It was eight in the evening.

Near Sofia's house.

A black Dodge slowly pulled over to the side of the road.

Luke and David got out of the car.

David remarked, "It's been a long time since we've worked a case together at night."

Luke joked, "How about that? Does it feel romantic to you?"

"Drop dead."

Luke didn't want to work overtime either, but Caroline had already provided a clue. If they didn't investigate promptly, by the time Caroline eased off, it was very likely she would collude with Sofia again, "Like last time, I'll knock, and you hang back."

David observed for a moment, "There are no lights on in the house, Sofia is probably not home."

"She might also not want anyone to know she's home," Luke moved forward and knocked, "Thud, thud..."

There was no response.

Luke knocked a few more times, still no response.

"I guessed right. Let's go back and sit in the car," David turned and headed back to the car.

In the past, sitting in the car on a stakeout at night was the norm, sometimes spanning the whole night. This was the first time Luke was doing it in Los Angeles.

"I'm so sleepy, I want to sleep," Luke yawned and leaned back in the seat.

"Ding-a-ling..."

The cellphone rang.

Luke took out his cellphone. It was a call from Daisy.

Luke got out of the car, "Hello."

"Luke, have you finished work?"

"No, I'm still working overtime."

"Me too."

Luke asked back, "What time do you plan to finish?"

"Around ten. What about you?"

"I can't say for sure yet. Something up?"

"Yeah, there's a bit of something. I'll pick you up after you finish."

Luke smiled, "You've piqued my curiosity, what's it about?"

"I'll tell you when we meet."

"OK." Luke hung up the phone and returned to the car.

Los Angeles has a big temperature difference, and it really felt quite chilly standing outside.

David laughed, "Your new girlfriend?"

"You're using all your detective reasoning skills on me."

"Hey, don't underestimate the veteran of the Robbery and Murder Department. If I wasn't too lazy to think, what would you do?"

"Ding-a-ling..." David's mobile phone rang.

"Raymond, how are things on your end..."

"I see."

...

After hanging up, David said, "Let's go, Raymond and the others have found Sofia."

Luke was a bit surprised, "Where?"

"At Brooke's place."

Luke chuckled, "It seems this pair of non-blood-related siblings get along very well."

Half an hour later, Luke and the others returned to the police station.

Sofia and Brooke were also brought back to the police station for separate interrogation.

Luke and David interogated Sofia.

Raymond and Jenny interogated Brooke.

Sofia was brought into the interrogation room, her face showing signs of nervousness, "Why are you arresting me? What crime have I committed?"

"Sofia, we've brought you back to the station because we have sufficient evidence. Don't indulge in wishful thinking, just explain the situation clearly."

"What do you want me to say?"

"It seems you don't want to earn a reduced sentence."

Sofia asserted defiantly, "I haven't committed any crimes, what do you want me to confess to?"

Luke got straight to the point, "Why did you stop Brooke from calling the police?"

Sofia's lips twitched slightly as she shook her head, "I don't know what you mean?"

Luke continued, "I've made myself clear enough, there are no secrets that can't be uncovered. Do you still want to resist?"

Sofia lowered her head, her gaze flickering and her expression conflicted.

Luke pressed on, "Why did you attack Lorne? Did you do it to gain his favor and thereby inherit more?"

"No! The attack on my father had nothing to do with me."

"Then why did you stop Brooke from calling the police? Even if you won't say, Brooke will. If you don't admit to it, the responsibility will fall on Brooke."

Sofia bit her lip, took a deep breath, and admitted, "Yes, I stopped Brooke from calling the police."

"Why?"

"I went back to my father's house and saw him fallen on the ground. I pinched his philtrum. He woke up briefly and told me not to call the police. I was just following his wishes, that was his desire."

"Why would Lorne not want to call the police?"

"I don't know."

"How can you prove that you're telling the truth, and not just shifting the blame?"

Sofia was silent for a moment, then said, "He is my father."

"How did you convince Brooke to help you?"

"I followed the ambulance to the hospital. Brooke was in charge of treating my father. When he came out of the emergency room, he told me my father might have been attacked and wanted to call the police.

I stopped him and told him about my father's wish not to call the police."

Luke asked, "Such a serious matter; why would he believe you? And why would he agree to share the responsibility, which could potentially ruin a doctor's career?"

"He was reluctant at first, but I begged him to agree. Although he was troubled...we have a close relationship, so he agreed in the end."

"Why do you think Lorne was attacked?"

"I don't know."

"Then why did you readily agree not to call the police?"

"I love him, I didn't want to go against his wishes."

Luke pulled out a photo of Tim, "Do you know him?"

"I don't know him."

Luke then produced a photo of Tony, "How about him?"

"Never seen him before."

After the interrogation, Luke and others left the interrogation room and just happened to run into Raymond and Jenny in the corridor.

Upon comparing testimony, they were mostly consistent.

From a credibility standpoint, Sofia's excuse sounded very flimsy.

But as there is the principle of innocent until proven guilty and without concrete evidence, the police could only choose to believe her.

If what Sofia said was true, and indeed Lorne had disagreed with calling the police,

then Lorne's actions became very suspicious and intriguing.

At 10 PM, Luke finally got off work.

A red convertible was parked under the detective's building.

Luke got into the passenger seat and laughed, "Do you know? I've always had a dream of a beautiful woman in a luxury car picking me up after work, and today it finally came true."

Daisy started the car and retorted, "Then how do you plan to repay me?"

"How about I pledge myself to you?"

"I'll consider it," Daisy laughed.

Luke yawned, "What's up so late?"

"Uh..." Daisy looked troubled and hesitated, "I don't know how to say it."

"Daisy, no matter what it is, I'll help you. Just tell me."

"Ever since we discovered cameras in my house, I've been scared to go home alone at night.

Two floors, several rooms, all pitch dark..." Daisy parked on the roadside, her eyes reddening, "I'm not a coward, but... I always feel like someone is watching me, afraid there's someone in the house..."

Luke took her hand, "I understand; it's a normal reaction. I'll escort you home."

"Thank you. But you have work, you can't be with me every day."

"What are you thinking?"

"Do you know any reliable detectives or bodyguards? I'd like to hire for a while; it might make things better."

"What kind of hiring do you mean? Is it to pick you up after work or to provide nighttime security, and what's your budget?"

Daisy thought for a moment, "I'm not sure, so that's why I'm asking for your help. What do you think?"

Luke said, "From what I know of the detective industry, it's a mixed bag and quite complicated; I don't recommend hiring from them.

As for bodyguards, I have less contact. If you are considering it, it's better to go with a larger, more established bodyguard company for better security."

Luke did not volunteer himself.

He wouldn't mind moving to Daisy's place, as proximity could be advantageous, but he knew to play it strategically as eagerly stepping forward might not look good.