TWENTY-THREE

 

 

September 19th, 2016

Outside of Las Vegas, Nevada

 

MIKE WAS WORKING on a security install when Julia called him and he said he would be glad to talk with them about titles of cars. He gave her directions to the job site, a new office building downtown off Fremont.

“Pull up out front and I’ll come out and we can talk in your car.”

Julia gave the directions to Lott and it didn’t take them long to get there.

Mike must have just been inside the double glass front door of the five-story building and stepped out as they pulled up and climbed into the back seat.

Lott and Julia both turned so they could see Mike as he slid his large bulk into the middle of the back seat.

“Thanks for talking with us on short notice,” Lott said.

“After yesterday,” he said, “I want to help any way I can to bring this bastard down. Any news?”

Lott gave him a quick update, including the fact that the Cold Poker Gang was still on the case. Then Lott pointed to Julia for her to continue.

“How hard would it be to change names on a car registration in this state without leaving a trail?” Julia asked.

Mike stared at her for a moment. “The women’s cars?”

Julia nodded. “The registration records show they were owned by other people before Duane Thorn supposedly bought them and then resold them to Maxwell. But the car vin numbers stayed the same.”

“It would be doable,” Mike said, clearly thinking about the process, “but not simple. The person who did it would have to have computer access into the records in the state registration in Carson City. They would also have to be able to access the records and cover their computer tracks easily.”

Suddenly Mike stopped and thought, then asked, “When was the last car sold to the dealer?”

“About three weeks ago,” Lott said.

Julia was starting to get excited from Mike’s reaction.

As she watched, he took out his phone and called a number. “Annie,” he said, “I’m here with your father and Julia. Can you get your best computer person to check the registration on that last car sold. Trace back computer tracks on who altered it and do it without leaving a trace.”

He nodded and hung up.

“You think it might be possible to trace back the computer tracks of the person who did the changes to the registration of that last car?”

“Very possible,” Mike said. “I would do it, but I’m not near my protected computers. But Doc and Annie and Fleet’s computer people are sometimes better than I am. Hate to admit that and don’t tell them I said that.”

Lott and Julia both laughed.

“Thank you,” Julia said. “How long will that take?”

At that moment Mike’s phone beeped.

“That long,” Mike said, smiling.

He answered without saying a word. He nodded once, then he said, “You are kidding me?”

He listened for another moment, which seemed like an eternity to Julia as she watched his face take on a look of surprise.

“Go after him carefully,” Mike said. “This guy knows what he’s doing. I’ll tell your father and Julia and they can get researching the guy from other levels.”

With that Mike hung up and tucked his phone back into his shirt pocket.

“We’re dying up here,” Lott said, smiling at Mike.

“Your idea was a great one,” Mike said to Julia. “Annie’s people tracked the computer trail back without leaving a trail of their own to who changed the title. The guy was good, but not as good as Annie and Doc’s people.”

“Who?” Julia asked, feeling like a kid in an ice cream shop waiting for the first cone to be passed over the counter.

“Maxwell changed the registration,” Mike said.

“The car dealer in Reno?” Lott asked.

Julia was stunned. For some reason Maxwell had never crossed her mind as anything but an honest man.

“One and the same,” Mike said. “Your daughter is digging into the guy and finding out everything she can about him without him knowing he’s even been looked at. She will report to you tonight at dinner.”

Julia just sat there, stunned. No wonder the killer had been ahead of them. They had walked right into his friend’s office and told the friend basically what they were doing.

Julia looked back at Mike. “Might want to have Heather tip off the FBI to keep an eye on Maxwell discretely, since he might be a killer but at least he is trafficking in stolen cars.”

“Really good idea,” Mike said, nodding. “I’ll get that working.”

“Thank you,” Lott said.

“Yes, thank you,” Julia said.

“Keep me posted,” Mike said.

A moment later he had slid out of the car and was headed back into the large building.

“So where to next?” Lott asked, glancing at Julia with a smile.

“I’ll call the Walters and see if they are still available to talk with us.”

Lott nodded. “I’m betting they know Maxwell from back in the Vaughan family day.”

“No bet,” Julia said.

For the first time, it felt like they had just taken a step forward. Now the key was to not slide backwards. They had a suspect.

But she had a hunch Maxwell wasn’t the killer. Finding the killer was going to be even harder, she had no doubt.