He gestured toward Raymond. "The subject will have 90 minutes. He must identify the malfunction, explain his reasoning, and propose a solution."
Preston paused for effect. "If he fails—which I think we all expect—his family has agreed to issue a formal apology for wasting the time of qualified experts."
Raymond stood alone beside the Ferrari. He could feel every eye in the room, could hear whispered comments about his age, his clothes, his skin, but his hands were steady, his breathing calm. Giuseppe had prepared him for this moment.
"Before we begin," Preston continued, "I believe we should establish baseline competency. A few simple questions to ensure the young man has at least rudimentary knowledge." He turned to Raymond with a predator's smile. "What is the precise bore and stroke measurement for the Colombo V12 in a 250 GTO?"
Raymond didn't hesitate. "73 by 58.8 mm. Total displacement of 2,953 cubic centimeters."
Preston's smile tightened. "The exact ignition timing specification at idle?"
"8° before top dead center, adjustable based on fuel octane rating."
"Torque specification for the cylinder head bolts?"
"First pass: 25 ft-lbs. Second pass: 50 ft-lbs. Final pass: 65 ft-lbs. Spiral pattern from center outward."
Silence.
The journalists stopped writing. The technicians stopped smirking. Even Victoria Ashford leaned forward in her chair.
Preston fired more questions: Carburetor float levels? Valve clearance specifications? Fuel pressure tolerances? Distributor cap firing order?
Raymond answered every single one—perfectly, without pause.
Derek Sullivan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He was a certified Ferrari technician with 15 years of experience; he couldn't have answered half those questions without a manual. This 13-year-old had answered all of them from memory.
Victoria Ashford cleared her throat. "Mr. Whitmore, I believe the young man has demonstrated sufficient theoretical knowledge. Perhaps we should allow him to actually examine the vehicle. That is why we're here."