“They shouldn’t have.”
“I tend to agree, but the decision was made by people above my pay grade. I was investigating the sheriff. Floored me when Hank approached me with a ‘recruitment’ pitch. He had some grandiose ideas.”
“About?”
“Getting Wilcox’s list and blackmailing people, monied people, into supporting his ministry and building him into a TV megastar. Motivational superman. The person with all the answers.”
“God’s mouthpiece.”
“Essentially. This tabernacle was only the first step. He studied how Wilcox operated, saw how effectively he manipulated by instilling paranoia, and mimicked it.”
“What happened today?”
“He called and told me he was going to drive The Major home from the hospital, needed me to go with him, and dispose of the body later. I could tell he was becoming more and more unhinged, that things were coming to a head fast, so I notified the cavalry and told them to stand by, then met him here in the parking lot. When I climbed into the van, I didn’t expect you, just like Sunday night.”
“Which was full of surprises.”
“Tell me. Initially Hank told me to go alone. I was going to warn The Major of what was going on, advise him to leave town for a few days, give me and the bureau time to figure out if we had enough on Hank to make an arrest for Tiffany Wilcox’s murder and make it stick.
“But Petey was sprung on me at the last minute. Hank thought he should go along as backup. Without blowing my cover, I didn’t have time to warn The Major, except to make a lot of noise as we approached the house. I hit him in the head just to get him down, thinking I’d apologize later, and in the meantime, deal with Petey.”
“Petey was trigger-happy.”
“Till my dying day, I’ll blame myself for not realizing what he was going to do.”
By the look on his face, Kerra knew that to be true. “Petey was the one who asked how do you like being dead.”
“Yes. Then the light went out in the bathroom. I had to choose between saving the person inside it or tending to The Major, and, honestly, I thought he was already dead.”
“Thanks for not shooting me.”
“I blasted everything I could but you. Hank wasn’t happy we’d missed you and The Major. Once you were released from the hospital, Hank sent me to try again.”
She listened, appalled as he told her about hiding in the closet of her motel room. “I couldn’t let your producer discover me, or I’d have had to blow my cover.”
“What if I’d returned to my room and discovered you there?”
“That’s actually what I was hoping for. I intended to tell you who I was and what I was doing, and ask if you wouldn’t mind cooperating with your government by vanishing for a couple days and letting Hank think you were keeping Petey company in The Pit.” He chuckled. “Trapper saved me the trouble by kidnapping you.”
Turning serious again, he said, “I was afraid since I’d failed twice to get you, Hank would send someone else. Somebody like Petey, who wanted to prove his loyalty, or like the guy he sent to do the Wilcox girl. Texas Rangers got that guy, by the way. He admits to acting on Hank’s orders.
“But back to you. I was worried for your safety. I put the transmitter on your car so I could keep track. As it turned out, Trapper was cagier. He kept pulling disappearing acts with you.” He paused, then added, “He’s a pain in the ass, you know.”
She laughed softly. “Yes, I do know.”
“The bureau will be questioning you extensively about Wilcox, and you’ll probably be subpoenaed to testify against Hank.”
“That won’t be a problem.” She shuddered. “I think he’s a sociopath.”
“Well, if he’s thinking of pleading insanity, he can think again. Turns out some of his flock proved less devoted when federal agents started showing up at their doors today with warrants. They’ll turn on him in exchange for lesser charges. But all that will be overseen by people with ranks higher than mine. So, Ms. Bailey, if this is goodbye…” He offered his hand, and they shook.
“I can’t say that it’s all been a pleasure, Deputy Jenks.
He grinned with good nature. “I’ll see you on TV.” He started to move away, but she called him back.
“When did you make Trapper aware that you were FBI?”
“I didn’t.”