James Whitmore swallowed.His jaw was trembling, and tears flowed steadily down his cheeks.The smug, self-satisfied baby Lawgiver that had greeted them at his apartment was gone.In its place was a frightened child finally realizing that his actions carried consequences.
“I didn’t kill them,” he said, voice thready.“I told you.”
Kate sighed.“James, we have a social media post where you quote Bible verses that match those inscribed on the scene.Youusethose verses to justify the murders of both victims.Both inscriptions begin with the sixth commandment, the next one on Cox’s list.You’ve done time for nearly killing an acquitted defendant before.We’re serving a search warrant on your computer, and I’ll bet we find more evidence that you’ve been stalking Hammond and Santos, don’t we?”
He swallowed again.“I was angry, and I wanted justice, butnotlike this, okay?I didn’t… I wouldn’t kill anyone.”
“Well, we know you would because yousaidyou would,” Marcus reminded him.
“Yeah, but… That’s different.”
“Always is.”
“That was mysister!He left her body like it was garbage!He r—” He clammed up and said, “I didn’t kill Hammond.I didn’t kill Santana.They deserved death, and whoever did it, good for them, but it’snotme.”
“And you’ve never talked to Elijah Cox?Never visited him in jail?Never exchanged letters?”
“No!”
“So, the picture on your dresser,” Kate said.“That’s just nothing?”
“It’s from high school.He came to talk to the school.”
“And you were his little favorite, huh?”
“No!He was shaking everyone’s hand.It was some outreach thing trying to encourage people to join the ministry.”
“Seems like it worked for you,” Marcus said.“You’re wearing priest robes, you’ve got eight different versions of the Bible, more crosses than a Christian bookstore, and my favorite part, an obsession with the commandments.”
James sobbed.“It’s not an obsession.I just believe the Bible.”
“And the Bible says those two have to die, right?”Kate asked.“And God chose you as his instrument.”
“No!”
“That’s what Cox told you, though, right?God had a special plan for you.You were going to do great things in His name.”
“No!I didn’t… Shit.”
“That’s not very Christian language,” Marcus quipped.
James sniffled.He tried to lift his hand to wipe his face, but it was shackled to the table, which in turn was bolted to the floor.“I didn’t know Cox.We literally just met at that thing in high school.”
“And you kept a picture of the two of you in your bedroom for… What is that, fifteen years?”
“I guess.”
“No, you don’t guess,” Kate snapped.“Youknow.You killed those people, James.You killed them on a mission from the Lawgiver, and all you’re doing right now is sacrificing yourself to protect him.Do you think he’d do the same for you?Do you think for one instant that Elijah Cox would grant you the same courtesy you’re granting him right now?Because he wouldn’t.Take it from me, Cox will and has thrown people like you under the bus for a Diet Coke and half a smile.”
James cringed back from her, sobbing and squeezing his eyes shut.“I didn’t kill them.I didn’t do it.I swear.I don’t know Cox.I just met him the one time.”
Kate straightened and stared at him, frustrated.He looked and sounded genuine right now.Genuinely terrified, but still genuine.
“Come on, man,” Marcus said, almost pitying.“If you help us out, we’ll help you out.Honestly, buddy, you’re small fry.No offense, but we’re the FBI.We’ve got better things to do than torment a man whose sister’s killer walked free.We don’t want you.We want Cox.I’m not gonna blow smoke up your ass.You’re doing time.But if you can help us strengthen the case against Cox before he goes to trial, then we can work with you.We can tell the jury you’re not a bad kid.You’re just a hurt kid who got picked up by a guy who steals hurt and twists it to his own evil purposes.Believe me, fifteen to twenty-five is a hell of a lot better than life without parole.And, I mean, these are killers, right?Why throwyourlife away for a killer?”
James’s shoulders fell.He sobbed some more and mumbled, “I don’t know him.I wish I did.I wish I could tell you where he is right now so you’d know I’m not lying.”
Kate sighed and dropped her head to her chest.“He’s in prison.”
