Part 47 (2/2)

'Thirty-four million dollars,' Nadine said.

'That's real money,' Carla said, 'even in Texas.'

'And especially if you've got three ex-wives to support,' Book said.

'And five children,' Nadine said.

'And a cocaine habit,' Carla said.

'So Nathan was wrong. Billy Bob isn't contaminating the groundwater; he's contaminating the land and surface water.'

'I've gone through the numbers on twenty wells so far,' Nadine said. 'Same deal.'

'But for him to dump that much frack fluid,' Book said, 'the trucking company would have to be a co-conspirator in a criminal enterprise.'

'Wouldn't be the first time,' Carla said. 'The trade treaty with Mexico allowed cross-border trucking, so the cartels bought up a bunch of Mexican trucking companies. They know a little something about criminal enterprises.'

'That's another piece of the puzzle, Professor,' Nadine said.

'What?'

'Apparently someone at the trucking company had a conscience. Wade Chandler, s.h.i.+pping supervisor. Nathan had several manifests signed by Chandler.'

'How?'

She shrugged. 'Who knows? Maybe Nathan figured it out, asked Chandler for the records.'

'Where's this Wade Chandler?'

'Dead. Died in a car accident, two days before Nathan.'

'Why didn't the sheriff mention that?'

'Probably didn't know. Happened in Pecos County. That's two counties north of Marfa.'

'Looks like Billy Bob partnered up with some bad guys, Professor, maybe a cartel,' Carla said.

'Where would he meet cartel people?'

'c.o.kehead needs a supplier. Maybe he's killing two birds with one stone-buying his cocaine and dumping his flow-back.'

'We need proof.'

'These papers,' Nadine said.

'Too complicated. We need a smoking gun.'

'Don't guns smoke after they've been fired?'

'So where would he dump the fluid?'

Carla spread her arms.

'It's a big desert.'

Chapter 34.

At three the next morning, Book and Carla sat in her pickup truck parked out of sight off Highway 67 northeast of Alpine, just outside Barnett Oil and Gas Company Well Site 356. They had the high ground; down below, more flow-back fluid in the open pit was being pumped into a long line of tanker trucks. Book was in the driver's seat; Carla was in the pa.s.senger's. They ate beef jerky. The evening air had now turned cool, and the breeze brought the smell of distant rain. That night Book would learn Nathan Jones's truth.

'Boo!'

Carla screamed; Book jumped then recovered and saw a face behind night-vision goggles peering in through Carla's window. A hand yanked the goggles off to reveal a familiar face.

'Big Rick? What the h.e.l.l are you doing out here?'

'Scaring the s.h.i.+t out of you two.' He laughed. 'My reliable source said something big is going down at this well site tonight. Thought I'd check it out myself. You know what it is?'

'We think they're dumping frack fluid out in the desert.'

Big Rick opened Carla's door. 'Scoot over.'

She did, and he climbed in with a backpack and an AR-15 a.s.sault rifle.

'Is that loaded?' Book asked.

'Why would I carry an unloaded weapon?'

'Point it out the window.'

He did.

'So what's the plan, Professor?'

'We wait. See where those trucks go.'

Carla held up her camcorder. 'We're going to follow them and videotape the dumping. A smoking gun.'

'Well, I've got my gun and I've got my smokes.'

Big Rick pulled out a joint and lit it. He inhaled deeply then offered the joint to Book and Carla; they declined.

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