Page 92 of The Killing Plains

“Do you only make blades?”

“Nowadays, yes,” Manny said. “I understand we used to manufacture more of our own components. But in a globalized economy, you’ve got to specialize. We import what we don’t make—and of course we sell and install the final product.”

He commandeered a passing golf cart and drove Colly slowly down the length of the room, explaining the purpose of each workstation with a flood of jargon that Colly made no attempt to decode. However, as they approached the last two blade molds in the line, she caught a term she recognized.

“Epoxy? This is where they add the glue?”

Manny stopped the golf cart. “Industrial epoxy-resin, yes.”

At one end of the blade mold, beside a computerized panel, stood a half-dozen white plastic tanks, each as large as a washing machine. From them, hoses ran to connectors attached to the mold.

“The computer mixes the proper ratio of epoxy and hardener, and vacuum suction pulls the mixture into the blade to saturate the fiberglass,” Manny explained. “At the next station, we fasten the two halves of the blade together. Then it goes to another building for grinding and painting.”

Colly climbed out of the golf cart to peer more closely at the plastic tanks. “I’ve heard that these longer blades need a stronger epoxy than the shorter ones.”

“Absolutely correct. We had to replace our inventory when we upgraded the blade length.” He beamed ingenuously. Whatever Jace and Lowell had done, Manny Pareja clearly knew nothing about it.

“Where’s the epoxy stored? In this building?”

“No, there’s a warehouse outside. Why?”

“Who has access to the warehouse?”

Manny frowned, and Colly quickly added, “Just curious. I’ve heard my in-laws talk about the business for ages, but I’ve never known much about it.”

“Sure, I get it.” Manny sounded uncertain. “Everything’s operated by key card. The plant foreman and the floor manager have access—and Mr. Newland, of course. I’m not sure who else.”

Colly was wondering how far she could push this line of questioning when they were interrupted by a loud and furious “Hey!”

She turned. Lowell was barreling down the production line towards them, his face red with fury. As he approached, Colly saw that his eyes were bloodshot. There was a smear of dried oatmeal on the placket of his shirt.

“What the hell’s going on, Pareja? She shows up, and you roll out the red carpet without calling me?”

Manny swallowed. His bowtie bobbed up and down. “She’s your family. I figured—”

“She’s not here for a tour, you moron—she’s doing an investigation.”

“I came to talk to you, Lowell,” Colly said. “It’s not this guy’s fault you don’t stumble in to work till ten o’clock.”

Lowell glanced up the assembly line. Most of the workers were watching them with open interest.

“Where’s the damn floor manager?” he snapped. “Get them back to work, Pareja.”

“Yes,sir.” Manny spun the golf cart in a tight U-turn and sped away up the line.

When he was gone, Lowell lowered his voice. “You’ve got some nerve, coming here to embarrass me in front of my employees.”

“You don’t need my help for that,” Colly said. “I tried to be discreet the other day, and you gave me the runaround. If you want to be left alone, talk to me.”

Lowell raised his Newland Industries ballcap and ran a hand through his thinning hair. “Fine. But not here.”

He grabbed her arm and hurried her through a door marked “Exit” at the end of the room. The morning fog had dissipated. The sun now shone bright in a cloudless sky. Lowell led the way across a wide span of tarmac and into a labyrinth of finished turbine blades that were lined up on metal cradles in long, parallel rows like gigantic knives in a drawer. The blades towered above them on either side, blocking the sunlight, and with no visible point of reference, Colly soon felt lost.

“That’s far enough,” she said, pulling away from Lowell’s grip.

He turned to face her, crossing his arms. “Ask your damn questions.”

She squared her shoulders. “I want to know why you planted that dead snake in Brenda’s van Monday night. Did you really think that would chase me off?”

---