Daisy's eyes were filled with anxiety. "Do you think his accomplices will still be searching for me?"
Luke's gaze turned serious. "I can't be certain—those are just my guesses." As he spoke, the waiter delivered their meal: a lamb chop set for Luke and a steak set for Daisy. The lamb chop plate was generously garnished with three lamb chops, fried eggs, pasta, broccoli, snow peas, and cherry tomatoes.
Luke, who had always enjoyed meat, had adapted well to the local cuisine after crossing the border. He mused that if one wasn't fond of meat, traveling abroad might be less enjoyable.
He took a bite of the succulent lamb chop, savoring its juiciness. Daisy, after a tentative bite of her steak, set down her cutlery with a sigh. "What should I do?"
Luke took a sip of water before responding. "If I'm right, you must possess something they want—something so crucial they're willing to risk imprisonment."
Daisy's expression was one of bewilderment. "I really don't know what they could be after."
"Could it be related to a lawsuit or a client you're representing?"
"I do handle a few cases, but they're all routine. It shouldn't lead to something like this."
"Tell me about the cases you're working on now."
Daisy looked uneasy. "I'm sorry, but I've signed non-disclosure agreements with my clients. I'm bound by confidentiality and can't reveal any details about the cases or the clients."
Luke felt a pang of discomfort. It was professionally acceptable, but personally unsettling to offer help while being kept in the dark.
"I understand," he said, trying to mask his disappointment. "However, with the information we have, it's difficult to provide further assistance. You should consider reporting this to the police."
"Aren't you a police officer? Can't you help with the investigation?"
"I wish I could, but right now, due to a power outage, we've lost surveillance. Since nothing valuable was stolen from your office, proving a break-in is challenging. This situation is typically handled by patrol officers." He added, "The suspect, Tim, has confessed, and the evidence chain is solid. Unless new evidence, like someone breaking into your office, comes to light and connects to the robbery, we can't reopen the case."
Daisy's lips quivered as she asked, "What if the suspect's accomplices keep pursuing me?"
"You shouldn't be overly anxious. What you've mentioned is purely speculative without concrete evidence. Just stay vigilant and call 911 if anything unusual occurs."
After dinner, Luke returned to the police station. Although he had a personal stake in helping Daisy, the case wasn't his responsibility, especially with regards to reopening it.
One o'clock in the afternoon.
Robbery and Murder Division, Conference Room.
Susan took her seat at the head of the table, surveying the detectives on either side. "David, Luke, have there been any updates from the informant?"
David remained silent, not intending to contribute.
Luke spoke up. "We met with the informant, Harry. Although he didn't locate Tony, he informed us about Tony's friend, William. We then went to find this William."
"William mentioned that Tony, our suspect, rarely talked about his family in Nevada. When he did, it was usually only about his wife and children in a drunken state. However, official records don't show any marriage."
Marcus, with his thick black lips, interjected, "In lower-income communities, marriage doesn't always follow legal procedures. People might have relationships and children without official documentation. Tony could have had a partner he loved who left him due to his poor lifestyle. Such situations are not uncommon."
"Marcus, I appreciate your insights into lower-income areas, but please let me finish," Susan said.
Marcus shrugged.
Luke continued, "According to William, a financially well-off man drives a BMW X5 and visits Tony every year. Their long-term relationship is clear, though the nature of it remains uncertain. William also mentioned that Tony has a strong aversion to the police."
Marcus interrupted again, "This is typical for criminals."
Luke's frustration was evident. "Do you have more to add?"
Marcus motioned for him to proceed.
"I discovered a bag containing a substance that might be drugs at Tony's residence. Despite Tony's seemingly stable financial situation, he might have alternative income sources. That's all we have for now."
Susan turned to the deputy. "Vincent, what's your take?"
Vincent considered briefly. "For someone not financially well-off, the cost of drugs is significant. If Tony lacks other income sources, this could be a motive. If Marcus's theory is correct about Tony's personal history, his crime might be driven by revenge. The victims' physical characteristics, like having long blonde hair, could resemble the woman Tony loved, giving him a second motive."
The deputy continued, "Tony's lack of contact with his hometown family and his disdain for the police suggests he might have committed crimes there. Investigating his hometown could yield new clues."
Susan, though she had previously disagreed with the deputy, acknowledged his expertise and ordered, "Marcus, Jenny, you two handle the investigation into Tony's family. Raymond, follow up on the clues regarding the wealthy man. David, Luke, head to Nevada to investigate Tony's hometown."
Traveling long distances for investigations was arduous, but Luke, experienced in such tasks, requested, "Captain, can we discuss a change in assignments?"
Susan responded curtly, "What do you have in mind?"
After the meeting, Luke approached Susan.
"Captain, I'd like to discuss the robbery from last Thursday."
"Come in."
They entered the office and took their seats.
Susan sipped her black tea and addressed Luke. "You'd rather not go to Nevada and are looking to negotiate through this case?"
"That's not quite it. Yesterday, I spoke with Daisy and learned new details about her situation." Luke recounted his conversation with Daisy.
Susan asked, "Do you think the power outage is related to the robbery?"
"I'm not sure; it's just a hypothesis. If you deem it necessary, I can investigate further."
Susan agreed, "Then I'll assign someone else to Nevada."
Luke smiled, "That works for me."