Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Luke felt a chill of fear, realizing this was no small matter.

If he hadn't been cautious, their poker game tonight would likely have been broadcasted live.

"Fuck!"

A wave of anger surged within him, finding this utterly disgusting.

Daisy noticed something was off, "Luke, what did you find?"

Luke pointed at the reflective red dot on the socket, "There might be a hidden camera installed here."

Daisy's brow furrowed slightly, as if recalling some unpleasant memory, "Have you offended anyone recently?"

Luke didn't think he had offended anyone, though he had made quite a few arrests.

However, the suspects he had caught mostly acted alone, not as part of an organized crime group. Luke didn't believe they could have found out his hotel booking and installed the camera beforehand.

In Luke's memory, other than the authorities, only Pinkerton Detective Agency had such capability.

For the former, Luke hadn't offended any authorities.

For the latter, the Detective Agency would probably not dare to do such a thing. He had interacted with Orty a few times, and the other party should know his cautiousness. This device, apart from upsetting him, wouldn't serve any significant purpose.

"It's probably not targeted at me, what about you?"

Daisy thought for a moment, then slightly shook her head.

Since both felt it wasn't related to them, there was another possibility—random voyeurism.

Such occurrences were not uncommon and had even formed a substantial industry.

Luke continued searching the room and discovered another hidden camera inside the bathroom socket.

Specifically targeting places for showering and sleeping, the installer must be extremely sleazy.

Luke's anger soared dramatically.

Luke and Daisy discussed, and Daisy called 911 to report, while Luke went to talk with the hotel manager.

Staying in a couple's room at a hotel wasn't shameful, but it wasn't something to brag about either. Luke and Daisy still wanted to handle it discreetly.

Luke decided not to reveal his identity. He was also a party to the case, and revealing his identity without understanding the situation wouldn't be wise.

"Knock knock."

There came a knock at the door.

Luke went to check, and there stood a Caucasian man in a suit, likely the hotel manager according to his badge.

The door opened.

The man in the suit said, "Hello, sir, I am Aly Pierce, the manager of the Four Seasons Hotel. I understand you have a complaint."

"Come in," Luke stepped aside, "I found something strange in your hotel room and would like Manager Pierce to help clarify it."

"What is it?"

Luke turned off the lights, turned on his phone's camera, and spotted the red reflective dot again.

Luke pointed towards the socket and asked, "Can you tell me what's inside this socket?"

"Uh…" Aly Pierce leaned closer, looked carefully, and hesitated, "I'm not sure, there might be an issue with the wiring. I will have the staff check on it.

Lady, sir, I am sorry for interrupting your rest.

What if I help you switch to another room? The same type of couples' room, just next door."

Daisy laughed, "We're paying guests at your hotel, and there are cameras installed facing both the bathroom and the bed. We've been spied on, do you think changing rooms will solve the problem?"

"Lady, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

But we can't be sure that the red reflective dot is a camera yet. We will have professionals check it.

During this time, to avoid disturbing your rest, we're willing to offer an identical room for you to stay in. To show our apology, I will personally cover the cost of the room.

You can stay for free as some form of compensation from our hotel," Aly Pierce was very polite.

But Daisy saw no sincerity in his words.

"Do you think we can continue to stay after such an incident?

Do you think we came here because we don't have a home?

We chose to come here for a date because we valued the atmosphere of your hotel.

Do you think there's any atmosphere left now?"

"Lady, if you have any suggestions, please feel free to express them, and we can discuss it,"

Daisy thought for a moment, "Call your wife, and have both of you stay in the room for the night. I'll pay for it."

Luke chuckled, "Good idea, I agree."

"Lady, please watch your language. I feel you are insulting me," Aly Pierce's expression turned sour.

"You insulted us first.

Your indifferent attitude towards our situation, offering a room change or rent reduction as if it's charity.

Now that we suggest you stay for a night, you find it insulting—are you not being hypocritical?

Moreover, I'd really like to ask the president of your hotel, why would you feel insulted to spend a night in your own hotel?

Do you also think your hotel is that terrible?"

Aly Pierce sighed, spreading his hands, "Lady, I am sorry to have caused you distress.

I came to solve the problem and might have expressed myself poorly.

I sincerely apologize.

I am here to solve the problem earnestly. Please make any requests you have."

Daisy shook her head, "I don't have any requests, I just want to know what that red reflective dot is."

"As I said, it needs a maintenance person to check to find out."

"Then get someone here."

Aly Pierce glanced at his watch, "At this hour, maintenance personnel have gone off-duty; it's unlikely they can come immediately.

I suggest you temporarily move to the next room while we wait for the maintenance person to arrive, then I will notify you."

"I'm not going anywhere," Daisy said firmly.

Luke thought that she was better suited to handle this situation than himself.

"Crackle..." Aly Pierce's walkie-talkie buzzed.

"Hello, it's me.

I've learned about it.

I'm on my way."

Aly Pierce hung up the walkie-talkie, "Ladies and gentlemen, have you called the police?"

Daisy nodded, "It seems like a wise decision now."

"Sorry, I must leave." Aly Pierce dropped a word and turned to leave the hotel room.

Aly Pierce exited the room and quickly walked toward the elevator.

"Ding-dong."

The elevator doors opened, and two patrol officers stepped out.

One Caucasian patrol officer and one of Mexican descent.

The Caucasian officer looked to be about thirty and had his hands clasped on his belt.

Aly Pierce stepped forward to shake hands, "Hello, Officer Sinder, nice to meet you."

"Dispatch received a call about someone installing cameras in a hotel room for spying. I was nearby, so I came to check it out.

Where's the reporter?"

"In room 506, they are two difficult customers."

"Pearce Manager, what's going on? Were cameras installed in your hotel room?"

"No, no, no, we are a legitimate hotel; we wouldn't do that." Aly Pierce took the Caucasian officer aside and whispered, "Listen, I think the customer might have installed it themselves."

"You think the reporter installed it?"

"I'm not sure either. It could have been a previous guest. Our hotel guests are diverse; it's inevitable some might have peculiar habits.

We wouldn't install cameras ourselves. Besides, he just found a red reflection in the socket, it might not even be a camera."

The Caucasian officer pressed, "Do you think there's something wrong with those two?"

"I don't know.

I offered a compensation plan: switch them to an identical room and waive the room fee.

But... they didn't agree.

I can sense they want more."

"Do you think they want to blackmail the hotel?"

"I don't know, I just hope this doesn't happen.

We're only doing business here, not looking for trouble. I hope this matter can be resolved quickly and peacefully."

"I understand, I'm going to go talk to them."

"Thanks, Officer Sinder, let's have a drink sometime."

Sinder didn't reply but pointed at his chest camera and gestured to the other officer to head inside the room.

"Knock knock."

Officer Sinder symbolically knocked on the door, "LAPD, we're coming in."

The two officers entered the room, cautiously glanced around, and saw a man and a woman sitting on the balcony.

"Who called the police?"

Daisy stood up, "I did."

Sinder glanced at Daisy, then at Luke, "Are you together?"

"Yes, officer." Luke also stood up, showing respect.

"Good, what's your relationship?"

"Friends."

"Friends in a couple's room?" Sinder smiled and pointed to the hammock beside him, "Produce your IDs, please."

Luke sensed something odd; this way of questioning was too damn familiar, akin to a vice raid.

"Officer, you must be mistaken; we're the ones who called the police."

"I know you're the reporters. Is there a problem?"

"You entered without asking about the reason for the call, but instead, you suspect our identity might be an issue.

Your attitude makes me feel offended."

"That's your misconception.

Before entering, I had already found out about the situation here. Checking your ID is just routine verification.

Once we verify your IDs, we'll take care of the camera issue."

Luke sharply caught a key point; generally, dispatchers don't describe the situation in much detail. Officers on the scene always have to understand it for themselves.

He retorted, "Who informed you of the situation?"

Sinder firmly replied, "I have my sources. Bring out the IDs."

"What sources?"

"Please cooperate with our investigation, hand over your IDs."

"Your attitude makes it difficult for me to comply." Luke had asked Daisy to call the police instead of doing it himself to keep matters low-key, but it seemed that was no longer possible.

Sinder also appeared cautious, "Sir, your attitude now is only reinforcing my judgment. Please produce your ID."

"Okay." Luke fumbled in his pocket and pulled out his badge, "Which ID would you like? Will this do?"

Sinder and the other officer exchanged looks, surprised, "You're also a cop?"

"And my rank is higher than yours."

"Which department are you from?"

"Detective Agency, Robbery and Murder Department, head of First Squad."

Suddenly, the two officers were taken aback. They looked at each other, uncertain of what to do next...