Cinephile hustle

"Then why do you smell of cologne? Your Uncle Ian never uses cologne, and you just like the original smell of him."

Ian was not interested in listening to the unnutritious conversation between the two of them. He walked up to Amanda's body, frowned and observed for a while, "Are there no marks or other marks on Amanda's body?"

"No. But a small amount of sleeping potion was found in her blood. The murderer always finds a way to get her feet into the cement obediently, right?" Dr. Bourne turned his head and looked at Ian's back in a daze .

Haley moved his head back, "Hey, hey, don't think I don't know what you're thinking when you look at Ian."

"What am I thinking?"

"You imagine the texture of his muscles, the feeling of cutting through his skin."

"Don't you want to?" Dr. Byrne narrowed his eyes and poked Hailey's chest with his fingers.

"I... want to get into him more." Haili raised the corners of his lips, and there was a hint in his eyes.

Dr. Bourne showed a clear expression, "Oh—so your hobbies are different from mine."

Ian ignored them and drove back to his office alone.

He started comparing Adam's insurance client list with Amanda's.

Then he got up in surprise and found Hailey leaning against his office door with arms folded, looking at him for a long time.

"Why, you found out that the great painter Van Chart is not only on Adam's insurance client list, but also the painter Amanda is in charge of?"

"You already knew?" Ian asked coldly.

"It's not hard to guess. Insurance companies wouldn't be happy to insure Van Chart because of cancer. But because of his cancer, his paintings have multiplied in value, and he really needs to pay for his paintings. Paintings are insured. And he happens to be the painter Amanda is responsible for. That's where they overlap. But I would say it's not a good time to visit Van Chart."

Ian looked at his watch, and it showed that it was already nine twenty in the evening.

Van Chart had gone to bed, and it was not the right time to disturb a painter who was suffering from cancer and was in need of rest and rest.

"I'll see you at Van Chart's villa at ten o'clock tomorrow morning."

Ian brushes past Haley.

"Aren't you going to take me home? Uncle Ian!"

"You can go back by yourself."

"What if someone has evil intentions against me? What if I suddenly disappear like Amanda or Adam? Maybe I will become someone's 'collection' too!" Haley followed behind Ian.

"Then call Cliff to pick you up."

Ian opened the car door and walked away.

Haili stood in the night wind, watching Ian's car disappear at the end of the street, the smile on his lips slowly disappeared.

Ian looked at his mobile phone, and there was a text message from Lancer: Will you go home tonight?

He pulled over and stopped the car, and replied: I will.

He didn't know if Lancer had eaten. He came to the convenience store on the corner of the street, and Ian bought some sandwiches and milk.

When he opened the door, everything was quiet.He thought Lancer had already fallen asleep, but after walking two steps inside, he found Lancer drawing in the living room.

He was sitting on the sofa, surrounded by a layer of newspapers, paints of various colors had been opened, he held the palette, and daubed on the drawing board very intently.

Ian quietly closed the door without speaking.He walked into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and found that nothing in it had been touched, and his brows furrowed involuntarily.

He heated the sandwich in the microwave, took the eggs out of the refrigerator, chopped some onions and diced mushrooms, and fried the omelette in the frying pan.

When he came to Lancer with the dinner plate, he coughed lightly.

Lancer just turned his head, and the moment he saw Ian, he showed a big smile: You are back!

"You didn't have dinner, did you? I made omelets and sandwiches."

Lancer happily took the plate and started eating.

Ian leaned on the sofa, looking at his unfinished painting.

The painting seems to be a street, the night is as cool as water, and the stars all over the sky remind Ian of Picasso's "Starry Sky", with a bit of innocence.

Ian suddenly thought of Amanda's death.Amanda once bought Lancer's painting, but they still haven't figured out who the buyer behind it is.

"Lancer, do you know Van Chart?"

Lancer nodded: I know, he is a famous modern painter.

Ian asked again: "So have you seen him?"

Lancer shook his head: No.I have never had the chance to meet a great painter like him.I'd love to see his exhibition, but it's expensive.

Ian comforted and said, "It's okay, there will be opportunities in the future."

After dinner, it was already past ten o'clock in the evening.Both Ian and Lancer fell asleep.

This time, I slept until dawn.

According to the agreement with Haili, Ian drove to Van Chart's villa.

On the way, Ian gets a call from Maddy Ron.

"I'm driving."

"I know. But I still have a very important matter that I must discuss with you."

"Then stop talking nonsense."

"You know about the fire tests at the bureau?"

"uh-huh."

"Haley is due to take the test in three days."

"Does this have anything to do with me?"

"...Didn't you notice that he didn't have a gun on him?"

"I have a gun." Ian drove the car around the corner.

"But the thing is, he should have a gun too, right? So your job is to make him pass the test."

Maddy Ron hung up the phone again.

Ian drove the car to the side of the road, holding the steering wheel with both hands. Two seconds later, he burst out angrily: "The fucking guy doesn't have a gun! What kind of field work does he have without a gun!"

Ian absolutely did not believe that this guy didn't know how to shoot.The bastard's grandfather gave him such strict training, even subduing Ian, a battle-tested veteran, is no problem. How could he not be good at shooting?

But Ian clearly remembered that he had never seen Hailey Larson draw a gun, or even show the holster.Ian has always thought that this is Hailey's usual shameless style, and that his partner should do the physical work of shooting a gun, and this young man just needs to get nervous at the right time and tell more plausible lies to deceive people just fine.

Exhaling a breath, Ian decided to continue driving forward, putting aside the shooting test and so on, the most important thing for him today is to visit Van Chart.

Van Chart's villa is located on the outskirts of New York City, where the air is much better than the downtown area.The small garden outside the villa has been carefully tended and the lawn is neat.

Haili's car was parked outside the villa, and it seemed that he had already entered.

Ian knocked on the door, and the person who opened the door wore a white coat and glasses, and smiled very gently: "You are Agent Russell's partner, Agent Connor?"

"Yes."

"Come in. This is Mr. Charter's family physician, Manning. Your partner is upstairs chatting with Mr. Charter."

Ian had just reached the stairs when he heard a burst of hearty laughter.

Van Chart's door was ajar.Through the crack of the door, Ian could see Van Chart sitting on the sofa in a gray sweater and slacks.He is nearly fifty years old. According to Ian's observation, he should be wearing a wig. When he laughs, the corners of his eyes don't make him look old. On the contrary, it adds a bit of mature artist atmosphere.

"My partner is here." Hailey's voice sounded.

"how do you know?"

"I can smell him." Haili stood up with a smile, and pushed the door open. Sure enough, Ian was right outside the door.

"Hello, Agent Connor." Van Chart got up and shook Ian's hand.

His hand was slightly cold, and Ian felt a slight tremor when he held it, and his face was a little pale.

In other words, Van Charter's health is not good, and he cannot have the physical strength to kill Adam and Amanda.

But this does not rule out the possibility of accomplices.

Artists always have some strange hobbies and psychology.

At least, Ian thought so.

"Actually, my partner and I came here just to make sure you have seen this insurance salesman. His name is Adam." Ian handed over Adam's photo to Van Chart.

After almost one glance, Van Chart responded: "I did meet him. I should have said more than once. I have a painting that is not finished. They want to insure that painting. Adam is one of them." But in fact, I don't want to see them at all. It is a waste of my life to spend a lot of time communicating with them. But Adam is persistent. Every time I go to the hospital for an examination, I can always see him. He always The deputy is very concerned about my appearance, contacting the best doctor in New York for me, and sending flowers to my villa, but in fact, he has disturbed my life. Maybe others will accept his 'kindness', but not Me. I clearly rejected him."

Ian nodded, "Then do you remember the last time you saw Adam?"

"Oh, it was a long time ago. At least last month, right? I feel very lucky that he didn't bother me again this month. But unexpectedly, he died."

"What about the art dealer Amanda Cook? I heard that you have worked with her for a long time. Why did you suddenly stop working with her?"

"Because of the incompatibility. I'm an idealistic artist and Amanda is very realistic. She wants to have an auction and sell my work for a lot of money. Everyone in the art world knows I won't live long , so one can imagine the effect of this auction. But I never want to use my death as a gimmick. I want my paintings to be collected by people who really love them. So I terminated the relationship with Amanda Cooperation."

"She should have looked for you many times? When was the last time you saw her?"

"...It should have been two weeks ago...Tuesday...about dinner time. Dr. Manning, I remember correctly, right?" Van Chart looked at Dr. Manning who came up with a glass of water.

"Yes, Mr. Charter. You also left me for dinner." Dr. Manning put the water glass and medicine in front of Van Charter, "Take two pills in the round box, and take two pills in the square box. eat one."

"I see, you don't have to worry about me taking the wrong medicine."

Dr. Manning looked at Hailey and Ian with a smile, "You two, although Mr. Charter is very happy that you have arrived, because finally some young people chatted with him. But he needs to rest."

"Then we won't bother you anymore, thank you."

Haley and Ian leave the Van Chater house.

"What do you think?" Haili opened Ian's car door and got in.

"What do you think?" Ian started the car and drove out.

"Is it true what Van Chart said, or is he hiding something?" Hailey propped his chin and tilted his head, his eyes fell on Ian's face from the corner of his eyes.

"No one is without secrets. Neither is Van Chart."

Ian stopped the car suddenly, stretched out his arms and grabbed Haili's waist.

"Oh! Oh! Uncle Ian! Are you outburst of love?" Hailey looked flattered.

"Where's your gun?" Ian asked coldly.

Hailey smiled, grabbed Ian's hand and placed it between his legs, "Here is my gun, I have always wanted to shoot it."

He slowly leaned towards Ian, with a drawn-out tone and an elegant voice full of ambiguity, his fingers were even slightly inserted between Ian's fingertips, forcing him to move with his fingers.

Ian withdrew his hand suddenly, raised his eyebrows, "Maybe I should shoot you, otherwise you don't know what pain in the egg is!"

Hayley leaned back on his seat and laughed wantonly.

"Did Muddy Ron call you?"

"Did you fail the fire test on purpose?"

"I'm handsome, rich, talented, and IQ is off the charts, but that doesn't mean I'm flawless."

"Oh, I don't know what you're not good at."

"Of course. Like shooting...and soaking you."

In the last half of the sentence, Haley said it lightly, as innocently as a child asking for candy, but Ian saw complete evil in his eyes.

"I remember the first day I met you at Russell's house, you said that your grandfather's training for you included 'shooting'."

"Well, I do have shooting training, but I never said I was good at it. If I were holding the gun, maybe I should have aimed at the suspect's head, but I ended up hitting his balls. "

"If there is such an effect, I will be very pleased."

After speaking, Ian suddenly turned the car around.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

"range."

"No way! That place is not romantic at all!"

Ian almost grabbed Haili by the collar and dragged him out of the car, and threw all the equipment into his arms, "If you don't pass the grades today, I will shoot you personally!"

Haley stood there motionless, "I don't like guns."

Ian could vaguely guess that the reason might have something to do with it eight years ago, or it might have nothing to do with it at all. This guy just takes pleasure in torturing other people's nerves.

"Because you were hit by a shotgun bullet? Don't pretend, it's a pistol! Not a shotgun!"

"You really want to know the reason?" Haili slowly signed his name at the registration office, received the gun and bullets for shooting practice, and by the way, pulled his usual smirk at the staff at the registration office.

"I do not want to know."

Most of the reasons that came out of Hailey's mouth were not true.

But that still didn't stop Haley from speaking.

"Because every time I touch a gun, I can't help but imagine myself touching you. I picture you lying on your stomach in some inconspicuous place, holding your rifle, patiently waiting for your opportunity. Your legs are relaxed , your waistline and your back are beautiful, but it’s a pity that no one appreciates them. If I’m by your side, I’ll tear off your clothes, kiss you all over your body, kiss you all over your body, and let you forget the loneliness of being alone .”

Ian's expression didn't change at all. He pushed Haili's face away and walked to the target.

"If you can't pass the grades, you won't be able to keep your little brother. I'm serious."

Ian stood behind Hailey with his hands on his back.

"Oh, what are you going to do with my little brother? Bite him off?"

While talking, Hailey put on the goggles and earmuffs, and slowly raised the gun.

His posture was very standard, with a bit of aristocratic elegance, and Ian couldn't find any flaws in his posture.

In less than 1 minute, he knocked out all the bullets in the gun clip.

There was no need to bring the target paper in front of him, and Ian also knew that Haley didn't hit many hits.

"Did you do it on purpose?" Ian frowned.

Hailey just looked at the target paper, rarely silent.

"Do it again." Ian returned the target paper to its original place.

"How many times the result is the same."

"Because you always subconsciously miss your target. You don't miss. Everything you hit is what you want to hit."

Haley let out a chuckle, "You speak exactly like my old shooting coach."

After several more rounds, there was no improvement.

When Haili replaced the magazine and raised the gun again, Ian's hand suddenly covered the back of his hand.Ian turned his face slightly, almost embracing Hailey.

"I don't care about the reason you keep refusing to hit the target I want. But as you know, I was a sniper. My mission is not to assassinate someone, but more to cover my teammates. I see looking at their backs. Hailey, I want to know if I can give you my back."

Haley's shoulders are steady, Ian can feel them.

"Now, shoot."

Every shot was sharp and precise, like a machine.

When the bullet was empty, Ian let go of Haley's hand.The target paper came in front of them, and all the bullets hit.

"Did you help me aim?" Hailey asked suddenly.

"...I'm just standing behind you, it's impossible to aim for you."

Suddenly, Hailey turned his face sideways.

Something touched the corner of Ian's lips, and when he realized it, the tip of Haley's tongue had already squeezed in.

He clasped Ian's wrist, as if he had expected Ian's resistance, and pushed his hands behind his back persistently and almost fiercely.

Manic without reason.

Hailey's strength was beyond Ian's imagination, until Hailey pushed him hard against the wall.

His back collided with the wall, and Ian raised his right leg to push against the wall, and finally found some fulcrum to counter Haili's strength.

But Haili persistently suppressed Ian, kissing so hard that his bones were almost crushed.

Ten seconds later, Hailey left Ian's lips, and he said to him in a tearing tone, "You shouldn't have forced me like this."

After speaking, Haili took two steps back and left the shooting range by himself.

Ian frowned. He folded his arms and leaned on his spot, bowing his head in thought.

Ian stayed up late that night in his office.

Finally, he called Russell's home, and Cliff handed the call over to Hayley.

"I'll give you 1 minute to explain to me what's going on. Or you hang up and give up this 1 minute forever to let me know you trust you."

"You are so strong, straight to the point, simple and rude."

"So you want to hang up?"

To be honest, Ian was a little nervous in that moment.In his heart he was worried that Hailey would hang up, or tell an obvious lie.

After nearly half a minute of silence, Haili's voice finally sounded from there.

"One day the 'hunters' dragged me out of that little dark room and gave me a gun. They grabbed a woman out of nowhere, a bit fat and panic-stricken. They said it was a very Good opportunity to practice hunting. Because this woman has a big target and can't run fast. If I can hit her, I have the qualifications to become a 'hunter', and I can get out of that small dark room. When the woman starts running I fired. I emptied all the bullets, but they missed her."

"You can't bear it?" Ian asked.

Haley chuckled, "Do you think I'm the compassionate type?"

"You don't want to cross that line."

"Nor. You really don't know me."

"Then tell me."

"I saw her run away in a panic, so panicked that she didn't even have time to look at me. She just wanted to run away from me as soon as possible, and she saw me as her last chance to survive. I control her fate, and the hunter wants to control mine Fate. I wanted to disappoint the hunters, so I missed her. But in the end, one of them, just like you, took my hand, forced me to pull the trigger, and shot the woman throat. She made a hoarse noise, and they forced me to watch until the woman died. Then, I was thrown back into the house."

"Your destiny is always in your own hands."

"I know."

That night, Ian was lying on the bed, as long as he closed his eyes, he could see Haili in white linen running wildly in the forest.

The directionless of hopeless fear.

until darkness comes.

The next day, Ian returned to the office, and "Little Fool" Fein sent the report to his mailbox.

Ian was going to buy a sandwich and read the report while eating lunch.But Haili had already arrived at Ian's table with the takeaway food.

"eat together."

"unnecessary."

"Uncle Ian, are you worried that I'll put something in the food so that I can throw you down and do whatever I want?" Hailey stuck his head out in front of the computer screen, blocking Ian's view.

Ian stopped talking, but took the paper bag, took out the food inside, and pushed Haili's head away.

At that moment, it was as if everything that happened yesterday at the range never happened.

Everything is back to normal.

"Read the report of 'Little Fool'. Is there anything worth noting?" Hailey said lazily.

"The cement on Amanda's body was polished, tapped, and carved for the last time. No fingerprints were found." Ian read out in a steady voice.

"Hmm. Generally, murderers like this are not low in IQ. They know what they are doing, how to evade investigation and evidence collection, and how to leave no trace."

"Also, the cement on Amanda's body should have been poured from above her head."

"Oh, that would be interesting." Haley leaned back.

"Indeed."

Amanda's upper body did not lose its freedom except that her feet were sealed by the concrete pier at the beginning.In such a situation, if the cement was being poured from the top of her head, she would not curl herself up at the beginning, but would turn her head away and reach out to subconsciously push away the cement.No matter how much she tried to curl up her body, she would not show such a tight posture.

Ian continued to study the report, and before he knew it, the food in his hands had been eaten, and he realized that Haili was rarely quiet.

When he raised his head, he found that Haili was sitting across from him, with his eyes closed and his head tilted to one side, as if he had fallen asleep.

His lashes fell silently, leaving fine shadows on the lids.

Ian turned his head sideways, trying to turn his gaze back to the computer screen, but within two seconds, he still looked over.

When did you look at him quietly like this?

Ian can't remember.Maybe there was a moment eight years ago.

Hailey looked very quiet, so quiet that Ian felt as if his breathing had stopped.

Inexplicable unease surged into Ian's heart, and he called out, "Hailey!"

Haley didn't respond.

"Haley Russell!" Ian raised his voice.

Haley's head was still on one side.

Ian stood up suddenly, turned Hailey's chair around, and slapped him hard on the face, "Hailey! Wake up right away! You bastard!"

What on earth did he hear and suddenly fall into that world?

Ian kept replaying the conversation with him in his mind.What exactly triggered Haley's "inspiration"?

Could it be the phrase "The cement on Amanda's body should have been poured from above her head"?

Ian sighed, he didn't know where Hailey's mind went, or what he saw again, but this state had been going on for a long time, and this guy had to wake up.

Ian put Haili down, looked down at him and said, "I'll count to three, if you don't wake up, don't blame me for kicking you."

Haley didn't even move his eyelids.

Ian gritted his teeth, but he still didn't kick him in the end.

He took a paper clip from the table, twisted it straight, and dug it hard into Haili's left index finger.

The sleeping young man finally responded.He opened his eyes and took a deep breath, "Ian! What did you do!"

"Wake you up." Ian stood up coldly.

The paper clip was still stuck in Haley's finger.

"Ian! You are so heartless! It's so deep! It's easy to get tetanus!" Hailey sat on the ground with his head raised, his eyes full of accusations against Ian.

"What did you see?" Ian leaned against his desk and asked coldly.

"Cement." Haili obviously didn't intend to answer Ian's question properly. He took out the paper clip from his finger and waved it around in Ian's office, "Don't you have a medicine cabinet here?"

"Why is there a medicine box in the office?" Ian returned to his seat indifferently.

Haili went out and found the female detective in the opposite office, who treated his wound very carefully.Then, he returned to Ian's office again, shaking his bandaged fingers in front of Ian's eyes.

"I'm leaving get off work early today! I'm going to the hospital for an injection!" He said seriously.

Ian moved the computer screen, and had no intention of talking to Hailey at all.

"Okay, okay, except for the cement... When Amanda woke up, she should have found herself locked in an old sewer-like place. It was very narrow and she couldn't escape. So when the cement was poured from the top of her head At that time, she had no room to avoid at all, so she could only bend down and hug herself."

"So how did the murderer get Amanda out of the so-called sewer?"

"Because the murderer has already laid something between the cement and the wall of the sewer pipe. When the watering is over, he only needs to 'lift' Amanda out of the sewer pipe."

"So to complete this job, don't you think the murderer needs a construction site? Or a construction site with lifting equipment." Ian touched his chin. "This is obviously different from Adam's case. Adam is in the freezer."

Haley shrugged.

"That is to say, the murderer has access to the construction site and the freezer?"

Ian closed his eyes, all these clues were useless.

Are they really going to wait until the killer commits another crime?

Could this murderer really not show any flaws?

There have been two cases, and there are almost no clues except that the victim is somewhat related to the great painter Van Chater.

Haili pointed his fingers between Ian's brows, and tried his best to smooth his frowning brows away.

"Ian, can I make a very solemn request to you?" Hailey sat on Ian's desk, lowered his head, his forehead almost touched Ian.

Ian turned his head away slightly, avoiding Haili's breath.He just looked at Hailey and didn't answer any of his words.

"Next time, if you plan to wake me up, please do it in a gentle way."

"In a gentle way, will you wake up?" Ian looked at Haili with ridiculous eyes.

"I will wake up. For example...you kiss me. I will definitely wake up." Hailey said very seriously.

"Then you'd better never wake up."

Ian's finger pointed to the door, meaning to ask Haley to leave.

Haili curled his lips, put his hands in his pockets, and turned around when he walked to the door.

"Speaking of the commonality between Adam and Amanda, there is actually one more."

"What?" Ian looked up from the computer screen.

"Van Chart hates them. Adam broke Van Chart's life to sell insurance. Amanda used Van Chart's cancer as a stunt to sell his paintings. Now they're dead, Van Chart Life can finally return to peace."

After speaking, Hailey walked out.

Ian frowned and began to think about Haley's words.

Neither Adam nor Amanda had fatal wounds.In other words, they hardly resisted when facing the murderer.Of course, this does not rule out that the murderer subdued them very quickly and used certain drugs.Of course, the murderer may be someone both Adam and Amanda know.

Suddenly something flashed through Ian's mind.

The cloth strips on Adam's body, Finn's report said that there were similar cloth strips in the hospital, used to immobilize the bones of the injured.Sleeping pills are found in Amanda's system, and doctors can easily obtain similar drugs.

"Dr. Manning..."

He was not just a doctor, but Van Chart's personal physician.Both Adam and Amanda should have seen him at Van Chart's villa, and they would not have any defense against Dr. Manning.

But this is just a suspicion. He has no evidence at all. Even if he asks Dr. Manning for questioning, he will not get any results.

Ian held his head down.He found Dr. Manning's residence and parked his car not far away.He felt stupid for what he was doing, but there was no way he was going to get any results sitting at his desk.

He wanted to know if Dr. Manning had ever been to a place like a freezer or a construction site, although it might be useless to wait and see.

The sky gradually darkened.

Dr. Manning drove back to the front of the house. He opened the door, entered, and the lights in the room came on.

Through the curtain, Dr. Manning seemed to be embracing his wife and children. They finished their meal together, and bursts of laughter could be heard.

At this moment, someone came to Ian's car door and knocked on his car window.

Ian raised his head and found Hailey's face outside the car window.

Sighing, Ian opened the car door and Hailey stepped in.

"How do you know I'm here. Oh, yes, on the phone."

Haley shook his head.

"No, I just understand you. I understand how you think and what angle you use to look at things. You think of the cloth strips on Adam, the sleeping pills in Amanda's body, and their relationship with Van Chart. Naturally Dr. Manning comes to mind."

Ian was silent.

"Shall I take a guess, what are you thinking now?" Haili propped his head and looked at Ian sideways.

"Oh, what am I thinking?"

"You're thinking, Hayley Russell can think not only from the perspective of the victim, but also from the perspective of Ian Connor, and Hailey seems to have no problem becoming anyone. Does it include Those serial killers?"

Ian's fingers trembled slightly where Hailey couldn't see.He didn't speak.

"Ian, maybe what you said is right. I never sympathize with anyone. I have no sense of responsibility and obligation to this society. Justice and order are of little importance to me. But I can't help myself to see it from your point of view. This world, so everything you care about, I care about. Unless one day, you become such a madman, I will go crazy with you. But if you are always rational and can clearly distinguish between right and wrong, then Me too."