“You do know who I am.”
“You gave me your name when I wrote the work order.”
That was not the answer she expected.
Ryder continued.
“Your vehicle came in with a brake problem.”
He pointed toward the highway.
“You drive another week on that hose, maybe it holds. Maybe it doesn’t. I wasn’t willing to tell you it was safe when it wasn’t.”
Victoria crossed her arms.
“And now we get the dramatic safety speech.”
“No.”
Ryder shook his head.
“You asked what I charged you for.”
She stared.
He continued.
“I charged you for the repair.”
A long silence passed.
Then Victoria picked up her keys.
“I’m not paying this.”
Ryder’s face changed for the first time.
Not anger.
Surprise.
“You’re taking the vehicle?”
“Yes.”
“The repaired vehicle.”
“I brought it here.”
“And I repaired it.”
“You’re free to send me something in writing.”
“The invoice is in front of you.”
“I’m not giving you two hundred dollars because you think you can intimidate me with a receipt.”
Ryder almost laughed.
Nothing about the moment felt funny, but the accusation was so detached from what he had done that his body nearly reacted on its own.
He stopped it.
Victoria picked up the invoice.
For half a second, Ryder thought she had changed her mind.
Instead, she dropped it onto the counter.
“You should think carefully about how you treat customers.”
Ryder looked at her.
“I do.”
She gave him a cold smile.
“I doubt it.”
Then she turned.
Her heels clicked across the concrete.
Ryder followed her to the open bay door.
“Ms. Sterling.”
She stopped beside the SUV.
“What?”
“I need to be clear.”
He pointed toward the vehicle.
“The work was completed. The price matched the estimate. If you drive away without paying, the invoice remains due.”
“Then keep sending invoices.”
“I’m trying not to turn this into something it doesn’t need to become.”
“So am I.”
“No.”
For the first time, there was steel in Ryder’s voice.
“You’re trying to leave.”
Victoria’s face hardened.
“You have no idea who you’re speaking to.”
Ryder looked at her for several seconds.
“That hasn’t mattered yet.”
She opened the SUV door.
“It should.”
Then she climbed inside.
The engine started immediately.
Smooth idle.
No rattle.
No grinding.
When she pressed the brake pedal and shifted into reverse, it felt solid beneath her foot.
Ryder heard it.
He knew the repair was right.
Victoria knew it too.
Neither said anything.
She backed out.
Turned toward the state highway.
And drove away without paying a single dollar.
Dennis Cole crossed the lot slowly.
He stood beside Ryder as the SUV disappeared beyond the traffic light.
Neither man spoke at first.
Finally Dennis said, “You want me to say it?”
“No.”
“She’s something.”
“Dennis.”
“All right.”
Ryder looked down.
The invoice sat just inside the service counter.
One hundred ninety-nine dollars.
Dennis followed his gaze.
“You call the sheriff?”
“No.”
“Small claims?”
“No.”
“She stole the repair.”
Ryder rubbed the back of his neck.
“It isn’t worth it.”
“That’s exactly why people do things like that.”
“I know.”
“Then make it worth it.”
Ryder looked at him.
Dennis lifted both hands.
“I’m just saying.”
“I know what you’re saying.”
Dennis nodded.
“You need anything?”
“No.”
“You sure?”