"Hello, Dean. Eve has spoken highly of you. Can we talk about the bank armored car robbery case? You know, you've slapped the faces of four squads in the Robbery-Homicide Division."
Monet began with an expression of admiration.
Dean smiled shyly. "I was just lucky. I happened to be undercover among those robbers, and then they turned on each other. I just took advantage of the situation."
"No!" Monet wagged a finger. "I know Eve well. She's one to embellish reports, but the final report she submitted seemed a bit too modest. So, I know there's something more to it."
He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and leaned forward, his tone carrying strong confidence. "Dean, reports are written by people and can be deceptive, but corpses don't lie! I personally went to the forensics department to examine the remaining charred bodies, and I also visited the cabin that was left as nothing but ashes.
"The remaining weapons indicated that they had no chance to resist. The perpetrator acted decisively, with each shot being fatal. This isn't something ordinary gang members can do.
"But I have one doubt. Dean, can you tell me?"
Dean admitted to himself that Monet was putting pressure on him; perhaps his apparent laziness was just a front, a disguise.
Dean leaned back, his face hidden in the shadow cast from the window. "Captain Monet, it's an honor to clear up your doubts. Please, tell me what your concerns are."
Monet's eyes locked onto Dean's facial muscles through his lenses. "Dean, I'm very curious. Why would the killer bother to clean up the crime scene, even destroying everything that could prove the identities of Nathan and the others? Do you think he might have just wanted to double-cross them from the start?"
The report had one major flaw: Dean supposedly intercepted an unidentified killer, yet that same killer had already cleaned up all traces in the cabin.
Dean said nothing.
His Interrogation Skills were recognized by the System as Level 2. This meant Dean was genuinely proficient in interrogation.
Monet's statement touched upon criminal psychology, inferring the hidden purposes of criminals through their actions. His words were also an interrogation technique.
In United States police interrogations, there's a technique involving a hypothetical crime. They assume you're guilty and invite you to make a hypothetical confession. This confession can address gaps in the police's evidence chain. In return, the police might offer a deal to lessen your criminal charges. It's a psychological game: confess for leniency, or resist and hope for an acquittal. You can choose to gamble on the incompleteness of the police's evidence, hoping to be found not guilty.
Dean now faced that choice.
The bank armored car robbery case involved Senator Snetter, who held significant influence in Los Angeles. It had been fast-tracked and was already closed. A case of this complicated nature, once closed, would be effectively buried. So, even if Dean now candidly "hypothesized" that he was the one who killed Nathan and the others with the motive of a double-cross, it wouldn't affect him. This was also why he'd chosen to let Eve take the credit. He understood the American legal system.
Monet understood all this as well. Therefore, Monet bringing this up now wasn't to make Dean confess, but rather to recruit him! Dean's response would determine whether he'd be sidelined in the coming days or become one of Monet's trusted confidants.
He didn't like this feeling! It reminded Dean of some unpleasant memories from his previous life.
Perhaps Monet had merely been biding his time, playing the fool to catch the wise. Now, the time had come for him to show his true colors. But from this moment on, Dean really disliked him! He hated anyone who threatened him!
After a moment of silence, Dean raised his head, a smile appearing on his face. "Captain Monet, I'm actually very curious about these questions myself. What do you think? Why would the person who killed Nathan bother returning to the scene to clean it up after escaping?"
TAP. TAP. Monet tapped the desk, locking eyes with Dean for a moment before nodding. "It looks like this will remain an unsolved mystery. Alright, Dean, you can go now. Join Lawrence's team. He'll be a good mentor."
"Thank you, Captain." Dean stood up and left.
It had been an unpleasant conversation.
Watching Dean's retreating figure, Monet's brows furrowed. Dean was just a minor player. Before the bank armored car robbery, Monet had never even heard his name. He'd only noticed him because Eve had spoken so highly of him. Eve really wanted him to take Dean under his wing. Monet didn't know Dean, but he knew Eve well. She was a woman who wouldn't lift a finger if there wasn't something in it for her. Every action she took had a strong underlying purpose.
Monet had seen Dean's police academy file: "Physically strong, simple-minded, impulsive." Now, that all seemed like utter nonsense.
Monet was certain that Dean was the one who had gunned down Nathan and his crew! The man had been prepared for a double-cross from the start. Something must have gone wrong, forcing Dean to abandon the loot, which then allowed Eve to make her move and get him transferred to the Robbery-Homicide Division!
Truthfully, Monet didn't care what kind of person Dean was. He just had a habit of wanting to control everything within his grasp. Over the past six months, Monet had familiarized himself with the personalities and capabilities of everyone under him, confident he could manage them all. But with Dean, he'd made a miscalculation. So... should he get rid of him, or wait and see?
After much thought, Monet sighed. Let's wait and see. After all, this was a ruthless man—cold-hearted, clear in his objectives, and capable of resisting the temptation of more than three million US dollars. Based on their conversation, Dean's mental fortitude wasn't bad either, and he certainly wasn't stupid. Monet was currently short on capable people.
Leaving the captain's office, Dean saw that the members of the Fourth Squad were already clocking out for the day.
Seeing Dean, Harry approached him. "Buddy, what did the captain say to you?"
"He said I'm talented but lack a good mentor, so he's having Lawrence guide me," Dean said, glancing deliberately at Lawrence, who was all ears nearby.
"Come on, buddy, can you be serious?" Harry rolled his eyes.
Dean shrugged. "Alright, the captain just told me to follow Lawrence. I added the part about the 'good mentor' myself. He at least looks more reliable than you."
The corners of Lawrence's mouth involuntarily lifted. "Dean, you've got good judgment. I'll mentor you well."
He liked the title of 'good mentor' Dean had used. He—Lawrence—was indeed a good mentor!
Harry, annoyed by Dean's remark, stirred the pot. "Dean, don't say I didn't warn you. Lawrence is indeed capable, but he also racks up the most complaints. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been a police officer for over ten years and still only be a detective. You'd best watch your back if you're following him."
Not giving Lawrence a chance to blow up, Harry beat a hasty retreat.
Seeing Harry make his escape, Lawrence could only turn to Dean. "Alright, rookie, let's go. I'm part of the first team assigned to protect Daisy. You need to come with me to Sam's Supermarket now."
The sting operation might last for several days, so they were prepared to take turns protecting Daisy.
「Seven o'clock in the evening.」
Dean followed Lawrence by car to Sam's Supermarket. As for Daisy, she was already inside, ostensibly browsing but actually acting as bait.
After parking the car, Lawrence called Daisy to confirm her location, then waved at Dean. "Rookie, today I'm going to teach you your first lesson. It's called criminal mindset inference."
"I'm looking forward to it," Dean said with a smile, following Lawrence like a dutiful apprentice.
Then, before they even left the parking lot, Dean understood what Harry had meant. There was a reason why Lawrence, despite being the same age as Captain Monet, had become an unremarkable old hand in the Fourth Squad.