“What do I do with the heap?”

“We’ll have the heap towed to the police impound lot.”

“When?”

“I’ll phone right now.”

“Thanks.” Brad Dowd tapped his foot as Milo made the call.

“Within half an hour, Mr. Dowd.”

“Fine, fine— you know what else is bothering me? That girl— the Brand girl. She got mixed up with Meserve and look what happened to her. Nora’s too damned trusting, Lieutenant. What if he showed up and she let him in and he got violent?”

“We’ll check the car for signs of violence. Are you sure your sister and yourself are the only ones with the combination?”

“Damned sure.”

“No way Nora could’ve given it to Meserve? Back when she was still interested in him?”

“She was never interested in him— we’re talking a brief flirtation.” Dowd chewed his lip. “She’d never give him the combination. I explicitly forbade her to give it out. It’s not logical, anyway. If she wanted to open the garage, she could do it herself. Which she wouldn’t, because she knew the Stinger would be coming back.”

“Did she know when?”

“That’s what I was calling her about yesterday. To tell her I’d be driving it back. She didn’t answer.”

“So she didn’t know,” said Milo.

“Let me try her house again.” He produced a shiny black cell phone, punched a two-digit speed-dial code. “Still no answer.”

“Could Reynold Peaty have learned the combination, sir? From working here?”

Dowd’s eyes widened. “Reynold? Why would he want it? Is there something you haven’t told me about him?”

“Turns out he does drive. Has an unregistered vehicle.”

“What? Why the hell would he do that? I pay for a van pool to pick him up and take him to work.”

“He drove himself to a job in Pasadena today.” Milo read off the address from his pad.

“Yeah, that’s one of mine. Oh, Jesus— you’re sure— of course you are, you’ve obviously been watching him.” Dowd ran a thumb through his white hair. His other hand clenched. “I asked you the first time if I should worry about him. Now you’re telling me I should.” Brad shaded his eyes with a shaky hand. “He’s been alone with my sister. This is a nightmare— I can’t tell Billy.”

“Where is Billy?”

“Waiting for me at the office— the key is to find Nora. What the hell are you going to do about that, Lieutenant?”

Milo eyed the PlayHouse. “Have you checked in there?”

“There? No— oh, man!” Brad Dowd bolted toward the building, running around the porch rails with long, smooth strides, fumbling in his pockets as he vaulted steps two at a time. Milo went after him and when Dowd turned the key, Milo stilled his hand.

“Me first, sir.”

Dowd stiffened, then backed away. “Fine. Go. Hurry.”

* * *