Liddy:
Thank you for trying to get in contact with management. Your efforts are very much appreciated by everyone here.
Just my opinion, but I believe that you should let Elmer know that you want to record the conversation with him.
This is not being spoken from a legal perspective, but, rather, from a fairness perspective. Neither you, me, nor anyone else would like it if our conversations with other people were recorded without our knowledge. To be fair to Elmer, I think you owe it to him to tell him if he is being taped.
If that means we don't get as much information, then, so be it. As much as I would love to get full answers to all of your questions, personally, I would consider it in extremely poor taste if we had to get that information "via stealth".
(If it were me, I would be royally p-o'd if I found out that someone recorded me without my consent, and you can rest assured that I would never, ever speak to that person again).
Again...just my opinion.