water beneath seemed iridescent. In several places, dark liquid lay thick and congealed on top of the ice—the most recently dumped material, she guessed.
A burning anger grew in her belly. This was likely someone’s bright idea of how to cut costs. But whatever this stuff was, she’d bet her reputation it wasn’t good to drink. No doubt it was seeping into the groundwater and spreading onto other people’s property. Folks out here drank, washed, irrigated, and watered their animals with well water. If, indeed, the toxins had made it into the groundwater, there was a good chance that people, livestock, and crops were being contaminated as well.
No wonder Mr. Marsh was so afraid. An environmental crime of this magnitude could easily land someone—or several someones—in prison, to say nothing of the fine the company itself would face. Whoever was behind it would likely go to some lengths to keep it secret.
A shiver that had nothing to do with the wind ran down her spine. She needed to get these shots and get out of here.She held up her camera, and sparing a moment’s thought for photographic composition, clicked as fast as her camera allowed.
Someone would pay for this. She would make certain of it.
Then, struck by an inspiration, she reached into her pocket for the empty sandwich bag that had held her lunch. She’d eaten her sandwich while driving and thankfully hadn’t thrown the bag away. Treading carefully, she worked her way to the edge of the ice and, using a stick to break off a chunk, slipped it into the bag. A good chem lab ought to be able to tell her exactly what this stuff was and whether it was truly toxic. It certainly smelled terrible—like brake fluid, only stronger.
She zipped the bag shut, hurried back to the car, slipped into the driver’s seat, and handed the plastic bag and the camera to Holly. “Let’s get out of here.”
In silence, Kara turned the car around and drove back the way they’d come. She made a left turn back onto the paved road and saw the checkpoint ahead of them.
A uniformed security guard sat at his post, checking the ID of someone trying to enter the facility.
“Don’t look this way,” Kara muttered under her breath. “You don’t even see us.”
Slowly, casually, she guided the car through the checkpoint and heard Holly’s relieved sigh as they passed unchallenged.
“Smooth as silk.”
When they reached the highway, Holly finally found her tongue. “What was that?”
“What was what?”
“You know. ‘Don’t look this way. You don’t see us.’ ”
“Don’t tell me you never saw Star Wars .” Kara smiled, feeling the heady aftereffects of adrenaline. “That was a Jedi mind trick.”
CHAPTER 5
----
R EECE GLANCED at his watch as the Legislative Audit Committee hearing dragged on. He was supposed to leave to pick up Kara in twenty minutes, but testimony was running long. Although he’d be only too happy to excuse himself—there were more than enough members present for a quorum without him—he didn’t want to tilt the majority in favor of Devlin, who, as Senate president, had appointed himself chairman of the committee. Devlin had the ethical standards of a snake-oil salesman. There was no rule the man wouldn’t bend, nothing he wouldn’t sell. His bottom line, as far as Reece could tell, was whatever increased the size of his ego.
Yet if Reece canceled his date with Kara, he knew in his gut he wouldn’t get another chance. He was surprised she hadn’t already called him to cancel. He knew she wasn’t entirely enthusiastic about their date. Was it only the possible conflict of interests that held her back, or was she truly uninterested in him?
“The bottom line, Mr. Chairman, is that there are more than a handful of senators who seem to be charging expenses to the state inappropriately.” Carol, director of Senate Services, was clearly growing short-tempered with Devlin’s constant stonewalling.
“It seems to me this is a
A burning anger grew in her belly. This was likely someone’s bright idea of how to cut costs. But whatever this stuff was, she’d bet her reputation it wasn’t good to drink. No doubt it was seeping into the groundwater and spreading onto other people’s property. Folks out here drank, washed, irrigated, and watered their animals with well water. If, indeed, the toxins had made it into the groundwater, there was a good chance that people, livestock, and crops were being contaminated as well.
No wonder Mr. Marsh was so afraid. An environmental crime of this magnitude could easily land someone—or several someones—in prison, to say nothing of the fine the company itself would face. Whoever was behind it would likely go to some lengths to keep it secret.
A shiver that had nothing to do with the wind ran down her spine. She needed to get these shots and get out of here.She held up her camera, and sparing a moment’s thought for photographic composition, clicked as fast as her camera allowed.
Someone would pay for this. She would make certain of it.
Then, struck by an inspiration, she reached into her pocket for the empty sandwich bag that had held her lunch. She’d eaten her sandwich while driving and thankfully hadn’t thrown the bag away. Treading carefully, she worked her way to the edge of the ice and, using a stick to break off a chunk, slipped it into the bag. A good chem lab ought to be able to tell her exactly what this stuff was and whether it was truly toxic. It certainly smelled terrible—like brake fluid, only stronger.
She zipped the bag shut, hurried back to the car, slipped into the driver’s seat, and handed the plastic bag and the camera to Holly. “Let’s get out of here.”
In silence, Kara turned the car around and drove back the way they’d come. She made a left turn back onto the paved road and saw the checkpoint ahead of them.
A uniformed security guard sat at his post, checking the ID of someone trying to enter the facility.
“Don’t look this way,” Kara muttered under her breath. “You don’t even see us.”
Slowly, casually, she guided the car through the checkpoint and heard Holly’s relieved sigh as they passed unchallenged.
“Smooth as silk.”
When they reached the highway, Holly finally found her tongue. “What was that?”
“What was what?”
“You know. ‘Don’t look this way. You don’t see us.’ ”
“Don’t tell me you never saw Star Wars .” Kara smiled, feeling the heady aftereffects of adrenaline. “That was a Jedi mind trick.”
CHAPTER 5
----
R EECE GLANCED at his watch as the Legislative Audit Committee hearing dragged on. He was supposed to leave to pick up Kara in twenty minutes, but testimony was running long. Although he’d be only too happy to excuse himself—there were more than enough members present for a quorum without him—he didn’t want to tilt the majority in favor of Devlin, who, as Senate president, had appointed himself chairman of the committee. Devlin had the ethical standards of a snake-oil salesman. There was no rule the man wouldn’t bend, nothing he wouldn’t sell. His bottom line, as far as Reece could tell, was whatever increased the size of his ego.
Yet if Reece canceled his date with Kara, he knew in his gut he wouldn’t get another chance. He was surprised she hadn’t already called him to cancel. He knew she wasn’t entirely enthusiastic about their date. Was it only the possible conflict of interests that held her back, or was she truly uninterested in him?
“The bottom line, Mr. Chairman, is that there are more than a handful of senators who seem to be charging expenses to the state inappropriately.” Carol, director of Senate Services, was clearly growing short-tempered with Devlin’s constant stonewalling.
“It seems to me this is a
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