America: I'm really not crazy

Chapter 71 179,486,321

Name, position.

Is it really necessary?

"There's no way around it, this is a special instruction from above, don't make things difficult for me."

"Alright... Danielle Harris, OCD detective."

"Thank you for your cooperation. What is the purpose of your visit?"

"Routine inquiry."

"Okay, you can go in after signing."

Danielle signed her name on the registration form before she could enter the Miami Federal Detention Center.

Walking on the green-painted ground illuminated by incandescent lights, Danielle couldn't help but think of Thomas.

If Thomas hadn't reported her to the authorities, making her the primary investigator in the "Luca case," a "local police officer" like her wouldn't even have been qualified to conduct a "routine inquiry," let alone participate in a "joint investigation."

However, now is not the time for too much sentimentality; let's focus on our own responsibilities first.

Danielle arrived at the lawyer's meeting room first.

Using this time, Danielle organized the documents in her hands, categorizing them neatly.

After she finished doing that, she took a few deep breaths.

The meeting took place at a federal detention center, and she couldn't bring her headset in, so she had to do everything herself.

Therefore, she was inevitably a little nervous.

After all, this was his first time handling a case involving someone of Luca Sutton's stature.

Just as she had calmed down, a "beep" sounded, and with a clattering sound, the sliding door to the meeting room was opened.

Luca Sutton, the prosecutor who was full of vigor just a few days ago, is now sitting in a wheelchair with bruises all over his face, being pushed by a guard to face Danielle.

After the guards left, before Danielle could even "memorize her lines," Luca Sutton spoke first.

"If I remember correctly, you're Detective Harris, right?"

Luca's hands were on the table, and he didn't even have handcuffs on, seemingly because of his injuries.

He himself showed no awareness of being "interrogated," and instead remained as if he were sitting in his own office, leaning back in his chair, his chin slightly raised in a slightly arrogant manner, looking down at Danielle with a condescending gaze.

It was as if he wasn't a prisoner waiting to take the dock in court, but a prosecutor preparing to go head-to-head with his defense attorney.

Having already mentally prepared herself, Danielle didn't pay much attention to Luca's words and gestures.

Danielle even felt that although Luca was threatening her, his wording was quite polite.

After all, the "criminals" she usually comes into contact with are gang members, and for those people, "swear words" and catchphrases are the same thing.

So she prepared to regain the initiative and began asking Thomas the questions he had instructed her to ask.

However, Luca did not give her a chance to speak.

"I've handled several of the cases you've worked on."

"The testimonies were clear, the chain of evidence was complete, and it was so perfect that many times even the 'court hearing' became a mere formality."

Danielle frowned at the praise.

What does Luca Sutton mean by saying this? What is his purpose?

Before she could think it through, Luca interrupted her thoughts.

"Therefore, I can't help but wonder, can such a perfect 'case closure' really be achieved solely through 'investigation'?"

After Luca finished speaking, he stared at Danielle with a calm but penetrating gaze.

Danielle was completely unaffected; she simply blinked.

"It's really not easy, so I often have to work overtime."

Danielle did not use any illegal or even "borderline" methods to conduct her investigation, so she has a clear conscience.

Luca didn't reply, but continued to stare at Danielle.

Danielle didn't care at all and finally had a chance to "memorize her lines".

"Mr. Luca Sutton, to my knowledge, you met with your private lawyer before retracting your previous testimony."

"Then may I have reason to suspect that your private lawyer has given you some unconventional advice?"

Luca did not answer Danielle's question, but continued to stare at Danielle.

Danielle frowned.

"Mr. Luca Sutton, I hope you will answer my question, no matter what."

"Otherwise, I have the right to add 'obstruction of official business' to your original charges."

Luca spoke, but he still didn't answer Danielle's question; instead, he offered a conclusion.

"Detective Harris, you don't seem to be lying."

"In other words, the buttons you handle might really be... perfect."

Luca pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"At least, you can guarantee that you haven't used any 'unconventional' methods."

Danielle had a vague feeling that something was wrong, while Luca revealed his true colors in the next sentence.

"But can you guarantee that everyone can? For example, your colleagues?"

"Do you think they did anything with their own cases, or the cases they assisted you with...?"

As Luca spoke, he raised his hand and gently tapped his temple.

"Unconventional methods?"

After saying the last half of the sentence, Luca's original smile turned into a mockery.

Luca's words greatly displeased Danielle, but she didn't pursue the matter further; she simply made up her mind.

"Mr. Luca Sutton, as a prosecutor who has not yet been formally dismissed, you should understand one thing—in court, it is the evidence that matters."

"Unfounded speculation cannot be considered evidence."

Luca shrugged, giving Danielle a subtle "reminder" with an unchanged expression.

"Do you remember April 18th two years ago, the first federal case you handled as a detective? The suspect was Alan Mitchell, the conman who defrauded Florida of two hundred million dollars using a Ponzi scheme?"

Danielle's brow furrowed even deeper.

But after going through the case in her mind, she found nothing amiss.

So she directly questioned Luca.

"Mr. Luca Sutton, it seems you are really unwilling to cooperate."

After she finished speaking, she began to organize the documents in front of her.

But she didn't give up; rather, she had already completed the task Thomas had given her—the very act of refusing to answer the question was itself a form of response.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get any more information out of them.

Just as she reached the front door, Luca spoke.

"He was captured in Florida with his wife, who was eight months pregnant, just a few kilometers from neighboring Alabama."

"In the end, his wife died in childbirth and could not be saved."

"And I must remind you that the nearest hospital to where she was arrested is only a 15-minute drive away."

Danielle stopped in her tracks.

Luca tilted his head slightly and said something that seemed unrelated, but made Danielle's heart skip a beat.

"Two hundred million US dollars, of which one hundred and seventy-nine million, four hundred and eighty-six thousand three hundred and twenty-one were recovered."

"This is not a typical Ponzi scheme recovery amount."