America: The Gear-Up Detective

Maeve pointed to Willow, who was walking over, and explained, "This is Evelyn's best friend in the club. You might want to ask her. If she doesn't know either..."

Rhodes nodded, watching the blonde girl slowly walk towards him.

"Hello, Willow, I'm a detective from the Murder and Heist Division. I have some questions for you about Evelyn."

"Detective?" Willow looked at Rod, who was more handsome than most of the male models in the modeling club, and asked in confusion, "What happened to Evelyn?"

Maeve, who was standing nearby, explained, "Evelyn has gone missing. Didn't you say that Evelyn left with you on the weekend night? So Detective Rhodes wants to ask you about it."

Rod glanced at Maeve. Although her words seemed normal, he sensed a hidden barb. He then gestured for Jackson beside him to take Maeve away, and the two were separated to give statements.

Looking at Willow, Rhodes asked, "When was the last time you saw Evelyn? How was she then?"

Willow raised her hand to smooth her blonde hair, thought for a moment, and then said, "We left together after rehearsals last weekend night."

Her condition... if we're talking about her condition while dancing, it wasn't good. She seemed absent-minded, as if she was thinking about something.

But I felt she was in great spirits; she seemed happy and excited.

Rod pressed further, "That night, when you were together, did she mention anything about any part-time job to you?"

Willow shook her head. "When we met this afternoon, she said she wanted me to drive her to Sawtelle when I left tonight, so she could meet up with an old friend."

Because he had been visiting Liu Qingxi frequently during this period, Luo De was quite familiar with several well-known areas near UCLA.

Sawtelle, also known as "Little Osaka," is a "backyard" for UCLA students. Located next to the west side of Interstate 405, it is a bustling commercial street with many Japanese and Asian restaurants. On weekend evenings, it is very lively with many young people and UCLA students.

Because it is located next to the police station, the security situation is relatively good.

Logically speaking, it's unlikely that kidnappings or disappearances would occur in a place like this.

Did she mention to you who this old friend was?

Willow shook her head, indicating that she didn't know, and then said, "But when we were about to leave that night, she received a phone call and said that she didn't need me to drive her anymore. I didn't ask any more questions and thought that her friend was coming to see her, so I left on my own."

As she spoke, Willow covered her head, her face full of regret, "If I had waited for her, or just driven her there, maybe she wouldn't have disappeared!"

Rhodes didn't say anything. At present, this so-called "old friend" is the most suspicious, and Willow should be the last person to see Evelyn besides this old friend.

As she herself said, perhaps if she had made a different choice back then, things would have turned out differently.

But it's also possible that they both met a tragic end and disappeared together. Who can say for sure?

"Sawtelle," Rod thought. This place was a shopping street, and Evelyn was beautiful and usually dressed fashionably. He figured a lot of people must have noticed her that night.

Moreover, there are quite a few surveillance cameras in the commercial street, so it seems that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Evelyn's whereabouts may not be found for long.

Then Rhodes asked, "Does Evelyn have any quirks or quirks?"

"A quirk?"

"For example, alcoholism, smoking, or marijuana, or even other more stimulating things?"

Willow smiled, then shook her head and said, "Anyone else in this club could be, except Evelyn."

She has a clear plan for her future; she wants to be a professional ballet dancer, so she pays great attention to maintaining her health. She is even careful about her diet and would never drink excessively or smoke.

Rhodes nodded, asked a few more questions, and then handed his business card to Willow, "Remember to call me anytime if you think of any new leads."

"Can I call you if I don't have any leads?" Willow blew a kiss to Rhodes.

Rod didn't answer, but turned and gestured for Jackson to leave.

......

Police Department, Murder and Robbery Division.

Second floor, conference room.

The group sat down together again to sort out the clues they had at hand.

Jose spoke first, saying, "Of all the clues so far, Evelyn's note has been confirmed with her parents to be a diary entry she jotted down casually."

As for Rod's boyfriend, Paul Davenport, according to our investigation, he did not have the opportunity to commit the crime, and based on various sources, it is inferred that the two had a good relationship and had no motive for the crime, so he can be ruled out as a suspect.

Evelyn's parents have been unable to contact her during this time and have posted missing person notices on the streets, but there has been no news yet.

"Rhodes, is there any situation on your end?"

Rhodes recalled all the clues from the past half-day, organized his thoughts slightly, and said:

"We went to the clubs Evelyn frequents and made a few discoveries."

First, Evelyn was going to see a so-called old friend that night.

Secondly, Evelyn had mentioned a plan to her roommates, boyfriend, and close friends in the club that day: a part-time job that could earn a lot of money.

Considering these two points, is it possible that this old friend ran into Evelyn by chance and offered her a so-called high-paying part-time job?

Trusting her friend, Evelyn arranged to meet him in Osaka that evening, but her delightful part-time money-making plan turned into a bizarre trap.

"That's a commercial street with lots of surveillance cameras, so at least we won't be searching for a needle in a haystack anymore." Hank was very familiar with the terrain and streets of Los Angeles, and he knew where it was as soon as he heard "Osaka".

Connor summarized the basic facts of the case: "The missing person, Evelyn Brooks, has been missing for a week, but there is no evidence that her life is in danger. I can try to apply for a search warrant to trace her cell phone signal and reconstruct some of her movements, but simply stating 'missing' is not enough."

Legally, "substantial grounds" for applying for a search warrant refer to the belief that a location contains evidence of a crime or contraband. In contrast, the "disappearance of an adult" may, in the judge's view, simply be a non-criminal matter requiring investigation.

A search warrant cannot be obtained unless there is evidence that Evelyn is involved in some illegal or criminal activity, or is in mortal danger similar to being kidnapped.

Unfortunately, despite her disappearance for a week, Rhodes and his team currently have no relevant evidence.

From this perspective, the officer who first responded to Evelyn's parents' call was not entirely wrong in his judgment.

Connor continued, "Rhodes, you and Hank continue investigating Evelyn's friends. This old friend is a very important breakthrough."

Jackson and Jose, you two go to Osaka and collect surveillance footage to see if you can find any witnesses who saw Evelyn that night.

We need to know at least whether Evelyn left on her own or was coerced.

Evidence, we need evidence now!

Let's get started, everyone.