Steven had been escorted away by the lawyer.
Marcus shrugged. "So, we just let him go?"
Susan replied, "Steven didn't take the photo. Under California law, there's no reason to detain him."
Jenny inquired, "Does he have a motive?"
"Motive isn't admissible as evidence," Susan said with a serious expression.
Luke looked disheartened. In China, the absence of a lawyer wouldn't have been an issue. If Steven had a motive, he would have been interrogated thoroughly.
"We suspect Steven, so we'll dig deeper. If he's cleared, the police can redirect their efforts and find Alyssa more quickly."
"California has its own legal system," David sighed, "and its laws don't always fit well with Los Angeles."
David continued, "I intentionally provoked Steven. His emotions seemed genuine, and his feelings for his wife are evident. I believe Elisa's disappearance is likely unrelated to him."
After David's remark, he turned to Luke and asked, "What do you think?"
Luke shook his head. "I don't have a wife."
The deputy captain smiled, "Captain, what's our next move?"
Susan replied, "Everyone should investigate separately, reassess the clues, and look for common traits among the victims. We might uncover new leads." She then headed back to her office.
The deputy captain smirked, clearly unbothered by Susan's statement.
David asked, "Any thoughts, Deputy Captain?"
"The captain hasn't come up with anything new, so why would I?"
"Come on, we all know you're resourceful and sharp, despite your age. Don't be so modest."
The deputy captain pulled a comb from his pocket and tidied his hair. "From the current evidence, Tony Will is the key figure. He purchased the modified Taser, and whether or not he's the robber, he's crucial to our investigation. We need to explore his connections with Harry, Steven, Alyssa, and Tony. For now, Steven should be our main focus."
Matthew added, "I've checked before. Tony doesn't seem to have direct ties to these three."
"True, Tony might not use his real identity, but he's used a fake one for twenty years. What if his real identity has links to these people?" the deputy captain concluded.
"Investigate the connections of these three individuals to see if anyone resembles Tony Will."
"Yes, Captain."
"It's Deputy Captain. Don't make me correct you again."
That night, Luke invited Daisy to meet him at the Flying Bar.
After several encounters, Luke felt a growing attraction toward Daisy. In his previous life, he'd never dated someone from another country, and he was intrigued by the prospect.
At eight o'clock, Luke met Daisy at the bar's entrance.
Daisy, dressed in a black professional outfit, still managed to display her elegant curves. She appeared slightly weary.
"Sorry for making you wait," she said.
"I just got here too. Let's go inside."
They entered the bar and chose a small table for two. Luke ordered two glasses of wine and a fruit platter, and the waiter brought some complimentary snacks.
When Luke came to Los Angeles, picking up girls was a novel idea for him. The cultural and national differences meant that his old methods might not work, so he was still experimenting.
"Do you come to this bar often?"
"I live nearby. Sometimes, I stop by for a drink after work to unwind," Daisy replied.
"That's not something you'd expect a young woman to say."
Daisy smiled. "What about you? Do you work overtime often?"
"I used to a lot, but after an injury, I realized there's more to life than work. Now, I only work late if absolutely necessary."
"Does your captain mind? She seemed quite serious when I met her."
"You're right. I'm working to show her that I can handle my duties without excessive overtime. So far, it's going well."
The waiter arrived with their order. They clinked glasses and toasted.
Daisy set her glass down and asked, "How's the Taser robbery investigation going? If it's confidential, no worries."
Luke ate a piece of fruit. "The case is trickier than expected. We've identified several suspects but lack direct evidence. We're at an impasse."
Daisy inquired, "Are you certain Tim, the suspect from my case, isn't linked to the Taser robbery?"
Luke nodded. "He has an alibi for the first two robberies."
"I must have terrible luck. I got targeted right after leaving the house."
"Maybe you just stand out."
Daisy raised her glass. "Thanks for being on time. Otherwise, I would have felt awkward."
Luke raised his glass in return. "To your tires. They brought us together."
Daisy laughed. "I might just get separate insurance for them."
They shared a laugh before falling into a brief silence.
Luke then asked, "How have you been lately? Any suspicious activity around you?"
"No, but working all day and coming home alone makes me uneasy."
"Maybe consider getting a roommate."
"I'm used to living alone."
Luke looked disappointed. "Then perhaps install a security camera."
"I don't like the idea of surveillance. It makes me feel watched, which only increases my anxiety."
"Then use a simple trick."
"What kind of trick?"
"For example, place an inconspicuous string on your door. Before you enter, check if it's been moved. If the string falls or shifts, someone might have entered. It's not foolproof but saves time and effort."
Daisy thought for a moment. "That's a good idea. I'll give it a try."
"Feel free to call me if you notice anything suspicious."
"Thank you."
After their chat, Luke offered to walk Daisy home. They strolled down the street to her two-story villa, which looked particularly eerie in the dark.
"Do you want me to come inside with you?"
"No, but thank you for walking me home. I'll buy you a drink another time."
"How about a coffee before you head in?"
Daisy smiled, "I'd love to, but I have an early court appearance tomorrow, so I need to get some rest."
"Work comes first. Go on in, strong woman."
"Goodbye." Daisy waved and went inside, turning on the light and giving Luke a final wave from the window.
Luke waved back and headed off.
Ding Dong…
Daisy texted, "See you tomorrow."