CHAPTER FIVE

Haddie pulled her Fat Boy behind the pickup, a beat up Ford from the last century, absently reading the plate number.

A black-haired young man looked around the faded hood of Liz’s Avenger, then watched as Haddie began strolling around his truck toward the passenger side where Liz waited, pacing in the grass. He wiped his hands on his pants, then across wind-blown hair. It had been nice of him to stop. However, two women were better on the side of the road, especially since she neared six-foot and had a black belt in Taekwondo. And she’d probably learned more about engines in Dad’s garage by sixth grade than he knew now.

Liz, shoulder-length brown hair mangled by the wind, wore sunglasses, a white button-down blouse, and gray slacks. She jumped as she spotted Haddie during her last lap.

“Haddie, thank you.” Her tone came across conversational, but desperation hung in it. She’d likely be late for teaching her class at the university, and nice-boy hadn’t been much help.

Haddie smiled and then focused on the young man extending a hand; she cleared three inches over him. “Haddie.”

“Dan. You must be her mechanic she mentioned. I think it’s her battery.”

For a stall? Dan the man. “Could be. I’m not a mechanic anymore, I’m a law student.” Haddie jumped in the passenger side, threw a leg over to reach the gas and turned the key. She hoped Dan didn’t lean his knuckles into the fan. The engine wasn’t getting any gas. Third of a tank. Filter, pump, or carb. Liz would need a tow.

That meant calling Biff, and he could be with Dad. Haddie sighed and pulled out her phone. Scrolling through her contacts until she came to “Jerk”, stabbing the call icon after a deep breath.

Wincing and holding one side of her hair calm while the other flailed like a hooked fish, Liz leaned in at the open door.

“Biff. Can you get out here on Franklin westbound just off I5? Liz needs her car towed to your friend.” Haddie looked toward her friend as she said the last sentence.

“Hi. Haddie.” Biff paused.

Haddie closed her eyes. Damn, Jerk was with Dad.

Biff continued slowly. “I could make it out there in twenty. Need tools?”

And bring Dad as well — no thanks. “Nope. Your friend out there, he’ll have to figure out why it’s not getting fuel. I don’t have time. I’ll trade him some legal advice, he always needs it.”

“Benny? Sure. But we could save some time . . .”

Jerk. “Nope. I’d imagine we don’t have time, and Liz and I are standing on the offramp.” She avoided mentioning Dan the man, that would surely bring Dad. “Just a tow.”

“That’s the hot professor with the beater Dodge.”

“Yes, the one that works in the police department for her day job.”

Biff paused, at first Haddie thought it was her reminder of Liz’s profession, then she heard muffled voices. There’s a mute button, Jerk.

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“You sure you don’t need tools?”

“Tell Dad no.”

“She says to take a hike, Old Man.” Her father swore in the background and Biff clicked his tongue. She could see his goofy grin. “Helps on the way, Haddie.”

The connection dropped.

Haddie sighed. She’d have to face her dad soon, he’d gotten insistent, but she needed answers that he hadn’t been willing to give. At least she’d make class on time. She itched to dig up some more information on Mark Colman; he had to have some other secrets besides Mel.

“I heard,” Liz said. “How bad?” She leaned in deeper to get the wind off her hair.

Haddie pressed her phone to her chest. “It’s not getting fuel. Biff will tow it and have his friend, Benny, look at it. Might be a couple days. I’ll give you what rides I can. I’ve told you before —”

“I’m already upside-down in it. I can’t afford to trade it in.” Liz glanced back toward the front where Dan waited, and she squatted beside the passenger seat. “Can you give me a ride? I’ve got class in twenty.”

“Of course.” Haddie leaned over and pulled the key out, then off the ring. “You want me to break the news to your new friend?”

Liz rolled her eyes and nodded.

Haddie dropped the key under the mat where Biff would look. “I don’t have a second helmet with me.” She handed over the remaining keys and stepped out as Liz moved out of the way. Haddie strolled to the front of the beater.

Dan shuffled back and leaned his hand atop the open hood. “So, it’s battery right?”

Liz dug in the car to find the tan leather satchel she usually carried for class. The black car leaned from her movement, startling Dan.

Haddie put the cap back on the washer fluid. “Fuel flow. I’ve got a tow coming.”

He frowned and shook his head. “I checked the gauge, she’s got plenty.”

Haddie needed to close the hood and go. “Why don’t you check the fuel filter, just in case.”

Dan climbed under the car, on the wrong side, and then fumbled in his jeans for his phone. He’d need more than a flashlight.

Liz closed the passenger door, settling her bag and purse over her shoulders. Hopefully, there was a brush in one of them.

Haddie’s own hair pulled at the collar trying to get free from under her jacket. She slammed down the hood, smiling as Dan’s work boots kicked in surprise. “We’ve got to go, Dan. Professor here needs to educate.”

Dan scrambled out, wiping flecks of rust off his cheek. “The fuel filter seems fine.”

Dan the man had x-ray vision. No. He had been nice enough, she should cut him some slack. She should have warned him that she was closing the hood.

“Thanks for your help, Dan. Biff will take care of this heap. He’ll be by to pick it up in about four minutes, we’re not waiting.”

Dan looked over to Liz. “You need a ride?” He sounded too hopeful.

He was Haddie’s age, early twenties, maybe younger. Liz — early thirties. Haddie turned to look at Liz. Who was she to judge?

Liz shook her head, adjusting tilted sunglasses. “I can ride with Haddie, thank you, Dan.”

Haddie tilted her head as Dan pouted. She waited until he noticed her and started back to his truck.

He walked on the traffic side. “Good luck. Hope you get it going.”

Haddie joined Liz and they walked along the grass. “You should burn it, take the insurance money.”

“Legal advice?” Liz held back a wayward section of her hair from the wind so she could smile at Haddie.

Haddie snorted. The paper could wait another day. She planned on heading back to the firm after class. There had to be some other motive to kill Mark Colman, unless the police were wrong, and the wife did it. She winced at the mental image of the burned corpse. “You need a ride after class?”

Liz shook her head and spit out hair. “Professor Arbor can give me a ride back. We talked about getting a drink anyway.”

“Ooh.” Haddie grinned, not looking at her friend.

“He’s too old for that.” Liz didn’t sound sure.

“Need to check the birth date on your driver’s license.” Haddie swayed, bumping into Liz.

David was what — late twenties? Handsome.

“What have you heard about this car fire murder?” Haddie asked

“Todd’s working on the car now. I can look over his report, if you want. Andrea take that case?” They arrived at the Fat Boy as Dan sped down the offramp.

“Yep. That girlfriend is innocent. Someone else did this.” Haddie strapped on her helmet. She would need to call her dog walker, Sam, and get her to walk Rock.

“Uh-oh. I know that tone.”

Haddie climbed on her bike. “What?”

“You’re done with the dog fighting ring. Now you’ll obsess on this. Don’t you have a paper due?”

“I’m not obsessing. I’ve just got some research to do.” Haddie fired up the engine.

Her phone vibrated and she peeked as Liz settled in.

Dad wrote, “Answer my damn texts.”