“It’s not. Is there a problem, Lieutenant?”
“Can you give me the location of your vehicle?”
“Long-term parking, Deck A, slot 45, Newark Transportation. What is this about?”
Eve turned to Peabody, who nodded.
“What is your current location?”
“I’m sitting on my deck in the Bahamas with my wife who just handed me a mimosa and thinks I’m talking to our broker. What’s going on?”
“We had an incident with a vehicle that matches yours. Do you have an OBX sticker on the —”
“Left rear window, bottom corner. What kind of incident?”
“We’re checking on that, Mr. Hornesby, and contacting security at the transportation center. Either they or I will contact you if necessary.” She couldn’t help it. “Could you tell me what time it is there?”
“Time? It’s… it’s eight-forty-five.”
“In the morning?”
“Of course in the morning.”
Eve said, “Huh,” fascinated and a little irritated there was no time difference.
“Did someone steal our old van?”
“We’re looking into that, Mr. Hornesby.”
“Mad, didn’t I tell you that was bound to happen? How many times did I tell you we should take a limo to the airport?”
“All right, Elsie, all right.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but I’d like to know when you parked your vehicle.”
“January four, at eight a.m.”
“Thank you, you’ve been very helpful. Someone will contact you with more details.”
“Do we need to come back?”
“No, there’s no need to interrupt your vacation. Thank you.”
She clicked off as the female voice began to rag on Hornesby again.
“We got the vehicle. Peabody, APB – now. If sighted, do not approach. Contact me, do not approach, follow only at a distance.”
She pushed up. “How come the Bahamas gets to have the same time we do? It doesn’t seem right.”
And setting that puzzle aside, she went for another hit of coffee.
Things were breaking.
16
Eve started a deeper run on the nephew while Peabody confirmed the all-points on the stolen van.
“Banner, Hanks has a nephew, Hanks, Curtis Monroe, age twenty-eight, rancher. Sending his contact to your PPC now. Play the good-old boy again. Confirm his whereabouts, get a feel for him. He doesn’t play for me, but let’s nail him down.”