“So the bomb was in the son’s car?” May asked.
“That’s correct. At first they thought maybe it was just a gas leak in the garage, or something that had happened with the fertilizer bags piled up there. It wasn't easy because the whole garage went up. It was only when the bomb squad got their results back a couple of days later, that they found it had been a deliberate bomb, planted in the car."
"And did they bring anyone in or have any suspects at all?" May asked.
"No, there were no suspects arrested. The police also didn’t know whether the killer had actually meant to target her or her son, but everyone in the area knew that she went out and about in that vehicle on Wednesdays. So if someone had researched the crime, they would have known it would be her starting the car up that morning.”
“That’s interesting. Any likely suspects for either of them?”
“No. The son, Hilton, is a young farmer. He runs the place as a small organic farm and sells produce to the community. Mrs. Flannery was well liked at the school, it says here. She was divorced from her husband, but had been for years and he'd moved out of state. There were no problems with neighbors, no problems with staff on the farm; there are only three employees and they are all long term. The son wasn't at home that night; he was up north for three days, hauling cattle."
"So Hilton had an alibi?"
"Correct. It was investigated by the local police - not in our county - and they came up blank. The case is still open although now it has been linked to the others."
"Right," May said.
They had the background on the first case. What was the second?
"The second victim was in a restaurant that blew up. It was a roadhouse diner about ten miles to the west of Tamarack County. The victim was Barbara Vining, age thirty-three, who I think was the owner or manager of the roadhouse. They think that the bomb might have been activated when her sister called her. Mrs. Vining took the call late at night, as she was closing up. But it’s not totally clear if it was linked to the call."
"I think I heard about that one," May agreed. "But not our county, so we were not involved."
"Exactly. It took place nearby but not within our jurisdiction. And she was the only victim."
May sighed. What could a restaurant manager possibly have done to deserve such a terrible fate?
"Did they narrow down the suspects?"
"She was divorced – her husband moved to Oklahoma a few years ago – and lived alone. They looked at a few suspects, based on recent visitors to the roadhouse. They interviewed a group of local boys who'd been in there the night before and caused trouble. But they all had alibis for later on. There was also an ex-waiter who they questioned in case he was involved, but they didn't take it further due to a lack of evidence connecting him with the crime."
Owen gasped.
"What?" May asked. The car swerved slightly.
"May, I've just made a connection here. Between these two cases. Something that obviously hasn't been picked up as yet. It can't have been."
"What? What have you found?" Now May felt seriously excited that this case might be moving forward. She couldn't wait to hear what connection Owen had made.
"The ex-waiter. He was a part-time waiter who worked weekends, but he was fired a couple of weeks ago. Now, he was also a student at Woodbridge High School. And he was recently suspended from the school."
Now it was May's turn to gasp.
This was a significant common thread between these two crimes, and she felt grateful that their re-reading of the case files had allowed them to pick it up.
A student at the school, had worked part-time at the restaurant. Both places had been the target of bombs, even though the teacher had been targeted, rather than the school itself.
And being fired and suspended was also significant. Any kind of trouble was always a red flag.
This student could be looking to take revenge on the people he perceived as having caused his troubles.
"What is the student's name?"
"His name is Cody Meyers," Owen said.
"And where does he live?"
"He lives a few miles from Woodbridge High. Perhaps we should go straight there?"
"I think so, definitely." May paused. "Does it say in the report why he was suspended from school? Or why he was fired?"
"I don’t think they said why he was fired from the restaurant. I think it did include a written explanation from the school about the suspension. Let me find it."
Owen scrolled through the documents, and found the short paragraph.
"It just says he was suspended due to inappropriate behavior in science class. There's nothing more than that."
“I think we should drive straight to Cody’s house. Let’s question him, find out what it was, and why it got him suspended. Then we can also ask him what happened at work, and why he was fired.”
Speaking to Cody would also allow them to check his alibi and whereabouts for some, or all, of the crimes. May wondered if Cody would be able to provide the necessary alibis, or if they might be on the way to the home of the killer.