Wild Instinct

42

Grant Hudson sings like a mockingbird to Gale and Mendez in the interview room at Men’s Central Jail. They keep the donuts and Red Bulls coming, and Hudson will not shut up.

“Kevin tried to commission an exploratory dig years ago,” he says. “Based on some Juaneño legend of gigantic crystals underground, with magical light and powers. Some shit he read in fourth grade, studying the missions. Had no idea what it was. No dice from Tarlow Company on that nonsense, but Kevin still thought there might be something to it.”

Hudson then claims that once Elder learned what was down there — just a few weeks ago — he hired Vernon Jeffs to kill Tarlow. But he, Grant Hudson, had “absolutely nothing do with that,” except driving the car in which Elder and Jeffs negotiated the terms of a sixty-thousand-dollar hit.

Hudson says Elder hired a lawyer to write the mineral rights agreement signed by Tarlow Company’s managing partner, Hal Teller, and Elder Fund LLC, a shell company registered in Grand Cayman. Hudson is happy to give them the executed document, signed by Hal Teller and Elder.

“Anything, for my favorite detectives,” he says. “And, you know, for helping me plead down these hysterical and very untrue charges.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Mendez says, with a deadpan glance at Gale.

Hudson tells them the mineral rights agreement is in his personal safe-deposit box at Wells Fargo, and what it says is the Elder Fund will be paid 1 percent of Tarlow Company pretax revenue on the sale of lithium ore, crystals, and related materials for the remainder of Kevin Elder’s life.

“Tarlow Company agreed to a ten-million-dollar minimum per year,” says Hudson. “Once the mine is up and running. Paid quarterly. Hal Teller told us it would run a lot higher than that. Direct deposit.”

“Did Hal Teller green-light Elder to kill Bennet?” asks Gale.

“No,” says Hudson. “It was never discussed in that way. I could make something up if you want. But all Kevin and Teller talked about was that Wildcoast was Bennet’s baby, and Kevin would have to find a way to convince him that a huge lithium mine would be more profitable and less risky than a utopia for millionaires.”

“Enter Vern Jeffs and his great gray owl tale,” says Gale.

“Yeah,” says Hudson, pursing his lips. “Bennet was so smart but so naive.”

Two days later Hudson pleads not guilty on charges ranging from conspiracy to commit murder to destruction of private property — the fence around the oil pump — makes bail on Seventh District funds and returns to work just an hour later, where he is placed on paid administrative leave.

Gale and Mendez climb down the courthouse steps and into the dazzling Orange County sunlight.

“He’s dreaming,” says Mendez. “Knox won’t make a deal with him.”

“No, Knox would rather eat him alive at trial,” says Gale. “Great publicity in an election year.”

Gale walks Mendez to her car in the sheriff’s lot.

“How’s Jesse?”

“He’s talking to us about Bishop Buendia and the drones and phones.”

Gale nods, pondering this.

“Brave, but risky, fingering Buendia,” he says.

“Grand jury,” Mendez says. “Sealed testimony. No public disclosure.”

“We’re talking eMe and hundreds of street soldiers.”

“I know, I know. Big picture though, Jesse’s good, Lew. I’ve got a plan. I’ll fill you in later.”

“And how are you holding up, Daniela?”

“I’m exhausted.”

“Take a trip,” he says.

“I’ve got one planned.”

“You’ve earned it.”

“And how about you, Lew?”

“I have a trip planned, too.”

She smiles and climbs into the black Explorer SUV.