Sierra Rice – Process Nye’s bedroom at Eckles’s place and Gates’s truck
Kelsey Dunbar - Identify victim and determine cause of death and look for Gates’s keys in his pocket
Emerson County deputies - Find Carla’s cell phone
Emerson County staff - Review video from explosives’ depot.
Grady and Trent - Talk to eyewitnesses to the explosion and the first firefighter on scene
Grady and Trent – determine type of explosives used for bomb
“I called the logging company in Alabama and confirmed that Gates did indeed work there,” Ryleigh said. “Thankfully, his former wife didn’t answer, and I was able to confirm he was well-respected. The manager I talked to said he left due to a dispute with his former wife, just like he told Tobias.”
“So he didn’t lie,” Russ said. “Good to know.”
“And I’ll need a key to the explosives’ depot so I can let Grady and Trent take a look at the explosives Tobias’s team uses.”
Russ got a key from his pocket and slid it down the table, then glanced at Finn. “Unless of course you have one you’re not telling me about.”
Finn rolled his eyes. “You know I don’t, and I got ahold of the locksmith who’s in charge of making the depot keys. No one has asked him for a key, and he hasn’t made one for anyone since I hired him.”
“Then only four people had a key.” Russ locked gazes with Finn.
“Unless one of the other guys found another locksmith to cut a key,” Finn said. “But they would have to be dishonest to do it.”
Russ continued to stare at Finn. “Barring that, if we confirm the explosives were the same type as stored in the depot, that would mean only four people could have set the bomb.”
Finn sat up higher. “Only three. You know I didn’t do it.”
“We’ll see,” Russ said. “We’re through half of the video feed from the depot.”
“And?” Finn demanded.
“Nothing yet except legit access as noted on the log.”
“The explosives could’ve come from anywhere,” Finn said. “We have no proof to the contrary.”
“I’ve also got feelers out in the state looking for any missing explosives,” Russ said.
Ryan tapped the table, taking his brother’s attention and immediately lowering the tension level in the room. “I’ve also asked the other logging company owners to check their inventories and get back to me if there’s anything missing.”
Russ spun and wrote the information on the board.
“The last to do item would refer to Grady or Trent talking to me,” Ryan said. “That hasn’t happened. I’m guessing they’ll interview me on my shift.”
Russ nodded and ran his gaze over the group. “A lot has happened in a short time. Have I missed anything?”
The others shook their heads.
“Jenkins will do a daily report for us, but he’ll also have the experts notify us right away of anything they think needs immediate action.” Russ capped his marker. “Let’s talk prime suspects at this point. Theories?”
“Eckles doesn’t have motive,” Ryleigh said. “But he had access to the explosives and the site, and his wife’s connection to Sovereign Earth could tie him to a bomb.”
“I’m not liking him for it.” Russ leaned against the wall and crossed his feet at the ankle. “But I can’t rule out a possible connection to it through Nye and Keenan. The sooner we locate them the better. With the alerts out on both of them and Colin’s algorithms, hopefully we’ll see success on finding her.”
“I also think Eckles and his wife are holding back,” Ryleigh said.
“Agreed.” Russ stood. “Let’s bring them in for questioning this time. Put the fear of the law in them.”
