“Do you recall the name?”
“Heavens no. I didn’t handle it. Allegra did. Why?”
Sam stood, looking over at Remi, who was already typing distant relative into her phone, probably texting Selma. “Maybe it’s related to all this.”
“Related? How?”
“The sudden interest in the car, his offer, and the fact it was stolen.”
“But . . . this?” he nodded to the mess inside Chad’s shop. “Part of it?”
“No doubt. Try calling again.”
Oliver called the number, his eyes widening when someone answered. “Chad? We’ve been trying to reach you. Where . . . ?” He listened a moment, then said, “Yes. Okay.” Disconnecting, he stared at the phone’s screen for several seconds.
“What’s going on?” Sam asked.
“I’m not sure. But he says he’ll tell us when he gets here. He’s just a few minutes away.”
29
Taking no chances, Sam gripped the butt of his gun while he kept a close eye on the street, waiting for Chad’s arrival. When his yellow Renault finally pulled up, Sam made sure Chad was the only one in it and not being followed. “Looks like he’s alone.”
Oliver met him at the door. “Whatever’s going on? Your aunt said something about the Ghost?”
“They think I have it,” Chad said.
“Why?” Sam asked.
“I have no idea,” he replied, just seeming to notice Sam and Remi for the first time. “Who are you?”
“My friends,” Oliver said. “I told you about them when I called last night. Sam and Remi Fargo.”
“I didn’t know you were bringing them here.”
“Why wouldn’t I? They’re helping me and my uncle.”
“I—” He looked at the mess around him. “Second time, you know.”
“This happened before?” Sam asked.
He nodded. “A few weeks ago, right after Oliver and his uncle had the Ghost brought here.”
“Any idea what they were looking for?” Sam asked.
“Then or now?”
“Either.”
“I— They had to be looking for the Ghost.”
“It wasn’t here at the time?” Sam said.
He shook his head. “I kept it in my aunt’s carriage house. No way was I keeping that car here. Her entire house has alarms and cameras. Same with the carriage house.”
“This place doesn’t?”
“It does. Either I didn’t set it or they got past it somehow.”