Page 31 of Solid as Steele
Owen carried the canopy to the edge of the fluttering yellow tape. While Sierra and Kelsey erected the canopy over the remains, he and Mackenzie marched back and forth, getting the bins in place. Then Sierra and Kelsey unfolded a long table and filled it with tools and equipment, most of which Owen couldn’t name. Mackenzie stood next to Owen and waited for Kelsey to return.
“How long do you think the recovery will take?” Mackenzie asked.
Kelsey leaned against the chopper. “Shouldn’t be more than five hours or so. But all depends on what we find under the remains.”
“Will you want to spend the night?” Mackenzie asked.
She shook her head. “Coop is going to take off. Sierra’s and my assistants are on the way in the van, so there will be four of us to take turns driving straight through.”
Like Mackenzie had told Owen, this team really was dedicated to their work.
“If something changes,” Mackenzie said. “You’re welcome to stay with me.”
“Appreciate that.”
“We’ll be leaving in a bit, but I wanted to offer dinner and a break with your feet up at my cabin if you’d like.”
“That would be amazing.” Kelsey rested her hand on her belly. “This little one will be thankful for the meal and the rest.”
“Either you or Sierra have any food allergies?”
“None.”
Mackenzie looked at her watch. “I’ll come out to get you at about five for dinner.”
“Sounds perfect.” Kelsey unzipped her suit and took a pen and business card from her pocket. “I have one of the Center’s SAT phones, and you can call me on this number if you need to get ahold of me.”
Owen wasn’t at all surprised that Kelsey and Sierra had a SAT phone.
Mackenzie took the card.
Kelsey grabbed a blue tarp and turned back to the crime scene as Ryan’s Bronco rolled in.
Owen was jonesing to get away from the reminder that he likely knew the woman lying in the dry creek bed. “Let’s go meet Ryan.”
They strolled to the end of the flapping yellow tape, but instead of continuing on, Mackenzie stopped next to Deputy Dahl. Owen wanted to move her along, but the urge to know what she wanted with Dahl stopped him.
“I’ll be getting dinner for the Veritas team,” she said to Dahl. “Would you like me to bring something back for you?”
“Oh, man, that would be great.”
“Food allergies?”
“Nope.”
“I’ll be back around five.”
He nodded. “And hey, I slipped up before. Letting that name out when you could have overheard me. The sheriff told me to be careful.”
“Yeah. We heard.”
Dahl frowned. “Wheeler will have my hide for that. Don’t suppose you could see your way clear to not report me to the sheriff?”
“You got it.”
He swiped an exaggerated hand over his forehead. “Thanks. He’s kind of a stickler, and I really need this job. Got a baby on the way.”
“Congratulations.” Mackenzie smiled and resumed walking.
