Page 191 of The Fourth Option
“You’ve got a mess on your hands, Bates.”
“You are seeing it all from the wrong perspective. You coming here has done me a favor.”
“Yeah?”
“It wraps up neatly, Jarrett. Walker and Belle are part of a drug ring that included Connor Staub. They got in over their heads, in the middle of a drug war in New Orleans, and were hit here at the Travois cabin by the cartel. It plays right into the official reports and the media narrative. You and J.J. discovered the connection as part of your investigation. You are under orders to find Walker, aren’t you? Well, you found him and his accomplice, Mirabelle Travois. Unfortunately for you and J.J., you found him at the same time as the cartel, and you were both killed in the ensuing gun battle. The cartel tortured and killed Walker and Belle and then disappeared. It’s all very convenient. We get shipments going into Dorado again and rebuild Nectar. We get back to business as usual, minus two FBI agents.”
“And you? How will you explain what you are doing here?”
“I won’t be here, Jarrett. I’m going back to New Orleans. I’ll go to a bar where a lot of people will see me. I’ll have a rock-solid alibi, not that anyone will look into it. It’s just a safety net. I’m going to tell my friends here to keep you alive for a good four hours so the times of death coincide with my third bourbon.”
“You are sick.”
“At some point someone at the FBI or your wife will notice you have gone missing, and they will track your vehicle to its last known location. Then I’ll get a call and drive out to assist in this homicide investigation since it ties into mine in the Ninth and in the Garden. I’ll be certain to write it up in a way that makes whatever medals the FBI gives for valor a sure thing, though they will be awarding it to your wife. Speaking of your wife, did you happen to tell her any of this?”
“Fuck you, Bates!”
“No matter, these cartel boys will pay her a visit and find out.”
“Boss,” the Afghan said, speaking for the first time in front of Stanton.
“Yeah?”
“What do you want me to do with him?” he said, nodding toward Walker.
“Is he dead?”
“Close. Nobody can take that.”
“As you know, he was CIA, so take out your frustrations on him. Keep shocking him until his heart stops or gut him. I don’t give a fuck. Just make sure he doesn’t die until I’m back in New Orleans. Did he have weapons?”
“Over there,” the Afghan said, pointing to an AR and a pistol.
“Dupuis’s guns. I’ll stash them in his car. Being found with the personal weapons of a dead cop will assist me in my future investigation.”
“And the girl?”
Bates looked at Belle. Her legs were still drawn up to her chest, her face buried in her knees. He turned to the leader of the Salvadorans. “She’s your reward, and the one outside if she’s still alive. Do what you want with them.”
“You son of a bitch!” Stanton hissed under his breath.
“What was that? I couldn’t hear you.”
“You are going down for this.”
“Give me a break, Jarrett. There are no more heroes left in the world.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
WALKER WATCHED THEexchange between Bates and Stanton through the slit of his swollen left eye.
Hold.
All warfare is based on deception. When strong, appear weak.
You are going to have one shot at this.
He watched Bates leave the cabin and heard his footsteps descend the stairs.
