Scratchgravel Road (Josie Gray Mysteries #2)(36)
Josie pressed the button and said, “Chief of police, Josie Gray, and Officer Otto Podowski. Artemis Police Department.”
After several seconds the woman said, “You’re free to enter.”
Josie grinned at Otto. “Kind of pointless, isn’t it?”
He got out of the car, unlatched the gate, pushed it open, and then closed the gate behind them before getting back in beside her. They drove through, onto a paved drive.
Yesterday Otto had been told that the main office was located directly through the front gate. A parking lot at least an acre wide separated it from another fence that surrounded the actual buildings.
Josie could see six or seven buildings from her vantage point, and they were all built from steel with corrugated rooftops that appeared rusty even from a distance. She could see the neck of a crane sticking above the middle of the buildings but she saw no movement of machinery. The parking lot had approximately thirty cars, all parked near the front entrance gate.
*
Otto pointed at the yellow lines and arrows painted on the asphalt that directed cars straight ahead. “We’re supposed to park in the visitor area. An escort will meet us at the car.” He gave Josie a cynical glance. “You’d think they were still making bombs.”
As Josie pulled into the space marked VISITOR, a middle-aged woman carrying a black umbrella, wearing a beige pant suit and sensible brown shoes, approached. She wore a large pocket watch as a necklace and looked as if she kept a close eye on its movement. Her hair, brown like her shoes, was in a tight bun behind her head. She smiled grimly as Josie and Otto got out of the jeep, her hands clasped tightly at her waist. Repressed was the word that came to Josie’s mind.
“Welcome. My name is Sylvia Moore. Please follow me, and I’ll take you to Mr. Paiva.”
Josie raised her eyebrows at Otto and popped her own umbrella open against the light rain. They followed the woman at a quick pace down a concrete walkway that led to the one-story office building. Newer than the rest of the site, it was covered in light blue corrugated metal with a brown metal roof. Josie assumed the bosses worked out of this building. The woman slowed slightly to walk in line with them and seemed to sense Josie’s thoughts.
“I’ll be taking you into the staging facility. This is where all of our office staff are located. I’m sure Mr. Paiva can help you with the information you require.”
“What’s a staging facility?” Otto asked.
She pursed her lips and glanced quickly at Otto, as if trying to decipher his intentions. Apparently convinced he wasn’t harassing her, she said, “This building is the planning area where the various job superintendents and foremen meet. Our site office is located here.”
She offered a thin-lipped smile again and opened the door to the building, allowing Otto and Josie to enter before her.
A man who looked to be in his forties stood just inside the door, smiling widely, holding his hand out to greet them both. “Chief Gray? Diego Paiva. Very good to meet you.”
Diego wore a charcoal gray suit jacket with a casual navy blue shirt open at the neck. He had fine gray hair with a receding hairline, and a closely trimmed goatee. He was an attractive man with dark deep-set eyes and a strong jawline who emanated confidence and ability.
Josie extended her hand and shook his. “Thank you. This is Officer Otto Podowski.”
They shook hands and Diego gestured for them to walk down a short carpeted hallway and into a mid-size office decorated in conservative wood furniture with comfortable chairs. A small round table and four stackable conference chairs were located to the left of the door. One long, narrow window allowed light into the office but gave little view into the operations of the plant. To the right of the window about a dozen framed certificates, a collection of degrees and awards, covered the wall behind his desk. Josie noticed a picture of him shaking President Bush’s hand, but she saw no pictures of family in the office.
After coffee and soft drinks were declined they sat down at the table. When he addressed Josie, his demeanor was warm and friendly.
“I’m always curious when meeting new people. What brings you to such a remote location? In Puerto Rico, where I grew up, we imagine everyone wants to live in the big cities enjoying the exciting nightlife.”
Josie smiled. “I have no desire to spend my days in the city or my nights in a club. Artemis actually suits me well.”
He tipped his head. “Excellent point. Nor do I.” He turned to Otto. “And you? May I ask what brought you here?”
Otto leaned back in his seat and Josie noticed the gaping spaces around the buttons on his uniform shirt. She would work on him to cut back on the pastries and Cokes.
He said, “I worked twenty-five years with the highway patrol. It was a good career, but I was ready to slow the pace. When I left the patrol, Artemis was looking for a chief. It was a good change for my family.”
“How does someone get from Puerto Rico to the Chihuahuan Desert?” Josie asked.
“Ahh. I was born in San Juan. Joined the military right out of high school and ended up stationed in California. I became involved in engineering while in the service. I’ve been in the States for almost twenty years now as a nuclear engineer. Beacon hired me to manage their cleanup projects.”
“You travel quite a bit then?” Josie asked.
“My last post was in rural New York. When this post came along?” He put a hand in the air and wavered it back and forth. “I don’t like the big city, but I do like people.” He looked at Josie. “It’s difficult to connect with people here. Would you agree?”