I left Emma's place, leaving Peter, Paul, and Mike to continue processing the scene. I headed to Max's location, where he was shot to death. As I arrived, I saw Rodriguez already there, his eyes scanning the area. The sunlight streaming through the windows highlighted the concern etched on his face.
"Rodriguez, what are you doing here?" I asked, approaching him. "I thought you were going to your daughter's concert?" I looked around, taking in the scene. The police tape was still up, and the forensic markers were still in place.
Rodriguez turned to me, a sheepish expression on his face. "I was, Jones. I was there, enjoying the entertainment, until Peter called my phone." He held up his phone, his eyes locked on mine. "He briefed me on the new situation. Told me that Max Thompson had been shot to death." His voice was laced with concern, and I could tell he was thinking the same thing I was - this case just got a whole lot more complicated.
I raised an eyebrow, curious. "What did Peter say exactly?" I asked, my eyes locked on his.
Rodriguez took a deep breath, his chest expanding with the effort. "He said that Max Thompson was found shot to death in his car. And that we needed to get to the scene ASAP." He paused, his eyes scanning the area. "So, I left the concert and came straight here."
I nodded, my mind racing with thoughts. "And you came straight here?" I repeated, my eyes locked on his.
Rodriguez nodded, his eyes locked on mine. "Yeah, I did. I knew we had to get to work on this ASAP." He paused, his eyes scanning the area. "Besides, my daughter's concert was just getting started. She'll understand." He smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. "She's a great kid, Jones. She'll make a fantastic musician one day."
I smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Rodriguez. "I'm sure she will. Family always comes first, but duty calls." I looked around, taking in the scene. The police were still processing the area, and the forensic team was collecting evidence.
Rodriguez nodded, his face set with determination. "Exactly. So, what's the situation here?" He looked around, taking in the scene.
I took a deep breath, surveying the area. "Max Thompson was shot to death in his car. We've got a witness who claims to have seen someone lurking around the car just before the shooting." I turned to Rodriguez. "We need to process this scene, and fast. We can't let any evidence slip through our fingers."
Rodriguez nodded, his eyes locked on mine. "Already on it, Jones. I've got the forensic team processing the car, and we're canvassing the area for any witnesses." He paused, his eyes scanning the area. "But we need to move fast. We don't know how long it'll take for the killer to realize we're onto them."
I nodded, my mind racing with thoughts. "Agreed. Let's get to work." I turned to Rodriguez. "You take the lead on processing the scene. I'll start canvassing the area, see if anyone saw anything suspicious."
Rodriguez nodded, his face set with determination. "Got it, Jones." He turned to the forensic team. "Alright, let's get to work. We need to process this scene ASAP."
As we began to work, I couldn't help but think about the case. We had just gotten a major break, and now it seemed like it was all being taken away from us. But I knew we had to keep pushing forward, no matter what.
I started canvassing the area, talking to witnesses and gathering information. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the city. I felt a sense of urgency, knowing that time was of the essence.
As I walked, I noticed a small convenience store nearby. I decided to pop in, see if anyone had seen anything suspicious.
"Hi there," I said, approaching the counter. "I'm Detective Jones. We're investigating a shooting that occurred nearby. Did anyone see anything suspicious?" I looked around the store, taking in the surroundings.
The store owner, a friendly-looking woman, shook her head. "No, detective. I didn't see anything. But one of my customers might have. Let me check." She called out to the back of the store, and a young man emerged.
"Yeah, I saw something," he said, his eyes wide with excitement. "I saw a person in a black hoodie lurking around Max's car. They were acting suspiciously, so I kept an eye on them." He hesitated, his eyes scanning the room.
I felt a surge of adrenaline. "Can you describe the person?" I asked, my eyes locked on his.
"Sure!. At least his outfit perhaps."
I took the witness, the young man from the convenience store, with me to the station, along with the other woman I had interrogated earlier. As we arrived at the station, I could feel a sense of anticipation building up inside me. I was eager to see if their stories would match, or if they were trying to lead the investigation astray.
I led them to the interrogation room, a small, windowless space with a single table and two chairs. The fluorescent lights overhead cast an eerie glow over the room, making the shadows on the walls seem to twist and turn.
"Okay, let's get started," I said, taking a seat across from the two witnesses. I pulled out a notebook and pen, ready to take notes. The air in the room was thick with tension, and I could sense that both witnesses were nervous.
The young man, whose name was Alex, spoke up first. "I told you, detective, I saw someone in a black hoodie lurking around Max's car. They were acting suspiciously, so I kept an eye on them." His voice was steady, but I could detect a hint of nervousness beneath the surface.
I nodded, my eyes locked on his. "Can you describe the person again?" I asked, my pen poised over my notebook.
Alex thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, they were tall, with a lean build. They had a scarf covering their face, so I couldn't see their features." He paused, his eyes scanning the room. "But I did notice that they were wearing a pair of black gloves. It seemed weird at the time, but now that I think about it, it might be important."
I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. "Black gloves? That is interesting. Did you see anything else?"
Alex shook his head, his eyes locked on mine. "No, that's all. But like I said, they were acting suspiciously. They kept looking around, like they were worried someone was watching them."
I turned to the other woman, whose name was Sarah. "And what about you, Sarah? What did you see?"
Sarah hesitated, her eyes darting between Alex and me. "I...I saw someone too. But I'm not sure if it was the same person." Her voice was hesitant, and I could sense that she was unsure of herself.
I leaned forward, my eyes locked on hers. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice gentle.
Sarah took a deep breath, her eyes locked on mine. "I saw someone in a black hoodie, but they were shorter, more stocky. They didn't have a scarf covering their face, but they were wearing a hat." She paused, her eyes scanning the room. "And they were standing near the car, but they didn't seem to be doing anything suspicious. They just seemed to be...waiting."
I felt a surge of confusion. Why were their stories different? Were they trying to mislead me, or was there something more to it?
"Okay, let's try to piece this together," I said, my eyes scanning the room. "Alex, you said the person was tall and lean. Sarah, you said they were shorter and more stocky. Can you both describe the car they were around?"
Alex nodded, his eyes locked on mine. "Yeah, it was Max's car. A black sedan with a scratch on the side panel." He paused, his eyes scanning the room. "And I remember that the license plate was partially covered with mud. I thought it was weird at the time, but now that I think about it, it might be important."
Sarah nodded, her eyes locked on mine. "That's right. I saw the same car. But...but I think I saw the person get into the car." Her voice was hesitant, and I could sense that she was unsure of herself.
I felt a surge of excitement. This was new information. "What do you mean?" I asked, my eyes locked on Sarah's.
Sarah hesitated, her eyes darting between Alex and me. "I...I saw the person get into the car, but then they got out again. It was like they were checking something." She paused, her eyes scanning the room. "And I remember that the car's engine was still running. It seemed weird at the time, but now that I think about it, it might be important."
I turned to Alex. "Did you see that?"
Alex shook his head, his eyes locked on mine. "No, I didn't. But I did see the person lingering around the car for a few minutes." He paused, his eyes scanning the room. "And I remember that they were muttering to themselves. It seemed weird at the time, but now that I think about it, it might be important."
I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. Were they telling the truth, or were they trying to spin a web of deceit? I needed to know.