he wants me to be the crew chief and mechanic for his team.” He leapt to his feet. “It’s in the garage now. Want to see it?”
Race car support would be a new niche for our business, but not one I wanted to pursue. Too much time at the track. Too many last-minute hassles. Too much tweaking of sensitive engines, brakes, and transmissions. Too hard to hold down expenses. Still, Brennan Rowe reeked of money, especially after the successful construction and lease of his much-contended office building, and he was a lucrative customer with a significant car collection. If Cory had agreed to provide race support, I’d go along with it for now. “Maybe later. Tell me about my new customer first.”
Cory stuck his hands in his pockets and swayed on the balls of his feet. Small but wiry at five-one, he always had a lot of energy. Maybe that was why his auburn hair curled poodle-tight. “She’s different.”
A woman. That was different. Most of my customers were men looking for the power, luxury, status, and speed a fine automobile provided. “How so?”
Cory’s girly eyelashes blinked four times in rapid succession. “She read an article on the Internet about the cars that turn men’s heads; cars that make men think a woman’s hot. You know, a Mercedes 300SL roadster, a Porsche 911, cars like that. She decided to buy one of the cars on the list. She wants to get this guy’s attention, and he likes sports cars.”
“So which one of the ten did she pick?”
Cory scrunched his eyes as if fearing my response. “The Caterham Seven.”
I wished I was home in bed with the covers over my head. “You’re kidding me. Aren’t they only available in England?”
“They have dealerships in the U.S. now.”
“They’re kit cars, aren’t they?”
“You can buy them and build them. I offered to do that for her, but getting a kit car registered and insured is a hassle. We decided that purchasing a used DeDion model would be the best way to go. It’s got the newer Ford Zetec engine, improved suspension, and meets most emission standards.”
“Does she know it’s an open car, best driven wearing a helmet? Does she think getting soaked in rainstorms and picking bugs out of her teeth will attract this guy?”
Cory sank into the chair again. “Jo, she’s not an attractive woman. She’s big-boned with hair dyed the color of the Ferrari. Crooked teeth. It’s not pretty. But she knows this guy loves the Caterham Seven. He saw it in some Japanese animated cartoons and got all hot for it.”
“If she’s that big, will she even fit in the car? It’s designed for racing.” Wouldn’t the town muckety mucks be delighted to have Wachobe turn into the new road racing street course? I didn’t think they’d send me roses in appreciation.
“Yeah, but it’s built for living. She’ll fit. I can make her fit, if you can find the car.”
I stifled a sigh. “All right. I’ll start in the Sunbelt, where people can drive a car like that year-round.” Unlike here in New York’s Finger Lakes region, where maybe a handful of days over a couple of summer months would be suitable.
“Great.” Cory fumbled through a stack of note pads on my desk. “Here’s her brother’s number. She’s staying with him until Christmas. I told her we’d call once we located a car for her.”
He sprang out of the chair, ready for action. “I’ve got a Fiat to service this morning and a Land Rover coming in this afternoon.”
I held up my hand to slow his departure. “Cory, one more thing. Did you want to come over for Thanksgiving dinner?”
His eyes misted. “I do, but can I bring a date?”
A date. Cory’s life had been busy in more ways than one since I dropped out of sight. “Sure. Who?”
“I’ll let you know after I ask him.”
How mysterious. Cory had learned the man he loved was a big fat liar in the worst way just a few days before we lost Noelle. He’d handled his depression better than me, pouring his energy into his maintenance work and letting out all his emotion in amateur theater performances at the Broadway-quality theater one town over from Wachobe. Too bad I hadn’t taken a page from his book.
I powered up my computer, smelling smoke as the dust burned off. The website for Hemming Motors News came up a second after I typed in the address. They didn’t have any Caterhams listed.