“Certainly, Agent Puller. How are you?”
Puller said, “Great.”
“Investigation coming along?”
“It’s coming,” said Cole, as she came to stand next to Puller.
He said, “When do you expect your boss back in town?”
“I’m not actually sure.”
“Boss doesn’t fill in his second in command?” asked Puller.
“Why do you need to know when he’ll be back?”
Puller said, “That’s really between Trent and us.” He slapped Strauss on the shoulder. “Tell your boss I said hello.”
He turned and walked back to Jean’s table. “I’ll need to talk to your husband again. Tell Roger we’ll need to see him when he gets back into town.”
She put her fork down. “Why?”
“Just give him the message. Thanks.”
He walked toward the door.
Cole laid cash down for their meals, said a hasty goodbye to Jean, and hurried after Puller. He was already outside, where he was looking at the silver Benz.
“What were you trying to do in there with Strauss?” asked Cole.
“Just getting some info. He’s the COO?”
“Chief operating officer, yeah.”
“How long?”
“Pretty much as long as Roger’s been in business.”
“Strauss is older.”
“Yeah, but Roger is more ambitious, I guess.”
“Or at least he’s more of a risk-taker.”
They started walking back to the car.
“Still heading to D.C.?”
“Yeah. No way around it.”
“Think things will start hopping here soon?”
Puller said, “Seven people have already been killed. I think it’s been hopping for a while.”
CHAPTER
45
THEY DROVE OVER in Cole’s cruiser to the Trent office where Molly Bitner had worked. Along the way Puller called the soil testing company in Ohio. After being transferred to two different people who could not help him, Puller motioned for Cole to pull off the road. She put the car in park and turned to him.
Into the phone Puller said, “Well, let me talk to a supervisor.” He waited another couple of minutes until the voice came on the line.
Puller explained the situation and the person on the other end responded.
“Can you tell me anything over the phone?” he asked.
Puller listened and nodded. He asked for their contact information and wrote it down in his notebook. “Okay. The court order will be coming. I’d appreciate a fast turnaround.”
He clicked off and looked at Cole.
She said, “So a court order is necessary? I didn’t think soil samples were so confidential. Could they tell you anything?”
“Only that it was Matthew Reynolds who had requested the work done. He paid by credit card. And it was some samples of organic matter that he wanted vetted. They wouldn’t tell me from where or what they found. I’ve got their information here. Can you get the paperwork going on that?”
“But that doesn’t explain the soil sample. Or the Reynoldses’ involvement. Or Wellman getting strung up.”
“My brain is starting to fry. Okay, let’s focus on what’s coming up next. How do we handle Bitner’s office? What tack do you want to take?”
“Ask broad questions and hope for equally broad answers. We keep our eyes and ears open. Anything in plain sight is fair game.”
“Well, if you’re right and the company killed all those people to keep some secret, I doubt Bitner’s office coworkers will be too forthcoming. They’re probably scared shitless.”
“Never said it would be easy.”