Page 94 of Edge of Steele
“And I take it from what you’re saying, you can’t tell it’s a key for sure?” Finn clarified as he was known for doing.
“True,” Kelsey said. “And I can’t even say for sure that he was carrying it in his pocket. It could have been something nearby made of brass that then melted and stuck to the fabric. If you bring in a key, we could do a metal analysis to compare this lump to it.”
Ryleigh glanced at Finn. “We’ll get a key to you if we find it’s crucial to have it analyzed.”
Finn nodded his agreement.
“On another note, I have an answer you’ve been waiting for,” Kelsey said. “I’ve confirmed that the explosion was the cause of death.”
“Way to bury the lead.” Blake smiled.
“I like to go out with a bang. Oh wait, no. That’s bad isn’t it? What with the bomb and all. I better stick to the facts.” She chuckled. “I found trauma to the bones that I believe came from shrapnel, but it’s all superficial. However, none of those wounds were life-threatening. Not even close. But he sustained a wound to the skull. I believe it’s from a metal shard that the bomb turned into a projectile and thatwasfatal.”
Finn shared a quick glance with Ryleigh that she couldn’t interpret. “Could it also have come from someone hitting him with something metal?”
“No.” Kelsey’s firm tone discouraged any discussion. “The concussive force left a specific fracture to the bone that a human couldn’t have inflicted from a blow. The only thing that might have the same concussive force would be a bullet, but the diameter of the wound is too large for a bullet, and the shape is wrong as well.”
“Did he die immediately?” Ryleigh asked.
“I can’t say for certain, but the shard would’ve pierced his brain so it’s likely.”
Not that it mattered, but Ryleigh hated the thought of any prolonged human suffering, especially if he wasn’t the bomber.
“And what about ID?” Finn’s eager tone mimicked Ryleigh’s feelings. “Were you able to confirm the victim is Gates?”
“Not yet.” Kelsey let out a long breath. “But Emory is running DNA and should have results later today. We could know sooner if my assistant can locate Gates’s dental records, but he’s struck out so far.”
“Thank you, Kelsey.” Ryleigh worked hard not to let her disappointment show through her tone. “Please let us know as soon as you have confirmation on his ID.”
“Will do.” Kelsey ended the call.
Ryleigh pocketed her phone and looked at Finn. “Not sure that helps us. We’ve always thought Gates had a key to the depot, so if he’s the victim, then the key makes sense to be there.”
“Exactly, and knowing the bomb killed him isn’t a surprise either,” Finn said.
“It does rule out other foul play, though,” Blake said. “Maybe not important to your theory, but important to the investigation.”
Ryleigh’s phone rang again. She dug it out. “It’s Russ.”
She answered, but before she could put him on speaker his tone shot through the phone.
“We just had a sighting of Carla Nye in a cheap motel in Grants Pass.” Ryleigh hadn’t heard him sound this pumped since the investigation began. “I’m going to get eyes on the building ASAP and thought you might want to come along.”
“Finn too?” Now why did she feel the need to have him join them?
“The guy has to know how to run a stakeout, so sure,” Russ replied quickly. “Meet me at my office, and we’ll pick up an unmarked vehicle.”
“Roger that.” She ended the call to loop Finn in.
“A stakeout.” He grinned as he came to his feet. “Now that’s right up my alley.”
21
Finn took a long look at the two-story older motel painted white with blue doors and a flashing neon vacancy sign at the road. The parking lot faced the swimming pool, surrounded by a chipped wrought iron fence, and the rooms overlooked the far side of the pool. They could easily see Carla’s room number. No action. Not yet.
Still, Finn didn’t like not being behind the wheel and in charge of the op. Sure, he was simply sitting in the backseat of Russ’s plain sedan, the faint odor of a prisoner having hurled keeping him company. Russ was at the wheel, and Ryleigh sat in the passenger seat. They weren’t moving. Weren’t in hostile territory where Finn might have to take quick action to protect Ryleigh.
Nothing they’d learned about Carla provided even a hint of her being a weapon-wielding militant. But when someone thought they were cornered, they could react far out of character. If she carried a weapon, she could draw and fire on them.
