Seeing the direction of Colin’s glance, Chandler grinned ruefully. “I was inspecting possible sites for a new sewer treatment plant. The ground’s a mess today.”
“I noticed.”
They shook hands and measured each other.
The guy had one of those faces that was too crude to call handsome. Thuggish came to mind. He had longshoreman shoulders, too, and hands that looked as if they should be wielding a sledgehammer or maybe drawing beer for a living. No rings, his watch was utilitarian. The ponytail might be gone, but well-cut hair hadn’t succeeded in giving him a glossy veneer. Blue eyes were intelligent and guarded. Noah Chandler wouldn’t be an easy read.
“Sit down.” He gestured toward several leather chairs grouped around a coffee table.
Colin chose one and waited while Chandler did the same.
“I assume this isn’t a let’s-get-acquainted meeting.” Bluntness seemed to be his style, which Colin liked.
“No. I’d like your backing to do something that could get ugly.”
Chandler’s mouth quirked. “That sounds interesting. Explain.”
“Are you aware of the bones found in River Park when the contractors hauled a stump out of the ground?”
Chandler leaned forward, his elbows braced on his knees. “Sure. Have you identified the victim yet?”
“We were stymied when the ground was frozen. Once we were able to start digging again, some more bones turned up right away. With them was a backpack.”
That sharp gaze didn’t waver.
“Techs are still trying to peel apart papers that look like schoolwork. For now, though, they’ve found a couple of interesting things.”
“Which is where I come in, I take it.”
Colin’s jaw muscles flexed. “Yes. The kid was carrying a key card for a room at Marc Dubeau’s resort. These were also in the pack, sealed together in a plastic bag.” He removed the folded sheets of paper from his pocket and handed them over. “Copies, of course.”
Chandler unfolded them and studied the picture in silence for a minute. His eyebrows momentarily climbed when he saw the amount on the deposit slip. At last he looked up. “You do have a problem,” he said. “I assume the account number is your boss’s?”
“His wife’s.”
“And you believe these items are in some way connected to the murder.”
He’d been right; Noah Chandler wasn’t giving much away.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Colin said, choosing his words with care. “At this point, however, we have to pursue what few leads we have. We have no missing persons listed who were staying at Arrow Lake Lodge, nor from any resorts in the close vicinity. The medical examiner is sure the bones belong to a young male, likely between about sixteen and twenty years of age. Given that we have the jaw, we’ve been able to compare teeth with X-rays from a couple of young men who are listed as missing in the right time frame, one from Bend, the other from Klamath Falls. Neither matched. Who was this guy? What was his connection to Dubeau’s resort? And why was he carrying that photo and the deposit slip? Packaged together, no less.”
The mayor mulled that over. “Did you consider asking Chief Bystrom?”
“I did. If it had been only the photograph, I’d have done so.”
“What is it you intend?”
“I want to look at his bank records. Find out who wrote the check, if it was one, deposited on that date. Make sure there isn’t a pattern of unexplained deposits.”
“Do you expect that there will be?”
For the first time, Colin hesitated. “I can’t answer that,” he said at last. “Chief Bystrom and his wife live very well, clearly beyond his salary. I’ve always assumed there was family money. I have no idea. I will tell you that this would be part of our investigation no matter who it was.”
“All right,” Chandler said abruptly, folding the two pieces of paper and laying them on the coffee table. “Unless you already had a judge in mind, I’d suggest you go to Tenney. I’ll give him a call.” He rose to his feet. “And thank you for the warning.” Amusement glinted in his eyes. “I like to know before the shit hits the fan.”
“Chief Bystrom is going to see this as an attack. You may not be aware that he and I don’t have an entirely cordial working relationship.”
“He’s said things.” Chandler gave the faintest of smiles. “Chief Bystrom and I don’t, either. Do what you have to do.”
They didn’t shake hands again. Colin left, fully satisfied.
Half an hour later, he had his warrant, which included bank and investment accounts in the names of Gary Bystrom and/or Marcia Bystrom.