“She wanted eggs.”
Silence.
Caleb almost smiled.
Russ’s voice lowered.
“Stay out of my business.”
Something old woke inside Caleb.
Years ago he might have shouted.
Now he simply said:
“Then keep your business out of my hands.”
“What does that mean?”
“You serviced a Range Rover Tuesday.”
Russ paused.
Tiny.
“Hundreds.”
“Black.”
“Winter tire installation.”
“I know which.”
Caleb leaned against counter.
“Rear passenger wheel was cross-threaded.”
“Overtorqued.”
“Unevenly seated.”
Russ answered too fast.
“No chance.”
“I removed it.”
“Your tools aren’t calibrated.”
Caleb looked toward his torque wrench hanging in shed.
Calibrated six weeks ago.
“Okay.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’ll have records.”
“Of course.”
“Good.”
Caleb hung up.
Sofia looked up from cereal.
“He’s mad.”
“Yes.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
He smiled faintly.
“Little.”
Vale Alpine Resort sat thirty miles north in a mountain bowl above Millbrook.
Caleb had repaired snowplows there twice but had never entered the private maintenance depot.
The facility made Russ’s garage look like a backyard shed.
Three heated service bays.
Vehicle lifts.
Diagnostic systems.
Parts storage.
Fleet wash.
Caleb stepped inside wearing his brown jacket and carrying two old tool cases.
Three Vale technicians looked at him.
One looked at the truck outside.
Caleb knew that expression.
Helena arrived five minutes later with Vivienne.
She introduced no one dramatically.
“This is Caleb Reyes.”
“He’s conducting an independent inspection.”
“Give him access.”
“Do not explain prior repairs unless asked.”
The fleet manager, Darren Cho, nodded.
Caleb liked him immediately because Darren did not ask why somebody in worn boots was inspecting his department.
First vehicle:
2023 luxury SUV.
Caleb inspected suspension, brakes, wheels, fluids, service stickers.
Nothing major.
Second:
2021 shuttle van.
Front brake pads nearly new.
Invoice showed replacement three weeks earlier.
Correct.
But rotors had not been replaced, despite invoice listing two rotors.
Caleb photographed.
Third:
Maintenance pickup.
Invoice indicated new alternator.
The alternator installed was remanufactured.
Not necessarily wrong.
But billed as new OEM.
Caleb noted.
Fourth:
Snow service truck.
Recently replaced battery.
Sticker showed battery older than invoice by eleven months.
Caleb frowned.
Fifth:
Guest transport SUV.
Wheel lugs overtorqued well above factory spec.
Sixth:
Another shuttle.
Cabin filter filthy despite billed replacement two months ago.
By noon Caleb had stopped feeling surprised.
By three he had a notebook full of discrepancies.
Helena met him alone in a small office.
Vivienne sat near window.
Darren remained.