Daniel looked directly at the driver.
"What's your name?"
The man swallowed.
"Marcus."
"Marcus, are you the driver assigned to this truck?"
"Yes."
"Who dispatched you?"
Marcus glanced at Patricia.
"The HOA."
"Which HOA?"
"Lakeview Estates."
Daniel nodded.
"Did they give you a work order?"
"Yes."
"Does the work order identify the property owner?"
Marcus hesitated.
"Yes."
"Who?"
The driver looked at the paper.
Then at Daniel.
"Daniel Carter."
Patricia stepped forward.
"That doesn't matter."
Daniel's gaze remained on Marcus.
"Read the company name on the door."
Marcus looked toward the truck.
Then his eyes widened.
He looked back at Daniel.
"Oh."
Patricia frowned.
"What?"
Marcus slowly raised the wheel-lift.
The metal arms moved away from the Porsche.
Patricia's voice sharpened.
"Why are you doing that?"
Marcus didn't answer.
Daniel slipped his phone back into his pocket.
Patricia looked between them.
"What is happening?"
Marcus stepped away from the controls.
"Ma'am..."
"What?"
He pointed at the logo on his uniform.
Then at the company name on the truck.
"Mr. Carter owns the company."
Patricia froze.
Emily blinked.
Daniel said nothing.
Marcus continued.
"Ma'am, you just hired his company to tow his daughter's car."
Patricia stared at Daniel.
"No."
Daniel calmly nodded.
"Yes."
She looked back at the truck.
"No."
Marcus rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yes, ma'am."
Patricia's face turned red.
"That's impossible."
Daniel finally smiled.
"Is it?"
She stared at him.
"You own Carter Recovery?"
"I founded it."
"But..."
"I've owned it for seventeen years."
Patricia looked at the tow truck again.
The name was printed clearly across the door.
CARTER RECOVERY & TRANSPORT.
Below it was a phone number.
And beneath the phone number was a small line.
Locally owned and operated.
Patricia's lips parted.
"You never told us."
Daniel shrugged.
"You never asked."
Emily stared at her father.
"You own a towing company?"
Daniel looked at her.
"You didn't know?"
"No!"
He laughed.
"Your mother knew."
Emily looked toward the house.
"Mom knew?"
"She helped me with the accounting for years."
Emily looked back at the truck.
"Then why do we have this tiny old SUV?"
Daniel grinned.
"Because I don't drive company trucks to the grocery store."
For the first time, Emily laughed.
It was a nervous laugh.
Almost a sob.
But it broke the tension.
Patricia did not laugh.