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Dan never expected to be here ever again in his life. But this whole case had been a nonstop flurry of things he never expected. He never expected Maria’s kidnapping, much less a road trip with his boss. He didn’t expect to be trapped in a snowstorm or accosted by the FBI or—worst of all—subjected to Ben’s taste in food and music.
But most of all, he never expected to be back in McAlester, Oklahoma, visiting the federal prison. It hadn’t changed much since his visit a few days before. It was still dingy, poorly lit, and emanated an inescapable aura of despair. Sometimes he was amazed anyone survived prison, and marveled that through four thousand years of recorded history, no one had devised a better way of policing society.
They didn’t have to wait long. Two guards escorted them into the visiting room. Then they brought in the man they came to see and, at the lawyers’ request, cuffed him to a steel loop on the edge of the table.
Even when he wasn’t wearing a cowboy hat, Jack Crenshaw always seemed to be wearing a cowboy hat. And boots. Even when he was handcuffed and in prison, he always seemed to be smirking as if he had the upper hand.
And maybe this time he did. Thus far.
“Thank you for seeing us,” Dan said. “You didn’t have to. And frankly, I didn’t think you would.”
Crenshaw smiled as if he were at peace with the universe. “How could I turn down the man who brought me a kaleidoscope? Best gift I’ve had in years. Gotta respect someone who makes a gesture like that, even if he is a polecat. How can I help you boys?”
Dan spread his hands. “You really can’t. We’ve already figured it out.”
Crenshaw arched an eyebrow. “Do tell.” Crenshaw stared at him, as if debating internally how much he should say. “Then spill the beans, boys. Tell me what it’s all about?”
Ben replied succinctly. “Caroline.”
Crenshaw gazed back at him. “Dan, you should’ve partnered up with this old boy long ago. He’s smarter than he looks.”
Ben allowed a small smile. “It’s the weak chin that fools people.”
“I read that you boys solved the case. Got your client off the hook. Found the real varmint.”
“We found that Professor Herwig stole the violin. Another woman, an FBI agent, played the Grim Reaper and orchestrated the rest, murdering people right and left and abducting Maria.”
Crenshaw shrugged. “Well then. Case solved.”
“Not exactly. At first I thought maybe Herwig hired Zhang, but that didn’t make sense. He didn’t have the means or the game. But someone put Zhang up to the job. And financed it.”
“How can you possibly know that?”
“Agent Zhang doesn’t need a kidney. She has no reason to eliminate potential donors or to interfere with David Donovan’s defense.”
“Maybe she just thought a rare organ should go to someone more deserving.”
Dan shook his head. “She’s not a social crusader.”
“Then what is she?”
“Greedy. And—” He drew in his breath. “Easily manipulated.”
“You think I’m the evil Svengali pulling her strings? May I remind you that I’ve been behind bars for years? Thanks to you.”
“Yeah, that slowed me down for a while. You told us you were a changed man.” He frowned. “Guess we just needed more details on exactly what had changed.”
“I’ve never even met this agent.”
“Quite possibly true. I’ve known gang lords who ran their business from prison. Some are allowed calls and some smuggle in cellphones. So I’m not surprised you could call someone. But I didn’t think you had enough money to hire a killer.”
“What changed your mind?”
He was clearly teasing them, trying to learn how much they knew. Dan decided to humor him. “Ben’s investigator found your hidden bank account.”
“What? A poor country boy like me?”
“Yeah. Under a false name. But he traced back the funds Agent Zhang was paid and found an account at Charles Schwab that you started, probably on a contraband cellphone. You used the name of an actual billionaire, which must’ve made Schwab eager to sign you up. When they requested an ID and utility bill, you sent digital photos you cribbed somewhere. In fact, you were so clever and they were so eager that after a few conversations, they allowed you to transfer four million bucks from the real billionaire’s account to a precious-metals dealer so you could purchase over two thousand American Eagle gold coins. After that was deposited somewhere, you used it to hire a relentless killer who abducted my wife, tried to kill me and Ben, and did kill at least four others. Zhang even hired subcontractors, like the one at the gas station and the kid in Roswell. Who framed us. You knew we’d be going there because you’re the one who sent us.”
“Pardon me, boys, but that all sounds pretty complicated for a lowbrow owlhoot like me.”
“Bull. You scammed ICE for years. You can scam banks just as easily. And the warden tells me that, despite their best efforts, guards confiscated over two-thousand contraband phones last year. So there must be a pipeline.”
Crenshaw’s smile faded. “Nice theory. But you can’t prove anything.”
“As we speak, guards are searching your cell. Are they going to find a phone?”
No response. Crenshaw just glared.
“Thought so. And the call record will likely confirm everything I just said.”
Crenshaw’s teeth scraped together.
“You can expect to be charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and of course, murder-for-hire.”
“Meaning?”
“Before you had a life sentence, which would probably amount to around eighteen years. Now you’re not going to see the outside of a prison for the rest of your life even if you live to be a hundred. Hope you’re enjoying this prison life because it’s all you’re ever going to know.” He paused, teeth clenched. “You know, I’ve always opposed the death penalty. But I think I might be willing to make an exception for you.”
Crenshaw fell silent. He breathed heavily through his nose. Then all at once, the words tumbled out.
“I told you about my daughter. That she was sick. How important she is to me. I tried everything legal. Even reached out to Australia, where buying organs is legal.”
“Which led to Maria getting calls from you and someone in Australia. Someone was doing a background check.”
“And I knew I was unlikely to pass if she or you got involved. So I explored other possibilities.”
“Like hiring the Grim Reaper?”
“I’ve known Zhang since my days with ICE. She’s always been...useful.”
“Having met the woman, I can state with certainty that she does not belong in government service.”
“She’s deeply religious. And holds strong political beliefs. Doesn’t like what’s happening in the world today.”
“She’s an assassin.”
“Potato, potata. People have been killing each other in the name of religion for centuries.”
“Most haven’t run around dressed as Death.”
“She needed a disguise. She’s a good hand-to-hand fighter, but she doesn’t look that imposing. Dress her up like something out of your nightmares, though, and people get scared.”
“Which made it easier for your religious assassin to kill people.”
“She believed in what she was doing and planned to use the money for a righteous cause. She went to confessional after every murder.”
“The two of you were able to use your illicit government connections to get the list from the HSUS. You knew who was on the organ list. Granted, it’s not a static list. Every time an organ arrives, a number of factors are reconsidered, like geography, age, need. But still. You knew who the top contenders were. So you set out to eliminate the competition.”
Crenshaw shrugged.
“We like to believe prison serves some purpose. Reforms people. That’s why I almost bought it when you talked about how you’d changed. But you haven’t learned a damn thing.”
“She’s all I have!” At once, Crenshaw’s eyes softened. “I lost my life. I lost my family, friends. Caroline is the only person who visits me. She’s what keeps me alive. What gives me reason to get up in the morning. And then...then...”
“Then she tells you she has renal failure. Needs a kidney. And can’t find one.”
“She’s not rich. She’s not a kid. She doesn’t have health insurance. And because of her condition, she needed a kidney from a live donor. She’d been waiting for more than a year and there comes a point when there’s just too much waste for dialysis to clean effectively. She was rising up the list...but it looked like she would die before a kidney arrived. They said she had weeks. Maybe days.”
“So you decided to eliminate the primary kidney candidates.”
“Is that so wrong?” Tears actually appeared in Crenshaw’s eyes. “To want your daughter to live?”
“No. But all those people on the list had fathers too. And families. Who are now grieving the loss of a loved one. If you’re waiting for my sympathy, it’s going to be a long wait.”
Crenshaw turned to Ben. “Don’t you have daughters?”
Ben hesitated, but answered. “Yes. Two.”
“What would you be willing to do to save them?”
Ben’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Anything.”
“Even a crime. Even murder.”
Ben’s voice was even softer. “Anything.”
“Then you and I are exactly the same. Except I was trapped in prison. So I had to resort to desperate measures.”
“We are not the same. Even if I were in prison, I’d find a different way. One that doesn’t involve murder.”
“Because you’re rich. But most people aren’t. Most people have to do as they’re told or pay the price. We live our whole lives being pushed around by laws and cops and doctors and regulations. We’re victims of the Combine. That’s what America has become. An enormous monstrous Combine controlling everyone.”
“Let’s save the political theory for later,” Dan said. “We just wanted you to know you might get a little time off from prison. Because you’re going to have a lot of court dates very soon.”
Crenshaw pursed his lips. “I never lied to you.”
“Bull. You told us a cartel was involved.”
“I knew you’d be interested if that cartel you buried raised its ugly head again. I made that up to get you to Roswell. I never intended any harm toward your companion. Zhang did that. Maria caught her rummaging around in your office.”
“Zhang held her against her will for days. Do you have idea how scared she was? Do you have any idea what that does to a person?”
“Being locked up against your will. Yes, I definitely know what that does to a person.”
“You didn't have the right.”
Crenshaw’s voice choked. “My daughter’s illness gave me the right. To do anything.”
Dan tried not to feel sorry for him—but it was challenging. “Did you really think you could get away with this?”
Crenshaw’s eyes fell. “I don’t know. I didn’t care. I was desperate. I hoped no one would find out until after she got the kidney. What happens to me is unimportant.” A look of terror spread across his face. “You’re not going to screw this up, are you?”
“No,” Ben replied. “David Donovan is already in line for a kidney, but I have some connections too, and I’ve been assured they’ve found a live kidney donor for your daughter. The surgery will happen as soon as they can get it to her. Sometime in the next forty-eight hours. There was concern about letting you...benefit from your crimes, but I convinced them that your daughter shouldn’t be punished for your actions she knew nothing about. If all goes well, she should be much healthier soon. She’ll be taking immunosuppressants for the rest of her life, she’ll have to be cautious about infections...but she’s not going to die from renal failure anytime soon.”
“Thank you,” Crenshaw whispered. “Thank you so much.”
“There will be some medical expenses associated with Caroline’s operation.”
“And let me guess. You’ve seized my bank accounts.”
“Of course. That money was stolen. But I will make sure your daughter’s bills are paid.”
Crenshaw gaped at him. “I—don’t know what to say.”
Ben pushed himself to his feet. “I didn’t do it to be generous. I did it because...even if I don’t approve of how you handled this...I understand the motivation. Daddies love their daughters.” His eyebrows pushed together. “And love makes us do the crazy.”