After some reflection, Luke accepted Daisy's invitation.
The two were set to meet at 7 p.m. on Sunday evening.
Silver Tower Restaurant, a renowned French establishment in Los Angeles, was their destination. Though Luke had tried Western cuisine in China, it had always been a makeshift version. This would be his first experience with authentic French food.
Nestled on Rodeo Avenue near Beverly Hills, Silver Tower is situated on the second floor of a modest building. The surrounding area, lined with tall palm trees, boasts low-rise structures and a unique, serene atmosphere—quite a departure from the high-rise buildings Luke is accustomed to in China.
Los Angeles, a city of immense wealth and stark disparity, set the backdrop for this evening.
Luke arrived at Silver Tower at 6:45 p.m. The restaurant, perched above, offered a splendid view of the illuminated Rodeo Avenue. As this was his first visit to such a luxurious venue, he was both excited and a bit overwhelmed.
At 6:53, Daisy arrived, her long brown hair cascading down her back. She wore a sleek black dress under a khaki coat. Daisy, whom Luke had rescued on Thursday night, greeted him with a warm smile.
"Officer Luke, I'm so sorry to keep you waiting."
"It's not even the appointed time yet; I've just arrived," Luke reassured her.
Daisy removed her coat, revealing her elegant figure, and took her seat across from Luke. "I apologize for the delay. Something urgent came up at work."
"You've just been through a robbery. Maybe you should take some time off," Luke suggested.
"I considered it, but I have pressing matters to handle. In our line of work, the client always comes first," Daisy replied.
"And what exactly do you do?"
"I'm a lawyer."
"Wow, you must earn quite a bit," Luke remarked.
"The price is long hours—usually more than twelve a day, plus commuting. I'm often busy for about fourteen hours a day. At this rate, it feels like I might end up married to my profession," Daisy sighed, handing Luke the menu.
"Let's focus on something lighter, like dinner," Luke suggested.
He perused the menu and selected several dishes: French white wine snails, fried scallops with foie gras, red wine black pepper steak, seafood risotto, and asparagus soup. Although the menu featured many options, Luke figured he could handle it all.
Daisy added a few more dishes and a bottle of red wine before handing the menu to the waiter. Luke estimated the meal would cost no less than six hundred dollars.
The waiter arrived, uncorking the bottle of red wine and pouring it into a decanter. "Ma'am, sir, would you like to aerate the wine?"
The waiter poured half a glass for each of them before bowing and leaving.
Daisy raised her glass. "Officer Luke, thank you for saving me. It might have seemed trivial to you, but to me, it was a life-saving act."
"I simply did what needed to be done. Let's not dwell on it—after this toast, let's enjoy our dinner without any awkwardness," Luke said, sipping his wine.
"Understood. However, I'll always be grateful. If you ever have any legal questions, don't hesitate to reach out," Daisy offered.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Daisy lifted her glass again. "Besides the rescue, I also want to thank you for handling the tire incident. I thought you were making a pass at me, so my response was a bit curt. I hope you can forgive me."
"Actually, I should thank you for the tire incident," Luke admitted with a smile.
Daisy looked puzzled. "Why?"
"Because I did intend to hit on you that day. If not for your tire trouble, I might have been the one caught off guard," Luke explained.
Daisy laughed. "Haha… I'll accept your thanks on behalf of my car tires."
The conversation lightened the mood.
Luke relished his first authentic French meal, finding the red wine and black pepper steak particularly delightful. The steak was tender and flavorful, while the seafood risotto, with its rich shrimp and squid, was also impressive.
As they enjoyed the evening—fine food, excellent wine, and the stunning night view of Los Angeles—Daisy's mood seemed to improve. However, she eventually raised a more troubling topic.
"Officer Luke, I've encountered some troubling events again. I'm unsure if I should report them to the police. I'd appreciate your advice."
"Feel free to ask. And just call me Luke," he said.
Daisy hesitated before speaking. "This morning, I found my office in disarray. The documents were scattered."
"Could it have been a colleague?" Luke inquired.
"I asked around, but no one admitted to entering my office," Daisy replied.
"Did anything go missing?"
"No, which is puzzling. Although things were messed up, nothing was stolen," she said.
"Any valuable items in the office?"
"I have a thousand dollars in cash and two pieces of jewelry, all untouched," Daisy noted.
"Were there any signs of forced entry?"
"No," Daisy responded.
"Could it be that you misremembered the file's location?" Luke asked.
"That's impossible. I meticulously organize documents alphabetically to find them quickly, but the order was disrupted. Someone must have handled them," Daisy explained.
"Do you have any suspects?" Luke asked.
Daisy shook her head. "Because there are no suspects, I hesitated to involve the police. Without stolen property, filing a report seems difficult, and the police might think I'm just imagining things due to the recent robbery."
Luke pondered her words, recognizing her nervousness but also noting her stable demeanor. Despite her calmness, it seemed someone had indeed been in her office.
Given the recent robbery and the intrusion into her office, the timing was suspiciously coincidental. The fact that no valuables were taken suggested a different motive.
"Daisy, could it be that someone who knew about your recent robbery is trying to gather information about your clients or cases, thinking you might be away from the office for a while?" Luke suggested.
Daisy considered this. "I get along well with my colleagues, but competition at the firm is fierce, so it's a possibility."
"Is there surveillance in your office?" Luke asked.
"No, I'm not used to cameras in my office, but there is one in the hallway outside," Daisy said.
"Then check the surveillance footage to confirm any unauthorized entry. This evidence will be crucial if you want the police to investigate. Without property damage or loss, it's challenging for them to take action," Luke advised.
Daisy raised her glass again. "I understand. Thank you once more for your assistance."
Luke took a sip of his wine. He had already enjoyed quite a bit that evening.
As a lawyer, Daisy should be familiar with handling such situations, but she likely needed moral support—or simply someone to talk to.
In any case, the robbery had clearly left its mark on her.