“Luther Davis’s Pontiac was never found after he and Jimmy vanished. I’ve often wondered if the Eagles didn’t sink one or both boys somewhere in that car. Why not the Jericho Hole? Joe Louis Lewis could be down there, too. Given the mineral content of the water, I wouldn’t be surprised if those bones had stayed preserved all these years. We might just get lucky. The problem is, the Jericho Hole’s on private property. But why did you bring this up? Do you think you can get the FBI to search that hole?”
“Not without more concrete evidence. But I know a guy who used to work as a commercial diver. An ex-marine. He’s got some sonar-type equipment. I’ll see what he can do for us. But we’re not going to mention this to anybody. Not unless we find something. Then I think we’re obligated to share it with the Bureau.”
“I’m fine with that, so long as we can get a good look at it first. Take some pictures.”
“You’ll get all the time you need, Henry.”
Rather than look relieved, the reporter splays both hands on the worktable and leans over it, his face pale. “Penn, I need to tell you one more thing.”
My stomach clenches in dread. “About my father?”
“No. You may think I’m crazy, but I have to say this. Glenn Morehouse told me something else about the Robert Kennedy operation. He said that Snake refused to stand down when Royal ordered him to. Snake still wanted a public death for Jimmy Revels, something that would bring RFK or Dr. King to town for the funeral. He said that if the Eagles stood down, then Frank had died for nothing. Snake refused to toe the line until Ray Presley delivered a personal ultimatum from Carlos Marcello. Whatever Ray said did the trick, but Snake still didn’t like it. That’s why Jimmy and Luther suffered so terribly before they died. Anyway, according to Morehouse, Snake never let Frank’s plan drop. He swore he was going to finish the job for his brother. We know Sirhan killed Bobby two months later, like you said. That was a close-range hit, and even conspiracy theorists agree on who was in that kitchen that night. And that was L.A., of course. Another world.”
“But …?”
“Martin Luther King died just four or five days after Jimmy and Luther did. Snake Knox was in a homicidal rage. And Dr. King was one of Frank Knox’s original targets, dating back to 1964.”
I can’t keep the incredulity out of my voice. “You’re not seriously suggesting that Snake Knox killed Martin Luther King?”
Henry gives me a look that brings a rush of heat to my face. “Hear me out, will you? I know of three different people Snake told that he fired the fatal shot in Memphis that day.”
“Oh, that’s just whiskey talk.”
“That’s what I’ve always figured, too. But it’s not like Snake has been bragging about this all his life. The first time he claimed it to anyone but an Eagle was only three years ago. But he told Morehouse a long time before that. After Glenn called me back, I did a quick read-up on the James Earl Ray case. Dr. King’s own family doesn’t believe Ray killed him. And I took a look at some of the crime scene evidence before you came over. There’s a real possibility that King was shot from the roof of the nearby Fred P. Gattis Building.”
“Jesus, Henry. And?”
“Well … Memphis is only six hours from Natchez by car—two by air. Snake was a crop duster. He could have flown up there and back with no one the wiser. And he was a trained sniper.”
I’m shaking my head even before he finishes speaking. “All circumstantial. Do you have anything concrete?”
“Nobody knows where Snake was that day. He didn’t report to work at Triton, but nobody made a fuss because Frank’s funeral had been the previous Sunday. Everybody figured he was laid up drunk somewhere.”
“Have you asked the FBI about Snake’s claims?”
Henry shakes his head. “They wouldn’t tell me anything even if they knew. And if they don’t know, they’d think I’m a nut job.”
“You’re right.”
“So? What do you think?”
“I think this is a distraction. And it’s unprovable. Even if Snake confessed, you’d never know whether he was telling the truth or just trying to get on TV. Besides, my gut says the time window is too short. For two gunmen to have been there implies a conspiracy. Snake couldn’t have thrust himself into a conspiracy in four or five days, no matter how angry he was. The alternative is coincidence, and I hate coincidence.”
Henry looks like he wants to let go of the idea, but can’t quite do it. “What if Snake had hoped to lure King down to Jimmy’s funeral as well as Kennedy? When it all went bad, he decided to take revenge on the closest target of opportunity.”
I shake my head. “Look, you’ve made real progress on terrible murders whose victims deserve justice. Focusing on the King assassination at this point is like hunting for unicorns. Snake Knox killed quite a few people in his time, and you’re going to nail him for one or more of those murders. That’s good enough.”
Henry holds my gaze for a few seconds longer, then nods as though he’s taken my words to heart.
As I check my watch, my cell phone pings with a text message from Walker Dennis:
Cruiser wating outside w deputy in it. u guys coming out or what?
“Our carriage awaits,” I tell Henry, who tenses instantly. “Do you feel good enough about this to walk out there unarmed?”
He shrugs. “What choice do we have?”
“I could call the Natchez police chief and ask him to ride over here and get us. But I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Screw it, then. Let’s go.”
I slide the picture of my father and Brody Royal off the table. “May I take this?”
“Sure. I’ve got a copy.”
Henry unlocks the door of the war room and leads me down the hall to the main office. Red lights are flashing in the parking lot, and their distorted refraction through the glass door lends a cinematic sense of danger to the scene. As Henry gathers papers into his briefcase, I touch his shoulder, and he jumps like a man who thought he was alone.
“I really need to be able to tell Shad Johnson a little of what you’ve told me tonight,” I say. “Not much, and I won’t tell Caitlin anything. But if I can’t slow Shad down, he’s going to have my father arrested in the morning. Will you give me your blessing for that much?”