Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 68

"So why not go there first instead of going to see Lily's parents?" Mason asked. It was a fair question.

"Because I want some of Lily's background. It'll help to establish her likes and dislikes and possibly what her goals in life are."

"And you think her parents are going to give two total strangers that kind of information?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That's the next lesson you'll learn about the detective game. Sometimes you have to give people the right motivations to want to help you."

"And you know how to do that?" he asked.

I grinned...