Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

The following morning.

"Buzz buzz..."

A loud noise woke Luke.

Luke slowly got up, walked over to the window, and pulled open the curtains to see a helicopter landing on the farm.

Two people got out of the helicopter and walked towards the villa; upon a closer look, they were a white woman in her fifties and a white teenager about thirteen or fourteen years old.

Having seen the Cruise family's photographs, Luke identified the two as Fuan Cruise's daughter and grandson.

Fuan Cruise's daughter, Marilyn, also opposed the marriage between Fuan Cruise and Chanel Karl, and she had inheritance rights to the property, providing her with sufficient motive to write the threat letter.

After freshening up, Luke went to the dining room for breakfast, thinking of using the opportunity to get to know the others and have a private talk.

What frustrated Luke was that the Cruise family did not have the habit of eating breakfast together.

From start to finish, Luke didn't catch a glimpse of the mother and son.

After the meal, Luke strolled around the estate.

When he got tired, he sat in the courtyard to drink tea, gazing at the distant wilderness.

With birds chirping and flowers fragrant, horses neighing, and the grass a lush green under a vast blue sky, it was a scene of serene contentment.

Around nine in the morning, Luke finally saw the mother and son again.

They had changed into casual clothes and were carrying fishing gear, nets, and tackle boxes, apparently planning to go fishing.

Luke approached and asked, "Hello, are you Ms. Marilyn Cruise?"

The woman glanced at Luke, "Yes, I am. And who might you be?"

"My name is Luke Lee, and I am the security consultant hired by Mr. Fuan Cruise."

"I've heard my father mention you. What can I do for you?"

"I'd like a few minutes of your time to discuss the threat letter."

Marilyn Cruise laughed, "You suspect I wrote that threat letter? Or is this at my father's suggestion?"

"No, this isn't specific to you. I'll be speaking with everyone on the estate."

Marilyn Cruise thought for a moment, "Manny, I need to talk to Mr. Lee alone."

"Mommy, you promised to go fishing with me."

"I know, just wait for me in the car."

"It's always like this." The boy complained and walked away huffishly.

Marilyn Cruise shook her head and sighed, "Children will never understand the worries of adults.

Mr. Lee, you may speak, and please be quick.

As you see, my schedule today is quite full."

"Ms. Cruise, have you seen the threat letter?"

"Yes."

"How do you feel about the threat letter?"

"The tone of the letter isn't very friendly, but... the engagement ceremony is indeed absurd.

My father is seventy-five years old; his grandson is already married, yet now he suddenly wants to get engaged—it's so irrational."

"You and the person who wrote the threat letter share the same opinion."

Marilyn Cruise laughed, "I know what you're implying, but that letter isn't my doing. I wouldn't stoop to such low levels."

"Then who do you think wrote it?"

"Shouldn't that be your job to find out?"

"Do you know who wrote the threat letter?"

"I don't."

Luke observed her expression, feeling that she was showing signs of lying.

"Ms. Cruise, if you know who wrote the threat letter, I hope you can give me some clues.

Given the tone of the letter, the person behind it could pose a threat to Mr. Fuan Cruise's safety.

I know you're against holding the engagement ceremony, but I believe you'd be even less inclined to see your father harmed."

Marilyn Cruise fixed her gaze on Luke, "You're right, my father's safety is the most important.

If you truly care about my father's safety, you shouldn't focus your investigation on the threat letter; it's just a ruse, meant to divert attention or fuel my father's competitive spirit.

He's been stubborn all his life; the more you tell him not to do something, the more he'll want to do it."

"Who do you feel could pose a threat to Mr. Fuan Cruise's safety?"

"Chanel Karl.

Her intentions in getting engaged with my father are not pure.

If my father truly marries her, it will be a disaster.

She is the one who could really hurt my father.

You should be investigating her."

"Can you explain your reasons?"

Marilyn Cruise countered, "My father is already 75 years old; why do you think she would want to be with him?"

Luke said, "Although Mr. Fuan Cruise is advanced in years, he's still in good health and is a very charismatic person."

Marilyn Cruise laughed, "Charisma my ass, he just has a lot of money." Marilyn Cruise added, "Don't tell him that; he would definitely blow his top."

"So, you think Chanel Karl wants to marry your father for his money."

"It's not what I think, but what everyone thinks."

"Madam, I'm inclined to believe you, but we need evidence in any case.

As far as I know, your father and Ms. Chanel Karl have known each other for thirty years, and they share a certain emotional foundation."

"That's true.

But as you said, that was thirty years ago.

Back then, my father was a successful, wealthy, handsome middle-aged man, not an old man." Marilyn Cruise seemed a bit impatient and lowered her voice,

"OK, if you want evidence, I'll give it to you.

Chanel Karl has a young male assistant by her side, about thirty years old, good-looking too.