Vern reached into his tote bag, removed a small videocassette, and pressed it into Tiel's hand. "Don't forget this," he whispered.
Actually, she had forgotten the camcorder tape.
Gladys said, "We sneaked back into the store to get it."
"Thank you. For everything." Tiel got emotional again when they said their final farewell and headed for their RV.
"Honeymoon?" Gully asked as they moved away.
"They
were terrific. I'm going to miss them."
He looked at her strangely. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Because you're acting sorta weird."
"I've been up all night." Straightening her shoulders and adopting the demeanor she assumed when cameras were about to roll, she turned to Galloway. "I suppose you have a lot of questions for me."
In the van, Galloway plied her with coffee and breakfast burritos donated by the ladies' auxiliary of the First Baptist Church. It took over an hour for him to get from her all the information he required.
"I think that's it for now, Ms. McCoy, although we'll probably have some follow-up questions."
"I understand."
"And it wouldn't surprise me if the respective DAs ask you to attend when we convene to discuss the charges against Ronnie Davison."
"If you convene," she said softly.
The FBI agent looked away, and Tiel realized he bore a large measure of guilt over what had happened. Perhaps even more than she. He admitted to being duped by Russell Dendy's playacting. He hadn't noticed Dendy returning to the private charter helicopter he had arrived in and retrieving a deer rifle from it. If the unthinkable happened and Ronnie died, Galloway would have much to account for.
"Have you received any update on Ronnie's condition?"
"No," Galloway replied. "All I know is that he was alive when they put him in the chopper. I've heard nothing further.
The baby is fine. Sabra is listed in poor condition, which is better than I had hoped for. She's received several units of blood. Her mother is with her."
"I haven't seen Mr. Cole Davison."
"They let him accompany Ronnie in the helicopter. He was… well, you can imagine."
They were quiet for a moment, impervious to the activity of the other agents, who were busy with the "mopping up." Eventually Galloway signaled her out of her chair and escorted her outside, where the morning was now full blown.
"Good-bye, Mr. Galloway."
"Ms. McCoy?" Having started to walk away, she turned back. Special Agent Galloway looked slightly ill at ease with what he was about to say. "This was a terrible ordeal for you, I'm sure. But I'm glad we had someone in there who is as level-headed as you. You helped keep everyone sane and acted with remarkable composure."
"I'm not remarkable, Mr. Galloway. Bossy maybe," she said with a wan smile. "If it hadn't been for Doc-" She tilted her head inquisitively. "Did he give you his statement?"
"Sheriff Montez took his."
He motioned her toward the sheriff, whom she hadn't noticed leaning against the side of the van in the shade.
He tipped his wide-brimmed hat and ambled toward her, but ignored her unspoken question about Doc.
"Our mayor has offered to put you up at the local motel. It's not the Ritz," he warned with a chuckle. "But you're welcome to stay as long as you like."