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Mrs. Orozco gave him his burrito, and he ate it while watching the video. She also brought him a Coke, remembering he didn’t like the diet crap.
He almost missed the minivan because he was enjoying his breakfast, and had to rewind.
At 10:07 p.m., the only business open on the strip mall was the drive-through liquor store, which closed at eleven during the week. The minivan had turned into the strip mall from Hatcher, based on the fact that it moved from south to north on the camera. He couldn’t see the driver, but the vehicle moved slowly, as if looking for an address. Theo froze the image just as the van was about to move out of sight. He could make out part of the license plate. It ended in 1284. If he had a better computer, he might be able to make out the letters that preceded the numbers, but from here they were just a blurry blob.
He pulled out the note Margo had given him with Carillo’s physical description, vehicles, and license. Those numbers matched the minivan.
The van returned after five minutes. And now Theo could see the driver’s face. Sure looked like the asshole Margo had described.
He copied the file and sent it to himself and Margo with a quick explanation, then he continued his review.
The van didn’t show up again.
When Theo was done an hour later, he brought his plate to the front counter.
Mrs. Orozco asked, “Did you find what you needed?”
“Yep. Thanks so much.”
“Good, good. You still hungry?”
“I’m stuffed. It was great.”
“Let me refill your Coke.” She held out her hand and he handed her the disposable cup. She topped it off and handed it back to him. “Tell Margo don’t be a stranger. You, too. And bring your grandma in sometime, my treat.”
“She’d like that, thanks.”
Theo left and called Margo. “Did you get my message?”
“Looking at it now. It’s him, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. The image is pretty clear, and I could read part of the license plate.”
“Okay. I have one more thing for you.”
“Awesome. Give it to me.”
“I’m texting you a number. Her name is Cora Mannigan, and she manages a condo complex in Scottsdale. Between eleven and noon I’ll send you a text that says now. Call her and tell her you’re looking for a condo for your grandma. Ask a lot of questions about the complex. Anything you can think of. Availability, pets, gym, stores, restaurants, view. She’ll ask you to come in and look. Tell her you’re out of the area and need to get a list together or something. Make it up, I don’t care, just keep her on the phone as long as you can. When I text you again, give her my spam email to send more information and hang up.”
He laughed. “Sounds like fun.”
“After, go home and study. You have finals next week.”
“Yes, mother,” he said. “Jeez, Angel, I have damn near straight A’s.”
“What class don’t you have an A in?”
“Statistics. Don’t know why I need a stupid statistics class. I have an A in fucking Chemistry III, that should be good enough.”
“If you get stuck, text Luisa. She’s the math whiz in the family.”
Luisa Angelhart was hot. If she were just a few years younger, he would be in love. She was Gorgeous with a capital G. But she scared him as much as Margo. Maybe more. She had this piercing gaze that he swore looked deep into his soul and knew all his secrets. He wondered if she’d handled interrogations for the Marines, because one look and he’d confess anything she asked.
He didn’t want to get involved with any woman who could read his mind.
“Will do,” he simply said, then cleared his throat.
“Be ready.” Margo hung up.
