Page 93 of Edge of Steele
“We have a far different idea of a good time.” Winter laughed. “But seriously. Since the caves are so close, I think you have to consider them as a possible source.”
“We could be looking for someone who visited the caves or even works there,” Ryleigh said. “I’m leaning toward visiting, which Keenan might’ve done since he’s from out of state.”
“Or even Carla Nye,” Russ said. “We can’t rule her out yet.”
“I think the size of the boot print might do that,” Winter said. “We haven’t determined a size yet but we’re leaning toward a male boot due to the width of the print.”
“Did you find this dust in Gates’s house?” Finn asked.
Winter shook her head. “We analyzed the debris the Roomba picked up and no sign of it. If it’s important, I can go back and do more samples. I could even sample boots if you would like. Just let me know.”
“The boots we saw Keenan wearing in the Roomba video weren’t lug soles,” Ryleigh said. “He would’ve had to wear different footwear on the cave tour.”
“Not unlikely,” Russ said.
“I don’t know anything about your suspects,” Winter said. “But reservations are required for the off-trail tour, and I’ll bet they keep records.”
Russ pulled his shoulders back. “I’ll get a subpoena for their records. With any luck, that list will contain the name of our bomber.”
The clock hit noon, and Ryleigh and Finn still had to finish their shift at the crime scene while Russ left to talk to the Eckles on his way to his office to arrange the records subpoena. Ryleigh wanted to use the last hour until Ryan arrived wisely, so she was looking for Blake to get an update, and Finn came along with her.
She found the former sheriff at the small command center he’d set up near the first building. He looked up from his seat behind a white folding table and laptop screen. “I saw you talking to Sierra and Winter, so I assume they updated you on their findings.”
“They did,” she said.
“If you want to take a seat.” He pointed at two folding chairs across the table from him. “I can give you a quick rundown on where we stand on the various scenes.”
“Thank you.” Ryleigh sat in the metal chair, warm from the sunshine.
Finn turned a chair next to her to straddle it and rest his arms on the back.
“We have fully completed Mr. Gates’s house. His vehicle is complete too, and I know Sierra told you about the keys and phone. Her team back at the lab are running the many prints that were lifted.” Blake tapped a key on his keyboard and looked at the screen. “A text from one of our techs at the Eckles’s property asking for clarification. They’ve completed the bedroom where Carla Nye stayed, and of course, you know they found her cell phone. But he wants to know if we want the entire house processed or just the bedroom.”
Ryleigh looked at Finn.
He shrugged.
Ryleigh wished Russ were here to weigh in, but this was a detail she was fully capable of deciding. “If the team keeps working on the bedroom, will it alter things here?”
Blake leaned back and put his hands behind his head. “We could move faster here if they were on site.”
That could be a big factor in meeting Russ’s deadline that night. He didn’t want the feds called in, and despite having been a fed herself, she didn’t either. It was a matter of pride now to solve this investigation before needing their help. “We’re more apt to get a lead here than in the Eckles’s house so bring them back here.”
“You got it.” Blake dropped his chair to the ground with a thump and typed a reply on his keyboard using a fast two-finger method. “Also of interest is that Grady and Trent have determined the make and model of the photoelectric cell and are tracking down the locations where it’s sold. That might bring news sooner rather than later.”
“Perfect.” Her phone rang, and the caller ID announced the Veritas Center.
“Someone at the center,” she said and quickly answered.
“Hey, Ryleigh, it’s Kelsey,” she said. “I have some information for you.”
“Hold on while I put you on speaker so Finn and Blake can hear.” Ryleigh tapped the speaker button. “Go ahead, Kelsey.”
“I’ve found what I think might be your missing key for the explosive depot next to the remains. There’s a lump of brass in a scrap of denim fabric attached to white fabric that looks like material used in jeans pockets. The heat from the fire melted the brass, so it’s not recognizable as a key. Still, you have to think it would be the most likely brass item he would carry in a pocket.”
“The fire was hot enough to melt brass?” Ryleigh asked.
“Seems so. The nearby bone was severely burned too and bone doesn’t burn at the typical lower temperatures of a routine house fire. Of course, this fire wasn’t routine as we had an ample supply of fuel from the wood and sawdust. So short answer is yes, the fire in this particular location was at least hot enough to melt brass.”
