CHAPTER
71
“HEY, BILL, HOW GOES IT?”
Bill Strauss had just come out of the Trent office and was heading to his car. Puller was leaning against his Malibu. He’d been waiting out here for nearly an hour.
“Puller? What are you doing here?”
Puller pushed away from the car and walked toward the man. “My job. Got some questions. You have some time?”
Strauss glanced at his watch. “I’m actually late for a meeting.”
“It won’t take long.”
“It can’t wait?”
“Not really, no.”
“Okay, shoot.”
“Blasting last Sunday night. No public notice given. Who authorized it?”
Strauss looked taken aback. “What are you talking about?”
“On Sunday night of last week blasting took place at one of the Trent operations. You have to give public notice. And blasting doesn’t usually take place on Sundays. You have to get special permission. The notice wasn’t given. Was the special permission obtained?”
“I’d have to check the records.”
“Roger said he knew nothing about it. Who at your company oversees that stuff?”
“Technically I do as COO. But I have a lot of duties and I have to delegate. We have people who cover the blasting authorizations and appropriate notice provisions.”
“Then they would be the ones I should talk to?”
“They would. Unfortunately, they’re not at this office. They work in Charleston.”
“Can I get their contact information?”
“Why is this important? Those people weren’t killed at the mining operation.”
“It’s still important. So you’ll get me the contact info?”
“Okay,” Strauss said slowly.
“Great, I’ll expect it tomorrow.”
“I’m not sure—”
Puller cut in. “Seen your son lately?”
“No, why?”
“Just wondering. You a member of the Xanadu club?”
“What? No, I’m not.”
“I’ll let you get on to your meeting.”
Puller climbed in the Malibu and drove off. On the way he called Dickie and made arrangements to meet with him that night.
When Puller got back to the motel there was a shiny blue Bentley parked out front, and Roger Trent was at the wheel.