An Unexpected Discovery Under The Seat
Eddie jammed his hand deep between the gray cloth upholstery and the rear cab panel of the pickup truck.
His fingers struck the stiff corner of a thick manila folder tucked far out of sight.
He pulled it loose, turning the heavy envelope over in his grease-stained hands while looking back toward the open garage bay.
His supervisor stood across the shop floor, wiping a wrench clean over a red shop rag on the steel workbench.
Eddie called out across the concrete, explaining that a folder had been wedged behind the passenger seat.
The older mechanic did not look up from his tools, instructing him firmly to leave the envelope alone because the truck did not belong to them.
Unfolding The Numbers
Eddie opened the flap anyway, his eyes widening as he scanned the top printed invoice.
The total printed at the bottom showed three point eight million dollars.
Hearing the figure, his supervisor dropped the metal wrench onto the table with a clatter and stepped across the bay.
He took the folder into his hands, leaning over the paperwork under the fluorescent ceiling tubes.
Eddie pointed out that the name printed on the document read Harmon Freight rather than the customer name on their service intake.
The truck belonged to a man named Daniel Reyes, who operated no shipping fleet of any kind.
Eddie turned to a second sheet inside the folder, revealing another identical billing statement dated eleven months prior.
An Unwelcome Interruption
The shop owner pressed his palms flat against the folder, his voice lowering as he instructed Eddie to return the papers immediately.
Before the folder could slip back into the upholstery, a sharp electronic ring cut across the room.
Eddie pulled a phone from his overalls pocket, staring at the incoming digits flashing across the display screen.
His boss warned him to ignore the call, but Eddie tapped the screen and pressed the receiver to his ear.
The older mechanic pointed an index finger straight at Eddie, whispering a strict warning not to reveal their location to whoever was on the line.
Eddie lowered the phone slowly from his cheek, whispering back that the caller already knew where they were standing.
Both mechanics turned together, their eyes locked on the darkening driveway just outside the open garage doors.
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