“Now you have appeared at a garage I never told you I was visiting.”
She stepped closer.
“Adversarial arrived before I did.”
Grant lowered his voice.
“You don't understand the technical situation.”
Jason picked up the old sensor.
“I do.”
Grant finally acknowledged him.
“You are not factory-authorized.”
“No.”
“You don't have access to manufacturer diagnostic architecture.”
“I had enough access to discover this.”
Jason held up the cut connector.
Grant looked at it.
Only for a second.
But Evelyn saw fear.
Jason saw it too.
Grant recovered.
“Used components can show all kinds of damage.”
“It wasn't used until yesterday.”
No answer.
Jason continued.
“And someone entered calibration mode thirty-eight minutes before the roadside shutdown.”
Grant stared at him.
“Where did you get that?”
That was another mistake.
Jason smiled slightly.
“So you recognize what it is.”
Grant realized.
Evelyn folded her arms.
“Leave.”
“Ms. Hart—”
“Now.”
“I strongly advise you not to make accusations based on incomplete—”
Evelyn picked up the sensor.
“I'm not accusing.”
“Yet.”
Grant looked from her to Jason.
Then at the car.
“This vehicle remains subject to transfer documentation.”
Evelyn smiled.
“My lawyers love documentation.”
That ended it.
Grant left.
The SUV disappeared four minutes later.
Jason watched through the garage door.
“He looked scared.”
“He should.”
Evelyn picked up her phone.
Claire answered.
“I need legal.”
“Which lawyer?”
“All the unpleasant ones.”
Claire paused.
“What happened?”
Evelyn looked at Jason.
“I think somebody tried to steal my car using a repair estimate.”
Claire was silent.
Then:
“I’m clearing your afternoon.”
“Good.”
“And Evelyn?”
“Yes?”
“I told you not to sell it.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Enjoy this moment.”
“I absolutely will.”
Jason tried not to smile.
Failed.
That was the beginning.
Not of a lawsuit.
Not exactly.
Of an audit.
Evelyn’s first instinct was to call the police.
Her general counsel advised patience.
“We have suspicious evidence.”
“Not a complete chain.”
“The car changed ownership twice.”
“Several people had access.”
“If you accuse Bellamy publicly and we're wrong, this becomes defamation before lunch.”
Evelyn hated lawyers most when they were correct.
So she chose something she controlled.
Her own fleet.
Ninety-three vehicles.
For six years, Hartwell Infrastructure had used Bellamy Corporate Fleet Services for executive and specialty vehicles.
Hundreds of repairs.
Millions of dollars.
If the supercar incident was isolated, the records would show it.
If not...
She called Jason that evening.
He answered over background noise.
“You're on speaker.”
“Why?”
“Cooking.”
Chloe shouted: