J. Kerley - The Death Box

“You came to us because of who we hire?” he said quietly, meaning ex-cons. “I feel it’s my calling to help the fallen back to their feet.”

“I’m not questioning your calling, sir. I may wish to question some of your employees.”

“Our employees are no longer criminals. When first from prison, I employ them here. Some stay, others move to new careers. The record speaks for itself.”

“An exemplary record, indeed,” I said, credit due. “But you’ve had failures, Mr Kazankis. It goes with the territory.”

“True. I’ll be the first to admit cases of recidivism. Not, thankfully, very many. But given that the possibility exists … what may I do for you, Detective?”

“First, sir, what can you tell me about this sample?” I opened my briefcase and handed over a bone-free chunk of concrete. Kazankis flicked a thumbnail over its surface.

“Low aggregate. Mainly sand and cement with a dye, one of the umbers. Is this part of the crime you’re investigating?”

I nodded. “Have you ever had a loaded truck stolen?”

“A truckload is mixed, then goes directly to the site. A person might steal a truck at night, but it would be empty.”

“Maybe I’m looking for concrete diverted to another usage. This would have been around a year ago.”

Kazankis frowned. “I’m sorry, Detective, but I can’t recall details that far back.”

“Would it be possible to get a printout of all employees from that period?” I asked. “It would save us a trip to the Parole Board.”

“Certainly.” Mr Kazankis sat by a computer, made some taps on the keyboard, and a printer behind the desk began humming. Our next move would be cross-checking employee names against violent crimes. Records in hand, we turned to the door.

Gershwin halted. “One more question, Mr Kazankis. Do your employees ever take concrete home or anything like that? For use later?”

“Like for next-day delivery? It would harden in the truck.”

“I guess I mean their own projects. Like fixing a sidewalk or whatnot.”

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