“Why were you suspicious of the truck?” Hackberry said.
“’Cause I thought they might be working for Temple Dowling.”
“You know Dowling?”
“Dowling was at my house. He said he wanted me to spy on Miss Anton.”
“Why would he select you for such a noble enterprise, Reverend?”
“Ask him.”
“Don’t worry, I will.”
“You got the right to think anything you want of me, Sheriff. But I told you the truth. If you don’t like it, that’s—”
“Who were those guys?” Hackberry said.
“It wasn’t Dowling or his people.”
“If they wore masks, how can you be sure?”
“Dowling and his thugs invaded my house and threatened me on my deck. They would have recognized me. These guys didn’t know who I was. What’s so hard to understand about that?”
“Did Dowling offer you money?”
“He mentioned it.”
“What else did he mention?”
“Sir?”
“I know the Dowling family. I know how they work. Is Temple Dowling blackmailing you?”
Cody Daniels’s hand was resting on the kitchen drainboard. His fingers twitched slightly, then became motionless. “I guess you could call it that. No, it’s not up for debate, that’s exactly what he was doing.” His gaze drifted from the side window to the yard. “There’re your deputies and the ambulance coming. Can I talk to your chief deputy a minute?”
“No, you can’t. Did you have a gun or a weapon of any kind when you came back to help Ms. Ling?”
“No, sir.”
“You just did it?”
“Not exactly. My teeth were rattling like Chiclets.”
“What does Dowling have on you, partner?”
“You’ve pulled my sheet. Take your choice.”
“You went down for forgery, but that’s not it, is it?”
“I got no more to say on the subject.”
“It’s the bombing at the abortion clinic, isn’t it?”
“I need to talk to your deputy. It’s important. At least it is to me.”
“Go sit on the gallery and let your mind think cool thoughts. You know who said that? Satchel Paige. He said the key to longevity was to have cool thoughts and not to eat fried food. Why don’t you try that?”
“Why you got it in for me, Sheriff?”