Then, the three of them talked in Old Greyson’s office.
Luke gave him a box. “This is a little something for you.”
Old Greyson raised his eyebrow. “Can I open it?”
Luke said with a smile, “Of course. There’s a user manual inside, but I don’t mind explaining it to you.”
Old Greyson opened the box, only to see an item that looked like a phone. “A phone?”
Luke shook his head. “It looks like a phone, but it’s actually a… voice converter. If you aim the antenna at a target within twenty meters, this machine will record what they’re saying and display it as text on the screen for you to read. Of course, the voice recognition might not be very accurate.”
Selina’s eyes glowed as she listened. It was a handy tool for any detective.
With an indecipherable expression on his face, Old Greyson said a long time later, “Please pass on my thanks to Robert.” He then put the phone-like voice converter into his drawer.
Luke nodded his head with a smile and didn’t say anything.
Robert had mentioned to him that Old Greyson’s mother had a genetic disease that could very likely cause hearing loss.
Old Greyson didn’t have any hearing problems yet, but this gadget could still be useful for him.
The FBI and S.H.I.E.L.D. had similar equipment that was usually installed in cars. It could eavesdrop on what was being said within a range of one to two hundred meters.
But the advantage of Luke’s gadget was that it was small and convenient.
They talked for a while longer, and Greyson asked Luke things about his work and his personal life.
Luke told the truth most of the time, but didn’t say anything about his side gig as a vigilante.
Old Greyson clearly sensed that Luke was hiding something, but didn’t pursue it further.
Suddenly, Luke sniffed in surprise. “Greyson, are cleaners allowed to touch the exhibits in your lab?”
Old Greyson replied, “They might accidentally touch the unimportant exhibits, but certainly not the important ones. What are you trying to say?”
Luke turned his head to look at a young female cleaner not far away. “How interesting. This is a surprise.”
Unmoved, Old Greyson simply observed the young cleaner along with Luke, until she disappeared around a corner.
Luke thought for a moment, then operated his fake phone.
Thankfully, there weren’t any surveillance cameras installed in Old Greyson’s office.
So, Luke simply shut the door and asked, “Greyson, are you particular about how you crack a case? Like, does it have to be an elegant solution?”
After a brief silence, Old Greyson said, “Proof is more important than elegance. This is science.”
Luke shrugged. “I don’t have any proof, but I have an answer that is rather inelegant. Would you like to hear it?”
Old Greyson said, “Just spit it out.”
Luke said, “The female cleaner at the door just now is the young woman associated with the Diorama Killer. I don’t have any proof, but you could try investigating her.”
Old Greyson was suspicious. “I thought you were high on weed, but it seems that you’re even more delusional than that.”
Luke smiled. “I’m sorry. Although the Diorama Killer is very artistic, I’ve always preferred to be straightforward. I never thought I would see a serial killer come back to observe how her crimes are being cracked!”
He knew that Old Greyson had dealt with plenty of serial killers before who were smart and challenging, and that by telling Old Greyson who the criminal was, he had spoiled Old Greyson’s fun in hunting the criminal down.
Old Greyson’s expression was odd, but he nodded his head. “Okay, got it. But I’m afraid that I can’t have lunch with you if I’m going to investigate her.”
Luke chuckled. “There’s still time. We’re only leaving the day after tomorrow.”
Old Greyson nodded his head. “Okay. Have fun.”
Luke promptly rose, and Selina followed him in a hurry.
Old Greyson got up to see them off.
Such a courtesy was rare for him. Even when his boss visited him, he hardly saw the latter off.
Luke and Selina were saying goodbye to Old Greyson at the door when three people who were chattering nonstop passed up.
Old Greyson stopped them. “Nick, where are you going?”
Nick turned serious. “Oh, Greyson. We’re going to celebrate Henry’s birthday.”
Old Greyson nodded his head thoughtfully. “Take my nephew with you. He’s a young detective. I’m sure you have a lot to talk about.”
He then looked at Luke. “You have fun with them. They know everything about this place.”
All three of them hesitated, but Old Greyson ignored it and demanded, “Take him with you wherever you’re going.” His back to Luke, he gestured at Nick.
Stumped for a moment, Nick nodded his head and gave a wry smile. “Okay, fine.”
He turned his head and said, “Greyson, he’s your nephew, but she isn’t your niece, is she?”
He noticed Selina. Nobody could fail to notice such a hot Latino girl.
Seeing the look on Old Greyson’s face, Luke extended his hand with a smile. “I’m Luke. Nice to meet you, Nick.”
The young man had short blond hair and a square face. His grin was particularly heartening.
Nick was a nice guy. He shook Luke’s hand and said, “Nice to meet you too, Luke. This is…”
Luke said, “This is Selina, my partner. We’re both detectives from the Major Crimes Division of LAPD.”
Nick’s expression turned shrewd. “Are you…”
Luke chuckled. “She’s like a sister to me. Also, she’s quite easygoing.”
Selina waved at the three men with a smile.
The three young men all smiled back. Since Luke and Selina were both good-looking and were clearly close to Old Greyson, they certainly couldn’t turn the two of them away.
Old Greyson said, “Okay, you can go now.”
He didn’t really care what the three young men’s plans were.
Old Greyson himself “helped” newcomers adapt to the job with his “special training.”
He was a prank master.
And quite a few of his men had developed a similar hobby.
Luke, Selina and the three men made conversation as they went downstairs.
After they introduced themselves, Luke and Selina got to know them better.
The youngest was called Greg. He was a sunny boy who still looked like a student.
The last one was called Hodges. He was almost forty and balding. He looked rather solemn and uptight.