Chapter 10: What Foss Didn't Know
The warrant for Garrett Foss was executed on a Thursday morning, four days after we found Dale in Gresham.
Rhea called me while I was finishing a school patrol on Evergreen's block.
"They picked him up at his office," she said.
"He came out the front door.
Didn't run."
"How did he take it?"
"He smiled.
He told the arresting officer that his attorney would have him out before lunch." A pause.
"His attorney was already in the building being interviewed by our financial crimes unit.
Different matter, but related."
"The shell company."
"The shell company, the numbered account, and three other accounts we found once we started pulling the thread.
The ledger page Dale photographed from Foss's office — it wasn't just Dale's debt.
It was a record of every person Foss had collected from twice.
Fourteen names.
Some of them had already paid.
Some of them had paid and then paid again because they didn't know they had proof they didn't owe anything."
Fourteen families.
"Is there someone inside the department?" I asked.
Rhea was quiet for a moment.
"There was a civilian records clerk who had been flagging certain incoming missing persons inquiries and delaying their processing.
She's been placed on administrative leave pending investigation." Another pause.
"That's why there was no file on Dale.
His name was in the queue.
It never moved."
I thought about what Radley had said.
*The man from the county.
He wrote things down.
He said someone would follow up.*
"What about the county welfare visit in the spring?" I asked.
"The one where someone came to the house and nothing happened after?"
"That's a separate inquiry.
But yes.
It's being looked at."
I stood on the sidewalk outside Evergreen Elementary.
A group of third-graders were playing four-square near the fence.
A teacher was watching from the steps.
"Foss's attorney," I said.
"He won't get bail?"
"Financial crimes, coercion, unlawful confinement — Dale was held against his will, Lionel, even if he wasn't in a locked room.
And we have the video from the meeting, the ledger, the accounts, and now three of the fourteen families who have agreed to give statements." Her voice was even, but I could hear something underneath it.
Satisfaction, maybe.
The particular kind that comes from a case that held together.
"He's not going to lunch."
I exhaled slowly.
"How's Dale?" I asked.
"Home," she said.
"As of yesterday evening."
I hadn't expected that to hit me the way it did.
"Rhea," I said.
"The children.
Are they—"
"Brenna is back at Evergreen as of this morning," she said.
"I thought you should know."
May you like
I turned toward the school entrance.
"I'll be there," I said.
