“Speaking hypothetically, of course, one who once made a bit of a living boosting vehicles may have cruised along such back roa
ds and byways for just such an opportunity.”
“Slapping a tow bar on it, hauling it off to another location.”
“And making a tidy little profit through little effort,” Roarke concluded. “You might have your people down there put the arm on towing companies, farmers, mechanics and such.”
He looked over at Banner. “Would you have such events in Arkansas, Will?”
“Could be. There was a guy the next county over who ran a chop shop. They picked cars off the interstate mostly, but hit the back roads, too. I never thought of it. People know people, and you hear tell.”
Eve already had her ’link out. “Carmichael.”
“About to contact you, LT. Having some Arkansas barbecue, and have to echo Santiago. Yee-haw. The coroner —”
“Wait on that. I want you to push this angle, and now. Towing company, mechanics, garages, maybe little farms or whatever the fuck. Ability to tow away a vehicle. Let’s theorize,” she began.
When she’d finished, clicked off, she looked over at Roarke. “It’s a good angle. The locals should have been all over it. You’re handy.”
“I do my best.”
“Maybe it happened that way. I like the logic of it. Maybe they boosted whatever they dumped – or just dumped. Either way it could take us back to the prior step, the earlier location. It may give us names.”
She looked at the board, at Jayla. “Coffee,” she said.
“I’m all about that,” Banner agreed. “Dallas, I may know somebody who knows somebody around there. I’m a little pissed I didn’t think of it before.”
“Spend any time boosting cars, Banner?”
“I didn’t, but I can’t claim not to know some who did. I may be able to help your people down there.”
“Then get on it. Peabody?”
“Sir.”
“Coffee. Lots. Now.”
While they worked the new angle, Ella-Loo, in a micro skirt taken off an LC they’d killed and whose name she’d forgotten, struggled with a bulky armchair.
She was freezing in the skirt, in fishnets, and a short, fake leather jacket – taken off yet another victim – but inside she was furnace hot.
The guy came bustling along, ’link in hand, hood of his parka thrown up. “Yeah, yeah, I’m on my way. Jeez, it’s like the South Pole out here tonight. I’m nearly there. Fire it up!”
“Hey, cutie?”
She called out, shook back her hair, saw him turn his head, give her the eye.
“Back to you,” he said into the ’link and stuffed it in his pocket. “What’s shaking, baby?”
“Could you just give me a hand, for one little minute? I can’t lift this silly thing in here, and I need to get it in before my completely ex-boyfriend comes back.”
“Sure, no prob. Bad breakup?”
“So bad. He hit me!”
“Ah, come on.” The guy hunkered down to lift the chair. “You’re better off. I can get this if you take that side and —”
Darryl leaped in, weighted sap – Ella-Loo’s idea – whacking down on the back of his head.