Mountain Investigation
Page 19
“You mean there was radioactive material at the school?” Sanderlin asked.
Hud nodded. “TDC donated the land for that school. What if they did it not because they were especially civic-minded, but because they discovered it was hot and they needed to get rid of it? They dug up as much of the radioactive rock as they could and hauled it up to the Mary Lee mine, where they planned to gradually get rid of it as part of the mitigation process.”
“But my father figured out what they were doing,” Audra said.
“Right,” Hud said. “And he either confronted Ruffino with his findings, or Ruffino or someone else at TDC found out that he knew the truth, and they threatened him—or they threatened you—and Dane decided he’d be better off going into hiding and fighting TDC covertly.”
“Then what did they do with the radioactive rock after they removed it from the mine?” Audra asked.
“They dumped it on public land,” Hud said. “In the Curecanti Recreation Area. We thought it was construction debris all along, and it was, but most of it, maybe all of it, was stuff they had dumped at the mine, then hauled to wilderness land.”
“Ruffino said they had bribed people. Inspectors, maybe. Regulators.” She rubbed her temples. Her head throbbed, making it difficult to think.
“It sounds like TDC has spent a fortune in bribes,” Sanderlin said.
“How can they afford to keep it up?” Hud asked. “It’s not like they made that much profit from building the elementary school. They didn’t get anything but a tax write-off for the land they donated. The fines the EPA levied ate into their income from the mine cleanup.”
“I think something else must be going on,” Audra said.
The two men stared at her. “Ruffino talked about an operation,” she said. “He said if I talked I could ruin ‘the whole operation.’ And when I suggested working with him, using my day care center as a cover, he said he’d have to talk to the people above him. Does he mean Terrell, Davis and Compton?”
“You may be onto something,” Sanderlin said. “It could be the two men who accompanied Ruffino to the meetup with you weren’t so much there as bodyguards, but to keep him from saying the wrong thing. He may have been killed to silence him.”
The queasy feeling washed over her again. Hud’s hand on her shoulder steadied her.
“Thank you for your help.” Sanderlin slid back his chair and stood. “We may have more questions later, but Officer Hudson can take you home now.”
Neither she nor Hud spoke on the drive home. She sat in the passenger seat of her car, welcoming the numbness, afraid of the storm of emotions that might wash over her if she allowed herself to feel. Hud pulled into her driveway, and she got out of the car and followed him up the walk.
Once inside, she was about to head to the bathroom when he took her hand and pulled her close. “I love you,” he said. “I should have said it before, but I can’t wait any longer. I love you, and I was so afraid for you this afternoon—and so proud, too.”
The words surrounded her and melted into her and soothed her like a healing balm. She looked into his eyes and saw how much he meant to her with those three little syllables, and in spite of everything, she couldn’t help smiling. “I love you, too,” she said. “I can hardly believe it happened, in the midst of all of this chaos, but I do.”
“Believe it,” he said, and kissed her—a long, deep kiss that made her feel as if she were floating above all the horribleness of the last few hours.
AUDRA INSISTED ON going in to work Friday morning, over Hud’s objections. “I’ll do much better if I focus on the children and my job, instead of sitting here brooding.” She kissed his cheek and gathered her purse and messenger bag. “And I really think the worst is over. You’ll see.”
Hud didn’t share her optimism, and said as much when he reported to Ranger Brigade headquarters. “If Ruffino was only acting at the behest of others, Audra won’t be safe,” he told the commander when everyone had gathered for the morning briefing. “We need to go after Terrell, Davis and Compton. I have a hard time believing Ruffino orchestrated all of this without them knowing about it.”
“Terrell, Davis and Compton have issued a statement saying they had no knowledge of any of this and are appalled, horrified, etcetera,” Sanderlin said.
“You don’t believe that, do you?” Hud asked.
“We don’t have any evidence showing their involvement,” Sanderlin said. “The man who survived the shooting, Alex Ballantine, says Ruffino hired them as bodyguards because he said he had a meeting with a ‘dangerous, shady character’ and needed protection. Ballantine said Ruffino told them he was being blackmailed by this person and was afraid.”
“So why did Ballantine’s partner kill Ruffino?” Dance asked.
“Ballantine says the other man—Derek Capshaw—was just a guy he knows from the gym they both belong to. He says Ruffino pulled a knife on Audra and Capshaw must have decided on his own to protect the woman, who they both figured out pretty quick wasn’t a threat.”
“Audra didn’t say anything about a knife,” Hud said.
“Ballantine says she may not have seen it. And she’s probably in shock.”
“So where is the knife now?” Beck asked.
“If must have been lost in the scuffle,” Sanderlin said.
“I think he’s lying,” Hud said.
“He’s sticking to his story,” Sanderlin said. “And he’s coming up clean—no record for him or Capshaw.”
Hud started to object again, but Sanderlin continued. “The bottom line is, this isn’t our case anymore,” Sanderlin said. “The shooting happened on county property, and it’s their jurisdiction. They’re probably going to press charges against Ballantine, but as far as they’re concerned—and as far as the evidence shows—this was all Mitch Ruffino’s doing. He was in charge of both the mine cleanup and the school construction, and TDC’s statement emphasizes that he had complete autonomy. TDC is an international company, and the partners do not oversee day-to-day operations of their various offices.”
Hud exchanged looks with others around the table. Some of them clearly shared his frustration. “Our job is to locate Dane Trask,” Sanderlin continued. “That hasn’t changed.”
“When we find Trask, what then?” Dance asked.
“Maybe he’ll having something to tell us,” Sanderlin said. “Maybe he won’t. But we have to do our job.”
As far as Hud was concerned, he had a new job now—protecting the woman he loved.
He met Audra at the school at the end of the day. “How did it go?” he asked. “Any hassles from the press?”
“None. The news stories only mention that Mitch Ruffino was killed in ‘an altercation at the school.’ No mention of me at all.” She smiled. “I’m hoping it stays that way. I’m guessing TDC will do everything they can to hush up this whole episode.”
“You look pretty cheerful,” he said. He had expected her to still be distraught and worried.
“Take a look at this.” She motioned him over to her desk and pulled up a website on her computer.
He leaned in to get a better look. Montrose ISD Cancels New Elementary School Project read the headline. He skimmed the article that followed. The school district was halting construction due to “cost overruns and population projections that the school is not necessary at this time.” According to the article, TDC had agreed to refund the money the district had paid so far and dismantle construction. The district thanked TDC for its cooperation and civic-mindedness, and cited the move as an example of the district’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Hud looked at Audra. “That didn’t take long,” he said.
“I think TDC is very anxious to rebuild their reputation and make this all go away,” she said. “Oh, and I received these this morning.” She led him into the outer office, where a large flower arrangeme
nt took up much of a side table.
“Who sent those?” Hud asked.
“TDC! Along with a note apologizing for Mitch Ruffino’s behavior and reassurances that they had nothing to do with any of this. They offered to assist me in any way they could.”
“Assist you with what?”
“They didn’t say. I think they’re anxious to ensure I don’t sue them. Oh, and of course, they’re not suing me anymore, either. That was apparently Ruffino’s doing, as well.”
“Do you believe them?” he asked.
“I think I do.” She touched the petals of a large red rose. “We’ve said all along none of this really made financial sense. And Ruffino has always been the one speaking out against my father, not Terrell, Davis or Compton.”
He slipped an arm around her. Maybe she was right, and he’d been letting his emotions, and his suspicious nature, get in the way of common sense. “If the new elementary school won’t be opened, then the new day care center won’t, either.”
“I should feel bad for Jana, but I don’t really,” Audra said. “I hired a new teacher today for her class—one of the moms who has been subbing wants the job. And our new anti-bullying curriculum starts next week.”
She smiled up at him. The woman who had faced down death yesterday, who had seen her reputation shredded in the last week, had bounced back to this happy, optimistic person making plans for the future. “You’re incredible, do you know that?” he asked.
“My dad taught me to focus on the things I could control and to look to the future,” she said. “I resented his advice a lot when I was younger, but I guess I took it to heart after all.”
“We’re still looking for your father,” he said.
“He’s bound to hear about Ruffino’s death soon,” she said. “If he hasn’t already. He’ll be back, I’m sure of it.” She hugged him close. “There’s something else I’m sure of, too.”
“Oh, what is that?”
“I’m sure that you’re the man I’m meant to be with.”
“Is that more planning for the future?”
Her eyes met his, full of warmth and an optimism he found infectious. “I’m ready to put all this behind us,” she said. “If you’re willing.”
“I’m willing,” he said.
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