Page 60 of Edge of Steele
“Perfect!” Ryleigh clapped her hands, and the sound echoed through the ruins.
She might be excited about this development, but Finn knew they still had an uphill battle. Sure, they might soon have the victim’s ID—even the bomber’s ID. That would be great. Still didn’t mean they could run right out and find him.
More likely, a manhunt would ensue, and that could turn deadly.
14
Russ called the update meeting at noon, and he instructed Ryleigh to grab sandwiches, chips, and bottles of water that Reid served to the Veritas team. So she and Finn had loaded up and brought meals back to Russ’s conference room, and Ryleigh had dug in with everyone else. She was famished. Stress did that to her. Others couldn’t eat when stressed, but she could consume a side of beef and still have dessert.
She’d chosen a thick slab of roast beef on a melt-in-your-mouth bun. It was so delicious, she wanted to know where it came from so she could get it again when she was back in town.IfTobias didn’t fire her company.
She set down her bun. “Anyone know where Reid got the lunch?”
Colin swallowed. “Now that’s something I can answer. Reid had his cook make them. She not only cooks for Reid and the staff, but she makes meals for campers the first few days while we teach them how to fend for themselves. She backs off once they get their own meals together, but she still feeds us.” He patted his stomach. “I’ve had to work out more to get rid of all the homemade rolls and bread since I came here.”
“Her name’s Poppy.” Russ smiled fondly. “She’s worked for our family for years. She lives with Reid and his daughter.”
“She’s a strict vegetarian, but she’ll even serve meat,” Ryan said. “But if she’s around when you eat it you get an earful.”
Ryan and Russ laughed together, showing a softer side of Russ that Ryleigh knew existed. Too bad she hadn’t seen much of it so far.
He balled up his paper napkin and shot it toward the trashcan. “Kills her to use disposable products too, but her heart for helping others does at times transcend her drive to recycle.”
Ryan nodded. “Her grandparents came to Oregon in the sixties’ hippie movement. That’s where she met our mom, and she’s still involved with the group.”
“Might she know about ecoterrorists in the area then?” Finn asked.
“Maybe,” Ryan said. “I can ask her, but if I don’t get a meal for a month, I’m coming for you.”
Ryan laughed, and Finn joined him. Ryleigh liked seeing the two men getting along when they’d had a tense beginning.
Russ fired an intimidating look at Finn. “In light of the recent findings, we need to talk about your continued involvement with the task force.”
Finn didn’t even blink an eye. “You know I’m not involved in the bombing, and the evidence will bear that out.”
“I know you had means—a key to the explosives’ depot. Opportunity—access to the building and explosives.”
“What about motive?” Finn fired back. “Why would I want to blow up my place of employment? Makes no sense.”
“I don’t know.” Russ continued to stare. “But I’ll figure it out.”
Finn’s hands curled on the table, but that was the only indication of his irritation. “Sounds like you want to kick me off the team.”
“I would like you to voluntarily remove yourself.”
“No.”
“Figured you’d say that.”
“Remove me from the group, and I’ll go off on my own to investigate.” Finn fired a challenging look at Russ. “Is that what you want? A rogue investigator messing in your case?”
“You know I don’t.”
“Then there has to be a compromise that we can both live with.”
Ryan cleared his throat and both men shot their attention to him. “Finn, you and Ryleigh are basically working as one right now, right? Russ, why don’t you insist that Finn doesn’t investigate without Ryleigh at his side?”
Russ’s shoulders relaxed. “I can live with that.”
