I’m willing to chase down a few rabbit holes to see if I can get something.”
On their way back to their office, they detoured to talk to Jon Ying. Expecting a small dry-cleaning business, he was surprised when they pulled up to the wide, glass storefront of an old brick building. The area had seen better days, but it was bustling with activity.
Walking inside, they moved down a long counter where a young woman on one end was taking laundry and dry cleaning from walk-in customers. The noise from the large machines in the back was almost deafening, and he wondered how she could hear. As soon as she was free, Kyle stepped forward, showing his badge. “We’re here to talk to Jon Ying.”
Her eyes widened and she smiled. “Oh, you found my uncle’s truck?”
“If you could just get him for us, please.”
She hurried toward the back, and his gaze followed her as she weaved between the machinery and disappeared. A moment later, she hustled back to the counter to take the next customer, calling out, “He’s just coming.”
A small, dark-haired, bespectacled man came from the back, his gaze pinned on Kyle and Alex. “You are not the same police I talked to before.”
Showing their badges, Kyle introduced, “That’s right, sir. I’m Detective McBride and this is Detective Freeman. We’d like to ask you a few more questions, please. Is there somewhere a little quieter we can talk?”
“Quieter?” Jon seemed perplexed, and Kyle assumed the man’s hearing was either gone or he simply no longer noticed the noise roaring around him.
“Yes, please.”
He waved them back, and they moved around the counter, following him past the machinery. The noise grew in intensity and the scent of bleach, detergent, and indefinable chemicals combined to make his nose burn. The heat from the machines made the air stifling. Finally, they reached a small office near the back. The office was a mess of papers, files, clothing piled in a chair, forms tacked to the walls and, somehow, there managed to be just enough room for the three men to stand once the door was closed.
“Have you found my truck?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Ying, but no. I’d like to get a little bit more information from you about what was in the report. I believe you told the other detectives that the truck was bought by the corporation, given to you to use, but you wouldn’t be able to file a claim on it being stolen. Is that right?”
His head bobbing up and down, Mr. Ying confirmed. “Yes, yes. It wasn’t in my name, so I don’t get any money. That’s why I want it found.”
“Exactly what corporation were you referring to?”
“Hope City Linen and Uniform Service.”
Nodding, he continued. “Now, do they own this business?”
“No, it’s my business.”
Glancing quickly in Alex’s direction, he could tell his partner was confused as well. Trying again, he said, “So, Ying Laundry is your business. What does Hope City Linen own?”
“They’re a big business. They do most of the fancy hotels and many restaurants in Hope City. I had room to expand here years ago, so I still run my laundry and dry cleaning out of one end but bought the huge industrial cleaners. I have a contract with Hope City Linen and Uniform Service. They provided a couple of vans so that my drivers could get around to all the locations that are assigned to us. With one truck missing, my drivers are having to work overtime to get to everywhere. I need it back.”
“If the truck was actually owned by Hope City Linen, then why didn’t they file the police report?”
“I called them, but they said it was my problem. If I lost the truck, then I need to find it. But I didn’t lose it. The truck was stolen right from the alley behind us.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose for a second, Kyle asked, “And you have no security cameras?”
Shaking his head, Mr. Ying said, “Too expensive. How am I going to make money if I have to keep buying trucks and put up cameras?”
“One last question for now. Who is your contact at Hope City Linen?”
“Contact?”
“When you call them to talk to somebody there, who do you talk to?”
“Ah, I talk to Roger Solten.” Keeping his eyes on Alex’s notepad, he continued, “That’s R.O.G.E—”
“Thank you, sir. I’ve got it.”
Promising to call if they found any information, they walked back through the heavy machinery and out of the building. Stepping onto the much quieter street,