yes, there's light at the end of the tunnel

The state police and the town police have finally agreed that my Ex's Jeep was indeed stolen, and have made the appropriate notice to the DVM. This, in turn, allowed the insurance company to make a settlement offer. And happily, it was actually within the range quoted by the blue-book people. There's some paperwork to do (of course) and we have to mail them the title for the car, and then they'll send a check. It'll probably take another two weeks, but this will finally be done.

We can still probably go after the mechanic for another twenty-five hundred in small claims court, but that's mostly for my Ex to decide, as there's some downside risk with that too. At this point, I'll be just as relieved to let it go.