Coolidge said, “Some sort of front.”
“That’s what it smells like,” said Milo. Tap of the Volvo. “This one’s a ’96 850, just like you figured, Detective Freeman. Wanna I.D. the Rolls?”
Freeman walked to the board, put on glasses, returned to his seat. “Lower radiator, extended wheel base, got to be a Mark Three Silver Dawn. In terms of the year, about the same vintage as the Volvo: ’93 to ’96.”
“Impressive,” said Milo. “DMV says Heigur’s Rolls is a ’95.”
Reed said, “Rolls-Royce, a house in B.H., mega-money.”
Freeman said, “The house maybe, but not necessarily the car. Market’s soft as a baby’s butt, you could get one of these for twenty-five, thirty K.”
Binchy said, “You’re kidding.”
Alicia said, “Thinking of upgrading, Sean? Putting a surfboard on the roof?”
Binchy smiled. “Maybe, if there’s enough belts for the car seats.”
Coolidge said, “Both cars are from the nineties so maybe that’s when these Asian folk came to town. Meaning theycould’vebought the Rolls new and we are dealing with a big-bucks thing.”
Milo said, “So far, we’ve found no other vehicles registered to Heigur, so maybe. In terms of what that means for the case?” He shrugged.
Reed said, “What I was getting at is that with corporate types or Chinese gangsters, there could be lots of flying in and out. For all we know Vollmann and McGann got dumped near the airportbecauseit was on the way to a fly-out.”
Al Freeman said, “Maybe they are jet-setters but here’s the thing: Cars can’t just sit there, they get garage rot, the engine freezes. So if both vehicles are operable, someone’s driving them on a semi-regular basis. And servicing them. There are plenty of places to handle the Volvo but the Roller’s more specialized. Besides a couple of dealers, there are like four guys in L.A. County you’d go to. It might narrow things down.”
Coolidge turned to regard his colleague. “You going onJeopardy!? See why I brought him?”
Milo said, “Could you call the four, Al?”
“Sure, get me the VIN and I might be able to nail it, specifically.”
Milo grinned. “I didn’t know better, I’d think you owned one.”
Freeman shrugged.
Coolidge nudged him. “C’mon, give it up, man.”
Alicia whistled.
Freeman said, “Got a ’76 Shadow couple of years ago.”
Hoots all around followed by brief applause.
Freeman got up, bowed, sat down. “No big deal, picked it up for thirteen K.”
Coolidge said, “Bet you don’t tell the ladies that.”
Milo said, “Which of the four mechanics services your car? You could start there.”
“I do it myself.”
Coolidge stared at his friend. “Thatandcollege basketball? Where’s your cape, Ironman?”
Alicia looked at Freeman intently.
He said, “It’s not rocket science. Spent some time with a guy in Van Nuys, yeah I’ll start with him.”
“I’ll email the VIN,” said Milo. “Thanks.”
