Since shed spent the better part of the night reading the reports in the file, Tori was well aware of the conclusions drawn. They didnt discover anything wrong with the car? she asked.
Not a thing, and I had Harris DuBlass look it over special. At that time there wasnt a finer hand with a car than his, and he said it was clean as a whistle. Not much left of it, of course, smashed up as it was. Youll still hear some folks round these parts talk about sabotage or some such thing, but Im here to tell you, the steering and brakes looked just fine. Accident went in the books as plain, old DE.
It took a moment for Tori to follow his meaning. Driver error.
Thats right. The road had just been reopened after road crews had worked on it for months. There was interest for a while to straighten out that curve, make the road into four lanes, but folks got upset about cutting down the big ol trees along one side. In the end they just widened it. Most likely Joseph Tremaine took that curve too fast. Only idea I ever come up with. If it happened in these times, theyd probably all survive, what with the shoulder harnesses and air bags. But back then with just the lap belt. The older man shook his head. Didnt none of em stand a chance of living through it.
Didnt that surprise you, though? Tori asked. I mean, he must have been familiar with the area.
He let out a crow of delight as another tug on his line brought him to his feet. I think I got me a big one here. He let the line play out a little before reeling it in slowly, watching the fish on the other end thrash. Sure he knew the roads like the back of his hand, he continued his earlier thread seamlessly, but like I said, that road had been changed some. And theres not a one among us that dont get behind the wheel when our mind isnt totally on driving. Thats why they call them accidents.
I guess there were no witnesses to help clear up any questions.
Nope. Just a couple of Bernie Glassers cows that musta got out and come downriver, and they werent talking. Leastways, thats the story Glasser gave. Like nobody knew he brung them down regular every morning to avoid the cost of watering em. Used to tromp em across Cooter Beechams property like clockwork, and didnt that make the old guy cuss a blue streak. Had a mouth on him, old Cooter did, and he didnt need to be liquored up to let loose, no sirree. Why I remember a time
Tori let the man ramble and her mind drift. Ex-Sheriff Halloways retelling of the accident was different from his report only in the colorful details. Doubt about the cause of the accident hadnt lingered long in his mind, if at all.
If he was right, his conclusion would mirror her dads. His report had been included in the file, as well, and shed pored over it with particular attention. Just reading it, imagining him sitting at his battered desk painstakingly typing his findings, had summoned a lump to her throat that appeared only too easily these days.
For the first time she considered the fact that if she arrived at a different conclusion from his, it would mean hed been wrong. That hed overlooked something, or been too careless in his investigation. Neither of the possibilities seemed likely. Rob Landry had been meticulous about his work and his reputation. If there had been something to find twenty years earlier, something to support Jamess fear that the accident had been deliberate, he would have found it. Reported it. And remained on the case until the wrongdoer was brought to justice.
She let out a sigh, only half aware that Halloway had fallen silent. It was highly probable that there was nothing to the claims in those messages about Tremaines parents. Theyd likely been sent to distract him at a time when he most needed to focus his attention on his work.
But the conclusion didnt make her breathe any easier. She couldnt dismiss the threats in the notes as easily as James did. Even if the car wreck all those years ago had been an accident, he could still have a target on his back. Either way, this investigation could well prove dangerous to him. And if she was honest, the fear that followed that thought was more than just a professional one.