Page 80 of Fatal Mistake
Cal needed answers. Needed them now. He spun to retrieve his equipment and spotted Max and Brynn in a deep discussion. He started for them, but Max broke away and met Cal in the middle.
“What’s up?” Cal asked, though he suspected Max planned to lecture him on how to let go of his guilt and do his job.
“You’re blaming yourself for this woman’s death,” Max said, as if Cal had written his script for him.
“Maybe.”
Max opened his mouth, but Cal held up a hand, stopping him. “Before you go spouting some mumbo jumbo about this being Keeler’s fault and only his fault, there’s no need to say it. I get it in theory.”
“Actually,” Max said. “I was going to say that Brynn and I understand what you’re going through. We should have thought this might happen, too, and we want this killer found as badly as you do. So let’s stop staring at the ruins and get moving.”
Cal had to admit Max’s comment took him by surprise, as did the ease in which he seemed to let it go. “And just like that, you move on?”
“Sure, why wouldn’t I? I hate that a woman lost her life. That all these women have died because we underestimated Keeler, but we’re human. We only have the abilities God gave us, and we make mistakes. Granted, our mistakes can be more costly than most, but come on, man. In this kind of job where people often burn out. If we didn’t move on, we’d soon be paralyzed. Then how many people might die?”
“Interesting way to look at it.”
“I suggest you give it some thought. Might help you deal with that anger I keep cautioning you on.”
Good advice and something Cal needed to consider, but most important now was finding a strong lead. He nodded at Brynn. “Brynn looks like she’s getting antsy.”
“Then let’s get going so she has something to do.”
They marched across the field to join her.
“Despite our warning to the contrary, odds are good that the locals have trampled the evidence,” Cal said. “But let’s forget that for now and run this like any other investigation. I’ll start by evaluating and setting the appropriate perimeter.”
Brynn nodded. “Since Kaci’s not here, I’ll handle the photography in addition to my usual forensic duties.”
“And I’ll log evidence and anything else either one of you need me to do,” Max said.
Cal never thought he’d see the day when Max did grunt work. “As much as I hate being here, having you as my gopher might make it palatable.”
“Don’t get used to it,” Max replied good-naturedly.
Cal’s mood lifted a notch, and he went to the rental car to grab his gear, then marched up to the officer in charge, who happened to be Deputy Andrews. A good thing in Cal’s eyes, as it gave him hope that the personnel access log that Cal had explained the importance of at the last bombing would be complete.
“Log, please.” Cal held out his hand.
Andrews handed it over, and Cal ran a finger down the list. The sheriff had logged in. Not surprising. The only other people listed were the ME and two additional deputies who first responded to the scene.
Cal looked up. “I don’t see any bomb disposal personnel listed here.”
“There hasn’t been any called to the scene.”
Cal gaped at him. “So no one has walked the area to look for secondary devices?”
Andrews narrowed his eyes. “Well, yeah, the first guys to arrive checked things out.”
“But they’re not trained.”
“Before you tell us how we’re a bunch of locals and we don’t know what we’re doing, you didn’t call them out for the other bomb either.”
“That’s because I have EOD credentials, and I checked the scene myself.”
“Right.” A sheepish look slid over the deputy’s face.
“I need you to move back a minimum of a hundred feet and make sure no one approaches until after I finish my inspection.”
