Chapter 156 Party and Umbrella (Part 7)

"Viking Umbrella Shop? Oh... that's really old news."

In the office of the Gotham Police Department, Bullock was lighting a cigarette, leaning against the filing cabinet, and said to Gordon: "You know, I was born in the East District, a native Gotham, a child from the slums."

"I remember when you first came to Gotham... that should be a few years ago? Yes, at that time, the East District was still very glorious. There were four major families, a large number of high-end clubs, various bars and clubs, and even the strippers were the best."

"Don't think that it was a shabby slum." Bullock changed his hand to hold the cigarette, he took a puff of the cigarette, exhaled the smoke, and fell into memories.

"The East District was glorious for a while. With Green Street as the center, dozens of streets spread out, including Elizabeth Street, the center of gangs now. But at that time, Elizabeth Street was not ranked. When it comes to prosperity, Green Street is of course the best."

"But now, it's a bit..." Gordon frowned, he touched the corner of his mouth, and said: "I went to see it when I was handling that case two days ago, and it really doesn't fit what you said..."

"Of course, I said, that was all in the past, about five or six years ago... or seven or eight years ago, it was still the most prosperous commercial center in the East District. The Viking Umbrella Store was opened in the alley there. Don't think it's remote, it's actually the best location."

Brock exhaled another puff of smoke and recalled: "It's the most special store in the East District. The commercial streets ruled by gangs are often full of bars, dance halls and high-end restaurants. An umbrella store opened there is somewhat out of place."

"However, the customers of that umbrella store are very high-end, because the old umbrella maker Viking has good craftsmanship, The handmade umbrellas he made were a symbol of the status of the Gotham gangsters at that time. Anyone who could go out with an umbrella with the Viking emblem would be considered an upper-class figure in the Gotham gangster world. "

"I know." Gordon nodded and said, "When I first came to Gotham, there was a craze for handmade products, a retro trend that led the aesthetics of the East Coast and even the whole country. Everyone said that things made by machines are cold and soulless, and only handmade things have taste."

"Maybe so, but not entirely." Brock came over, sat on the chair, and then said, "You know the weather in Gotham, umbrellas are really practical things."

Gordon put his elbows on the table, put the center of gravity of his whole body on the table, flipped through a file, and said, "This old umbrella maker should have good craftsmanship, right? It's a pity that he died."

"Indeed, the entire Gotham gangsters would only buy umbrellas from him, so many other people would not buy umbrellas from him. All the umbrella makers quit, and today, he is the only handmade umbrella maker left in the whole Gotham. "

"His craftsmanship is indeed impeccable, but his temper is also very strange. When I was still living in the East District, I heard that he only sold umbrellas to some people, and the other people could not buy umbrellas no matter how much they paid. "

"Really?" Gordon looked at Bullock and questioned: "Those gangsters are not giving away umbrellas for free. If this old umbrella maker dares not to sell them umbrellas, won't they go to cause trouble?"

"I don't know about that, but it seems that there has been no conflict." Bullock shrugged.

"I don't think you can find any clues from him. He may have been injured by mistake."

Gordon said unwillingly: "Kevin's death is related to Fish's death, but I can't find any clues from Kevin, so I can only start from others. Do you think it will happen..."

Gordon sighed, overturned his own guess, and then said: "Forget it, it's unlikely. The craze for handmade products is over now. A gangster like Kevin who didn't go to school would not make handmade umbrellas. Our informant never said that he knew the owner of the Viking Umbrella Shop. The two of them may be strangers."

"But I always feel that it's a bit strange that they died in the same case . ” Gordon stood up, and he said with his hands on his waist: “In the past, there were many cases where gang fights affected other people, but I feel that this case is very strange…”

“Your intuition is always accurate.” Bullock said to Gordon: “Let me go to the umbrella shop again later. After all, I grew up in the East District and am familiar with it. If there are any clues, I will tell you…”

“That’s the only way.”

Just as Gordon finished speaking, a young policeman knocked on the door and said: “Boss Gordon, Mr. Falcone is here.”

Gordon and Bullock hurried out to greet him. When they came upstairs, they saw the police chief greeting Evans. Evans was dressed in a suit and followed by several bodyguards.

It looked as if he was the owner of the police station.

Evans inherited his father's good looks, tall, upright, handsome, and he also inherited beautiful blonde hair from his mother. However, he does not look like a gangster godfather, but rather like a star actor or a passionate artist.

Seeing Gordon coming, he turned around and shook hands with Gordon and said, "Detective Gordon, I've heard of you for a long time. I've heard of you from my classmates and teachers. You're a good policeman..."

Gordon and Bullock accompanied the director and Evans to greet each other.

This is the case in Gotham. Even if Evans is the biggest suspect in a murder case, all police officers have to be polite to him, even as a guest of honor, because his last name is Falcone.

Just when they were about to invite Evans to the reception room, Evans said, "No need, I have something to say here..."

In the basement of a hotel on Elizabeth Street, Maroni screamed, and Batman broke his leg with a steel pipe. Maroni cursed loudly: "You damn nosy weirdo..."

Batman's voice was as cold as ever: "I stopped you from killing the innkeeper, but it was not because I happened to pass by. Obviously, I have something to do with you, and you'd better cooperate."

Maroni glared at him fiercely and said, "Don't expect me to tell you anything! You son of a bitch..."

Ten minutes later, Maroni was lying on the ground with all his limbs broken. Batman asked him, "Did you shoot and kill Fish?"

Maroni didn't seem to expect that he was asking this question. He blew a short breath on the spot. The pain almost made him faint, but Batman gave him a shot of stimulant to keep him awake.

"You'd better cooperate, otherwise I don't know where to break next." Batman kicked his arm with his foot, and Maroni screamed like he was dying. Finally, he gave in and said, "It's me... It's really me..."

"Why did you do this?"

"I have a grudge against Fish."

Batman stepped on his broken arm again, and Maroni screamed fiercely. He trembled and said, "Someone threatened me... I can't do anything..."

"Who threatened you?"

Maroni was silent for a long time. No matter how Batman tortured him, he refused to say the name.

Finally, Batman said: "I know where the Maroni family is located, and I also know where your core strength and wealth are hidden. If you don't want a fire with no survivors there, you'd better cooperate with me..."

Maroni lay on the ground, as if dead. Just when Batman thought he would not speak again, Maroni uttered a name in a hoarse voice:

"Evans Falcone."

In the ward of Arkham Psychiatric Hospital, Schiller retracted his arm, put down the umbrella, and then leaned the tip of the umbrella on the ground. He said to Cobblepot: "...Don't tell me that you bought this umbrella. You should know that you can't afford it."

"So, did you steal it or rob it?"

Cobblepot seemed to be humiliated. He pursed his lips and stared at Schiller and said: "This is what I deserve!"

Schiller folded his hands on the handle of the umbrella, stood there, and asked Cobblepot: "Why do you say that?"

Cobblepot turned his head away and didn't answer.

At this moment, the door of the ward was knocked, and Schiller turned around and said, "Come in."

It was Gordon who came in. After he came in, he first glanced at the situation in the ward, glanced at Cobert, and finally stopped his sight at Schiller and said, "Little Falcone pleaded guilty."

The atmosphere in the room froze for a moment. Cobert seemed to be electrocuted and almost jumped up from the bed. He turned his head and glared at Gordon and said loudly, "What did you say? Who pleaded guilty?"

His tone was full of disbelief. Gordon swallowed his saliva and said to Cobert, "I know you can't believe it, because I can't believe it now."

"But the fact is that before I came here, about a few minutes ago, the Godfather's biological son Evans Falcone came to the police station..."

"Then he admitted that he had instructed Maroni to kill Fish Mooney."

Cobert's movements froze. He was frozen in mid-air, his eyes almost popped out of his sockets, and then he fell back on the bed as if doubting his life, and muttered to himself in disbelief: "... He ordered Maroni to kill Fish, so what did I do? What did I do?"

"I..." Cobblepot seemed to be choked. From his expression, it can be seen that in just a few seconds, he went over all his plans and actions in his mind, and then he said with certainty: "Impossible, how could Falcone Jr.... This doesn't make sense at all."

Gordon sighed and said, "Who said it wasn't? Brock and I were stunned. Evans stood in the police station full of police and told us that he was here to surrender, and it was he who ordered Maroni to kill Fish."

"He has no motive to do this." Cobblepot looked at Gordon and said, ""Aren't we the police most concerned about the motive of the crime? What reason does Falcone Jr. have to do this? What good will it do him to kill Fish? "

He just finished asking, and then said in disbelief: "Well, killing Fish may be good for him, such as deterring others, but he shouldn't..."

"I know what you want to say. No matter how stupid the Godfather's son is, he won't use this method to get rid of his competitors. More importantly, even if he did, he has no reason to turn himself in."

"Gang assassinations are common in Gotham." Gordon frowned deeply, and he could feel that the deep marks between his eyebrows were almost engraved on his face. He said, "Everyone knows that this happens every day, but this is not a reason for him to bring it to the table."

"What on earth does he want to do? Why involve the police station?"

When Gordon said this, he felt it was ridiculous. What reason was there to involve the police station in a murder case? Oh my God! What is he talking about? Is he still a policeman?

But in Gotham, this is obviously a tacit truth for everyone. No one would call the police for assassinations between gangs. That would be looked down upon by other colleagues and would greatly damage their reputation.

But now, the Godfather's own son ran to the police station and openly said that he had murdered Fish. The nature of this matter is completely different.

If he didn't admit it, no one could force him to admit it, because his last name was Falcone, but now that he admitted it, no one could turn a blind eye to it, also because his last name was Falcone.