Page 64 of Concrete Evidence
“Other than confirmation the materials for the dam had been in the warehouse and checked out?”
“Right.” Avery nodded. “During the pouring of the foundation, Granddad and Liam were in Canada hunting, and Leanne and I were in Orlando. Every time our crew had scheduled to pour it, the weather didn’t cooperate. Our trips had been on the calendar for months, so Craig told us to go ahead. If the weather broke, he’d oversee theproject. When I returned, the work had been completed by another crew. Craig said the opportunity to get the job done opened up on a weekend, and our crew doesn’t work on Sunday. I paid the invoice and thought nothing else about it, especially with the workload piled on my desk. But since all of the tragedies, my mind sped back and camped there. Seemed odd for my hands-on granddad to let Craig handle the changes. In short, I contacted the hunting lodge and learned when Granddad supposedly sent the material supplier an email letting them know we had supplies in the warehouse, he was out in the wilds with no Internet connectivity.” She sighed. “Marc, it could mean Granddad gave Craig permission to use his email account. Or something else.”
He leaned back. “Interesting. I’d—” The server delivered their food, and Marc waited until the woman disappeared. “It looks suspicious. Why wouldn’t Craig have contacted you?”
“I don’t know. Either Granddad or I take care of critical matters. Our names are on all the documentation, and we’re legally responsible.”
“What about your father?”
“He’s done a few low things. But he’d have to change the structural designs in a convincing manner that didn’t trigger an alarm for Craig. How would my dad gain access to the office? He’d need someone to help him get onto the property. The hands and the person monitoring the security cameras have been instructed not to permit my parents on-site.”
“Nothing’s impossible when driven by strong motive.” Marc added pepper to his salad. “Money is a huge factor for most crimes.”
“I assume you ran a background on my parents.”
“Yes.” He pointed to her food. “Eat, Avery. We’re brainstorming the what-ifs whether true or not.”
She stabbed a tomato with more vengeance than she intended. “Dad’s like the Prodigal Son but without regrets or remorse for his actions. Mom enjoys the good life.”
“His home-building company does well. A balance of pleased customers and complaints.”
“I’m sure my parents gave you an earful about Granddad.” She drew in a ragged breath. “I want to know what was said.”
“Your dad claimed the senator did shoddy work, and he expressed a concern for other completed bridges and dams.”
“He’d be cheering Granddad on if money had been deposited into his account. I don’t need to get started on my parents.”
“Has the senator handled any of your dad’s misguided dealings?”
She set her fork on her salad plate. “You mean stupid and sometimes-illegal decisions? Granddad did bail him out of trouble until five years ago. Prior to then, he paid Mom and Dad’s debts and gave them an allowance.”
“What happened to stop the money flow?”
“A gambling problem.”
Marc’s silence told her he weighed the situation in the Elliott family. She longed to read his thoughts.
“I’m giving you a huge what-if scenario,” she said. “And I imagine it’s what you’re thinking. My dad forged Granddad’s name once to obtain money. If he managed to change the dam’s specs and alter the ordered materials, he could destroy Granddad’s reputation. Dad could step in, claim ignorance and apologize for Granddad’s actions, and make a public announcement about starting his own construction business with integrity. Except I’m in line for the entire inheritance, unless my parents have plans to blame me.”
He seemed to search her face for what? Deception?
“In my opinion, your parents wouldn’t be successful. You walk a tightrope of honesty and truth. The other factor to consider is the threat against you. Buddy and Saundra might push the senator off a cliff, but their own daughter?”
“One more reason I need to be home. What if I talked to them? If they were hostile toward Granddad, I could play into their game.”
“Wrong. Don’t even go there. Meeting with your parents sounds dangerous. Stranger crimes have surfaced among families and friends, and Craig Holcombe already suspects them,” Marc said.
“Craig is loyal and wants to honor Granddad for all he’s done for him. He’s not carrying any banners for my parents. My dad tried to discredit Craig during the gambling fiasco by stating Craig encouraged him.”
Marc’s phone alerted him to a notification, and he read it. Not a muscle moved on his face.
“Roden okay?”
He nodded. “The day Roden and I drove to the corps office, we learned my father had requested another inspection of the Lago de Cobre Dam without an explanation. Lieutenant Shipley has scheduled it for Wednesday morning.” He stared into her eyes as though calculating her response.
“The reservoir filled properly, and the state inspector approved it. There’s already been two inspections. Why a third?”
“They received an anonymous tip from a man who worked the project. He said the foundation hadn’t been constructed according to design. Do you recall an unhappy employee or reason to contact the corps?”
