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That silenced Trapper’s wisecracking. Much as it galled him to play Wilcox’s game, he asked, “What are you offering?”
“I equip you to get reinstated and to reopen your Pegasus bombing case. I can make sure you’re listened to this time.”
Trapper hadn’t expected that, but he tried to conceal his shock. “You’d do that for me?”
“I would.”
“Even though you know I’d be coming after you first, and coming full throttle.”
“Yes.”
“Okay, I’ll bite. You cooperate with me in exchange for what? Life rather than the death penalty?”
“Full immunity.”
Trapper barked a laugh. “Hilarious.”
Wilcox leaned back in his chair. “We need each other, Mr. Trapper. Think about it. Take the deal. Play it smart.”
“Oh, smart like you? Coming here alone? Waving around a flashy pistol?”
Wilcox said nothing for several seconds, then softly, “I had hoped you’d see reason, and it wouldn’t come to this.”
“Come to what?”
“I didn’t come alone.”
Trapper kept his facial expression as blank as possible, but every muscle in his body tensed.
Wilcox said, “There are five men outside—”
“Bullshit.”
“—waiting to escort me safely out of here after you and I have concluded our business. If we don’t reach a conclusion that’s satisfactory to me, they’re to make certain that you die. I really didn’t need the madam’s pistol. I was only showing it off.” He smiled.
If the man was bluffing, he was damn good at it.
“I can see you’re unconvinced, Mr. Trapper. Give Kerra the phone.” Trapper hesitated. Wilcox said, “I strongly advise that you do as I ask.”
Trapper held on to the cell phone for only a couple of seconds more, then passed it to Kerra.
“Call this number.” Wilcox gave her a ten-digit number, which she tapped in. “After one ring, hang up immediately.”
She did as told.
“Now go to the window.”
She looked at Trapper for instruction. He didn’t take his eyes off Wilcox. “If you’re setting her up to be hurt, your gray matter is gonna be dripping down that wall behind you.” Again, he took a bead on the space between the man’s eyes.
Kerra got up and walked to the window that overlooked the street.
Within a few seconds, she said, “Two men are coming from the corner. A third from the other direction.”
Wilcox didn’t blink. Trapper could hear his wristwatch ticking in the silence. Fifteen seconds elapsed. Then ten more before Kerra said, “There’s a fourth, Trapper.”
“The fifth is inside the building across the street,” Wilcox said. “I suggest Kerra not move because she’s in the crosshairs of his scope.”
Trapper sprang to his feet.
