“That’s right.”
“And you haven’t had any new ones cut.” Russ stowed the bag in one of his cargo pockets.
“I haven’t.”
“Then next I’d like to see the explosive inventory.”
Tobias took a ledger book out of his safe. “I’m old school and make the guys record everything in front of me or Finn now that I hired him, in the same log I been using since I started this business. No point in changing things that work just fine.”
Ryleigh thought it would be a whole lot easier to keep an inventory on a computer, but if this worked and was accurate, she couldn’t fault him just because he was old-school.
“Let’s all head out to the depot and take a look at what you have there,” Russ said.
“Sure.” Without argument or fuss, Tobias closed and locked the safe, then stepped down the hall and out the door.
No one could say the man didn’t cooperate. Either he was being helpful because he was innocent or because he was guilty and confident he wouldn’t get caught.
Only time would tell which answer they would find.
8
With sunset around nine o’clock at this time of year, Ryleigh wasn’t surprised when they stepped outside to see the sun bright in the sky or hear birds chirping in nearby trees that surrounded the clearing. The crew had parked large logging equipment in lots on the far side of the property. Next to them sat a shed with red and white signs warning of explosives plastered on its log exterior.
Tobias looked at Ryleigh. “I was hoping you’d come to tell me you have this investigation figured out already.”
“Sorry, we’re just getting started, and it’ll take time,” she replied. “But while we’re walking, I can ask you a few questions to speed things along. First, do you still want one of our guards stationed here? Or since there’ll now be a deputy here all the time, should we focus on the bomb site? I think the forensic workers could use the protection if that helps make your decision.”
He didn’t reply, and she hoped the answer wasn’t that he just wanted to cancel their contract.
“I’m sure my deputies will have things covered here,” Russ said.
Tobias nodded. “We have a first-rate sheriff’s department, thanks to Russ. Might as well keep your guards at the mill property.”
“Okay, so next I want to ask you about Uri Gates.”
He pursed his lips. “What about him?”
“I know you did a background check when you hired him, but did you call his references too?”
“Of course I did.” His offense at her question flowed through his tone and rigid posture. “Called his last employer here in Oregon. Tom Watson. A good friend. Said Uri only worked for them for a month when my supervisor opening came up. Tom said Uri was a good worker, and they were sorry to lose him, but he’d been a supervisor before and that was really the job he’d been looking for.”
“What about prior jobs?” she asked. “Did you follow up on any of those?”
He shook his head, and his long white beard flowed back and forth. “Tom and I go way back. I figured his word was good enough for me.” Tobias stopped walking to stare at her. “Why? Something bad in Uri’s prior work history?”
“I don’t know, but he came here from Alabama, and we think that might be a red flag.”
“Oh, that.” Tobias waved a hand and started walking again. “He told me he got divorced and wanted to leave the past as far behind as he could. Oregon fit that bill for him.”
“So you knew he’d previously logged in Alabama?”
“Yep.”
“But it’s not on his application. Why was he trying to hide it?”
“Not hiding it at all. His former wife is the admin assistant at the logging office in Alabama. He doesn’t want her to know where he is. If I called, she would find out.”
Sounded plausible but still something they needed to follow up on, and Russ’s pointed look aimed at her said he expected her to take care of it. “Can you give me the contact info for this logging office and his former wife’s name?”
