Walker’s voice goes quiet, as though someone might hear us. “Plant it back on the Knoxes?”
Turning back to him, I answer with words I can’t quite believe are my own. “Put on a pair of latex gloves, then divide the meth into separate packages. You know how to make it look authentic. Stash those packets in or around the homes of the Double Eagles we’re going to question tomorrow. At least Snake and Sonny, anyway. Make sure the amount meets the standard for trafficking charges.”
“That wouldn’t be any problem with this load. What about Billy Knox?”
“Something tells me Billy’s likely to have serious security around his place. I’d leave him out of it. But Snake and Sonny won’t, and I doubt they’re back from Toledo Bend yet.”
Walker looks away from me, his jaw muscles working hard as he grinds his teeth. Then he nods suddenly. “Fuck ’em. I’m gonna do it.”
“Good.”
Now his eyes seek me out. “Have you ever done anything like this?”
“No. In all my years as an assistant DA, I never broke the rules. I never looked the other way when a cop did, either. Not on a single case. I was a goddamn choirboy. And I don’t know why I’m advising you to do this now, except . . .” I trail off, unsure whether even I know the answer. “Tonight Billy Byrd tried to search my house, and I almost pushed him into a gunfight. It was stupid, but I couldn’t stop myself.”
“Sometimes the only way to fight fire is with fire,” Dennis says softly. “If the bad guys are wearing white hats while they break the rules . . . you throw the rules out the window.”
“I guess that’s it.”
“Part of it. The truth is, you’re worried about your father. If we can keep up the pressure on the Knoxes, it’ll definitely increase his chances of survival.”
I nod slowly, watching the mother cat and her kittens scamper from the shadow of the parked truck to a deeper shadow beside a Dumpster. “Once this is done, you’ll need somebody to make an anonymous tip call to you about the meth at Snake’s and Sonny’s houses, preferably from a pay phone to your home. In case a defense lawyer checks later. Do you have someone you can trust?”
“I think so, yeah.”
“Be sure you trust them, Walker. If you’re caught doing this, you’ll go to the penitentiary, if the Knoxes don’t kill you first. If it’s the only way to be sure, I’ll wake up and make the call myself.”
“I don’t want you to take that risk. I can get it handled.”
“All right. I guess we’re done, then.”
“What about tomorrow morning? You’re gonna be there for the interrogation, right?”
“Kaiser says I have no authority to question the Eagles. And technically, he’s correct.”
“Screw that. I want you in that room. Consider yourself a special deputy of Concordia Parish. I’ll swear you in tomorrow. I’ll even pin a tin star on your chest.”
A childish thrill of satisfaction runs through me. Walker Dennis is smarter than people give him credit for being. “I didn’t think about that. You know, with trafficking charges against Sonny and Snake, we’ll have some real leverage. Because of the mandatory sentencing minimums, you won’t even need the cooperation of the DA to charge them.”
“You’re goddamn right. What about Kaiser, though? Do you think he’ll show up and try to stop us?”
I think back to the discussions in Kaiser’s hotel. “I don’t know. He’s got a lot of other things on his mind. But he’s worried we’ll screw things up for him, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him.”
Dennis shakes his head, obviously troubled by something. “You know, that Kaiser’s a pretty tough dude. He fought in ’Nam.”
“Yeah.”
“He also worked in the Bureau’s profiling unit, but he transferred out after attacking a convict they were interviewing. A child killer. He’s probably got a lot of experience with interrogation.”
“So do I, Walker. Don’t worry. With trafficking charges against the Eagles, you won’t require much finesse. And Kaiser won’t be able to interfere. Just make sure you don’t screw up while you’re planting the stuff.”
“I won’t.”
“Where’s the meth now?”
“In the trunk.”
A bolus of pure terror blasts through my veins to my heart. “This trunk?”
“Shit, where else was I gonna put it?”
An almost overwhelming urge to leap from the car grips me. “Okay, okay,” I say, closing my hand around the door handle. “Just get the job done as fast as you can. And be careful. This isn’t some prank, man. They’ll kill you if they catch you. They won’t hesitate.”
Sheriff Dennis leans forward, his eyes burning with long-suppressed rage. “That cuts two ways, brother. I owe these motherfuckers from way back. They come at me tonight . . . I’ll kill ’em. You can sort out the mess with a judge in the morning.”
This prospect doesn’t excite me, but I raise my hand and pat him on the shoulder. “Just watch your back, okay?”
“Just be at my office at seven A.M. You don’t want to miss their faces when I slap that meth on the table.”
I can’t help but smile. “You’re right about that. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Hey, wait,” he says as I pop the door handle.
When I turn back, Walker is holding out his hand to me. In it gleams a gold star with Concordia Parish Sheriff engraved in the metal. He’s taken the star from his own chest and offered it to me.
“I can’t take that, Walker.”
“Hell yes you can. In case you beat me to my office tomorrow. Consider yourself a sworn deputy.”
After a moment’s hesitation, I take the badge and slip it carefully into my pocket. “Thanks. Remember what I said, now. Watch your six.”
Dennis grins and gives me a quick salute. “Adios, hombre.”
CHAPTER 46