Page 10 of Shifted

Mario studied Dalton’s face. “You think there’s something on the video.”

“I think we need to be very cautious. You know the score, Mario. This could break us.”

“Okay, got it. I will make a copy and find somewhere to view it. When do you think the polizei will be over to talk to us?

He shrugged. “They spoke to the family, and I know they’ll have to see the track where it happened and talk to the race officials.” He glanced at his watch. It was about three hours since the accident had happened. “Honestly, they should be here any minute.”

The words had no sooner left his mouth when Juan Carlos came around the front of the trailer, polizei in tow. Dalton recognized the man in the suit from the medical center. The man he’d assumed was the detective. He wasn’t so sure about the other uniformed officer. There were many around, and they all blended to him.

“I’ll go now.” Mario hustled up the steps into the office trailer.

“Dalton, how are you?” Juan Carlos asked.

He merely nodded. There was nothing he could say that would make things better, but he appreciated Juan Carlos asking. As race director, he had a tough job but was very good at it. They’d always had a good relationship, and he appreciated that now more than ever.

“Mr. Hughes, I am Detective Jakob Haas. I was wondering if my colleague, Officer Paul Moser, and I could speak with you for a moment.”

“Of course. We can go into the office in the trailer if you would like.” Dalton pointed up the stairs.

The detective nodded and then gestured for Dalton to lead the way. Dalton climbed the stairs and then keyed in the lock code for the door. It was already open, but he was buying Mario another few seconds. Detective Haas may not want them to have a copy of the video once he saw what was on it. Or, at least, that’s how Dalton would handle it, but what did he know about being a cop?

Pulling open the door, he called out a hello as he entered. All conversation died once. The coaches and engineers went silent and stared at the cops. Mario was in the far corner with his laptop, the screen turned away so no one could see. He met Dalton’s gaze and gave a small nod.

Dalton’s gut relaxed just a fraction. He had no idea if having the video would make it better or worse for them, but he wasn’t going to let the polizei take the only copy.

“Perhaps we could speak privately,” Detective Haas suggested.

The whole trailer seethed to life. Everyone got to their feet and filed out the door. Mario grabbed his laptop and went with them. Dalton took a seat about midway down the table, and Detective Haas sat next to him. The uniformed officer took a seat across the table from them. Juan Carlos started to sit, but Detective Haas gave a slight negative shake of his head. Juan Carlos shrugged but nodded to Dalton and then left.

“So, Mr. Hughes, can you take us through what happened this morning?” Haas’s accented English was excellent. Dalton had found that to be the case in most places in Germany and Austria.

He paused before answering. So much had happened in such a short time span. “Um, where would you like me to start?”

Detective Haas seemed to expect this question. “I understand your brother did not pick up Mr. Moore at the hotel like he was supposed to do.”

“No, Rory was called away. Timo brought him with the other drivers.”

Officer Moser took notes in a small book.

“Was Mr. Moore upset about this?”

Dalton frowned. “I guess. He was a bit annoyed. I don’t know if that qualifies as upset. I think he was more upset that Rory wasn’t here to coach him, but I assured him that I would coach him since Rory couldn’t be here.”

“And where is your brother?” Detective Haas asked.

“Munich.” Dalton desperately wanted to get off the subject of Rory. “Can you tell me anything about the accident? Do you know what caused the fire?”

Detective Haas nodded. “The thinking is debris on the track from a previous accident must have cut the fuel line as Mr. Moore was sliding across the track. Then when he rolled the car, gasoline spewed out over the hot engine and ignited it.”

Dalton nodded. That scenario was about the only thing that made sense. If debris had gotten beneath the under-tray, then it could have cut the fuel line, and since it was the end of the practice session, the whole undercarriage, the whole car actually, would’ve been damn hot. Ignition was inevitable.

Detective Haas asked, “After you agreed to coach Mr. Moore, what happened?”

“He went and got his fire suit on. Then he came in here and we went over what we were going to work on during the session.”

Officer Moser kept scribbling in the notebook, and it was starting to get under Dalton’s skin. He bit back a sigh and tried to calm the rapid beating of his heart. His blood pressure had to be through the roof at this point.

“And then?” Detective Haas pushed again.

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