A mechanic tried to charge me $8,000 for a “broken engine”—but what I took out of my purse made him beg me to rip up the bill.

shook hard enough to rattle the loose change in the console.

She tested the ignition system and compared the results with my earlier report.

“The coil failed,” she said. “Your compression is normal.”

“So he never had proof.”

“Only a fault code and a customer he thought wouldn’t question him.”

I gripped the workbench as the tension left my body.

“Are you continue reading …