Eloy had the Uber driver drop him off at a convenience store about a half mile from his house. After paying with cash, he walked home.
He wracked his brain to figure out an isolated place where they could abandon Chloe’s Toyota, where it was unlikely there’d be cameras or people.
He finally settled on Lopez Canyon Road, a rural area just above Sylmar in the Valley. The fire department used bulldozers to make firebreaks, which were basically dirt roads in those foothills. It was the perfect place to dump a ride.
He gathered supplies he’d need to wipe his prints off both sides of the vehicle. Any good car thief would take that step—especially if he’d run over a cop.
Chloe’s prints were to be expected in her vehicle, so if he missed any of hers, it wasn’t a big deal.
The rest of the plan was forming in his mind, so he felt confident that they could make it work. The only worry he had was Chloe. She was adamant she wouldn’t take the blame. He had to convince her he had a solid idea, and they wouldn’t be arrested. He believed it, and he’d make sure she did, too.
Gathering things from his house, he realized cameras were everywhere and they couldn’t afford to be picked up on any surveillance video. They needed disguises. He didn’t have much on hand, but he grabbed a couple of hats, a cheap black wig worn at Halloween, and several pairs of sunglasses.
He found a pink T-shirt left over from a former girlfriend and added it to his bag of supplies.
Back in Burbank, he drove through the parking lot aisle where Chloe sat waiting. She’s probably going insane without her phone. He pulled into the space next to her. He motioned for her to stay in the car and roll down the passenger window.
She looked at him with a confused expression. “What have you done to your hair? Is that a man bun?” She burst into laughter.
“Shut up! I brought you some stuff to wear. Once you get it on, we’ll swap cars. You’ll follow me.” He tossed the plastic bag with her disguise items through the passenger windows.
“Be sure to put the hat and sunglasses on.”
She pulled out the wig. “You’re kidding me, right? You expect me to wear this piece of crap?”
He sighed heavily. “Chloe, there’s no time for this. We just need it so if the police should catch us on a traffic cam or something, they won’t recognize it’s you and me. We need to hurry because we need to set up our alibi.”
Relief flooded his veins when she grabbed the items and donned them.
Once she was in costume, they switched vehicles and hopped on the 5 freeway. He exited at Sunland and took surface streets until they reached Lopez Canyon.
He led her up the canyon, past a few homes and a few businesses. This area was rocky high desert with few shade trees.
After a mile and a half, there were no more buildings. He eventually came to a side road at the top of a ridge. It was likely a ridge-break carved out of the chaparral. He turned into the dirt, with Chloe following in his Jeep.
After they were out of view of the paved roadway, he motioned out the window for her to stop. He continued driving another hundred yards.
Wearing gloves, he wiped every surface, inside and out, to erase their prints. Next, he swapped Chloe’s plates for the one he’d put on the car earlier in the day. Once done, he started back to Chloe waiting in his vehicle.
After only a few steps, he saw a broken tree branch. He walked over and picked it up and used the limb to sweep the dusty soil to hide his footprints.
Sweat ran the length of his face, and he worried the dust he was kicking up might be noticed and mistaken for smoke from a brush fire.
Still brushing the ground, he returned to his SUV. He went to the driver’s side.
Chloe opened the door and started to step out onto the running board.
“Stay there. Climb over the console. We don’t need your footprints here.”
Wordlessly, she did as he said.
“Phase one complete. Now we have to pick up a couple of items to cement our alibi.”