Q Is for Quarry

take?"
    "Probably no more than a couple of days." I was hoping it wouldn't occur to him we'd be removing the Mustang from the premises. Also, hauling it north where he probably wouldn't see the car again for months. I didn't want to deal with him if he raised a big stink.
    He hunched his shoulders. "The law allows you to just waltz in this way? You're on private property out here, same as the house. My dad owns everything as far as that fence."
    I turned and followed his gesture. "I wasn't aware of that. Lot of land," I said. "Actually, we had a chat with your father and asked to see the Mustang. He told us to help ourselves."
    "I don't think he understood what you meant. He didn't mention it to me."
    "Is that a problem?"
    "Well, no. Not at all. It just seems weird."
    I looked down at the ground, snubbing the tip of my right Saucony in the dirt. "I don't know what to tell you. Maybe Lieutenant Dolan can explain it when he gets back. He asked me to secure the car until the deputy arrives. Did you need something out here?"
    "I came out to see what was going on. Dad saw you head in this direction, but then you never came back. Where's Lieutenant Dolan?"
    "Ah. I guess he went around the other way. He probably didn't want to bug your dad while he was watching his show." I let a silence settle. I didn't want to manufacture small talk and I wasn't interested in continuing the conversation on its present course.
    "I better let Dad know. He's not going to like it, but that's your look-out."
    "Go ahead. Do anything you like."
    Cornell backed up a step and then took off for the house. By the time he reached the driveway, a black-and-white unit was pulling in. When the deputy got out, he and Cornell shook hands. I watched the two men confer, joined moments later by the old man himself. He had his straw hat set square on his head, the rim shading his face. Even from a distance, I could see he'd taken on the air of a bandy rooster whose barnyard was under siege. The conversation continued with a lot of hand waving on Ruel's part. The three faces turned in my direction. Behind them, Lieutenant Dolan pulled up and parked at the curb. The three of them waited for Dolan and then another discussion ensued, at the end of which the four of them formed a little ragtag parade and trudged toward me.
    Dolan introduced the deputy, whose name was Todd Chilton. He seemed to be acquainted with Ruel, and I gathered their relationship predated the current meeting. Chilton was in his late thirties, with dark hair clipped short on the sides and curling slightly on top. He'd loosened his tie, and he took a moment to rebutton his collar before the two of us shook hands.
    Ruel peered at me and then turned to Lieutenant Dolan. "This the technician you were talking about?"
    "She's a private investigator. We'll tow the car to Santa Teresa and do the evidence search up there."
    Ruel turned and stared. "You mean to take the car away?" He looked from Dolan to the deputy in disbelief. "He can't do that, can he?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "But I hold title to that car and it's registered in my name. He never said what he was up to or I'd've told him to get lost."
    Chilton said, "We understand that, Mr. McPhee, and I'm sure Lieutenant Dolan appreciates the inconvenience."
    "Inconvenience, my foot! That car's been setting out there for the past eighteen years. If the cops thought it was so all-fired important, they should have taken it back then."
    Dolan said, "The information came in a week ago. That's the first we'd heard of it, or we'd have done just that."
    "This's private property. The car belongs to me. You can't sashay in here and walk off with what's mine." He turned to the deputy. "I want him out of here."
    Chilton said, "I can't help you with that. He has the right to take it."
    "Then you clear off, too! What good's that gall-dang badge of yours if you can't protect us any better than this?"
    Chilton's manner was beginning to shift. Where at first his tone had been conciliatory, now it was turning flat. "Excuse me, sir, but that car's considered evidence in a criminal investigation. You don't have a choice. Techs don't find anything, you get the vehicle back and there's no harm done."
    "I'm calling my lawyer."
    Lieutenant Dolan said, "Mr. McPhee, we have a legitimate search warrant. You can call anyone you want, but it won't change what's happening. No disrespect intended, but you might as well save your breath."
    "I'm entitled to one call."
    "That's only if they