this morning to use until we can order a new one.”
“Okay, so what have you found out about the Smith Body Shop?” Jason asked.
Misha had finished his donut and wiped his fingers like a good boy, so Jean Luc scooted the laptop back to him and he began typing. “Bruce Smith owns the shop. He’s former military, so Jason’s military background might help. His younger brother Jim runs the office, and they have several mechanics working for them. They’re well known in this area and have a decent reputation for restoring old vehicles.”
I stood, walked over to the counter, and poured a cup of coffee. “That’s their public relations info. What else have you found?”
“Jim Smith has a juvenile record, which is sealed, so it’ll take me a little more time to retrieve it. Around the time Jim was getting into trouble, Bruce’s stint in the military ended. He didn’t re-up.”
“Maybe he decided to stay home and watch over little brother,” I mused. “What about their mechanics’ backgrounds?”
“They have three full-time mechanics. I’m researching them as well and will let you know when I find something.”
“What about the sketch of the guy Jean Luc saw in the 4x4?”
Misha flipped the screen around so both Jason and I could get a look. The man was balding and had large bags under his washed-out blue eyes. “I already compared the composite with license photos of Bruce, Jim, and the mechanics, and there was no match.”
I set my mug down and turned to Jason. “You ready to go under cover?”
“Sure thing, sweetheart.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Hey, if you’re my woman, I need to call you something. How about babe, or doll…I got it! Honey bun.”
Misha laughed his deep belly laugh, and Jean Luc had the nerve to grin. I knew I shouldn’t have left Stanley at home.
Chapter 9
Jason and I scoped out the body shop. The building was pretty nondescript. The front was light brown brick with a heavy wooden door and a large window showing the front counter and office area. A driveway led around the side of the building to the bay doors where cars were serviced. If it had been warm instead of tundra-cold, the doors would be open and the sounds of auto work would add to the atmosphere. Right now, it was eerily quiet.
“Can you hear us, Misha?”
“Your earpiece is working fine, little one. We’re a few blocks down the street. We’ve got your back. “
We jumped out of the car and bustled into the building, Jason holding the door for me like a good boyfriend should. The front counter was unmanned, so I checked out the waiting area. A few chairs and a table littered with car magazines sat along one wall. There was also a table with free coffee, but from the looks of the carafe and the smell of charred beans, it was past time to brew a new pot.
“Hello?” I called out.
A voice sounded from the back. “Be with you in just a minute.”
Jason stood next to me, casually peering over the counter, more than likely to see if there was anything interesting on the desk. Since I’m five foot six, I couldn’t help him with that particular bit of snooping. A few seconds later, a man who looked to be in his late twenties came up to the counter. He was well built with bright blue eyes and blond hair that had way too much product in it. Not who I was expecting to see in a body shop.
“Can I help you?”
“Yep,” Jason answered. “I’m looking for someone to do some body work on my truck.”
The man held out his hand and Jason shook it. “I’m Jim Smith.”
“Jason…and this is Kate.”
Jim glanced in my direction before turning back to Jason. “What type of work are we talking about?”
“I’ve reworked the engine on a 1985 Chevy truck. But the body needs some major work, which isn’t my area of expertise.”
“I can have you talk to my brother Bruce. He’s the expert on body work. I’ll get him up here.”
I interrupted him. “Actually, since this is a Christmas present from me,
“Okay, so what have you found out about the Smith Body Shop?” Jason asked.
Misha had finished his donut and wiped his fingers like a good boy, so Jean Luc scooted the laptop back to him and he began typing. “Bruce Smith owns the shop. He’s former military, so Jason’s military background might help. His younger brother Jim runs the office, and they have several mechanics working for them. They’re well known in this area and have a decent reputation for restoring old vehicles.”
I stood, walked over to the counter, and poured a cup of coffee. “That’s their public relations info. What else have you found?”
“Jim Smith has a juvenile record, which is sealed, so it’ll take me a little more time to retrieve it. Around the time Jim was getting into trouble, Bruce’s stint in the military ended. He didn’t re-up.”
“Maybe he decided to stay home and watch over little brother,” I mused. “What about their mechanics’ backgrounds?”
“They have three full-time mechanics. I’m researching them as well and will let you know when I find something.”
“What about the sketch of the guy Jean Luc saw in the 4x4?”
Misha flipped the screen around so both Jason and I could get a look. The man was balding and had large bags under his washed-out blue eyes. “I already compared the composite with license photos of Bruce, Jim, and the mechanics, and there was no match.”
I set my mug down and turned to Jason. “You ready to go under cover?”
“Sure thing, sweetheart.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Hey, if you’re my woman, I need to call you something. How about babe, or doll…I got it! Honey bun.”
Misha laughed his deep belly laugh, and Jean Luc had the nerve to grin. I knew I shouldn’t have left Stanley at home.
Chapter 9
Jason and I scoped out the body shop. The building was pretty nondescript. The front was light brown brick with a heavy wooden door and a large window showing the front counter and office area. A driveway led around the side of the building to the bay doors where cars were serviced. If it had been warm instead of tundra-cold, the doors would be open and the sounds of auto work would add to the atmosphere. Right now, it was eerily quiet.
“Can you hear us, Misha?”
“Your earpiece is working fine, little one. We’re a few blocks down the street. We’ve got your back. “
We jumped out of the car and bustled into the building, Jason holding the door for me like a good boyfriend should. The front counter was unmanned, so I checked out the waiting area. A few chairs and a table littered with car magazines sat along one wall. There was also a table with free coffee, but from the looks of the carafe and the smell of charred beans, it was past time to brew a new pot.
“Hello?” I called out.
A voice sounded from the back. “Be with you in just a minute.”
Jason stood next to me, casually peering over the counter, more than likely to see if there was anything interesting on the desk. Since I’m five foot six, I couldn’t help him with that particular bit of snooping. A few seconds later, a man who looked to be in his late twenties came up to the counter. He was well built with bright blue eyes and blond hair that had way too much product in it. Not who I was expecting to see in a body shop.
“Can I help you?”
“Yep,” Jason answered. “I’m looking for someone to do some body work on my truck.”
The man held out his hand and Jason shook it. “I’m Jim Smith.”
“Jason…and this is Kate.”
Jim glanced in my direction before turning back to Jason. “What type of work are we talking about?”
“I’ve reworked the engine on a 1985 Chevy truck. But the body needs some major work, which isn’t my area of expertise.”
“I can have you talk to my brother Bruce. He’s the expert on body work. I’ll get him up here.”
I interrupted him. “Actually, since this is a Christmas present from me,
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