MY NEIGHBOR DUMPED A BUCKET OF PAINT OVER MY CAR AT 2 A.M. — BY BREAKFAST, THREE POLICE CARS WERE OUTSIDE HER HOUSE

He crouched near the rear bumper. The paint had dissolved part of an old white coating I’d never noticed. Underneath were scratched letters.

He wiped them carefully. His radio crackled. He read the letters again and stood.

“Get her away from the vehicle.”

“What’s going on?”

“Ma’am, this vehicle has been connected to a missing person case we’ve kept open for six years.”