“Hello, Lucy. Are you still at the clinic?” Tom asked.
“Yes, I’ve just finished consulting with Dr. Reeves about Lacey’s condition,” Lucy told him. “Other than needing several stitchesin her leg, extensive bruising, and a dislocated shoulder, she’s going to be perfectly fine.”
“Thank goodness,” Tom breathed a genuine sigh of relief. “I know this probably isn’t the best timing...” He cleared his throat, gathering courage. “But would you have dinner with me tonight?” He took a breath. “I’d very much like to continue the conversation we were having at your house.”
There was a pause, and Tom quickly added, “Before you say it’s not the right time, Lacey’s accident just showed me that we need to grab precious moments whenever we can.”
Another pause. “I completely agree,” Lucy said, and Tom could hear the warmth returning to her voice. “And yes, I think dinner together is exactly what we both need. It’s been such a difficult day, and since my sister is going to be fine, I’d love to spend the evening with you.”
Tom felt relief wash over him. “Wonderful. How about we have dinner at the Sandpiper Inn’s dining room?”
“I think that’s an even better idea,” Lucy said with a soft laugh. “Then we can truly relax with a bottle of wine and not worry about driving anywhere.”
“Perfect,” Tom said, feeling his mood lift considerably. “Shall we say six o’clock?”
“I’ll be there,” Lucy promised, and Tom hung up feeling lighter than he had all day.
He took a few minutes to gather his thoughts before standing up, grabbing his jacket, and heading toward the exit. On his way out, he encountered Holt, who was also preparing to leave for the evening.
“Heading home for dinner?” Holt asked Tom.
“Eventually,” Tom said, nodding, then frowned slightly. “Where are you off to?”
“Going home to have dinner with my family,” Holt told him, glancing toward Rad’s office. “Well, my mother and Tyler, anyway.” He nodded in Rad’s direction. “Rad is on duty until later this evening.”
“Before you leave...” Tom said, lowering his voice. “Do you have about ten minutes to accompany me somewhere?”
“Of course,” Holt said curiously. “May I ask where we’re going?”
Tom’s jaw tightened, and he ran a hand over his face before leaning closer to speak for Holt’s ears only. “I need to visit Harvey’s auto repair shop.” He closed his eyes for a second and shook his head before looking at Holt. “I know this sounds terrible, and Clive is my son...”
“I completely understand,” Holt told him firmly. “I’d do exactly the same thing, even if it were my son or grandson.”
“I just don’t believe in coincidences, you know?” Tom said.
“Neither do I,” Holt agreed, and Tom realized he felt the same unease.
They walked the few blocks to the auto repair shop, where Harvey Vincent was preparing to close up for the evening. The young man who had taken over the business from his uncle when Barry Vincent retired looked up suspiciously as they approached.
“Good evening, Harvey,” Tom greeted him professionally. “Would you mind if we have a look around your shop?”
“Do you have a search warrant?” Harvey asked skeptically, his defensive posture immediately apparent.
“Do we need one?” Holt asked, his eyes narrowing as he studied the young man’s reaction.
“Well, to search and go through my shop, yes, you do,” Harvey told them, standing his ground with obvious nervousness.
“We simply want to look around,” Tom told him before hardening his stance and bringing the conversation home. “But if you prefer, we can return with a warrant, which I’m now considering, given the history of this establishment.”
Harvey’s eyes widened in shock at the implication about how his father had run the shop as a chop shop before being convicted and sentenced to prison, and Harvey’s uncle had taken it over, transforming it into a legitimate business.
“No!” Harvey said emphatically. “I’m running this place completely legally.” He assured them quickly. “I’mnothinglike my father.”
“So you claim,” Holt told him, pulling out his phone and beginning to scroll through his contacts.
“What are you doing?” Harvey asked, now looking genuinely nervous.
“Calling a federal judge I know to obtain a warrant, and then I’ll contact the federal task force,” Holt told him matter-of-factly.
