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

Chapter 1303 Gossip and Intelligence

Anyone familiar with New York's public security knows that if a building is truly abandoned and unmaintained, it will quickly become a homeless den with needles everywhere.

This "abandoned" library is actually quite well preserved, especially when the two followed Finch up to the second floor and entered the inner area enclosed by an iron gate.

Jack noticed that the room was quite clean. There was even an old-looking but clean wool carpet on the floor. Even the heater was on.

"Mr. Reese, tell me what you found out about Ms. Hansen's residence." Finch took off his coat and hung it on a chair as if he was going home. He made a gesture of invitation to the two men, indicating that they could do whatever they wanted.

The area behind the iron gate should have been the library's office area, but most of the desks were cleared out. In the middle stood a rectangular conference table with a classical shape and typical Rococo style.

The status of walnut in European and American furniture is somewhat similar to that of huanghuali in Celes. Of course, it is not as scarce as the latter, but because of its moderate hardness, suitability for processing and not easy to deform or crack, many antique furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries have been passed down to this day.

Jack moved a chair toward the table and noticed the ball-claw and fretwork on the legs. He understood.

In the 18th century, a furniture designer and maker named Thomas Chippendale appeared in Europe. When a carpenter can be called a maker, his level can be imagined.

Thomas Chippendale is famous not only because he was a master carpenter, but also because he wrote many books on the subject.

The most famous of these is the "Directory of Celebrities and Cabinets", published in 1754, which had a significant impact on Britain at the time, as well as the whole of Europe and North America.

Chippendale describes a variety of furniture styles in the book, including French Rococo, Gothic, Neoclassical and Ming-style furniture from the East.

In front of Jack was a typical Seres-style armchair with a relief carving of flower knots similar to Chinese knots. Even the faded silk cushion on it vaguely showed a landscape pattern in the style of ink painting.

Contrary to what some brothels who like to dig up their own bad roots claim, Seris' decline actually lasted only two or three hundred years. Back then, when the "Empire on which the Sun Never Sets" had not yet truly risen, it also had a history of "worshiping foreigners and fawning on them."

Chippendale once created a set of court furniture for the British royal palace, which was basically modeled after Ming-style furniture. It caused a sensation throughout Europe at the time.

Many European classical furniture (represented by the Chippendale style) that have been passed down to this day, especially the armchairs like the one in front of Jack, often have decorations such as oriental dragons, stained glass windows, and volute patterns.

The slender and elegant shape, including the long wooden strips embedded in the hollow back of the chair, was originally unique to Seresmin furniture.

It's a pity that Jack only flipped through Chippendale's "Guide to Celebrities and Cabinet Makers" for the purpose of learning carpentry skills. He is not an antique appraisal expert and cannot be sure whether it was really made by the master.

However, he had also heard that a wardrobe made by Chippendale himself was sold at a Sotheby's auction more than ten years ago for 380 million pounds.

Compared to Jack, Reese didn't have so many ideas. He didn't even realize how rich Finch was.

"She looked clean, literally, her room was in good order, and her bills showed that she was in good financial shape, of course, you probably know that better than I do.

But I found that she was taking medicine for stomach ulcers and a bottle of sleeping pills, which showed that she was under a lot of pressure. "

When Jack and Finch went to understand Diane Hansen's interpersonal relationships, Reese directly used what he called the "fastest" method to sneak into her home to conduct an investigation. "Anyway, since your 'machine' can't provide us with any direct clues, I need more means. It's not enough to just hack into her phone. If she is a target, I must show up in time to protect her safety."

Finch nodded in understanding. "Considering the nature of Ms. Hansen's work, there may be hundreds of people who hold a grudge against her. Fortunately, Jack's friend in the District Attorney's Office provided us with a lot of useful information.

Combined with the information I had obtained from previous investigations, we made a priority list, and there were a total of three people at the top of the list.”

As the printer began to creak, Finch dragged his limping leg and pulled out a white board from behind the curtain with some effort, and pasted a photo of Diane Hansen in the middle.

Then three printed photos that still smelled of ink were arranged in a V-shape around Diane Hansen's photo, and Finch introduced their identities one by one.

"First up is Lawrence Pope, who is the subject of Ms. Hansen's most recent prosecution. There will be a trial for him tomorrow morning."

The photo shows a thin black man with a fierce look, who looks like a gang member who has been roaming the streets for years.

Finch continued, pointing to the second photo, the only white person among the three newly printed photos, "Vann Wheeler, Hansen's partner and an assistant prosecutor."

"What's his problem?" Reese asked.

In the photo, Vann Wheeler looks ordinary, but not ugly either. He is a middle-aged man in his thirties, slightly plump, but a little short.

Jack continued on behalf of Finch, "According to the office gossip we heard, Wheeler and Hansen dated for a few months last year, and Wheeler was the one who was dumped."

Reese nodded in understanding, "Major suspect."

Finch added, "And I found out that Wheeler was divorced and had half custody, and he needed to compensate his ex-wife for alimony. Considering his age, his career can be said to be stagnant."

Reese raised his hand to interrupt, "No problem, I'll keep an eye on him. Who is the third person?"

The guy in the last photo is also a black man, wearing a McDonald's work uniform. He has a very honest smile and looks to be less than 40 years old.

Finch continued, "Charles Robinson, an ex-con, was prosecuted and imprisoned by Wheeler and Hansen for armed robbery three years ago, and he was just released from prison not long ago.

Also according to office rumors, he once wrote a long letter to the two in prison. The specific content is unclear, but Hansen was very anxious after that and even applied for access to his file last week. "

Reese frowned and looked at the two of them, his expression somewhat incredulous. "Did you analyze all this from the office gossip you heard?"

Jack and Finch looked at each other and smiled back at him.

(End of this chapter)