Page 104 of Concrete Evidence
“Yes, ma’am.”
They followed her outside to a shedlike side door. “No one goes in there but Jake. He loves to tinker and values his privacy.” She turned the knob. Locked.
“Do you have a key?” Roden said.
“No, I don’t. Not sure my husband has one either. Really sorry, but it looks like y’all are finished here.”
Roden twisted the knob but had no luck either. “Stand back, Mrs. Drendle.”
“You’re going to break the door?” The woman paled.
“Yes, ma’am, unless you have a key.”
“What about your injury?” Marc said. “You could break the stitches.”
“I’m smarter than that. And you’re one to talk.” Roden pushed with his right side, all defensive line of him. The door splintered on its hinges. “Thank You, God, for particleboard.” He reached through a hole and unlocked the door.
Marc snapped on a light.
Rows of identical metal shelving in color-coded, labeled containers lined the walls. Not a speck of dirt anywhere. Even the shed window was spotless. An older-model black Ford truck glistened like a showroom special. Engine parts were stacked nearby on a workbench. But no motorcycle. How had Jake gotten to the Brazos River Ranch last night?
“See, nothing here,” Mrs. Drendle said. “You gentlemen are free to go.”
“Not just yet,” Marc said. “Since this is Jake’s space, we need to search for any indication of criminal activity.” Outside a car doorslammed, then another one. “That must be your husband and attorney. Agent Clement and I will be right here.”
She left them alone in the garage. Roden whistled. “Would you look at this? Alphabetical too. This kid’s OCD would make me crazy.”
Marc walked to the shelf labeledAand read the contents of large and small containers. “Here’s one taggedAmmo. He flipped over the lid to boxes of 9mm and rifle shells. “We’ll take this with us.” He moved on to theBsection. “Nothing here shows the items needed to construct a bomb.”
Roden examined a row midway in the shelving. “We got it, Marc.”
“Got what?”
The elder Drendle barreled through the broken door. Morrow followed on his heels. “Slow down, Drendle. I verified their search warrant on the way here.”
Roden placed a large plastic bin on a pristine table. In red lettering, the label readBoom. He pried open the lid, and Marc joined him to examine the contents. “This is exactly what we need to identify the makings of the pipe bomb in Houston.”
Drendle spluttered. “Wait a minute. Just because Jake has a collection—”
“Collection?” Roden pulled a stapled booklet from the plastic bin. “Maybe you could explain why Jake has directions how to build a pipe bomb?”
“Just curious. A man has a right to study.”
Roden’s jaw tightened. This time Marc intervened. “Study this, Mr. Drendle. Jake had forty thousand dollars in cash recently deposited into his bank account in amounts of ten thousand dollars each. Where did a nineteen-year-old get that much money?”
59
THE DEPUTIES AT THE SECURITY GATEhad no legal jurisdiction to stop Avery from leaving the ranch. Neither could they force her to tell them where she was going. No doubt as soon as she pulled away, they’d be on the phone to Marc and Granddad.
Avery took the long way to Mom and Dad’s. She laughed aloud at the irony. Six months ago, she would have thought long and hard about confronting them. Their past and latest tricks would have poured through her mind, but she’d never conceivably moved forward. Six months ago, she had opinions but rarely voiced them. Six months ago, Jesus was a common trait between Granddad and her, but now she personally experienced His love and guidance. The horror of all the crimes had grown her as a woman... A difficult journey and yet worth every step.
Marc, where did he fit in with the new Avery? Not really new but more mature with years of learning ahead. She respected his leadershipqualities, his gentle mannerisms, his take-charge personality—although she often balked at it. He invited her views on things, and when she caught him studying her... she sensed intense emotions that frightened her.
She just had friendships with guys in the past. Nothing serious. The truth was, when the right guy came along, she’d recognize him as the one. Could he be Marc?
Thinking for herself, making choices, and discovering the insights of faith came with responsibility. Like knocking on the door of the two people who’d given her life but also made it clear they wanted her out of theirs. Hard to accept. Harder yet to forgive. And she couldn’t have taken the hurdle without Jesus... just like Tessa.
She slowed at the driveway and turned, leading to their home. Granddad hadn’t spared any expense in providing for her parents, and although she’d never stepped inside it, she’d seen the blueprints and the invoices.
