Scratchgravel Road (Josie Gray Mysteries #2)(92)

They watched as he fell to the floor, and the minutes of indecision as the other man paced the floor, then stood for a long while just staring at the body.

“What a horrific thing,” Diego said. “He is rationalizing the death of his friend.”

After a full five minutes of indecision, the figure bent down and unfastened the hood of the man on the floor, then pulled it off. Josie and Diego both leaned forward, straining to see his face. When the other person stood, they got a clear shot of Juan Santiago. Diego made a noise, then cleared his throat. “I recognize him from his photo on his ID. And I’ve seen him around the plant. There’s no doubt.”

The other person kept his hood on and Josie assumed he was doing it to hide his identity. He opened several cabinets, and rifled through their contents, obviously searching for something. He finally pulled out a glass jug, similar to the one Brent had used earlier in the day against Josie. He uncapped the liquid and bent down beside Santiago. They watched in horror as he pried Santiago’s mouth open with his hand and poured the liquid down the man’s throat.

Diego made a sound of disgust.

Josie said nothing. She imagined Sarah, Brent’s wife, and their small child at home right now, probably still oblivious to the horror he had unleashed upon their family.

“What in god’s name was he thinking?” Diego said.

Shortly after, the man replaced the chemicals and bent down to pick up the lifeless Santiago. He struggled, but finally managed to maneuver him over his shoulder and walk out of the lab. Diego fast-forwarded through the rest of Sunday to when the tape ended at 6 A.M. Monday. Other than one security guard walk-through, the lab remained empty.

Diego faced Josie. “How can you be certain that was Brent Thyme?”

“Let’s pull up the tape from last Monday, the last day that Brent and Juan worked together in the pilot plant.”

Over the next fifteen minutes they fast-forwarded through tape, watching scientists and technicians come in and out of the lab. Then, at 11:10 A.M., two men in hazmat suits took off their helmets and peeled down the top portion of their suits, allowing their upper body and arms to be exposed.

“Brent and Juan. There’s the safety breach,” Diego said.

Several minutes later they watched Juan drop a glass jug of something and both men jump away from it. They appeared to argue, Brent obviously furious with Juan for the accident, Juan apologizing. Then both men pulled their suits back up and put their hoods on and began cleaning the floor.

Diego looked at Josie in astonishment. “They didn’t even wash the solution off their arms! There’s a sink in the lab. Why wouldn’t they have cleaned up first?”

Josie shook her head. “I assume they were afraid if someone came in and saw the spill, and their suits off, that they would be fired.”

Diego sat back in his chair, a look of defeat spreading across his face. He said, “It makes me question everyone I know. I would never have guessed him capable of this kind of evil.” He considered Josie for a moment. “It would be hard to not become jaded in your position. Do you reach a point where everyone in your life is suspect?”

“Aren’t we all capable of evil at some point?”

He looked surprised.

Josie leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest, chilled from her damp clothing. “Given the right set of circumstances I think we’re all capable of doing bad.”

He gave her a cynical smile. “You’re twisting my words. I asked if you suspect everyone, even those you love, of doing evil. I agree we’re all capable, but most of us have internal triggers that stop us.”

Josie nodded, acknowledging the distinction. “You’re probably right. I suppose I suspect most everyone. I assume guilt until the facts prove otherwise. Hazard of the profession.” She paused for a moment. “Or a severe personality flaw.”

Diego smiled and shut down the viewing equipment. “I’ll ask Skip to make you a copy of the last two weeks of tape. I don’t think you want me to try it. I’m afraid I may erase something in error.”

“That’s fine. I’d love to be able to pick it up tomorrow.”

Diego nodded and they stood to leave. With his hand on the doorknob, he turned to Josie.

“Have dinner with me tonight.”

Her eyebrows arched in surprise. “Dinner?”

He smiled. “I think we deserve a nice dinner, a glass of wine, calm conversation. No stress, just dinner.”

She felt the flush to her face and chest and knew that Diego saw it. She felt guilty at the hesitation. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I would agree that we certainly deserve a stress-free dinner, but I’m already committed.”

He tilted his head back but his smile remained. “Committed. That can mean any number of things. I will assume that means you have a previous engagement, although after the events of the day, it would be difficult to maintain comparable conversation with someone who had not experienced this.”

He opened the door and stepped back for Josie to exit first. He walked beside her as they left the plant. “When you aren’t so committed, I would like to take you out to express my gratitude. You are one of the most unique women I’ve had the good fortune to meet, and I would like to get to know you.”

Josie smiled. “I appreciate the invitation. I’m sure we’ll talk again soon.”