Under Luke's supervision, the case investigation proceeded methodically.

First was the verification of the victim's identity. Although he had seen Franco Murphy's photograph and could basically confirm that the person shot was indeed Franco Murphy,

Luke still searched him and retrieved a driver's license to thoroughly verify his identity.

In this society, documentation carries more legal weight than appearance.

Once the victim's identity was confirmed, Luke began to examine his mobile phone.

Most Americans use iPhones or Samsungs, but the victim had a Motorola, commonly referred to as a "senior citizen's phone" domestically.

Such phones are simple to operate and do not easily leave much evidence behind.

Luke checked the phone's call log, which only had three contacts. One of them was the car intermediary, Lev; the other two numbers were not labeled.

Luke sent these two phone numbers to Matthew, asking him to check them out.

This lead was critical; these two contacts might very well be the victim's accomplices.

Now that Franco Murphy was dead, Luke had to find his accomplices through other means.

Jackson hurried over with light jogs, "Captain, we've checked the motel surveillance and found some clues about the robbers."

Jackson pulled out a tablet and played the surveillance video, "After reviewing the footage, we found that Franco Murphy ran out from room 107, which is directly below the room we searched earlier.

He probably heard us searching room 207 from below, and then escaped through the motel's rear window, where Anthony caught him red-handed."

Luke pointed to the computer screen, "Whose identity was used to open this room?"

"Costa Hearn. He's also a guest at the motel, registered for the room yesterday afternoon."

"What's the relationship between Costa Hearn and Franco Murphy? Do they know each other?"

"I'm not sure, but according to the motel staff, Costa Hearn is still staying at the motel.

Yesterday afternoon, Costa Hearn came with his girlfriend, and shortly after he booked a room, his girlfriend booked another room.

The motel staff thought they were staying separately and didn't think much of it, but looking at it now, they might have booked a room for the suspect, while they stayed in another."

"Which room did Costa Hearn's girlfriend book?"

"Room 312."

Luke commanded, "Marcus, Jackson, Jenny, follow me.

Raymond, you take the patrol officers and stay in the backyard."

Anthony asked, "Luke, do you need my help?"

"Not for now, you rest for a bit."

"OK, be careful. Those two might also be accomplices of the robbers."

"I know," Luke responded, leading his team to the third floor of the motel.

Upon reaching the door of room 312, Luke pressed his ear against the door to listen for any noises, but didn't hear anything unusual. He nodded at Jackson, who was nearby.

Jackson approached the door and knocked, "Knock knock."

A man's voice came from inside the room, "Who's there?"

"This is the Los Angeles Police Department. Are you Costa Hearn?"

"Yes, that's me. What do you want?"

"Please open the door, we need to talk to you."

"About what? Why are you looking for me?"

"Open the door!" Jackson said more forcefully.

The man grumbled quietly.

The door slowly opened, revealing a shirtless man at the doorway, who glanced at Luke and the others and said in a flustered tone, "Hey hey, didn't you say you wanted to talk? Why are you holding guns?"

The Caucasian man attempted to close the door, but Jackson stopped him, "Hey buddy, be smart, cooperate with the police investigation."

"Do you have a warrant or any other kind of document?"

With his right hand holding a gun, Jackson instructed, "Put your hands where I can see them…

That's right, hands on your head and walk out of the room."

"Hey, you can't do this, I'm only in my underwear... you're violating my rights, I'm going to report you," the man protested.

"No talking back, just do as I said. We've been more than patient with you already."

Showcasing a furious expression, Costa Hearn, although dissatisfied, still stepped out of the room as instructed.

Jackson pressed him against the wall for a frisk, "Is there anyone else in the room?"

Before the man could answer, a woman's voice with a hint of drunkenness came from inside, "Costa, what's going on out there? Why aren't you coming back in?"

Luke asked, "Who is she?"

"My girlfriend."

"Besides her, is there anyone else in the room?"

"Just the two of us. She's drunk, and I've had a fair bit to drink too, but we haven't done anything illegal."

"Watch him." With that, Luke entered the room with Jackson and Jenny to conduct a search.

"Ah…"

The woman in the room startled, holding a cup to cover herself, "Who are you people? Why are you barging into our room, where's Costa?"

"We are the police. Put your hands up and don't move," Jenny approached the bed, keeping watch over the woman.

Luke and Jackson continued the search.

There were pizza boxes and two bottles of red wine on the round table, and the air was thick with the smell of alcohol.

Luke and Jackson searched meticulously, checking the bathroom, wardrobe, and under the bed but found no trace of other individuals.

Jenny searched the woman, who did not have any weapons on her.

The woman, a bit disgruntled, complained, "Why are you raiding my room and disturbing my rest? This is illegal, I'm going to sue you!"

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