So here's another theory for the mill. Please don't pile on all at once - I haven't figured out the nuances yet. Assume for the moment, whatever the information source that the truck, not TB, was the object of the crime. What is so unique about this truck? We know its year, make, model etc. We know it had some mechanical elements which could be useful in another vehicle, but no particular justification for this seems sensible. We know, according to SB, that loan payments were still being made on it. We know it was a lemon, also according to SB. But the most important thing - essential to my theory du jour - is that, when found, the rear seat was missing! So let's say MS, not exactly the sharpest tack on the wall, has got himself indebted to some very bad trade. They can make things right for him, though. All he has to do is locate a particular truck that an "associate" of theirs is interested in finding. They describe it for MS who knows nada about trucks but who turns to his acquaintance DM to help find a vehicle exactly as described. MS is not so stupid as not to realize the Black Hat intention is probably to steal the truck, so he's careful to try and shield his identity but even he must be puzzled by the fact that the trucks they identify are apparently not acceptable. Actually, neither DM or MS is ever aware that it's not the truck that interests the Black Hats' Mr Big, it's the rear seat! Because in that rear seat is stashed what have you - drugs, cash, weapons - stuff never found by LE when Mr Big was hauled off to the slammer. Now that he's released, he is very, very highly motivated to get back.
Now we've found the right truck.
The trouble for TB arises when Mr Big checks out that rear seat. It's empty.
Of course there are other details - access to the hangar, knowledge of the farm's location and of MB's residence etc. But that part of the setup could have been in place even before there was a murder involved, the initial intention having been just to pin a truck robbery on DM, if necessary. That is probably much more information than would have been available to a minor acquaintance like MS, but there are other closer possibilities that could easily fill that bill.
IMO, some sleuthing about influential gangsters just released from prison could be interesting particularly if there should be matching information prior to incarceration about drugs, cash or weapons never recovered by LE.
Find that seat and potentially solve a murder, imo.
Thoughts?
hwow::cow:
