American variety show: The Godfather, the Peace Ambassador, what the heck?

Chapter 23 Honesty in Returning Lost Property
The fat man's body was then transported back to the medical examiner's office, and after the examination, David and William received the detailed autopsy report.

The two returned to the police station with the report. As soon as they entered, they noticed that the atmosphere was strange. Many people were whispering and discussing something, their words full of disdain.

However, they were both busy with the case and didn't pay much attention to these things.

William reviewed the forensic report and said, "The murderer placed a bucket under the victim and let him eat continuously. The coroner said the eating time exceeded twelve hours. The victim's throat was swollen, also due to eating. Then, at a certain moment, he passed out."

“The killer is a fucking sadist!” David scoffed.

William nodded in deep agreement.

If it's just a simple matter of killing someone, you can just kill them with a knife or gun. Why waste so much time doing all this?
Combined with the clues found at the scene, it is clear that the murderer had other motives.

William remembered Luca's instructions, those things about Catholicism.
"The Catholic Church has seven deadly sins: gluttony, pride, lust, greed, sloth, envy, and wrath!"

William stared at his partner: "If Luca's guess is correct, there should be six more murders!"

David frowned. Although this was only the Mafia's side of the story, he had to admit that Luca made a lot of sense. The murderer had deliberately left notes and clues at the scene, which pointed very clearly to the case. Investigating from the perspective of religious murder was the right direction.

At this point, William said, "I want to drop this case. I'm about to retire, and I can't end it with this case."

This case is obviously quite complicated and is unlikely to be resolved before his retirement. He doesn't want to leave any "unsolved cases" on his resume.

David, who had just been transferred and was eager to make a name for himself, was very motivated. "Then leave it to me. I'll finish it."

“Mills, I advise you to give up too. You’re new here and not suited for this case.” William keenly sensed that this case was not one that an ordinary person could handle.

But David wouldn't listen at all.

When William's attempts to persuade his superiors failed, he went directly to them and expressed his desire to retire—"Let me retire quietly."

William's request was rejected outright by his superiors.

"Somemossey, do you know how many people are paying attention to this case right now?"

The superior slammed his fist on the table, exasperated and furious, and said, "The entire New York City, all the media outlets are reporting on it! The most ridiculous thing is that those damned media outlets got the news before the police even did. The newspapers were already publishing it while the police cars were still on the road!"

The entire population of New York is now focused on this case. Do you know how severe the public pressure we will face if we cannot solve it?
Do you really expect some new, enthusiastic citizen to appear and help you solve the case?

William bluntly stated, "Those aren't concerned citizens; they're the Mafia."

Superior: "."

"I know, I know! Do you need to remind me?" The superior was speechless and helpless. "We've almost lost all face. When did the NYPD fall so low that we need the Mafia's help? It makes us look like trash. Even those idiot cops in Detroit are laughing at us for being useless!"

“Uh…” William hesitated for a moment, but still didn’t say that the Mafia had come to help again today, and that they had been a great help.

If I told you, wouldn't my superiors get high blood pressure?
William's silence led his superiors to believe he had given in, and they advised him:
“You are the most experienced detective in our precinct. No one here is more experienced than you. At this critical moment, you cannot back down. I believe you can help New York catch the killer and shut the media up.”

“If I hadn’t retired and had plenty of time, I would definitely have taken the case. But I’m about to retire and this case is too complicated to be resolved in a short time. I can’t let this case be the end of my career.”

"Can't you give me a little more confidence? Somerset, New York really needs you right now."

“You could also try contacting Rich Roberts McLean; they’re both experienced cops.”

William's suggestion made his superiors even more frustrated, their expressions as if they had eaten shit.

"What kind of terrible ideas are you coming up with?"

The superior slammed his fist on the table a few times, pointed at the office window and yelled, "McLean has become a recluse. That guy has become self-destructive because of his broken family and relationship. He hides in the church drinking all day long. He's a complete wreck. You expect him to solve cases? We might as well rely on the Mafia to help us."

William: "."

"Where's Roberts?" William persisted.

The superior still denied it: "Roberts is not suitable either. Go to the storage room and you'll see why."

William: "???"

Soon after, William figured out what had happened. It turned out that a small accident had occurred at the police station while he and David were investigating the case.

Two police officers at the police station found several bags of stolen money in a drug dealer's car while investigating a case. Instead of keeping them for themselves, they selflessly handed them over to the state!
One of the police officers was Ricky Roberts.

William was stunned when he heard the news.

Honesty in returning lost property?

Selfless and impartial?

David was also deeply shocked. He had only been there a few days before he learned about the corruption within the New York Police Department—everyone was taking bribes.

There were even cases of police officers and the Narcotics Bureau colluding to sell flour, deliberately adding ingredients to lower the purity before selling it.

In New York, many goods are confiscated by the police, tampered with, and then resold. He's playing a much more sophisticated game than he did in his old small town.

William pointed to an office with transparent glass, where police officers were counting the stolen money, and a table covered with a sea of ​​green US dollars.

Richie sat at the table, and many people looked at him with disdain, but their eyes were filled with greed when they looked at the banknotes.

“Mills, if a policeman turns in this much money, it can only mean one thing.”

William shook his head. "He might report other cops who took bribes. Then Roberts and his gang will become pariahs, and conspiring with cops who have different principles will only lead to their deaths."

Young David said he had learned another lesson.

Next time you find money, will you pocket it?

Shortly after, Richie and another policeman came out.

At that moment, all the police officers present turned their attention to the two men.

Suddenly someone said:
"Where the hell are you putting on airs of superiority?"

Neither of the two policemen looked well, but faced with so many people staring at them, they ultimately said nothing and silently left the police station. However, before leaving, Richie, who was walking behind, glanced at all the policemen present with a complicated and sorrowful look.

David felt inexplicably ashamed.

Just a few days ago we were chatting happily together, but now we're going to be like strangers?
David really wanted to help Richie, but he was worried about being ostracized by his colleagues, which would ruin his career.

This is a very serious matter. Think about it: no one wants to partner with you, and when you go out on a mission and call for support, no colleagues are willing to help you.

David, caught in a dilemma, suddenly felt like cursing.

This police station is rotten.

Richie slunk away like that.

He found a million dollars, but apart from some verbal praise, he got nothing else. Instead, he was scorned and ostracized by his colleagues.

William was also assigned by his superiors to reluctantly continue investigating the religious murder case alongside David.

He felt helpless, but had no other choice.

As he expected, new deaths occurred the following day in Manhattan.

A female celebrity who was disfigured and murdered.

Similarly, the media received the news first, and the police arrived at the scene only afterward. Moreover, because the deceased was a celebrity with high public profile, her death had a more severe social impact.

Such a significant event could not be kept secret; news had already spread beyond New York, reaching surrounding cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

It even reached Los Angeles on the West Coast.

Some die-hard celebrity fans even gathered in Times Square for a mass protest, holding signs and hurling insults at New York City.

This put even more pressure on the New York Police Department from the public eye, leaving many high-ranking officers overwhelmed.

In such a tense atmosphere, William and David arrived at the crime scene to investigate clues.

"The murderer cut off the female celebrity's nose, sliced ​​off skin from her face to disfigure her, and before leaving, placed a cell phone in her left hand and a bottle of sleeping pills in her right hand."

"If you call for help, you will be rescued, but your disfigurement will be made public. Alternatively, you can end your own life to relieve your suffering."

At the crime scene, William looked up at the bloody words on the wall.

--arrogant.

The female celebrity's greatest pride was her appearance, and the murderer destroyed what she was most proud of.

William felt that it wasn't just her face that was being cut off, but also the faces of the New York police officers.

"The murderer really did kill according to the seven deadly sins." David's eyes were filled with admiration.

It's worth noting that Luca had brought up this guess early yesterday, and the mafia member seemed to have seen through the killer's intentions at a glance.

William stared at the blood-red words on the wall, “The murderer used an extreme killing ritual to punish those who committed the seven deadly sins.”

"The Seven Deadly Sins? What kind of sins are those?" David scoffed. "If we were to judge people according to these sins, then all of humanity would have to die, not a single one would survive! I don't believe anyone is without a trace of original sin in their heart!"

William remained silent, only managing a bitter smile.

At that moment, he inexplicably thought of Luca, wondering if that "helpful citizen" had any clues, and whether he could lend a helping hand again this time.
(End of this chapter)