Read Under Suspicion - The Legend of D.B. Cooper Page 107
Bradley was breathing hard as sweat rolled down his face. Coming around the bend, he saw the over turned truck. Highway workers were all around with equipment trying to right the vehicle. Bradley ran around the workmen to the other side of the accident. A flagman was directing the traffic as each vehicle slowly got turned around. Bradley ran to the next one in line as it was about to leave. It was an old beat up sky blue pickup with caged chickens in the back. Stopping the driver, Bradley showed him his badge. “This is official business! I need you to take me to Centralia!”
The barrel chested, unshaven middle-aged driver in overalls smiled through brown teeth and spit his tobacco on the black top next to Bradley’s feet. “Sure thing, agent man. Jump in.”
Bradley was slightly bent over catching his breath as he walked around to the passenger side. Opening the door, a large shaggy dog sat in the passenger seat and barked.
“Come on, Beach Nut. Leave the man alone,” the driver said to the dog as he pulled him towards the middle of the seat.
Bradley looked at the dog hair covering the seat then looked at the long line of campers, Winnebago, and fifth wheels. It’d be a long wait before something better came along, he knew, so he got in and closed the door. The driver hit the gas and the truck backfired as it started chugging down the road.
Chet followed Harper into the conference room. Jim had instructed Rissley, that before picking up Green, to call ahead and have the conference room prepared. Chet looked around the room. On the wall, opposite him, were a series of photos in sequential order. Several pictures of two sets of footprints coming down the hill and into the barn. Then one of Henderson’s dead body. Chet stared at the list of knowns written on the board and froze.
Things We Know
Alan Bradley and Chet Green staked out Henderson’s house.
Alan Bradley and Chet Green came down the hill and into the barn.
Alan Bradley shot and killed Buck Henderson.
Alan Bradley and Chet Green proceeded to obstruct justice.
In the middle of the room was a small table with a single chair behind it. Off to one side was another table where Agents O’Leary and Anderson were sitting, still going over shift reports.
“Are you alright, Mr. Green,” Harper asked.
Chet looked at him out of the corner of his eye. They know what happened, but could they prove it? he wondered. He thought for a moment then decided that they couldn’t possibly. If they could, Alan would be here instead of him, wouldn’t he? “What’s this all about, Sheriff? Are you charging me with a crime?”
Pointing to the chair behind the small table. “Have a seat, Mr. Green. I have a few questions for you.”
“Let’s make this fast. I’ve got a job to do,” Chet said, then stepped over to the chair and sat down. Cranston closed the door and the room went dead silent. Jim leaned against the wall opposite of Chet, next to the list, and looked at him.
Jim spoke in a low monotone voice. “Mr. Green, we know what happened out at Henderson’s, yesterday, and would like you to clear a few things up for us. You see, we’re not sure exactly what role you played in the killing. We need to know this in order to finalize the charges against you. Would you please tell us what happened, as the events occurred from the time you left the motel yesterday morning until Agent Bradley arrived at the station.”
Chet looked slowly from Jim to Cranston then back to Jim. If they did have proof, why was a small town Sheriff asking the questions and not Cranston, he wondered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Chet finally said after a moment of thought.
“I’ve got a witness who says he gave you directions to Henderson’s and you and Agent Bradley left at four-thirty in your vehicle. That puts both of you at the scene a full hour before the time of death,” Jim stated confidently. “Now why don’t you tell us what happened next?”
Chet started to get nervous, but was able to calm himself. “Sure we went up there together, but the directions were bad and we got lost. We didn’t get there until it was too late.”
Jim hesitated a moment in order to plot his next move. “Deputy Rissley is in the lab matching the bullet found at the crime scene with one from Bradley’s gun. When she’s done matching them, your story will fall apart. At which point, the charges against you for obstructing justice will be magnified.”
“I don’t know anything!” Chet insisted.
Jim decided to push harder to try to intimidate Chet so he took a step forward. “You two went up there together, Bradley killed Henderson, then you plotted together to obstruct justice and created this false story about D.B. Cooper to cover your tracks. Now isn’t that correct!”
As Chet realized that Harper knew everything, he could feel his face getting red and he wiped the sweat from his palm on his pant legs under the table. He needed to stay calm. Get a grip, he told himself. They couldn’t have any real evidence, could they? No, if they did they’d be arresting me instead of asking questions. “Where is Agent Bradley?” Chet finally asked.
Jim could see the questions rolling around in Chet’s head and knew he had to keep him off balance. “I’ve sent a team of Deputies to pick him up as we speak,” he lied. He couldn’t let Green take too much time to think before responding, otherwise he may clam up and the interrogation would be over. “I’m waiting for an answer, Mr. Green!”