Chapter 11 - THE REPAIR SHOP
Police surrounded the repair shop before dawn.
Owen was inside burning paper in a steel drum.
He ran through the back door.
Officers caught him near the highway.
In his pocket was a storage key.
In the shop office, Torres found old service records.
Claire Cole's Mercedes appeared on one page.
AUTHORIZED BY: O. MERCER.
Adrian stared at the signature.
"He wasn't the owner."
The retired mechanic who had worked there was found by noon.
He remembered Owen.
"He said Mrs. Cole was his sister."
"What did he ask you to do?"
"Inspect the brakes."
"Did you?"
The mechanic looked nervous.
"A man came after closing. Said he was picking up the car."
"Who?"
"I don't remember his name."
Police showed photographs.
The mechanic pointed to one.
James Lowell.
Adrian felt the room tilt.
His own attorney.
Lowell was brought in immediately.
He looked destroyed before anyone asked a question.
"I didn't cut the brakes."
Adrian slammed both palms on the table.
"Then why were you there?"
"Claire called me. She thought Owen was tampering with the car."
"And?"
"I moved it to another garage."
"Then how did it end up back with her?"
Lowell closed his eyes.
"She insisted on taking it."
"Did you tell police?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because the night after she died, Owen sent me photos."
"Of what?"
Lowell whispered, "My daughter."
Owen had followed Lowell's teenage daughter to school and threatened her.
So Lowell stayed quiet.
Adrian wanted to hate him.
He still did.
But fear had been the currency of this conspiracy for years.
Torres entered with another officer.
"We opened Owen's storage unit."
She placed a plastic evidence bag on the table.
May you like
Inside was a pair of bolt cutters.
And Claire's original brake hose.
