Page 65 of Concrete Evidence
“No one.”
“Think about it. The inspection eliminates the accusations against the senator.”
Her mind entered the analyzing zone. “You’re right. Confirmation of a secure dam would add a level of peace to all our lives. There’s no way the dam wouldn’t meet specifications. I hate this nightmare. The idea of a family member or a friend setting up my grandfather to face murder charges and a lawsuit for not following his own specs... Was a crack specifically mentioned?”
“No. What causes a crack in a new construction?”
She swallowed hard to stop the anger burning her throat. “Mostare simply to be monitored. They are a cause and an effect of concrete deterioration, and those have their roots in weather, seepage, chemicals, and even faulty concrete mixes. Some cracks are intentional for varying reasons. Others are indications of structural damage.”
“Caused by?” Marc said.
“Structural damage cracks develop when areas of a dam are overstressed as a result of poor design, construction, incorrect foundation, or faulty materials.”
“How long will the dive team take to assess the structural integrity of the dam and make a determination?”
“Hard to say. They know what to look for, but the work might take several hours. Marc, I need to be there when this happens. My name’s on all the papers. Don’t you see? If the dam’s not up to code and Granddad’s still missing, I’m responsible.”
Lines deepened across Marc’s forehead.
“You know it’s true. I’m the fall guy just like Granddad.”
“If you’re permitted to be present during the inspection, I’m going with you.”
She stiffened. He’d get in the way, ask too many questions. “The situation is worsening for those living in the area. Have you seen the weather report?”
“Yes, a hurricane is brewing in the Gulf and moving fast toward Galveston. Landfall could be reached as early as two days.”
Vocalizing the reality of possible devastation soured her stomach. “We’ve had a wet spring and summer, well above the average rainfall. At this point, the Lago de Cobre Dam is on the dirty side, which means the hurricane could send torrential rains and swirling winds, and tornadoes could form. And if the dam failed, the reservoir would overflow and flood the entire community below, destroying people and property. There’s more to this scenario. Should one dam fail along the Brazos, it could result in a domino effect for the others. Tell me, if that happened, how could I live with myself?”
37
MARC VACILLATED BETWEEN VARIOUS WAYSto approach his stubborn mother. He studied her across the restaurant while she scrolled through her phone and occasionally took a bite of sandwich. Convincing her to pursue safety should be easy, since she witnessed the horror of the shooter targeting her and seriously wounding Roden. Afterward Marc would tackle Tessa and finally Avery.
He compartmentalized information, a trait he needed to work violent crimes. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been successful in trying to figure out where to place the women under his protection. A vacation to the Bahamas seemed the perfect solution to keep them out of danger. Of course, once they were released, they’d draw straws to see who threw the first punch.
Avery laid her knife and fork on the edge of her plate and scooted it aside. “I don’t mean to sound insensitive about today. But did you or Roden have an opportunity to check the restaurant’s security cameras?”
“Roden viewed the footage before he picked me up from the hospital. It showed a man inserting what’s been determined as a pipe bomb on the undercarriage of the car. He wore sunglasses, a ball cap, and kept his back to the camera. Couldn’t identify the shoes.”
“I’d hoped for a lead.” She thanked the young man who removed her plate.
“No motorcycles in sight or an accomplice. All we have is the man’s approximate height and build.”
“Which was?”
“Trim, narrow shoulders.”
“Could be the same man,” she said. “Did the camera capture the man who helped me and wore Nikes?”
“Unable to make out his features. Has to be verified. Once I hear from HPD, I’ll give you more info. Have any other details come to mind?”
“The cyclist didn’t have the same voice as Mr. Nike.”
Two men and a woman involved in the crimes. Marc laid his napkin on the table. “Excuse me, I need to talk to Mom about taking a vacation or moving temporarily to a safe house.”
“Need reinforcements?” Avery said.
Her face showed no signs of humor, just warmth from those crystal-blue eyes. Her long light-brown hair and dimples were a dangerous combination. “Not at all. She was shaken up today.”
