Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

I refused. I told her, unless she explained, I would call the police.

She compromised.

She told me she wanted to divorce Alec.

I was surprised and asked her why?

Do you know what she said?"

Luke guessed, "For your good?"

"Exactly!" Teresa Lewis pointed at Luke, "You're absolutely right, even the tone sounds similar.

She felt I should keep my distance from Alec.

I was completely baffled.

Asked her what she meant?

She said Alec was just my stepfather, and I shouldn't be too close to him.

She said I shouldn't watch TV on the sofa with Alec, eat snacks together, laugh and joke around.

She even suspected Alec had other intentions towards me…"

Teresa Lewis clenched her right hand into a fist and placed it over her mouth, breathing somewhat heavily, "I explained to her that Alec and I were just purely father-daughter.

I admitted I liked being with him because it felt relaxing; we were just like friends.

Alec had never acted indecently towards me.

Latifa Gallo didn't believe it, looking even angrier, and spoke about many details of me being with Alec…

I felt something was wrong because what she described seemed like something witnessed firsthand, and I asked her if she had installed surveillance to secretly film me again?

She didn't answer. I knew I was right.

I was furious and demanded she tell me the camera location; she refused.

I threatened to call the police, only then did she tell me.

I dismantled the cameras. Seeing those pinhole cameras, I was even angrier, thinking this was sick behavior; who would install such things in their own home?

I brought the cameras to her and questioned why she did it?

She said it was for my good, worrying about Alec and I…

Getting too close, and something inappropriate happening.

I felt like exploding with anger.

Why do I have a truly insane mother?

I suddenly felt so desperate.

I knew, once she made up her mind, nobody could change it.

She would divorce Alec.

Then this home would only have her and me.

I would become the only prisoner in the jail again.

I felt very desperate; I didn't want to live this way anymore; I wanted freedom.

The only way to gain freedom was to get rid of Latifa Gallo.

Just then, she started talking trash again, ordering me to untie the rope.

I went inside the room and saw the golf club, then I made her shut up forever…"

Teresa Lewis, with eyes swollen and face alternating between crying and smiling, "At that moment, I truly felt freedom, although brief, I have no regrets!"

Alec Wyatt, with reddened eyes, patting Teresa Lewis's shoulder, "Teresa, don't be afraid, I understand you, I will be by your side, get you the best lawyer…"

...

Eight o'clock at night.

Lagravelle Restaurant.

This is a beautifully situated French restaurant.

The deputy scanned the restaurant, nodded, "The ambiance is nice, reminds me of the place of my first date with my ex-wife."

Jenny proudly said, "Thank you, I chose it.

Let's sit in the restaurant courtyard. That long table is enough for everyone, plus there are no other tables nearby, so it won't affect our conversation."

Blackie looked at the flower clusters in the courtyard, "I don't care how beautiful the place is, I want to know if the food is good."

Jenny said, "Marcus Detective Chief, don't be so discouraging, be a bit romantic, your wife might like it, think of it as scouting the place."

Jackson laughed, "Jenny is right, a cozy, peaceful little restaurant like this is indeed very well-suited for dates."

Blackie pursed his lips, "What's our theme tonight? Dating or celebrating the successful resolution of the case."

Jackson pulled out a chair and sat down, "Neither, I don't think this case is worth celebrating."

Blackie sat beside him and leaned towards him, asking, "Are you sympathizing with the murderer?"

Jackson said, "She's only 13, still just a child."

Blackie remarked, "At 13, she already has her own independent mind, has a complete world view and values, she needs to be responsible for her actions.

Hold on,

I remember earlier this afternoon in the lounge, you were backing Latifa Gallo all the time."

"No, I didn't take sides, I was just discussing the case; this is a tragedy from start to end.

Latifa Gallo's manner of parenting wasn't right, but that doesn't mean she didn't love Teresa Lewis."

As the two argued, everyone had already begun passing the menu to order dishes.

Blackie pushed the menu towards Port, continuing, "In my opinion, Latifa Gallo only wanted to control Teresa Lewis, I didn't feel any love for Teresa Lewis from her."

Jackson thought for a moment, "Before she died, Latifa Gallo wrote down Sherda's name, but didn't write Teresa Lewis's name, which I feel was a form of protection.

Even though Teresa Lewis wanted to kill her, she didn't want Teresa Lewis to be captured."

Blackie shrugged, "Maybe she just couldn't muster the strength after writing Sherda's name."

Jackson disagreed, "That's just quibbling, you and I both know that's very unlikely.

Teresa Lewis was the murderer; she'd write Teresa Lewis's name first, not Sherda.

She was protecting her daughter in her own way."

Blackie sneered, "What way? Installing pinhole cameras for secret filming?

If someone did that to me, I'd go crazy too; I wouldn't want such love."

Port interjected, "Actually, I think Teresa Lewis didn't need to commit murder; she should have called the police under such circumstances. If the child protection agency saw those pinhole cameras, they might have revoked Latifa Gallo's guardianship."

Jackson said, "Teresa Lewis was only thirteen; in that state of anger, she couldn't think clearly.

Besides, Latifa Gallo could very well deny that the pinhole cameras were installed by herself."

Blackie spread his hands, "Wow, I underestimated Teresa Lewis; she convinced you, now you're completely siding with her."

The deputy waved his hand, "You two, stop arguing, we're only here to investigate and catch, let the jury and judge worry about the conviction.

Actually, I'm more curious about Latifa Gallo's motive for installing the cameras?

Was it to surveil Teresa Lewis or for another reason?"

Jenny said, "I pondered over this thoroughly; from a mother's perspective, she wanted good relations between stepfather and daughter but didn't want their relationship to be better than her own.

She might have sensed Teresa Lewis's attitude towards Alec Wyatt was better and closer than towards herself, which made her vigilant; that's why she installed the cameras.

Of course, I watched the surveillance footage.

Teresa Lewis and Alec Wyatt didn't do anything inappropriate."

Port asked, "Then why did Latifa Gallo think Alec Wyatt was cheating and wanted to divorce him?"

Jenny replied, "Very simple, Latifa Gallo's controlling nature made Teresa Lewis somewhat averse to her, preferring to stay with Alec Wyatt rather than with her.

As a mother, she felt jealous.

Likewise, Alec Wyatt also felt Latifa Gallo was too overbearing, having a sense of camaraderie with his stepdaughter, they chatted well together.

This likewise made Latifa Gallo jealous. Read full story at novelꞁire.net

She felt betrayed by both of them, assumed if things escalated, they'd certainly do something inappropriate, so she decisively wanted to divorce Alec Wyatt.

Simply put, the closeness between Teresa Lewis and Alec Wyatt made her feel threatened; she feared they would ally to escape her control, so she wanted to break their partnership.

Once she divorced Alec Wyatt, Teresa Lewis and Alec Wyatt naturally couldn't meet, and their alliance would fall apart.

Latifa Gallo could regain control."

Blackie bluntly commented, "Perverted."