he owned three stores in the area and lived in a very affluent neighborhood , but i also noticed he was trying to sell the business . it was something she 'd wanted to investigate , but she had n't had the time . it was too late when she looked at her watch . her lovely green eyes gaze into steves . her father did , too ; he also did everything in his power to get the police to accept the story beth cooked up at face value . `` you can see the pattern , ca n't you ? '' 