Page 75 of Concrete Evidence
Avery burst into the stables and fast-walked to them. “Marc.” Her frantic voice added to the alarm of his call. “Someone broke into the office.”
42
AVERY FOUGHT THE URGEto rush into Marc’s arms. Although they’d known each other a short time, the danger they’d shared had drawn her closer to him. Yet Tessa had voiced her confusion about the apparent danger, and seeing Avery reach out to find comfort from Marc would increase the poor girl’s uncertainty.
Avery drew in a cleansing breath and slowed her pace before she reached them.
Each time Avery vowed to claim courage to trek through the fire roaring against Granddad, the flames stole her breath. Her fear played straight into the person’s plan who’d ransacked the office. Granddad had raised her not to run from danger or show fear. He’d instructed her to weigh each incident and word before responding. Sometimes true courage meant backing off, and that’s what she chose now.
“Ready to help me sort this out?” she said.
“Let’s take a look.” Marc swung an arm around Tessa’s waist. “Are you ready to play investigator, Sis?”
She nodded. “Great way to tell me I’m going with you because you don’t want me alone.”
He smiled. “Smart girl.”
Avery listened more to what the two weren’t saying that spoke louder than the audible words. Both feared for the safety of the other, and she so understood.
The three walked to the office. She sensed Marc wanted to ask a truckload of questions but not with Tessa present.
“Hey,” he said. “Did you see anyone?”
“No. The door’s always locked. I hesitated going in... Just wanted to enjoy the familiar and pretend life hadn’t taken a U-turn.” She shot up a prayer for strength. “I walked into a mess, and I didn’t touch a thing.”
“Since I’m the trained agent here, I’ll check out the damage before I call the sheriff’s office.”
“Why call them when you’re FBI?” Tessa’s voice held a slight tremble.
“The sheriff’s department has a team to do an evidence sweep. For the FBI to come from another location would take too long. Not a wise use of money and manpower.”
“I didn’t realize the cops, the FBI, and the Army Corps work together.”
“The movies don’t always get it right, Sis. We have our specialty, and we help each other.”
Marc stopped in front of the office. “Wait in the doorway while I go inside.”
No need to caution them further. Avery had attempted to show a warrior side with the car bombing, but the break-in had violated her home, tossing her into a mix of fear and anger.
“The blinds are always closed,” she said. “That prevented anyonefrom seeing the destruction, but I don’t understand why no one heard it. Had to have happened during the night or today because Craig said he’d been here yesterday morning.”
She viewed the ransacked area with a different purpose, the motive. Her desk in the receptionist area teetered precariously on its side, the drawers removed, and contents dumped on the floor.
Marc bent to the desk where someone had removed the legs. A crushed plant mixed its dirt with glass from a photo frame containing Granddad in his Western gear. Closer scrutiny showed the backing had been ripped from the frame. File cabinets had been taken apart with a screwdriver that still lay on the floor. The destruction from wall hangings and floor-to-ceiling bookcases resembled a demolition zone.
Marc angled his phone to take pics. He appeared to study two open office doors—both had been removed from their hinges. He turned to her. “Which one belongs to the senator?”
“The one on the left is a conference room, and the other is Granddad’s office. Craig has his own office in the stables.”
He stepped over papers and debris to the conference room. A black credenza looked in better shape than the files strewn over the floor.
Whoever was responsible had searched for an item important enough to risk detection. Avery had given Marc all the details she could remember. Marc scrutinized corners, ceilings, overturned furniture, and broken remains of antique pieces, always snapping pics.
What had the person or persons been looking for? Proof of Granddad’s involvement in a crime? Evidence Granddad had found about a crime or illegal activity?
The events surrounding the three friends were connected to what they had in common—the last dam project or possibly the last few projects?
The office phone in the receptionist area rang. Marc joined Averyand Tessa. The phone rang again, and he glanced at Avery. “Answer it, please, but don’t let the caller know anyone is with you.”
