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No, probably more, Tolifson thought. This was not sour cynicism, just a realistic thought given that as a mayor of a small town he had become familiar with how slowly the gears of state government ground when you were in the bush league.

“Well, we’re thinking it’s not an accident. That means there’s a perp somewhere out there.”

Rivera: “Could’ve been a gas explosion. Happens a lot in mines.”

“Gas? It was in a laboratory. Nowhere near a shaft.”

“They have gas in labs.”

“Not this one.”

“With the storm, Mayor, it’s a busy day. As you can imagine. They said secure the scene. They’ll be there as soon as they can.”

“Well, Captain, the siteissecure. Nobody’s going anywhere near where it happened—and could, maybe, happen again, which is why we really want somebody expert to take a look. Secure isn’t the issue. The issue is finding out what the heck is going on here.”

“You know what happens, Han.” A pause. “Not withyouof course, necessarily, butsomebody. They go trooping through the scene, evidence gets messed up. The lawyer at trial gets the defendant off.”

Tolifson didn’t like the “necessarily.”

Looking toward Dorion and Colter Shaw, he called, “He’s saying secure the scene. They’ll get some people here as soon as they can.”

She asked, “How soon is that?”

“He doesn’t know.”

Dorion’s face darkened and she approached, hand outstretched for the phone.

It looked like DRB was back.

Good.

She asked, “Who?”

Tolifson smiled as he handed it to her and whispered, “Captain Rivera, CHP.”

She took the phone.

“Captain, this is Dorion Shaw. I own Shaw Incident Services. I’m running response with Chief Tolifson.”

He liked the way that sounded.

“We have a situation maybe you can help us with…It’s the press. They’re becoming a problem.”

Press? Tolifson wondered.

She listened. “Well, I don’t know who called them. But a couple of the reporters are asking why there’s been no police response to a suspected high-explosive sabotage on the levee and now what appears to be related incidents. A wounded response worker and an IED death. They’re wondering if it’s being taken seriously in Sacramento. Now, I’m on your side, Captain. I know how strapped you are. I want to help you out. Is there something I can tell them about the delay in your response…Yes, I understand there’s flooding in Fort Pleasant. A newswoman brought that up, and well, fact is, her reporting is that it wasn’t so bad. Now she’s onto the explosion at the mine. She’s doing a story for the nightly news. I wish we could preempt that.”

Go get him, DRB.

“A solution? Well, I’m thinking we could have the town officers here do a preliminary. We’ve got good people. I’ve seen their credentials…Yes, I’m sure that’ll keep the reporters happy. That’s part of our job at Shaw Incident Services: press relations. Always good to have them on our side…All right.”

She handed the phone back.

“And she is who again?” Rivera asked bluntly.

“She’s a consultant.”

“Consultant.” As if the word was synonymous with venomous snake. “You’re green-lighted to work the scene. Just be sure you preserve every damn bit of evidence. Custody cards for every molecule of skin and bone.”