“Know anyone who’s got one?”
“There’s a heavy equipment company in town.Walker Demolition, I think.They probably have several.”Archer chuckled.“And probably every warehouse in a one-thousand-mile radius.”
Well, that didn’t narrow it down much.
“Say you’ve got a forklift and those heavy-duty straps.You drive the forklift out there?”
“If you’re close, sure.Otherwise, you’d trailer it, I imagine.”
“They get it out there,” Atticus stated, not sure it mattered how it got there.“Then they do all that shit and hoist it up, put it on a trailer, drive it away.What then?Where do they take it?”He looked at Archer.“More importantly, why?”
“A prank, like you said.You want my opinion?”
“I’ll take anything at this point.”
“All right.You’ve got high school kids, right?”
“Assuming so, sure.”
“They’ve come up with a mischievous plan.”
“If we’re lucky,” Atticus said.
“If they just wanted to be destructive, they could’ve left it where it was.I think they want to make a statement.The home team or the rival.Either way.”
“Callie and Slade think CRHS students took it.”
“I’d say that’s a good bet.If it’s not on the property, then they wouldn’t go far.Someone’s house.Their parents’ business.Maybe they’re gonna paint it.Is there a body shop around here?With a paint booth?”
Atticus grabbed his phone and pulled up the list Becs had given him.
“There’s one,” he noted.“Gary’s Auto Body.”
“I’d look there.You could find out if Gary has kids who attend the high school.If he does, then go by there.Even if it’s just a drive-by.Scope it out.”
With Red Bull in hand, Atticus shot to his feet.“Man, thanks.”
“Anytime.”
Atticus started toward his truck but stopped, looking back at Archer.“I can get Becs to check out the kid thing, but do you wanna head over there with me?Unless you’ve got somethin’ else to do.”
“No.I’m kinda in wait mode,” he said, standing tall.“I wouldn’t mind checkin’ it out.”
Atticus jerked his head toward his truck.“Come on then.Maybe we can solve this one today so I can get on with my life.”
“Can you read that?”Atticus asked, passinghis phone over when it buzzed.
Archer took it, glancing at the screen.“It’s from Becs.She says Gary’s is owned by Dave Costello and his wife, Julie.”
“So not Gary?”
Laughing, Archer said, “Doesn’t look like it, no.”
“Then why call it Gary’s?”
“That’s a question you’ll have to ask Dave and Julie.”
Atticus shook his head, grinning.“Okay.What else?”
