A Toyota logo from a local dealer.

“Prius?” Dance asked.

She nodded. “My mom got it for me. How’d you know?”

“Guess.”

A sensible car. And an expensive one. Dance remembered too that the girl’s father had driven a new Lexus.

“You like to drive?”

“Love it. When I’m, you know, upset, I drive up and down Big Sur.”

“Trish, I want you to think back to the parking lot that night.”

“I didn’t see anybody in particular.”

“I understand. But what I’m wondering about is cars. We know this guy’s pretty smart. There’s no indication he’s working with anyone, so he’d have to drive to Solitude Creek but he wouldn’t have parked too close to the club. He’d’ve been worried about video cameras or getting spotted climbing out of the truck, after he parked it, and getting into his own car.”

Trish frowned. “A silver Honda.”

“What?”

“Or light colored. We were pulling off the highway, off One, on the road that led to the club, and Mom said, ‘Wonder if it’ll get stolen.’ It was parked by itself, on the other side of that line of trees that surrounded the parking lot. Of the club, you know.”

Dance recalled an area of weeds and dunes between the parking lot and Highway 1.

“We’d just seen a news story about the gangs around here? They drive around in flatbeds and, you know, scoop up cars parked in deserted areas. That’s what Mom was talking about.”

“You know the model?”

“No, not really. Just the style, you know. Accord or Civic. A lot of kids at school have them. Mom and I talked about calling the police to report it, so it wouldn’t get stolen. But we didn’t. I mean, if we’d done that, maybe…” The girl’s words ran out of steam and she cried quietly for a moment. Dance reached over and gripped her arm. Trish gave no response. She calmed eventually and took a sip from her cup. “You think that’s his car?” Trish asked.

Dance replied, “Possibly. It’s the sort of place somebody would park, out of the way. Did you notice the plate, what state it came from, the number?”

“No, just the color, silver. Or light colored. Maybe gray.”

“And nobody nearby?”

“No. Sorry.”

“That’s a big help, Trish.”

Dance hoped.

She sent a text to TJ, instructions to compile a list of light-colored Hondas in the area. She knew this was a weak lead. Honda Civics and Accords are close to the most plentiful sedans in America—and therefore the most difficult to trace. She wondered if their unsub had bought or stolen the car for this very reason.

She also asked TJ to hit the list of witnesses from Solitude Creek once more. And see if anyone had spotted the car and had any more information that could be helpful. He should put it out on the law enforcement wire.

A moment later:

On the case, boss. :-)

Trish glanced at her iPhone. “It’s late. I should go.” No teenager had a watch anymore. “Dad’ll be bringing his stuff back to the house soon. I should be there.” She finished her coffee quickly and pitched the cup out.