Bethel Island in the Sacramento River Delta.
Gage had gotten stonewalled the last time he drove out to confront the retired OSHA inspector, Ray Karopian. But that was then, when he had only vague questions about Karopian’s investigation of the TIMCO explosion-
And this was now.
Viz followed Gage from San Francisco over the Bay Bridge then north, almost to where the Sacramento River flowed into San Pablo Bay. What had once been rolling hills grazed by cattle was now a commercial corridor of malls, fast-food restaurants, townhouses, and apartments.
Gage and Viz headed east on Highway 4 past the just-within-commuting-distance bedroom communities, condo complexes, and meth labs.
Hot, dusty, and windy.
They could see the TIMCO refinery spread out between the freeway and shoreline, its forest of two-hundred-foot fractionating towers operating around the clock, distilling crude oil into usable fuels and company profits.
Gage continued north after Viz pulled into a service station at the main Bethel Island intersection. He cast a glance toward False River, then hung a left along the waterfront to Karopian’s three-story, clapboard-sided home. The house was set back from a wide street paralleling the shore. A third of an acre. Mature trees. Gage was still surprised at how little a million and a half dollars had bought before the economic collapse, even in Middle of Nowhere California.
He spotted Karopian working on the thirty-five-foot Bayliner tied to his private dock extending from the grass-covered levee, and remembered thinking last time it was an awfully big boat for such a slim stretch of water.
Karopian didn’t turn until Gage’s dress shoes thunked against the metal surface of the dock. Thin, balding, a rich, end-of-season tan. A walking JCPenney window display: Izod shirt, Dockers pants, and Sperry Topsiders.
“This is private property,” Karopian said. “You need an invitation.”
“I have one, you told me to come back if I had more questions.” Gage smiled. “I guess you didn’t mean it.”
Karopian dropped his rag into the bucket at his feet, then stepped onto the transom platform and to the dock.
“On reflection,” Karopian said, “I decided I wasn’t thrilled with your attitude.”
“I apologize. A kid in my office had just been beaten up.”
Karopian’s wincing face displayed fear, like that of a man who’d just made a wrong turn into oncoming traffic.
“Be… because of what?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”
“I don’t beat up people.” Karopian stretched out his skinny arms as evidence.
“I didn’t think you did.”
“Then why are you out here again?”
“I came to tell you what happened in TIMCO.”
Karopian’s face darkened beneath his tan.
“I know what happened in TIMCO.”
Gage nodded. “I believe you.”
“If you believe me, then answer my question.”
“I came back because what you know and what you wrote in your report were two different things.”
A female voice yelled from behind Gage.
“Is everything all right, dear?”
Gage didn’t turn around. Karopian waved to her, putting on a boyish smile. When it faded, Gage guessed she’d returned inside the house.
“I guess you two have been married a long time,” Gage said.
“Thirty-five years.”
“It shows. She can tell when you’re about to pee in your pants.”
Karopian’s face darkened another shade.
“I’ll make a deal with you,” Gage said. “I’ll tell you what happened and you just nod if I’m right.” He paused. “Even better, try to look surprised.”
Gage held his hands out like he was holding the valve.
“What happened was that somebody welded over the pressure release device and the weld didn’t hold.”
Karopian didn’t look surprised.
“I examined every fragment we recovered,” Karopian said. “I didn’t find any fresh welds.”
Gage felt his heart thump. Gotcha.
“The valve exploded right at the pressure release device,” Karopian said. “So it had to have been what failed.”
“You find all the parts?”
“You’re not listening to me. That’s what blew apart.” Karopian’s hand shot out toward the west. “For all I know the pieces flew all the way to San Pablo Bay.”
Gage stared at him without answering. Karopian looked away.
“I think you need to try to reconstruct the thing in your mind,” Gage finally said. “Maybe you’ll come to a different conclusion.” He turned, and said over his shoulder, “You’ve got my card.”