She and Simon entered a large, cavernous room, containing four bays for working on cars. The front bay doors were closed, since it was Sunday, so no one from the street could look in. The pungent smells of oil and grease hit her nose. The room was well-lit by overhead fluorescent lights. In the bay immediately in front of her stood a late-1960s Dodge Charger. Laura didn't know a lot about American muscle cars, but she was struck by the high sheen of its candy-apple red paint job and well-polished chrome trim.

To the side of the car stood five men, whom Laura guessed worked at the garage but did...