It would soon be daylight.

It seemed to him that there was a good deal to be done before daylight.
Preoccupiedly he took a big handful of waste and began to polish the hood and fenders of the car.

His mother would want to drive, and she always made a fuss if he left any dust to dim its glossy splendor.

He walked around behind and contemplated the number plate, wondering if the man who was said to be "hep" would remember that there were three ciphers together.

He might see only two--being in a hurry and excited.
He rubbed the plate thoughtfully, trying to guess just how that number, 170007, would look to a stranger who was excited by being shot at.
No use doctoring the number now.