"You refused?"
"I asked questions."
"What questions?"
"Why they were acquiring properties below market value."
Claire nodded.
"That's when they became interested in you."
Samuel smiled without humor.
"They wanted me out of the way."
Daniel looked at the photographs.
"Why the Blue Lantern?"
Claire answered.
"Because this property is worth much more than it appears."
Daniel frowned.
"Why?"
Claire pulled out a map.
A new transportation corridor was planned two miles away.
The Blue Lantern sat directly along the proposed access route.
If the diner disappeared, Harbor Ridge could acquire three neighboring properties.
Together, the land would become extremely valuable.
Daniel stared.
"So they wanted me gone."
"Yes."
Samuel looked at him.
"But they made one mistake."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"They assumed you were alone."
Daniel smiled faintly.
"I was."
Samuel shook his head.
"No."
He pointed toward the kitchen.
"You just didn't know who was standing behind you."
At 2:00 p.m., Maria returned.
She stood outside the diner, afraid to enter.
Daniel opened the door.
"Come in."
She looked at the black SUVs.
"What happened?"
Daniel smiled.
"Long story."
Maria stepped inside.
Samuel stood.
Maria froze.
"Grandpa?"
Samuel walked toward her.
She immediately began crying.
"I didn't want to call you."
"I know."
"I thought you would be angry."
"I was."
Maria looked down.
"But not at you."
He hugged her.
Daniel turned away.
He pretended to clean the coffee machine.
Maria eventually came to him.
"I lied to you."
"You didn't."
"I should have told you."
"About your grandfather?"
"About everything."
Daniel shook his head.
"You don't owe me an explanation."
Maria looked at him.
"Why did you help us?"
Daniel smiled.
"My father taught me something."
"What?"
"He said a restaurant isn't a restaurant if the hungry are afraid to enter."
Maria smiled through tears.
"That's beautiful."
"No."
Daniel looked around.
"That's just how he was."
Samuel overheard.
He smiled.
"Your father was a good man."
Daniel looked at him.
"Apparently."
Then Samuel handed Daniel an envelope.
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a check.
$100,000.
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"No."
Samuel laughed.
"I knew you'd say that."
"I can't take this."
"Then don't."
Daniel looked confused.
Samuel pointed toward the kitchen.
"Use it to rebuild."
Daniel stared.