Sheriff Hackett returned his revolver to its holster and knelt beside the two bodies. Uly and Vanessa were using their Homeland Security IDs to move the crowd back and away from the scene.
Boone spoke into his Bluetooth. “X-Ray, get J.R. on the phone. Tell him we need a cleanup crew here on the double.”
“You going to tell me what happened?” the sheriff asked him.
“You saw what happened, Sheriff,” Boone said. “You, Tom Hackett, faithful public servant, took out two terrorists. One shot each, center mass. I saw all the trophies in your office. You’re quite a marksman. Not only that but you’ve just saved countless lives. You’re a hero. That’s what happened.”
“Mr. Boone, I’m a good shot. I don’t dispute it. But I see two dead men here. I shot twice and I know I hit them each in the chest. But both of them also have head shots from what looks to be a high-powered rifle. And this fellow here—you’ll notice he has a knife sticking out of the side of his neck. I am a good shot, but I can’t throw a knife worth squat. So again, I ask you, what happened here?”
Boone looked up across the street to the hotel roof. There was no sign of Felix but he knew there wouldn’t be. He reached down and removed the knife from the dead man’s neck and wiped the blood off on the suspect’s shirt.
“Sheriff, I don’t see a knife wound. And I’m pretty sure the official autopsy is going to show that both men died from gunshot wounds to the chest from your service revolver. Not a sniper’s rifle,” Boone said.
“Mr. Boone, I know you have the president on speed dial but I don’t know that I can go along with this. I—”
“I’m also quite certain that during your next reelection campaign, you’re going to get a visit from a very prominent politician who is going to assist with your fundraising. A politician currently residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. In fact, I’m pretty sure your next election is in the bag,” Boone said.
The sheriff stood and looked off into the darkness for a few seconds.
“All right. You can’t or won’t tell me anything. I don’t see how I can make you. But let me tell you something, Mr. Boone, and this may come as a surprise to you. I don’t give two hoots about my next election. I care about the law and doing what’s right.”
“I think that’s pretty clear, Sheriff,” Boone said.
“Then if you can’t tell me everything, you at least owe me something. You need to tell me these two men I just killed were criminals. Tell me these were bad guys. I need to know that at least.”
“Sheriff Hackett,” Boone said, “they were the worst. Like I said. You’re a hero. You did a good thing tonight. You should sleep easy.”
Boone stuck out his hand. This time the sheriff shook it with a lot more enthusiasm.