American Detective: Starting as a Rookie Cop in an American TV Show

Chapter 1284: Suspicion eliminated, new clues (two chapters in one, please vote at the beginning of the month)

It was already 9 o'clock in the evening when Jack and Beckett arrived at Tianqiao magazine again. Although it was not as lively as during the day, there were still many people busy in the office.

Seeing the two people walk straight to Miranda's office as soon as they entered the door, the female assistant who was sorting out documents behind the desk at the door hurriedly tried to stop them, "Wait a minute, she is answering a very important call."

"It's okay, she can fight back later." The female detective, with full aura, retorted her with just one sentence.

Perhaps it was not just because of Beckett's intimidating aura, because the voice coming from the office at this moment was almost a roar, "This has nothing to do with the damn clicks and likes data!"

Jack reached out and pulled Beckett, and the two stopped at the door. They could clearly hear Miranda angrily scolding someone on the other end of the phone.

"For 57 years, the only reason women bought this magazine was for style. When they had a hard time at work or at home, we were their safe haven.

They think of us, and we create a wonderful fantasy for them to escape from the trivialities of the family and temporarily forget all the troubles and worries. This is the key point, and fashion is the carrier of all this. "

In contrast, the male voice on the other end of the phone seemed much more indifferent, "Miranda, things are not what you think, you should calm down. Why don't we leave it like this for now? My boss is looking for me."

At this time, Jack and Beckett had opened the door and stood at the door. Miranda, who had her back to them, had just been hung up by the other party. She was immediately furious. She picked up the teacup on the table, turned around and threw it towards the door.

"Ah!" When she noticed someone at the door, it was too late and the empty teacup flew out of her hand.

In a flash, Jack caught the teacup flying towards him with just one hand, under Beckett's surprised gaze, with a half-smile on his face, "Ms. Prisley, this is the second time you have tried to attack a police officer."

"Oh, sorry, I didn't notice you two there." Miranda had completely lost her previous superior pride and hurriedly tried to hide her guilty conscience by fixing her hair.

There was a hint of ridicule in Jack's teasing smile, which might have helped ease the awkward atmosphere at the moment, but the words that came out of his mouth seemed somewhat impolite.

"Someone told me that you were an elegant lady who was used to being high and mighty and too proud to argue with anyone. Apparently, during the time she worked as your assistant, she didn't fully understand your bad temper."

In less than two sentences, Miranda quickly recovered her good mood and returned to her original state, "It's not a bad temper, but frustration, Agent Tawole.

It was obvious that our new boss didn't care about our small magazine at all. He sent a manager who knew nothing about anything to try to establish some damn evaluation system for the magazine employees and fashion designers.

He doesn’t even fully understand what fashion and trends are, and how these can be measured with cold numbers.”

"So that's why you're worried that the new boss will replace you?" Baker asked pointedly.

Miranda, who had just managed to calm down, was directly hit in the chest by this sentence. However, she did not get furious like before. Instead, she put one hand on her waist and the other on the table, posing like a proud teapot.

"I don't know what you've heard, Kate, but I'm Miranda Priestley. My name represents this magazine. For more than 20 years, I have promoted and trained countless fashion designers and photographers. They all stand by me. No one can replace me."

Beckett refused to give in. "Then why did you ask your employees to be monitored as soon as the magazine changed its owner?"

Miranda, whose "evil deeds" were exposed, was not as angry as expected. She even praised Beckett, "Sure enough, outstanding people can stand out no matter what industry they are in."

She walked back behind the desk and gestured to the two of them, "Please take a seat."

Miranda then took out a makeup mirror and while touching up her makeup in front of the two of them, she slowly explained, "Yes, the magazine has experienced a lot of turmoil in the past two years. The digital age has long been here, but it has never had such a big impact on the traditional industry as it does today.

Especially after all the publishing houses and magazines were acquired, rumors spread everywhere.

I really want to and am willing to believe that those are just rumors, but I can't take too many risks. After all, people's hearts are unpredictable, and I must ensure the necessary loyalty of some people. "

"In this way? By eavesdropping on their residence?" Beckett found it difficult to understand. In her heart, she still had some good feelings towards this "mentor" who had admired her in the past.

"In fact, this is with their permission." Miranda, who had finished putting on makeup, bent down and fumbled in the bottom drawer of her desk for a long time, then took out a pack of crumpled ladies' cigarettes and an ashtray.

She took out a cigarette and put it in her mouth, then searched for a long time. Finally, Jack took out his lighter and lent her a light.

After taking a deep breath and exhaling the minty smoke, Miranda's hands, which were trembling slightly due to excitement, slowly stabilized.

"Since Agent Tavoler knows Andy, he should also know that I changed many assistants after she left. Some of them were fired not simply because of their lack of ability. Therefore, the magazine's lawyer added some details to the subsequent employment contracts."

Beckett sneered, "Do you think such an argument can really stand up in court?"

"At least our lawyer thinks so, but I don't understand what this has to do with your investigation?" Miranda, who had completely calmed down, put out the remaining half of her cigarette in the ashtray.

Jack and Cassel looked at each other, and finally the female detective spoke, "In view of the 'rumors' about your unstable position, and when it was discovered that Ella might reveal the inside information that would destroy the entire "Tianqiao" magazine."

"Wait a minute." Miranda raised her hand to interrupt Beckett and asked in confusion, "What do you mean by inside information that can destroy the entire "Tianqiao" magazine? What is the information?"

Beckett was slightly stunned, and seemed to realize that the other party's puzzled expression did not seem fake, so she also fell into confusion. Could it be that her previous inference was wrong?
Jack coughed lightly and continued the conversation for the female detective, "We don't know either, but we found out that Ella intended to sell some inside information to your competitors. She said at the time that it could destroy the entire "Tianqiao" magazine.

At the same time she made that call and headed out the door for her appointment, you were seen hurrying out of this office."

Miranda seemed to have taken a minute or two to digest the news. After understanding what the two people opposite her meant, the expression on her face suddenly became interesting. "Do you think I went to kill Ella the night before last? To prevent her from selling the so-called 'inside information'?"

"Or maybe you contacted someone urgently." Jack glanced at the chicken-skinned skin on his neck. His skinny body made the wrinkles very obvious. "Your security captain said that you asked him to transfer the monitoring equipment to your personal computer for real-time monitoring. The motive and opportunity are both there, right?" Beckett said bluntly.

However, Miranda did not seem to be angry or nervous at all after her secret was revealed. Instead, she almost laughed out loud.

“Let’s not talk about how busy I am at work. I can only listen to those recordings at home on weekends, but do you know who I went out to meet before?

Frank Reagan, I had an appointment with him to drink the night before last, and I was almost late. You are welcome to verify this."

After seeing the surprised expressions on their faces, she smiled with satisfaction and continued, "As for the inside information that Ella possessed that you mentioned.

I really don't know, and I've never heard her talk about it. If you find out, I really want to know what it is."

Actually, it was nothing for Jack. After all, he had accidentally learned some of the fickle minds of the old-fashioned director.

All he wasn't sure was whether Frank was now broken up with some still-attractive news anchorwoman or whether he was two-timing the same woman at the same time.

Beckett was surprised and a little embarrassed. Although she had played cards with Chief Reagan at the same table before and won big (the card game organized by Cassel), he was still the ultimate boss of her own police station.

Although this does not mean that Miranda has withdrawn her suspicion, if she really has to verify this romantic affair, she really doesn't know how to start the conversation, so she can only push it to the FBI.

The female detective's character was not to be said to be upright, but at least she was stubborn. She did not retreat in disgrace just because the other party brought up Director Reagan. Instead, when Miranda relaxed and leaned back slightly, she made a request.

"If you are as innocent as you claim, please hand over all the surveillance recordings on your computer."
-
"It seems that Miranda is truly innocent. Your Director Reagan confirmed to me that, judging from the specific time point, not only was it impossible for her to do it herself, she didn't even have the chance to make a phone call.

The Commissioner said he was sure that when a man's hands were handcuffed to a bed frame."

Jack was halfway through his words when Beckett, who was sitting in the passenger seat, covered his ears and said, "Shut up. I don't want to see my dismissal notice on my desk tomorrow."

"Haha, just kidding. What Frank actually said was that he did drink and chat with Miranda the night before until 2 a.m. before sending her home." Jack signaled to the female detective not to be nervous.

"But if Miranda is not the murderer, our clues will be cut off. It would be great if we could know what the inside information Ella mentioned is. At least we can try to find a new person of interest by looking for a new motive."

Beckett sighed and unconsciously clenched the USB drive in her hand, which contained the wiretap recordings she had just copied from Miranda's computer.

"So, should we send you directly back to Cassel or home?" Jack asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"No, take me back to the police station. Kevin and Esposito are waiting for these recordings." Beckett shook his head.

"Okay." It seemed that she wanted to check the wiretapped recordings overnight. Knowing her character, Jack didn't try to persuade her and started the car directly.
-
The next day, before dawn, Jack was awakened by the sound of the garage door opening downstairs. After successfully completing the mission, the members of the wanted criminal team rushed back to New York overnight.

After hearing that someone had been not doing his job these days and was accompanying the writer and the female detective in investigating a case, Jiejie and Hannah suddenly became interested.

This time, everyone went out in only one command car, and when they came back, the three men took turns steering the wheel, so the girls had a good rest. Jack had to give up the idea of ​​continuing to drive the Audi and switched to a GMC.

When they saw Jack appear in the office with two beautiful female FBI agents, the two funny guys who were lying on the table with sad faces suddenly felt like they had seen their savior.

Of course, saving lives does not mean looking at the two beauties is pleasing to the eyes, but the coffee and breakfast in their hands.

"It looks like I'm a step late." When Cassel, also holding coffee and breakfast, walked into the detective's office, the place was already filled with the aroma of fried dumplings, cakes and coffee.

"It's just right for me, dear." The female detective who went home to take a shower and change clothes yawned, rubbed her bloodshot eyes, and walked out of the elevator, just in time with the writer.

The two of them kissed openly in front of everyone, which was considered a show of love and attracted everyone's boos of disgust.

Jack pretended to be surprised. "Is this an office romance? After all, Cassel's official position here is a consultant for the NYPD."

So several people from the NYPD gave him a look that said, "How dare you say something like that?"

Someone suddenly felt embarrassed and quickly changed the subject, "Well, seeing how relaxed you all are, I know there has been some progress in the case. Why don't you tell me about it?"

Fortunately, even the usually sharp-tongued Esposito did not say anything, and waved his hand to indicate that the progress was made on his side. "We finally made a discovery after listening to the boring conversations between Ella and her roommate for a whole week.

This is a call she made from her landline the night before she was killed. It's a little strange. You can listen to it."

After pressing the play button, everyone first heard a series of telephone keypad sounds, followed by several similar beeps, as if an extension number was pressed.

However, since the bug was installed in a desk lamp instead of a landline phone, the voice of the person on the other end of the phone could not be heard in the recording.

"Hey, it's me, Ella. Listen, something strange seems to be happening inside the magazine, and I feel like someone is targeting me. Yes, I need your help. See you tomorrow morning. OK, bye."

The call was brief, but what it said was, as Esposito said, a little strange.

(End of this chapter)