Carved in Bone

CHAPTER 21

“What, now I’m supposed to be psychic? I don’t know what it means,” said Art, taking a sip of sweet tea between bites of his sandwich. He had answered my panic-stricken call from outside the federal building and agreed to meet me for lunch at Calhoun’s On the River, which boasted the best barbecue in town.

“Even if you don’t know, you can at least help me think through the possibilities,” I insisted.

“Okay, you tell me what you think the possibilities are,” he said,

“and I’ll give you my considered opinion.”

“Scenario A,” I began.

He interrupted. “We’ve moved from possibilities to scenarios already?”

I glowered. “Scenario A: Williams contacted the feds because he knows the sheriff is protecting the cockfights and the gambling and the drug trafficking, like Price said.” Art chewed his pulled pork thoughtfully. “B: Williams contacted them because he thinks the sheriff’s hiding something or protecting someone in the murder case.” Art ruminated some more. “C: The feds hauled Williams in because they think he’s involved in something illegal, and they’re leaning on him to cooperate.” Art stroked his chin slowly. I tried to wait him out, but couldn’t. “So which is it?”

“Could you run those scenarios past me one more time?” He took another bite.

“Come on, Art, this is worrying me.”

“Well, I’m not sure I buy A or B,” he said, his mouth still full. “The fact that Williams may have helped Waylon shanghai you that day makes me wonder who the deputy is really working for. C is possible, I suppose, though I’m not sure the feds would risk hauling a cooperating witness all the way to Knoxville — how’s he gonna explain being gone half a day? There’s also D and E to consider, too.”

“D and E? What are those?” I asked.

“D: Williams thinks you’re obstructing justice, and he’s there to squeal on you.”

“Me? How could I possibly be obstructing justice?”

“By protecting Jim O’Conner.”

“What? I’m not protecting Jim O’Conner. I’m just pointing out some things that suggest his innocence. Things they don’t want to see, maybe because they’ve got a grudge against him, or because he’s just a handy scapegoat. Protecting O’Conner? I can’t believe you’d say that.”

“Hey, don’t get your drawers in a wad,” Art said. “I’m not the one ratting you out.”

“You really think that’s what Williams is telling them?”

“No, not really. Just trying not to overlook any possibilities.”

“Great. Thanks a heap. And E? I can’t wait to hear E.”

“E is ‘none of the above.’ Maybe Williams is working some angle of his own that we haven’t even thought of yet. Maybe he wants to be sheriff himself, figures he’d have a lot easier time getting elected with Kitchings behind bars. All I’m really saying is, we have absolutely no way to know what he’s telling them, or why. So you need to keep doing exactly what you’ve been doing: learn all you can, tell the truth, watch your back. And trust no one.”

“Including you?”

“Especially me.” He dropped his chin toward his chest, pulled out his shirt front, and spoke loudly, as if to make sure his words were picked up by a cheap microphone strapped to his sternum. “That’s right, Dr. Bill Brockton, especially me.”