n Colli

only a glaring, blinding light refl

open-market commercial diesel was up three hundred and twenty percent. Every small-time towing outfit, independent trucker, and local biker c

BANG

companied by the muffled, shrill scree

amn door right now! I

k coffee, and walked over to the side entrance. I u

acket and high-heeled boots that were ruined by the slush. Beside her, Bettie had b

ears of cold and rage tracked through her mascara. "You canceled th

past the threshold, but I planted my shoulder

a gloved finger toward my chest. "Or I swear on my late husband's grave, I will go to the r

arms, looking at them like two rabid rac

sure you show them the audit records showing how Chas stole three hund

ore she doubled down on her venom. "That money belonged to Chas th

," I said. "And as

from my pocket and

ear, sharp, and high-pitche

ce I get the alligator riding suit for my engagement party, Chas is g

color drained from her face u

Lexi stammered, stumblin

word,"

lunging forward with her acrylic

who lifts transmission blocks for a living, and shoved her back. Bettie lost her footing

d, looking down at them. "Or watch the re

steel door shut and

r five minutes before the sound of their car

picked up the satellite

s garage at noon. Make sure our legal team is

ckled. "The repo haulers are rol

corner of Industrial Way, parking in the deep shadow of an aba

ckers, escorted by two private sec

oots jumped out, carrying heavy pry bar

age doors, waving his arms

s body in front of the main service bay. "This

he lead cruiser, holding a clipbo

er said coldly. "Move, or the county deputies sitti

y diagnostic computer and the two precision hydraulic lifts, and began winching them onto

stack of tires, beating her knees in sheer, helpless rage. Several neighboring shop owners and

crumble under the weight of its own greed, f

ed into the lot, tires scre

high heels in the slush. She ran toward Chas,

ppened? What a

is eyes wide and completel

er the idling engines. "They're taking the diagnostic rigs. Without t