Additionally, there is a deeper reason.
The person who likely benefited the most from Courtney's death is probably the original author of the novel, who knows the content well and has a motive for murder.
...
After work.
Luke and Little Black went to the canyon substation to pick up the car.
Rookie cop John, wanting to thank Luke and Little Black for helping him catch a car thief, offered to buy them drinks at the bar.
But they declined.
Little Black couldn't wait to ride off on his Harley.
Luke was heading to Daisy's place tonight.
Hanging out with a pretty young lady sure beats drinking with a middle-aged dude.
When Luke arrived at Daisy's, she hadn't come back yet.
Luke cooked while waiting for her.
Western food is relatively simple to make: frying steak, baking a half-processed pizza, making a vegetable salad, boiling shrimps, and popping open a bottle of red wine.