Page 137 of To Die For

“So you really can’t make a case against them?”

“We have gone after those that we believe act in concert with 12/24. But they are well financed and have first-rate lawyers, so successful prosecutions have been few and far between. Witnesses get scared or die. Or evidence goes missing because local cops are members. But no one has ever truly spilled on them.”

Saxby seemed to be getting really worked up and Devine just decided to let her keep rolling. “And?” he said.

“You ever hear of the Black Hand back in the 1920s?” she asked sharply.

“No.”

“Sort of the precursor to Cosa Nostra. Hundreds of murders, bombings, kidnappings, from citizens on the street to the wealthiestin the land, to top-tier politicians. Even the U.S. president back then was targeted. There was fear in all fifty states. And they damn near toppled the federal government. We would have been a banana republic or else like Nazi Germany.”

“So that’s the blueprint for these guys? The Black Hand?”

“They’re actually more sophisticated,” said Saxby. “They exhibit a mainstream, reasonable-looking façade in many quarters to draw in as many ordinary folks as possible. And then they lead them down the rabbit hole conspiracy track, mostly on social media or in their indoctrination academies to capture the youth, until they’ll believe anything these people tell them. You see, even though our society is economically inequitable, the government does pass and enforce laws that try to keep some of that domination in check. And these people don’t like that. They want all the wealth and power, along with a population that looks the same, prays the same, speaks the same, and where white men dominate everything. Just like the KKK.”

“But now you have a shot to really take them down?”

“Yes, thanks to Danny Glass, of all people.”

“So whydidthe FBI take custody of Betsy Odom?”

“Come on, Devine. We’ve been through this.”

“No, I’ve asked the question and got bullshit in response, time and time again. And that needs to stop. Now.”

“I don’t know what to tell you.”

“Well, let me tell you what I think. How about that?”

“Go right ahead but I make no commitments.”

“One guard around Betsy?”

“I told you—”

“Let me finish. You presented to me like you were a washed-up, has-been agent in full midlife crisis. A sometimes bumbling, chain-smoking, fly-off-the-handle time bomb with a gun.”

She took a sip of coffee and looked away.

“But my boss checked on you with some buddies of his at the Bureau and he just filled me in on what he learned. Aboutyou.”

“Really?” said Saxby in a challenging tone. “And?”

“And you’re none of those things. You’re happily married, got three great kids. You didn’t get assigned here because your boss dumped on you for calling out his misogynistic fav boy. You were assigned to this because you’re one of the Bureau’s best. Which, by the way, despite your best efforts, you allowed flashes of to show through at times.”

She looked at him, her eyebrows peaked. “And what? Now you want some sort of explanation?”

“No, I doubt you’re allowed to give it. So let me just keep going.”

“Fine by me. I have nothing else to do today.”

“Then I come into the picture. I wonder why?”

“You tell me, Devine. You’re going so good now, got quite the head of steam up.”

“Your people knew that Glass and I had a connection from our time in the service, which was why I was brought into this. Then I hit it off with Betsy, while you play the wicked stepmother, literally forcing her onto my side. We bond, you subtly give up more and more territory to me. Then people try to kill me in Ricketts. They try to blow me up in that house with Dr. Coburn. Now suddenly I’m Betsy’s guardian.”

“So now you’re Betsy’s guardian, so what? I had nothing to do with that. That was her decision.”

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