Michael was driving back to the motel after his second day of working road construction. Osborne had called Devon, offering to provide Michael with copies of some key files about the contracts the county had with both Siddall and Summit. Michael was going to meet Osborne for dinner and the handoff.

"I am glad to be leaving that place," said Kitt.

"We'll be back again tomorrow."

"Please, Michael, do not remind me."

"To take your mind off of that, how about you check on a few things for me?"

"Of course."

"First, see if you can find out anything about Ross Osborne's finances. He's got a classic car with a lot of work done on it."

"As I recall, he said he does his own work."

"Still needs parts and the right tools. Not to mention a place to work."

"Second?"

"Summit's finances. Maybe Tommy Groves is being bankrolled by someone, allowing him to undercut the competition."

"Someone like his father?"

"Exactly."

"And? You did say 'a few' rather than 'a couple of' things."

"Yeah. I want to know whether Summit's using guys who are certified. And if those guys have any kind of a history. Especially in not meeting certification requirements."

"That will be difficult without names."

"Well, then. I'll get those for you later tonight."

"That sounds like you have a plan."

"We have a plan. Or at least most of one," said Michael.

"Most of one?"

"Well, the outline of a plan. But we'll have the rest very soon."

"In other words, we don't have a plan. Per usual."

"Come on, Kitt," said Michael, with mock hurt in his voice. "We've narrowed it down to three possibilities."

"We have?"

"Sure." Michael ticked them off on his fingers. "Someone is leaking the amounts of the other bids to Tommy Groves, so he knows how much to put his bid in for. Tommy Groves is lowballing and then cutting corners, so he still makes money on the contracts. Ross Osborne is beefing up his estimate and then telling Tommy the real amount."

"Any of those schemes would result in Summit being the lowest bidder," said Kitt slowly. "But Ross Osborne called us in –"

"Wouldn't be the first time a criminal called in the police, to make it look like they were on the up and up."

"Don't you trust Ross Osborne?"

"I trust very few people."

"Do you . . . trust me?" asked Kitt cautiously.

"I wouldn't have you as my partner if I didn't, pal," said Michael without hesitation. "Anyway, all we need to do is figure out which of the three schemes it is."

"You actually do have a plan," said Kitt with surprise.

"Told you. We'll flesh out the details after dinner."

Michael parked at the motel and then walked to the restaurant to meet Osborne. He took a shortcut through an alleyway. Which is where someone jumped him. His face was mostly covered by a hoodie, and he didn't say a word. Michael had no idea who he was. The two men struggled for a bit, with Michael holding his own. Eventually, the other man broke free and ran off.

Kitt," called Michael over the commlink, "tell me you got a bead on that guy."

"What guy, Michael?"

"Someone just attacked me and then ran off."

"I am not detecting anyone running in your vicinity."

"Damn. Well, at least we know someone isn't happy with us. Which is a sign that something is up."

"Agreed."