“Do you think Sully was telling the truth? Agatha asked.
“Yes.”
“Wow, that seems definitive.”
“Aggie, he knows stuff we just found out yesterday.”
“What do you think about his Elliot Ness story?”
“It matches,” Hank said. “There was a lot of money going around back then. How about some tacos? I’m starving.”
“Now?” she asked.
Poor Agatha. She looked like she was about to explode. She’d been railroaded all week by an FBI special agent she wasn’t sure she could trust, her former fiancé was in town, Coil had been lying to her, her life was in turmoil over the adoption, and she was putting her house up for sale.
“Just trust me,” Hank said.
“Fine,” she said, throwing up her hands. “Let’s go get tacos.”
THE TACO and Waffle was as expected, very busy. That was exactly what Hank was hoping for. Secret surveillance microphones didn’t record well in loud places, and while he wasn’t sure Agatha’s place had been bugged, it was better to be safe, and enjoy their tacos.
“Would you look at that,” Agatha said, pointing to the wall behind the checkout counter. “Karl said they asked him about it.”
It was a beautifully framed picture of Karl’s momma, Sheila Johnson. Her murder had shaken the entire town. Her restaurant, Bucky’s Brisket Basket, would never reopen, so since the Taco and Waffle had readjusted their work schedules to accommodate the extra customers, they also wanted to pay homage to a wonderful woman and citizen of Rusty Gun.
“That’s a really kind gesture,” he said, emotions clogging his throat. Sheila had been a good friend.
They were seated along a wall that looked out toward the sheriff’s office. It seemed vacant, but Hank knew they were in there.
“Hank,” Agatha said. “I think I’ve been very patient. But you’re acting weird and you’re kind of freaking me out.”
“Yeah, I’m a little freaked out too,” he said.
The waitress came and delivered their drinks, and he waited until she’d gone away again before he started talking.
“Okay, so far we know that two coffins worth of gold are on the loose. We also know that the women’s remains and the treasure all belonged to the crime organization called The Church, which was run by the Nun.”
“This sounds like a movie,” Agatha said.
“Right before we left Sully, he told me a couple of bodies were discovered out in a field and that’s why Jakes and the Feds were in the area. Turns out the two bodies were his guys and they kept it hush hush. Jakes is in this neck deep. He had his guys steal the first two caskets and then ambushed them.”
“How can that be?” she asked. “There hasn’t been a peep about murdered cops. And how does Lawrence fit into this.”
“This is what we like to call a cover up,” Hank said. “Jakes told me Lawrence just showed up at the FBI Field Office while he was on sabbatical, looking for cases he could help with, and he just so happened to get assigned to Jakes.”
“Really?” Agatha asked. “Because Lawrence told me Jakes specifically requested he come be part of a specialized unit. He never mentioned he was on sabbatical or anything other than where he’d been assigned.”
“Jakes has always looked for cases that would make him a household name. If he’d found references to The Church in FBI files or even a geographic area of where the treasure might be hidden, he’d have jumped at the chance to solve it, and he wouldn’t care who got in his way.”
“You really think he stole the money?” she asked.
“I asked Lawrence about the other two caskets. He said he was given the remains and documents, but he said he never saw the rest of the contents again. They removed it to a secured location, and any time he asks he gets told to work in his assigned area. Lawrence said he didn’t know where they moved the treasure, but he said it’s not anywhere in the lab.”
“What about Coil?” she asked nervously.
“He’s into something, but I’m not even ready to consider he’s in cahoots with Jakes.”
“So, you’re pretty sure Jakes is behind all of this?” she asked.
“It’s looking that way,” Hank said as he gazed back through the window toward Coil’s office. “I let them misdirect me once, but it won’t happen again.”
“What’s your gut on Sully and the Rattlers?”
Hank exhaled. He pulled the crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket and stared at it for a bit.
“I know he’s on the up and up, but I can’t figure out why he would’ve been in the area. It wasn’t by coincidence. I think the Rattlers have a long memory to go along with their long history. If any one of them had caught wind of that money being recovered, I’m sure they’d want a piece of the pie as retribution for the brothers murdered by the Nun.”
“Where do you think she put their bodies?” Agatha asked.
“It was a wilderness before a cemetery. I’m sure they made for animal snacks until there was nothing left.”
“Do you think the fake names on the tomb stones meant anything? They seemed like a code?”
“My guess is they were just all part of the Nun’s misinformation campaign. She was obviously brilliant, as well as brutal. Besides, who would ever think of messing with a nun?”
“So, what are we going to do?”
“It’s time to back Coil into a corner.”
Chapter Nineteen
“How deep are you?” Hank asked a little while later.
They’d met on the other side of town at an abandoned farmhouse where they used to go shooting. There was no one for miles around, and no one to hear if things went south.
Coil looked nervous. His eyes had dark circles beneath them, and his cheeks were more gaunt than usual.
Coil sighed. “Deep.”
Hank’s gut knotted and he felt the blood pound in his temples. “How deep?” He didn’t bother to disguise the anger in his voice.
“I can’t go into this, Hank,” Coil said. “We’ve been here before, and you’ve got to trust me.”
“Are you kidding? We’re talking about the murder of federal agents. Friendship only goes so far.”
Coil padded back and forth next to the farmhouse, his breathing shallow. Coil turned fast to face Hank, and Hank pulled his weapon, aiming it straight at center mass.
“Don’t make any sudden moves,” Hank said.
“What the heck are you doing?” Coil yelled.
“You’re involved in the murder of federal agents, and the theft of millions of dollars as part of a corruption scheme with Jakes,” Hank said.
“You’ve got it right, but not completely right.”
“You’ve jerked Aggie and me around like two idiots while you and your partner steal millions beneath our noses. Was it your idea to throw Lawrence into the mix to provide a few laughs?”
“Dang it, Hank. Put that gun away.”
Coil was sweating. He’d left his Stetson in his truck, and Hank could see the moist mop of hair that clung to his temples. Hank knew what Coil was capable of, and the good old boy routine was a diversion. Coil was deadly as a snake.
Coil put his hands up slowly. “What is it you really want?”
“I want the truth.”
“I told you what I could,” Coil said. “The smart thing would be to leave it at that. Put the gun away so we can talk.”
“No thanks, I’d rather be safe.”
“Safe from what?” Coil asked.
“I’ll do to you what I’ve done to every killer I’ve encountered,” Hank said. “I’ll take you in, or I’ll take you out. The choice is yours.”
“Why can’t you trust me for once?” Coil asked, desperation in his voice.
“I’ve trusted you since the moment we met. I would’ve died for you because that’s how much I loved you. But you’re asking me to throw away everything I’ve ever stood for, everything I am, and look the other way when you’re in the wrong. And even wo
rse, you’ve dragged Agatha into this mess. You’re asking me to trust you, but how about you trust me with the truth. I’ve never betrayed you like this.”
They stood at a standstill for several minutes. It seemed like an eternity. Hank finally sighed and holstered his pistol. He’d had enough. Coil left him no choice. He’d take Agatha out of Rusty Gun and contact Ranger Will Ellis with all of the facts. He’d let law enforcement deal with cleaning up the mess. Even if it meant his friend got swept up with it.
“Go do what you have to do,” Hank said as he turned his back to walk to his car.
“Hank, stop.”
Hank kept walking.
“Hank, don’t make me do this,” Coil called out.
“The choice is all yours,” Hank said, and he walked on.
“Okay, fine. Fine! Here it is.”
Hank stopped walking.
“I am involved, but not how you think. I’m investigating Jakes.”
“What?” Hank asked.
“I’m working with the Texas Rangers,” Coil said.
“How’d you get involved?”
“Some of the Rattlers were screwing around in the cemetery a few weeks ago, around the Alamo war heroes plot. The Rangers have an undercover agent in the Rattlers. The UC was able to take screenshots of the Rattler archives. It’s incredible the history they’ve collected.”
“I’m familiar with their history and the Church,” Hank said.
“Figures,” Coil said. “Unfortunately, we also think there’s an FBI UC somewhere in the Rattlers hierarchy. It became a race to the finish to see who could dig up the caskets first. The Feds won. Whitehorse contacted me as soon as there was activity in the area so I could keep a watch out.”
“What the Feds didn’t know was that the Rangers had the whole cemetery under surveillance. They watched a very skilled crew of men arrive in the night to unearth the first two caskets. They emptied the contents but looked like they got spooked when motorcycles kept passing back and forth along the highway. Whitehorse’s men followed the flatbed trucks until the ambush struck out in hill country.”
“The Rattlers?” Hank guessed, but he knew better than to say anything he wasn’t sure of.
“The men in the graveyard were a team of FBI contracted archeologists assigned to recover the bodies and the treasure. It was actually Dr. Lawrence who had discovered the burial location through his own independent research.”
“Jakes had gotten pushed aside once Lawrence and the archaeologist came in, and he was pissed, so his team set up an ambush and killed them.”
“Now no one knows where he took the contents?”
“Not at first, but Whitehorse was watching and waiting when the other caskets were recovered. Whitehorse reached out to me and as soon as there was a whisper the Rattlers and the FBI were about to set up shop in Rusty Gun, and he set a plan in motion. He wanted y’all involved but not in danger. I kept watch on Jakes in town, and the Rangers followed anyone that went anywhere beyond.”
“What about Lawrence?”
“He’s clean,” Coil said. “And very lucky to be alive.”
“What’s the next move?” Hank asked.
“Yours is to go home and not say a word to Agatha. We’ve got too many moving parts and too many dangerous people with weapons. Now’s not the time for heroes.”
“I want to be a part of the takedown.”
“Why, so you can get payback for Jakes’s role in how Tammy died? There’s no other reason on this earth for you to get involved in his arrest. I’m sorry, but this is out of my hands, and yours.”
“I’m sure Whitehorse could use another seasoned detective,” Hank said.
“Don’t interfere, Hank,” Coil said, putting a hand on his arm. Jason’s already got a lot on his mind.”
Hank looked at his screen and saw Agatha’s message. His blood ran cold.
“Jakes is at Agatha’s house,” Hank said.
“What?” Coil asked. “I’m going to call Whitehorse to redirect manpower.”
They sprinted to their respective vehicles and tore out down the dusty farm road. Hank called Agatha.
“What’s going on?” he asked, relieved she’d answered.
“He’s still at the door,” she said. “I just had a bad feeling when he showed up, and I didn’t answer.”
“Good girl,” he said. “Are you armed?”
“I am now,” Agatha said.
“Don’t let him in,” Hank said. “Jakes is the killer. Coil and Whitehorse have been investigating him. If he steps foot inside your home, do not hesitate to shoot him.”
“Got it,” she said.
“The cavalry is on the way.” Hank could hear Jakes calling her through the door. He was banging on it and demanding to be let inside. Hank’s vision was narrowing as his heart raced with fury.
“I really can’t wait to sell this house,” she said.
Hank hadn’t expected to laugh. “We’ll be there soon, honey.”
“He’s pushing against the door,” she said, sounding worried. “I think he’s going to break it down.”
“You know you don’t have to wait until he enters the house to shoot him.”
“I’ve got a better idea,” Agatha said.
She went silent for a few moments. His heart was pounding out of his chest. He didn’t want to yell into the phone in case it would give away her position. He tried to focus on the road, but once Coil had flown past traffic, the cars that had pulled over were pulling back onto the road and right in front of him. If only he had lights and a siren.
“Agatha?” he spoke softly into the BMW’s microphone.
“I’m here.”
“What’s your better idea?”
“I slipped out the back door,” she said. “I grew up here, and I know every nook and cranny in the neighborhood. Let him roam around the house looking for me. He’ll be easier for y’all to find.”
Hank let out another breath. “Smart. Very smart.”
“But hurry. These bushes are scratching the dickins out of me.”
Chapter Twenty
When Hank pulled across the front yard, Agatha’s home was already surrounded by Texas Rangers. Sergeant Jason Whitehorse was walking Jakes out of Agatha’s house. Jakes was cuffed, but his sheer bulk looked like he could snap the metal restraints in two at any moment.
Agatha was standing off to the side with Will Ellis, another friend and Texas Ranger. As soon as she saw him, she broke away and ran to him, throwing her arms around him.
“This might be the wrong time,” he said. “But I’m glad you’re selling the house.”
“And I’m going to take you up on your offer,” she said. “But we’re not shacking up. I’m paying rent and I want my own bedroom.”
“Deal.”
Whitehorse came over to them and shook Hank’s hand. “Great to see y’all again. Of course, the circumstances aren’t the best.”
“How’d you fit Jakes into the back of the transport vehicle?” Hank asked.
“Oh, we squeezed him in there.” Whitehorse’s smile was thin and sharp. “Real tight. We’ve picked up all but one of his SWAT guys after we raided their hideout. And we recovered all of the material contents from the two coffins.”
“It’s a fortune,” Agatha said.
Whitehorse laughed. “Actually, it’s worthless.”
“How so? We saw the third and fourth coffins. They were loaded,” she said.
“What can I say? The Nun was brilliant. All the gold and diamonds found in the caskets were counterfeit, and I’m guessing she lived a long and happy life with her fortune. What we do have is very detailed ledgers of blackmail and deeds being forcibly signed over.”
“How’s that going to work?” Hank asked.
“Well, we’ll contact the families legally entitled to the property and mineral rights then we’ll start the process of getting things set to rights. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the original owners might still be alive, but especial
ly their direct descendants.”
“You mean the families will get their property back? All of their property?” Agatha asked.
“Yep,” Whitehorse beamed with pride. The families of Margaret Scott, Penelope Pennywell, Ruth Anne Wilkerson and Emma Gurtz have benefited from the proceeds of ill-gotten gains for long enough. It was illegally acquired. The law still stands, even after all these years.”
“What about the Nun, or as we’ve heard, Sister Rosa Anita Immaculate? Was she even a nun?” Hank asked.
“We’ve checked with the Franciscan community of Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration in San Antonio, but their official position is one of silence.”
“No kidding,” Hank chuckled.
“But, while we have the services of the good Dr. Andrew Lawrence in our midst, I think we can persuade him to track down the truth about her.”
Epilogue
Saturday
Hank had turned off the alarm on his cell the night before. He’d needed the rest, but he was up early anyway. He grabbed his breakfast banana and a can of Ensure and headed out back to the patio. It was chilly outside, but he’d wrapped up in his robe and slippers. He turned on the fireplace outside and then sat back to enjoy his breakfast.
“So, let’s see what’s happening back in Philly,” he muttered to himself as he flipped on the iPad and began to read the news.
It had been a very hectic week, and he was thankful for the solitude. That was a luxury he never had while running after serial killers with the FBI. Matter of fact, there was rarely a time when he could recall having complete peace in his life. There was always some drama going down that he’d have to deal with. It was nice out back, and all he wanted to do was enjoy the quiet.
He heard his back gate open and watched Coil come around the side of the house.
“Hey, stranger,” Hank said, raising his brows.
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