Cinephile hustle

"Ah... ah..." Jerry hugged his head and cried loudly.

The whole interrogation room was filled with his cracking cries.

Haley lowered his eyes and watched Jerry in silence.

Ian said coldly: "Lily's hands are very clean, which means that the murderer may have washed her hands. Because of the shooting, Lily's hands also had a smoke reaction. The purpose of the murderer's erasure of this evidence is to make everyone think that it is You killed Lily, you chose to kill your sister for your own survival."

Under the table, Ian felt his hand being held by Hayley.

Hailey's fingers were cold, and Ian should have pulled his hand back, but he didn't at that moment.

"Jerry, Lily is spoiled by you. When she takes your love and devotion to her for granted, she no longer cherishes all this, and will no longer think about what you have done for her. Jie Rui, the reason for your pain is not only because Lily is dead, but also because the person you love the most wants to kill you to survive."

Jerry was already sobbing.

Ian looked at him and sighed inwardly.

Hailey's fingers moved slowly between Ian's fingers.

Ian didn't care at first, but when the rubbing became more and more forceful, his fingertips kept stroking Ian's little finger and ring fingertips, and the meaning was self-evident.

Ian regretted in his heart that he still had the intention of holding the other party, but he still withdrew his hand expressionlessly.

By the way, with a bang, Haili's finger was twisted and dislocated.

Haley still had that look on his face, as if the pain meant nothing to him at all.

"I should have let her shoot...why should I stop her? Why should I be so smug that she'd be willing to wait with me till the end...if she kills me...she's alive now...she's alive..."

"Yeah, if you really love her, go ahead and love her blindly and unconditionally. Why worry about whether she's going to kill you to survive?"

Haley's voice was gloomy, like the cold water beneath the surface of a dark sea some night.

"Haley." Ian lowered his voice and hinted to Hailey not to say any more.

In Ian's view, all of this was an accident.Even if Lily is dead, Jerry's love for his sister cannot be denied.

Haili's request for affection is too pure, even beyond the instinct of survival.It was harsh, and cruel to Jerry at the same time.

Hailey, who had proved his guess, stood up and said to Jerry, "The truth is always there. Even if you try to hide yourself, it's still there, not moving. When you decide to stop hiding, please contact us. All your memories, every little detail may help us find the real person who killed Lily."

Ian followed Haley out.

It was time for dinner, Ian rolled down the window, and the wind blew in.

"What do you want to eat? Or take you back to Russell's house?"

"The quiche you had last time, and coffee."

The two were silent for a moment, and when they arrived at the restaurant, Ian spoke again: "Are you still thinking about Jerry and Lily?"

Hailey turned his face sideways and smiled at Ian.

"I'm thinking about you and me. I don't have a sister, I don't have a so-called important relative, so I can't understand Jerry's love and affection for Lily, and I can't really imagine what I would do in that situation. So I thought I’m assuming in my heart, how would I feel if you were holding a gun and trying to kill me to survive?”

"Oh, how do you feel?" Ian asked.

"Perhaps easier than ever."

"Finally you don't have to be attached to me anymore?" Ian snorted lightly.

"I finally don't have to worry about you hurting yourself for someone else." Haley replied with a smile, "When you can shoot me, you can kill anyone just to survive. The more selfish people are, the more selfish they are. The easier it is. So, I want you to live selfishly, not for anyone but yourself."

Ian paused, "What kind of logic is this?"

"This is the logic of my love for you." Haley winked at Ian.

The wind picked up his hair and rolled up the ends of his hair, and his gaze lingered over Ian's nerves at that moment.

Ian retracted his peripheral vision. He thought he could concentrate on driving, but he couldn't.

His thoughts were fluctuating, and his mind kept replaying the scene where Hayley was shot eight years ago.

He wanted to skip that page of his life, but it was always there.

That was the only time in his life that he experienced the world falling apart.

"What are you thinking, Ian?"

"I am driving."

"Uncle Ian, don't lie if you're not good at lying. You were distracted and almost forgot to change lanes just now." Haili poked his finger over, and Ian slapped him away before he even touched Ian's cheek.

"Or you will drive, and I will be the one in a daze?"

"You're not good at being in a daze, I'm more suitable to be the one watching you in a daze."

Ian was silent again.

A few seconds later, Haley said in a pitiful voice, "Ian... I'm hungry, let's have dinner together!"

"Yeah." Ian responded lightly.

On the other hand, Haili propped his chin up and showed a meaningful smile.

"What are you laughing at?" Ian asked.

"Didn't you find yourself getting used to eating with me?"

They came to the restaurant and ordered the same thing.

Ian was on the phone to communicate with Finn Keating, hoping that his team could conduct a more detailed inspection of the compartment where Lily's body was found, while Hailey happily picked up the knife and fork, savoring the eggs with his eyes closed. cake.

When Ian put down the phone, Haley said to Ian with great interest: "Don't you think the murder layout designed by the murderer is very interesting? He didn't do it himself, he only provided a very special situation and the murder weapon. Then people can See clearly the most important and closest people around you.”

"What do you want to say?"

"I want to say, this is the most interesting murderer I have ever seen since I worked with you." Hailey leaned back in the chair, his smile made Ian feel the clammy air rushing into the depths of his mind at that moment .

"What are you thinking, Ian?" Hailey leaned forward slightly, looking carefully into Ian's eyes.

"It's nothing."

"You're lying again." Hailey turned his face to the side, as if a slender blade cut Ian's heart when his eyes shifted, "You are thinking, if I break away from the shackles of morality and order, I will enjoy this murderer more. Do everything. And the murder I devise will be more grueling and more elaborate. Then you will wonder if there is anyone in the world who can prove that I did it. Right?"

Ian looked at Hailey, his eyes were too deep and endless.

Ian lowered his head and started to eat the quiche.

"Maybe I really shouldn't be a hunter, but should choose the devil. In that case, you will keep chasing me and spend your whole life watching me."

"I won't do such troublesome things." Ian replied coldly.

But his heart was fluttering, and he knew it.

If Haili really loses control one day, he knows he can't stand him.

It's never been about "control" but when Haley gets tired of proving himself to him.

At this time, Haili suddenly put the fork in front of Ian, with a small piece of veal on it, "Ian, try it!"

Ian pursed his lips and pushed back slightly.

Haili raised his hand, without any intention of taking it back.

"What happened to the steak?"

"It seems to taste a bit strange." Haili curled his lips, a little wayward.

Ian just opened his lips slightly, and Hailey couldn't wait to stuff the beef into his mouth.

"There's nothing wrong with the beef."

At least it was much more normal than the ketchup he used that day.

"I know. I just think that such a small restaurant can produce Michelin-level food. I just want you to try it."

Haley propped his chin and smiled happily.The air trembled slightly, and all senses of taste were overwhelmed by the inexhaustible power of his smile.

Ian looked at him and remained silent for a long time.

If possible, he hoped that Haili could smile like this forever, not for ridicule, not for inquiry, but simply for joy.

When dinner was over, Ian's cell phone rang, and he received a strange call.

"Haley, I have to leave immediately. You can call Cliff to pick you up, or take a taxi back by yourself."

After speaking, Ian turned and left.

"Hey - don't you think you should pay the bill? I don't have cash with me!"

"Then swipe the card!"

Ian drove to a hospital almost at a hurricane speed, rushed into the elevator, and quickly walked into a ward.

The people on the hospital bed have been covered with white cloth, and the doctors and nurses are arranging all the instruments.

"Excuse me... is this Jennifer Nolan's ward?"

"Yes, but the patient passed away 10 minutes ago. I am her attending doctor. Are you Mr. Connor?"

"Yes. I want to take a look at her, can I?" Ian asked sincerely.

The doctor nodded, and Ian walked over, slowly lifting the white cloth covering the corpse's face.

It was a haggard woman, pale and bloodless.Her hair had fallen out from chemotherapy, and her cheeks were so thin they were sinking into her bones.

"Was it painful when she died?" Ian asked, looking up.

"I don't think so, she has fallen into a coma."

"Thank you." Ian clenched his fist subconsciously.

"Plus, her baby is in the next room. The child welfare officer is there too."

"Child? What child?" Ian paused.

"Jennifer's son." The doctor looked slightly surprised, as if to say, "You don't even know."

Ian nodded, "Please let me see him."

They went to the next room, which was the waiting room for the medical staff.

A little boy in a dark brown shirt and blue jeans is sitting on a chair, playing with a Rubik's cube.A woman next to him was relieved to see Ian, and she held out her hand to shake Ian's hand.

"Hi, I'm Corona from the Children's Welfare Agency. I've been waiting here for a long time. To be honest, I'm worried that you won't come. Jennifer said before she died that she must hand over the child to you. She didn't want The child goes into foster care."

"You mean this is Jennifer's son? How old is he?"

"Six years old. Mr. Connor, are you currently single?" Corona asked.

"I am single."

"What is your current occupation?"

"I'm an FBI agent." Ian looked at the child over Corona's shoulder.

He lowered his head, the death of his mother didn't seem to bring him too many emotional fluctuations, he only focused on the Rubik's Cube in his hand.

"So...you don't have much time to look after the children?"

"I think... yes..."

Corona shook her head in distress, "To be honest, I would rather let this child have a normal family that is willing to devote energy to him than the government's foster care system. Have you seen his reaction? Since I saw this child , he never said a word to me. But we also need to consider and respect the last wish of the child's mother."

"What's up with him?"

"He has a communication disorder and autism. We will have a hard time finding a home for him. He can't live on his own, he's young, and normal foster homes are not suitable for him. I can only consider sending him to some special institutions now. .”

"What is a 'special institution'? A psychiatric hospital or a nursing home?"

Corona was silent.

"Does Jennifer have any other relatives?"

"No. And the cancer treatment cost her almost all her savings."

"She should have come to me... No, I should have contacted her since I returned home." Ian took a deep breath.

"Mr. Connor, I would like to take the liberty to ask, is this child your son?"

Ian was silent for a moment, then slowly answered: "Yes, he is my son."

"So are you willing to take care of him?"

"I'm not sure I can take care of him, but I'm willing to take care of him."

"Then I will hand him over to you first, and we will regularly visit your home to investigate and guide you. If you agree, please sign these documents. During the observation period, if we think you are not It is suitable to take care of this child, and we will find a suitable family for him according to the process. Do you agree with this point?"

Ian nodded.

"I must remind you that children must be taken care of at home."

"I know, I'll hire a nanny to take care of him." Ian took a breath, "What's his name?"

"Evan Nolan. He took his mother's last name."

Ian nodded. He walked up to Evan and squatted down, "Evan, you are going home with me today. Can you?"

Corona also came to Evan's side and said, "Evan, this is your father, he is here to take you home."

Evan still focused on the Rubik's Cube in his hand.

Corona glanced at Ian and said helplessly: "He is like this. No matter what you say to him, he doesn't respond."

Ian looked down at Rubik's Cube, "He has already answered me."

"what?"

Ian pointed to the Rubik's cube in Evan's hand. There were letters on the edge of each square, and the side facing Ian just spelled "YES".

"Oh... is he answering the question in such a way? I didn't even notice. Maybe it's a good thing for him to be around you."

Ian filled out all the paperwork, carefully took Evan's hand, and led him out of the hospital.

Walking out of the hospital door, the cold wind came oncoming. Ian bent down and straightened Evan's collar.

While driving, the lights of the street lamps passed over the face of little Evan as if in an infinite cycle, and everything seemed unreal.

"Evan...I'm sorry about your mother. I should find you and take care of you myself."

Ian has few regrets, and this was one of them.

Evan didn't seem to be interested in this topic. He flipped the Rubik's Cube quickly with his fingers, and different suits appeared, like a kaleidoscope.Ian didn't know how he did it.

"Are you hungry? Is there anything you want to eat?"

Evan didn't respond, except for the "No" that appeared on the Rubik's Cube.

Ian took a deep breath.He has never been good at getting along with small children.His understanding of children is completely stuck in the impression that as long as they play with electric toys and buy delicious food, they will be obedient.And Evan's reaction was completely beyond his understanding.

Ian had to keep silent.He had to think about how to find a nanny for Evan.

Just as they were on their way home, Ian got a call about another similar case.

The parents of Carl and Joanna, a young couple who disappeared two months ago, also received a video similar to that of Jerry and Lily.

Just this afternoon, a driver found a similar van and the couple's bodies on the road.The difference is that no guns and bullets were found in the carriage. According to the preliminary analysis of the on-site forensic doctor, the two victims died of suffocation.

Parking the car to the side of the road, Ian took a deep breath.

"Evan, I have important things to do. When I get there, can you stay in the car and wait for me?"

Evan's Rubik's Cube flipped and the answer was "YES".

"Thank you."

Ian drove to a villa, where Hailey's luxury car was already parked, and Cliff was sitting in the car.

Ian exhaled and tapped on Cliff's car window, "Hey, Cliff."

"Oh, Agent Connor. Mr. Russell is already in."

"I want to trouble you to take care of my child for me. You don't need to talk to him, just stay with him."

"Of course." Cliff nodded.Probably because of his experience and special butler training, he seemed calm and restrained when he heard some surprising news.

For example, he didn't immediately ask what kind of child, how do you have a son and so on.

Ian immediately felt relieved, and he walked into the villa.The villa belonged to the parents of the victim, Joanna.Joanna's father is a university professor and her mother is a full-time wife.

At this time, Haili was holding Joanna's mother's hand, comforting her carefully.

In a few words, Joanna's mother told the victim's couple from childhood to adulthood, from falling in love to getting married.

"That means Karl and Joanna have a really good relationship."

"Yes."

"It can be seen that in the last moments of their lives, they were also tightly held together. They are not alone, and they are firm in their hearts."

Hailey's voice is sincere and his expression is moving.

Ian sat down opposite Hailey, and asked in a soft voice as much as possible: "Can you recall what happened before Carl and Joanna disappeared? For example, is there something wrong, or what are they doing?"

"The last time I spoke to Joanna on the phone, she and Carl were driving to Midlake for the holidays."

"So they're on the road?"

"Yeah. Joanna sounds good and happy. Carl also said they're going to have a baby while they're on vacation... oh god, why is this happening to them!"

From the victim's family, Ian and Haley could hardly learn anything more.Because of the murder, Joanna's mother was completely unaware of it.

"Let's go, let's take a look at the truck compartment. But one thing is for sure, this is a serial vicious case, and it's time for the New York Police Department to hand over the leadership of the case to us."

Haley patted Ian on the shoulder.

When they walked out, Haili opened Ian's car door and found that Cliff was sitting in the back seat with a child, he couldn't help being stunned.

"Ian, what is this?" Haili smiled as if he saw a pet like a kitten or puppy and wanted to tease him.

Ian opened the car door and said coldly, "You shouldn't ask 'what is this', but 'who is this'."

"Okay, who is this?"

"My son." Ian said lightly.

Hailey kept bending over to look at Evan from the car window, with a smile still on his lips, but Ian could feel him stiffen slightly.

Cliff shrugged in the backseat. "Do I need to get out of the car, please? You guys seem to have a problem to fix."

"I have nothing to resolve with Agent Russell. I'm going to take a look at the van. Would you like to help me take care of Evan for a while?"

Hailey got into the car, leaned against the back of the seat, and held his heart tightly, "Oh my God! Ian! You have a son! And he looks like he is five or six years old! That is to say, when While I was waiting for you in New York, you actually had an affair!"

Ian frowned slightly, he turned to look at Evan, and said very seriously: "Evan, you have to remember that you can't believe everything this uncle says. Anything he gives you, you will No touching. No candy or treats of any kind. Got it?"

Evan spelled "YES" using the Rubik's Cube.

Ian nodded, and opened Hailey's car door by the way: "Go in your own car."

"You promised me that the passenger seat of your car is mine. In addition, what you said just now will prejudice children. This is not the correct way of education."

When Hailey lowered his head to fasten his seat belt, Ian faintly saw a coolness from the slight smile on his lips.

Haley had never felt this way about Ian before, no matter what happened.He sat there, staring ahead, really like a wayward child.

"Okay, Cliff, take Evan, and I'll go to that luxury car with you."

Hailey was in a bad mood, and Ian didn't think it was a wise decision to be in the same car with him at this time.

Cliff looked at Haley.

Haili sighed, and suddenly he grabbed Ian's collar. Although there was a smile on his lips, his gaze was as cold as a sharp knife.

He lowered his voice, "My dear Ian, maybe I made the same mistake as Jerry. We both spoil the people who mean the most to us. If you reject me, then I'll leave for a while, not Because I gave you up, but because I gave you the privilege of being self-willed in front of me. But today, especially now, I am in a bad mood."

Haili's expression was indifferent, and the corners of his elegant eyes were chilling, cutting Ian's nerves bit by bit.

The paranoia and madness that controlled everything struck again, with the force of suppressing everything.Ian suddenly remembered the first time he came to Russell's house and saw Haili in the study.He easily suppressed him, gasping for breath, not retreating.

Although in the days that followed, Hailey subtly put away his desire for control, but "put away" does not mean "non-existent".

"A willful privilege?" There was a cold smile on Ian's lips.

"You can continue to test my bottom line, Ian. I know what you are thinking, and you tell me what you are thinking are two different things."

Haili's lips curved gracefully, like a rose silently blooming in the dark, exposing his sharp thorns under the cold moonlight.

Evan is still in the car, and Ian doesn't want to continue to argue with Hailey.

"Am I going to drive, or are you going to keep dragging me?"

"This is my Uncle Ian." Hailey leaned lazily on the back of the chair, raising his eyes slightly.

Ian knew he was watching Evan in the rearview mirror.

Along the way, Haili rarely said any ambiguous or provocative words, and was so quiet that Ian couldn't get used to it.

They came to Fein and saw the carriage being sampled and analyzed by forensic personnel.

Ian stood in front of the carriage door with his pocket in his pocket.Mud can still be seen around the carriage. If they are lucky, they can analyze where the carriage is probably buried based on the mud.It's not big, and if you close the door, you can imagine how dark it is, but now, for the convenience of sampling, Fein's people installed light bulbs inside.

Haley walked in with his pockets in his pocket, and he said to Finn, "Hey, little fool, turn off the light."

"You call that name again?" Finn was obviously angry, but even if he was angry, he seemed so... lacking momentum.

"Turn off the light for him," Ian said to Fern.

Finn reluctantly pressed the button.

In an instant, the carriage was plunged into darkness.Hailey also closed the door of the carriage.

Ian was standing outside the door, and he guessed that Haley might be planning to simulate the scene before the death of Carl and Joanna.

Reason told him he should go in and watch Hayley.

But he felt that even if Haili wanted to suffocate himself, it shouldn't be so fast.

"So the carriage was indeed buried somewhere?" Ian started talking to Finn.

"Of course. The murderer buried the truck's compartment in the ground in advance, and there was an opening at the top of the compartment. It is preliminarily estimated that the murderer put the victim down from that place. Then he locked the opening, covered it with soil, and waited for what he wanted The desired result. In addition, there are light bulbs and rechargeable batteries in the car, just enough power to run out of oxygen in the car."