Page 48 of Daddy's Protection
Lana seemed to be thinking for a moment. “Heat. The scene where Robert DeNiro and Val Kilmer are sitting in a booth over there by that window.” She directed her gaze toward the correct location. “I think it shows the back of the restaurant, too, from the parking lot.”
“What the heck?” Cami questioned, her voice full of awe. “How did you just pull that fact off the top of your head?”
Lana took a little bow. “I told you—I’m a total film geek. And the cool thing about this town is almost everywhere has been insomething.”
“I’ve never seen Heat,” Cami admitted. “Not my type of thing.Gilmore Girlsis more my speed.”
“I’m on my third rewatch!” Iris exclaimed. “It’s the best. Makes me want to go to a quaint New England town.”
Lana looked apologetic. “I hate to break it to you. But that was filmed on the Warners backlot.”
“What?” Cami and Iris asked at the same time.
“Sorry,” Lana apologized with a grimace.
“I don’t want to know any more,” Iris declared. “It’ll ruin the magic.”
The conversation stopped while the waiter brought their order. Once everyone had their food, Isaiah said, “All right. Let’s break down what we found out today.”
He took another bite of his double-decker burger—loving the red relish on it—and then continued. “We spoke with your uncle today. He seems to be doing well out there in New York.”
“Oh yeah,” Cami said. “He’s super successful. Just like my aunt.”
“Yep. That’s why we don’t think either one of them are suspects here,” Isaiah told her.
He turned his head so he could see his sweetie next to him. She appeared shocked. “You thought they might be?”
Isaiah gave her a sympathetic nod. “Honey, in a lot of cases, nine times out of ten, in fact, it’s family.”
“He’s right,” Jack stated. “As a detective, I learned pretty early on in my career to start with those closest to the victim. Most crimes aren’t random. In fact, the random ones are rare. As Isaiah stated, it’s almost always someone a person knows. Often family. Or a romantic partner.”
Cami looked bashful as she told them, “I don’t have a romantic partner. Or… I didn’t.” She giggled.
Isaiah’s heart warmed. His girl was just too cute.
“I’m glad I don’t have any competition,” he replied. “But since you didn’t have a significant other—before now—we needed to look at your family. A historic home in Angelino Heights has to be worth quite a bit. It stood to reason that someone could be jealous you inherited it and they didn’t.”
She shook her head. “Yeah, but Aunt Camille and Uncle Sam wouldn’t do anything like that. They’re both rich. They don’t need more money.”
“Sometimes rich people want more. That’s how greed works,” Isaiah countered.
“It’s never enough for some folks,” Jack added. “Saw my share of that working cases.”
Isaiah suspected Cami was turning it all over in her mind. He wanted to put her at ease, so he quickly said, “But your aunt gaveus a solid lead. Judge McConnell. Seems he tried to buy your grandma out several times. Forced some others on the block to leave, as well, and snatched up their property.”
Cami’s jaw dropped. It took her a moment to recover. “Whoa! So he’s faking a haunting to try and drive me away?”
Isaiah put his hand atop hers as it rested on the table. “We don’t know for sure. But it’s the most likely angle at this point. Get you so scared that you were willing to sell—for a lower amount. Take advantage of you being desperate.”
“Of course,” Jack added, “now we need to find the proof. If that’s even what’s going on. First rule of police work: never assume until you have facts. Let the evidence speak for itself.”
Ace chuckled. “That’s why I loved flying my chopper. I didn’t have to worry about all that crap. I just got to chase suspects from the air or monitor situations to keep you guys safe. Damn, it was something.”
Isaiah flashed him a cocky grin. “In other words, you left the real police work up to us on the ground.”
The group—including Ace—laughed.
“So how will you prove it?” Cami inquired.
