Page 30 of Out of the Shadows

“Sounds like a really nice guy,” Jack said sarcastically.

“Yeah,” Chris said with a grunt.

Chris typed in a code, and then a time and the digital copy started from 10:00 p.m. last night. “It’s on triple speed now.”

“Any car you see approach, slow it down, okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

They watched. The first car that came was a minivan. Chris said, “That’s the Ahmed family. They moved in a year ago, totally redid the house at the end of the road. Kinda different.”

“I saw it.”

“My dad hates it, but he likes Dr. Ahmed. Both of the parents are doctors, but Dad’s friendly with the dad. They have three kids, but they’re all little.”

“They weren’t home when I went to talk to them.”

“They work at the new hospital down off the freeway. The dad is in the emergency room, I don’t know what department the mom is in.”

Chris was a wealth of information. “You know the other neighbors?”

“Sure, I’ve lived here my entire life. My mom knows everyone, and I meaneveryone.”

“Do the people across the street from you have cameras?”

“Just a camera at their front door, for deliveries and stuff.”

Chris started the recording again, and at ten thirty another vehicle turned in.

A dark truck.

“Go back,” Jack said. “Is that a neighbor?”

“I don’t recognize it.”

Chris rewound, then started the recording in slow motion.

It was night, and the headlights were at first bright, then the camera adjusted. The truck slowed, stopped at the fork even though there was no stop sign and no other vehicle. Then the truck turned up the street.

“Freeze,” Jack said.

Chris did. Unfortunately, the license plate wasn’t distinct enough.

“Can you go back again?”

Chris did. Now Jack looked at the front of the vehicle. The headlights looked different, one smaller than the other, and that could be because the plastic covering over one headlight had been broken in a crash. He thought he could see a dent in the bumper, but it was a heavy-duty truck, and he couldn’t be certain.

“All right, let’s see when they leave.”

Chris fast-forwarded again. Thirty-two minutes later, the truck left, going back the way it had come. At 11:47—not forty-five minutes later—Logan’s Tesla came into view.

Jack asked, “Can you copy the segment from when we first see the truck until the truck leaves? I’ll give you an email to send it to. My sister might be able to enhance the license plate.”

Chris started typing, and said, “They broke into the Barretts’ house?”

“I believe so.”

“Damn.” A moment later Chris said, “Okay, email?”