Frank Dalton was fifty-nine, with thinning gray hair and the tired expression of a man who had spent years avoiding his own memories.
He arrived for the interview carrying a small folder.
Two independent investigators conducted the questioning while his attorney remained beside him.
Dalton began by describing the pressure facing Oakridge Freight Services in the months before the fire.
The company had secured several lucrative transportation contracts.
Some involved industrial chemicals requiring specialized storage and safety procedures.
But according to Dalton, senior management was unwilling to spend the money needed to bring the warehouse into compliance.
The ventilation equipment was old.
Fire suppression systems were overdue for inspection.
Several shipments had been incorrectly labeled.
David Bennett repeatedly reported the problems.
"David was right," Dalton admitted. "We all knew he was right."
The investigators asked why the company didn't fix the equipment.
Dalton looked down.
"Richard said shutting down operations would cost millions."
"Did he instruct you to ignore safety reports?"
"He told me to keep the warehouse running."
"That's not the same question."
Dalton sighed.
"He knew about the problems. He wanted them handled without stopping shipments."
On the night of the fire, Dalton received instructions to inspect an electrical control panel in the restricted maintenance room.
He entered shortly after David.
Inside, he discovered that a ventilation motor had been disconnected.
He claimed he attempted to restore power, but the panel began sparking.
He left the room to obtain additional equipment.
Minutes later, the fire alarm sounded.
Dalton insisted he did not intentionally start the fire.
He also admitted that he never told investigators he had entered the maintenance room.
"Why not?" they asked.
"Richard told me the company lawyers were handling everything."
"Did he tell you to lie?"
Dalton hesitated.
"He said talking would only make things worse."
Investigators continued questioning him about the original report.
Eventually, Dalton acknowledged signing a statement prepared by company counsel, despite knowing parts of it were inaccurate.
He had been afraid of losing his job.
His wife was pregnant at the time.
He depended on the company health insurance.
For twelve years, he lived with the knowledge that a dead coworker had been blamed for failures others concealed.
When Rebecca later explained the interview to Angela, she emphasized that Dalton's admissions required corroboration.
Angela listened without speaking.
Then she asked one question.
"Did he say anything about David?"
Rebecca nodded.
"He said David repeatedly tried to keep workers away from the damaged equipment."
Angela closed her eyes.
"That's the man I married."
Meanwhile, investigators obtained the warehouse's original electrical maintenance records.
One contained an emergency repair request signed by David.
The request had been rejected.
And the rejection carried Richard Cole's personal authorization.