Transparency: Bio-Tech Cavern Secrets Untold Read Online Free PDF

first class benefits. They give back to the community. Just look at our new PD. I hear the working environment at the Labs rivals a country club.”
    Gladstone sounded like a commercial. Halliday had talked to several Santa Reina and Redwood Bluff citizens who were distrustful of the biotech giant.
    Gladstone scratched his head. “Sheriff Barnes told me that several farmers had made complaints. They claim Genevive has abducted animals—livestock, pets, wildlife. They said they had seen Genevive security trucks rounding up animals during the graveyard shift.”
    “Official complaints? To the sheriff?”
    “Barnes said the complaints were filed with Santa Reina PD.”
    Redwood Bluff and Santa Reina jurisdictions overlapped in the north and northeast sections of Santa Reina. “I haven’t heard of any complaints here. Have you?”
    “No.”
    “Find out who in the department has been taking complaints. What was the nature of those complaints? How were they handled? Begin with the dispatcher.”
    “Got it.”
    “What else did the sheriff have to say?”
    “Festus was no vagrant. He has a Master’s degree in agriculture from UC Davis from over forty years ago. He set up several AG programs over the years in Redwood Bluff through the auspices of UC Davis. Barnes said local farmers view Festus as a hero because he introduced some robust strains of produce that were less susceptible to disease and infestation.”
    Halliday found it difficult to believe the Lamar Festus he had encountered in the clearing owned a Master’s degree. “Go on.”
    “Barnes said that Festus took up the cause of the farmers and ranchers with Genevive Labs. Either he didn’t receive a kind reception at the labs or else he rubbed someone the wrong way. An altercation ensued. I didn’t get much out of the sheriff regarding details.”
    Halliday ran his thumb around the rim of his glass. This was all pointing toward Genevive Labs, exactly where the chief didn’t want to go. In April of last year a Genevive security guard had been accused of raping a local girl. Halliday had been close to an arrest when all charges were dropped per an agreement between the girl’s attorney and the chief. Halliday never got the full story. According to the chief, the girl had lied. Halliday, who had questioned the young woman several times, believed she had been telling him the truth.
    His phone rang. “Halliday.”
    “Halliday, Sergeant Garcia. What did you say to Martinez?”
    “What are you talking about, Sergeant?”
    “I am at the Martinez house watching it go up in flames.”
    “Flames?”
    “Yeah, the fire department is calling it arson. I wondered who might have started the fire.”
    Garcia’s insinuation was bullshit. “It couldn’t have been Martinez. The family preceded me out to Highway 99. They were on their way to Chowchilla.”
    “I’m betting that asshole Martinez made a U-turn. He returned to torch the place.”
    “Do you have any evidence to back up your premise?”
    “Well, no. No hard evidence.”
    “What did the neighbors say?”
    “Neighbors never talk in Sur, at least in English.”
    “Jesus, Garcia, did you question anyone?”
    “A neighbor told me that Martinez had promised to get revenge before he left.”
    “Revenge?”
    “Revenge for losing his house… I suppose.”
    Or revenge on Garcia. “Garcia, you know why I removed you from the situation there this afternoon?”
    “You tell me detective.”
    “You were so goddamned wound up you could’ve ignited a powder keg. Break down the door? Then what? Race in with your weapon out? Force Martinez to go for his weapon? I wanted to avoid all that.”
    “The neighbors are fucking crazy. El fantasma .”
    “What do you mean Sergeant? Tell me what they said.”
    “Sergeant?”
    “The neighbors claim a ghost started the fire,” Garcia said in a voice barely audible.
    More ghosts. “What?”
    “The Latinos out in Santa Sur are ‘loco en la cabeza.’ Crazy in the