts.
Lawrence’s gaze swept over the woman he mentally dubbed a ’human dairy cow’. He licked his lips. "Get me a coffee, please. Lots of milk."
Intense pain surged through Hutt. A trickle of fresh blood slid from near his eye socket, down his nose, and onto the glass coffee table. Only then did he fully register what had happened. He screamed like a slaughtered pig, clutching the wound on his forehead as he scrambled back against the sofa. His previously contemptuous eyes were now wide with terror. He curled into a ball, trembling uncontrollably.
He had genuinely thought he was about to die! This detective was a complete madman!
Dean gazed impassively at the cowering Hutt and asked in a mild tone, "Mr. Hutt, are you ready to answer my question now?"
His earlier calmness had merely been him getting a feel for the rules. Compared to an ’amiable’ old fox like Lawrence, Dean was the true predator.