overhead door didn’t open, and that’s the only other way in.”
River was ready to question him at length, but it had started to rain and she wasn’t dressed for it. “Let’s go sit in my car while you answer some questions.”
Bromwell’s eyes flashed wide, and she wondered why that worried him. River turned to the detectives. How to put this diplomatically? “We’re already tracking a local group we think might be responsible. There’s no need for the Eugene Police Department to spend its scarce resources on this case.”
Schak grinned. “You’re telling us to go home?”
River smiled back. “I’m suggesting that you can.”
“Then I’m out of here.” Schak fist-bumped Quince’s shoulder. “You should go too.”
Quince didn’t move. “I worked a bombing at the Planned Parenthood a few years ago with Agent Fouts, so if you need me, I’d like to be on the task force.”
“I appreciate that. I’ll set up a meeting for tomorrow and let you know when.”
They all headed for their cars, but River stopped and signed for the transfer of the bomb evidence. The parts now fit into a small plastic bag that she tucked into her briefcase. “Thanks, Bruckner. I’m setting up a task force meeting tomorrow, if you want to be there. Your experience could be helpful.”
“I’ll check with my supervisor.”
Next to her, coatless and hatless, Jerry Bromwell shivered in the rain.
“I’ll be in touch.” River nodded at the sergeant, then grabbed the witness’ elbow. “Let’s go.”
On the way, he mumbled, “I already gave my statement to the detective.”
“That’s fine. We’ll do it again. We often get more information with each session.”
In the car, she started the engine and cranked up the heater for Bromwell. River pulled off her coat, knowing she’d be sweating in a moment. She twisted sideways in her seat to face her witness and started a new recording. “How long have you worked for Rock Spring?” If the bomber had inside help, the night watchman was a good candidate.
“Two years. Why?”
“I’m going to ask a lot of questions. They’re all important. Please just answer them.”
“Fine.”
“Where were you when you heard the intruder?”
“In the office. It’s upstairs in the back of the factory.”
“Were you alone?”
He blinked rapidly. “Of course. Why?”
River pulled in a breath of patience. “First, I think you just lied to me. And second, do not ask me
why
again. I want to know everything. It’s how I do my job.”
She stared at him until he finally mumbled, “It’s an old habit. My wife is nosy.”
“Who was with you in the office?”
How does she know?
Bromwell’s lips didn’t move, but River heard the question anyway—a panicked cry that crossed the space between them without being uttered out loud.
“Who is she?”
Bromwell blinked and stammered. “No one. I told you. The second shift leaves at seven thirty, and I’m alone until the day shift comes in at five.”
River let it go for now. She would circle back when he was feeling less guarded. “How did the intruder get into the building?”
He squirmed in his seat. “I don’t know. He couldn’t have used the overhead door because I would have heard it open. And the man-door is always locked and you need the code to open it.”
“Do you know the code?”
“Of course.”
“Who else does?”
“The owner and the shift leaders. There could be more, but I don’t know.”
“There’s no other entry?”
“There’s an emergency exit in the back, but it’s a one-way door with no handle on the outside.”
River made a mental note to examine it for pry marks. “Where did the sound of the intruder come from?”
“Downstairs, but that’s all I could tell. At first I thought it was the foreman coming back for something, so I headed down.”
“What happened next?”
“I called 911 as soon as I saw him.”
“Where was he?”
“In the little hallway leading to the break
River was ready to question him at length, but it had started to rain and she wasn’t dressed for it. “Let’s go sit in my car while you answer some questions.”
Bromwell’s eyes flashed wide, and she wondered why that worried him. River turned to the detectives. How to put this diplomatically? “We’re already tracking a local group we think might be responsible. There’s no need for the Eugene Police Department to spend its scarce resources on this case.”
Schak grinned. “You’re telling us to go home?”
River smiled back. “I’m suggesting that you can.”
“Then I’m out of here.” Schak fist-bumped Quince’s shoulder. “You should go too.”
Quince didn’t move. “I worked a bombing at the Planned Parenthood a few years ago with Agent Fouts, so if you need me, I’d like to be on the task force.”
“I appreciate that. I’ll set up a meeting for tomorrow and let you know when.”
They all headed for their cars, but River stopped and signed for the transfer of the bomb evidence. The parts now fit into a small plastic bag that she tucked into her briefcase. “Thanks, Bruckner. I’m setting up a task force meeting tomorrow, if you want to be there. Your experience could be helpful.”
“I’ll check with my supervisor.”
Next to her, coatless and hatless, Jerry Bromwell shivered in the rain.
“I’ll be in touch.” River nodded at the sergeant, then grabbed the witness’ elbow. “Let’s go.”
On the way, he mumbled, “I already gave my statement to the detective.”
“That’s fine. We’ll do it again. We often get more information with each session.”
In the car, she started the engine and cranked up the heater for Bromwell. River pulled off her coat, knowing she’d be sweating in a moment. She twisted sideways in her seat to face her witness and started a new recording. “How long have you worked for Rock Spring?” If the bomber had inside help, the night watchman was a good candidate.
“Two years. Why?”
“I’m going to ask a lot of questions. They’re all important. Please just answer them.”
“Fine.”
“Where were you when you heard the intruder?”
“In the office. It’s upstairs in the back of the factory.”
“Were you alone?”
He blinked rapidly. “Of course. Why?”
River pulled in a breath of patience. “First, I think you just lied to me. And second, do not ask me
why
again. I want to know everything. It’s how I do my job.”
She stared at him until he finally mumbled, “It’s an old habit. My wife is nosy.”
“Who was with you in the office?”
How does she know?
Bromwell’s lips didn’t move, but River heard the question anyway—a panicked cry that crossed the space between them without being uttered out loud.
“Who is she?”
Bromwell blinked and stammered. “No one. I told you. The second shift leaves at seven thirty, and I’m alone until the day shift comes in at five.”
River let it go for now. She would circle back when he was feeling less guarded. “How did the intruder get into the building?”
He squirmed in his seat. “I don’t know. He couldn’t have used the overhead door because I would have heard it open. And the man-door is always locked and you need the code to open it.”
“Do you know the code?”
“Of course.”
“Who else does?”
“The owner and the shift leaders. There could be more, but I don’t know.”
“There’s no other entry?”
“There’s an emergency exit in the back, but it’s a one-way door with no handle on the outside.”
River made a mental note to examine it for pry marks. “Where did the sound of the intruder come from?”
“Downstairs, but that’s all I could tell. At first I thought it was the foreman coming back for something, so I headed down.”
“What happened next?”
“I called 911 as soon as I saw him.”
“Where was he?”
“In the little hallway leading to the break
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