Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

"I just did what a lawyer should do, I helped him analyze the situation."

When a wife meets with misfortune, the first suspect is often the husband, that's an unwritten rule.

If the police can't find the real perpetrator, they might target him.

I suggested he should go into hiding and come back when the police find the real suspect."

Alyssa shook her head, "I don't believe it, Steven isn't a fool; if he runs, the police will suspect him even more."

"You're right, convincing him was indeed not easy, but there was a little twist, which is the photos your parents found."

Alyssa bit her lip, "Weren't those photos planted by you? What do they have to do with Steven?"

"I have explained many times, those photos have nothing to do with me, you've been wrongly accusing me."

"What about the photos then?"

"Someone put the photos in your home's delivery box, Steven saw those photos and then placed them in your parents' house. The police discovered this and suspected him of the crime.

Steven was taken to the police station, and what I said came true.

He got scared and fled under my incitement."

"If the matter of the photos isn't related to you, how do you know all these details so clearly?"

"I am Steven's lawyer, he contacted me the first time the police came. I know everything he's done and everything the police have said."

"OMG, Steven knew I was at the club..." Alyssa started sobbing quietly.

"He's always known, and he truly didn't care, he just saw you as a cash cow."

"I don't believe your nonsense."

Dave sighed lightly, "Alyssa, what I'm saying is true. Not long ago, Steven took fifteen thousand US dollars from me. Did he tell you about it?"

"Why should I believe you?"

"I would never lie to you." Dave took out an IOU, "Look for yourself if it's his handwriting."

Alyssa picked up the IOU, touching the words with her hand, "What did he borrow so much money for?"

"I don't know, maybe he was fooling around with some woman."

Alyssa glared at Dave, her voice cold, "Weren't you two best friends? You hate him that much."

"You're right, we were best friends, and we would still be if it weren't for you. The only thing I resent is that you made me lose my best friend."

"You're insane. I never seduced you; you made this happen!"

"You're right, it's me hopelessly in love with you."

"What do you love about me?"

"Do you remember the first time we met?

I remember.

During the summer of junior year, Steven and I worked part-time in a mall, and you happened to be there too.

The first time I saw you, I fell for you. I approached you but barely dared to talk to you.

After the summer, I mustered the courage to confess to you.

You said academics were more important, and you weren't ready for a relationship.

I believed you.

I studied hard, took the LSAT, got through the JD application, thinking I was good enough for you then, I wanted to confess again, but found out that you and Steven were together." Dave's voice was hoarse with bitterness,

"I still remember how I felt back then, desperate, helpless, angry. What was the point of my efforts?

The girl I liked became my best friend's girlfriend. No one can understand that kind of pain."

Alyssa shook her head slightly, "I never promised you anything at that time, did I? Matters of the heart are hard to resolve. It's been so many years, I thought you didn't care anymore."

"My feelings for you have never changed."

"Then why did you deliberately distance yourself from me? I could sense it, you seemed to like me less and less later on, and you stopped talking to me."

"I intentionally distanced myself from you.

Every time I saw you with Steven, it pained me, I felt indescribably bad. What could I do? I couldn't forget you; all I could do was stay away from you."

"There are so many women in the world, you're so great, with your qualities, you could definitely find someone better."

"You're right, I have money, status, and lots of women like me.

I tried... but no one can replace you.

It's not just you I've been estranging, I hardly even contact Steven. I know Steven has always complained, saying that ever since I got rich, I look down on him.

But that's not it, I have no other choice but to stay away from you all.

I've always chosen to silently endure..." Dave rubbed his cheeks and sighed, "Originally, I thought that this was it for me in this lifetime.

But then, I saw you at the club...

My world nearly exploded at that moment, my unattainable goddess, my muse of dreams, was actually..."

Dave clenched his fists, a look of rage on his face, "At that moment, I wanted to kill someone, kill everyone in the club."

Alyssa's eyes reddened, "I didn't want to dance in that place either... but I need to live."

"That's what angers me. I've always loved you deeply, I have the means to give you a good life, yet you chose Steven instead.

I found you, wanted to help you, give you money, but you refused.

Later, you thought I was the one who took those photos, and you came and argued with me fiercely.

I was truly heartbroken then.

But more than that, I felt sorry for you, I knew I had to take action, I needed to protect you, to rescue you from the mire.

I did it."

Alyssa shook the iron chain in her right hand, "This is your way of rescuing me, locking me in the basement like a prisoner."

"People's lives have inertia.

If I hadn't done this, would you leave Steven? Could you break free from the life of dancing in clubs?

Only this way could you find a new life."

"You're insane."

"Maybe, but I'm willing to go mad for you."

Alyssa's voice choked up, with a hint of pleading, "Dave, won't you let me go? Please."

"If I let you go, what would you do?"

"I would tell the police it was a runaway, I wouldn't betray you, we'd still be good friends."

Dave shook his head, "That's not what I'm asking. Would you choose Steven, or me?"

"I don't know."

Dave, holding his head in his right hand, "You would still choose him? Why?"

Alyssa's lips trembled lightly, "No, I wouldn't choose him, he ran off to Mexico without caring for my safety, as good as abandoning me.

I wouldn't choose him again.

But you have to give me some time, I can't just accept you right away."

"Alyssa, I'm a lawyer, you can't fool me." Dave stood up, turned, and walked away, "Remember to eat the cake on the table, I'll come to see you tomorrow."

"Dave, don't go, I beg you to let me go." Alyssa started to cry desperately but failed to hold Dave back, her emotions began to collapse,

"You bastard, why do you treat me like this? Think you're great just because you have money? I don't care for your dirty money!"

Dave closed the basement door and took a deep breath, "God, why do you do this to me? Why let me meet the woman I love most, only to deliberately keep us apart."

"Thud thud..." A knock came from outside.

Dave instantly became alert, ensured the basement door was properly secured, then made his way to the front door, checking the visitor through the door's video system; an elderly lady with gray hair was holding a plate.

Dave relaxed; it was the old lady from the neighbor's house to the east, who loved to share her freshly baked desserts with the neighbors.

Very warm, but also very annoying.

Dave straightened his clothes and unlocked the door.

"Bang!"

The door burst open with a force.

"LAPD!"