'Churches? Christian churches?' I said.
'Yes. He thinks if he sends the bombers into Christian houses ofwor- ship, the Muslims will be blamed. He wants what he calls another Crusade to free the Holy Land.'
'How does he figure to do that?'
'He says that the bombings will cause such a groundswell of public outrage that the U.S. will have to bomb the Muslims out of existence.'
'All one and a half billion of them?' Incredulity strained my words.
'That's what he says, starting with the ones in our country.'
'He's not squeamish about sacrificing his brother Christians in return for killing Muslims?'
Michelle rolled her eyes. 'He says the Christians who are killed are going to heaven anyway, or most of them, and they'll be better off.'
'He's not planning to be among them I take it.'
'No. He says God wants him here on earth to help turn everybody else into Christians, to save them.'
'And if the Jews or Buddhists or whoever don't want to be saved?'
'I don't think he's worked that one out yet,' she said.
'How long has he been planning this?'
'I'm not sure. He just told me about it a couple of days ago at lunch. I think he's been working on it for a long time though. He said the plan is already in operation.'
'How did a string of whorehouses come to this?'
'I don't know. I met the Rev a few years ago at a tent revival in Alabama. He understood what I was going through, and I joined his organization. I'd worked in a house in Birmingham, and when I realized all these little sluts were looking for salvation, we came up with the plan for the spas. It was a good deal until he went nuts.'
'Not such a good deal for the girls.'
'Not a bad deal either. They have a nice place to live, food on the table, and a medical plan. Most of them don't want to leave.'
'But you keep them drugged.'
'Only for the first month or so. Then they can either leave or stay on at one of our other spas in a different town.'
'So, Key West is where you break them in.'
'You could say that.'
'What happens if the girl doesn't want this kind of life?'
'The Rev takes them back home I guess. I don't really know.'
'I thought you ran things.'
'I thought I did too.'
'Where is lie sending the bombers?'
'I honestly don't know. I didn't even know there were bombers until a couple of days ago.'
'Okay. You're going to stay here for a while. One of your other guys is here too.'
'Who?'
'Martin Holcomb.'
'He's one of the Rev's thugs. I hardly know him.'
'I'll have Charlie brought back to his room.'
'His body?'
'No, Michelle. Charlie's not dead. Sane people don't kill just to make a point.'
'But I saw your buddy shoot him.'
'Yes, but with a dart gun. The gunshot came from a pistol fired into the ground. Charlie will have a headache but that's all.'
'You can't prove anything.'
I pulled a tape recorder out of the pocket of my shorts. 'I think I can,' I said.
'You son of a bitch,' she said. 'You rotten son of a bitch.'
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
The driver took Logan and me back to the Coast Guard station. I thanked the driver and told him I'd be in touch about his guests.
The Coastie on the front desk took us to a room in the back of the building. Jock was there, sitting at a small conference table. Paul Galis sat on the other side, nervously rubbing his hands together. A compact man in Army battle fatigues was at the end of the table.
Jock introduced Logan to Galls, and both of us to Major John Lockman.
'The major is in command of the Delta Force team,' said jock. 'They've secured the island and have all the remaining men under arrest.'
'What about the girls?' I asked.
Jock shook his head. 'They're bringing them in on a Coast Guard boat. They'll be treated for drugs, and then we'll see what we can do about them.'
Galls said, 'My people raided the spa, and we have three men in custody. The girls are being held for medical treatment.'
'They're all on drugs,' I said.
'We know,' said Galls. 'I doubt they'll be much help to us in making a case against Simmermon.'
I shrugged. 'I've got three of his people under wraps and a recorded statement from Michelle Browne, his top assistant.'
A look of surprise crossed Galls' face. 'Where are they?'
I grinned. 'I don't think you want to know. But I'll get them for you later today.'
Galis laughed. 'Good enough.'
I turned to the major. 'Did you lose anybody?'
'No, sir,' he said. 'There were only a half dozen armed men left, and they gave up quickly. We found several bodies with gunshot wounds and five who died from what looks like grenade shrapnel.'
Jock put his elbows on the table, leaning in. 'That sounds about right. Matt and Logan are old infantrymen.'
The major looked at us. 'Army?'
Jock said, 'Matt was Special Forces, and Logan was in the 82nd until he got out of the mud and learned to fly helicopters.'
'Airborne,' said the major, just loud enough to be heard.
'Airborne,' Logan and I repeated. It was the mantra of those who jump out of airplanes in order to take care of the rest of us. George Orwell once wrote something to the effect that people could sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. I was looking at one of those rough men, and I was glad he was on our side.
I said, 'Did you find any explosives, Major?'
'Yes, sir. We found a big stash. There were also vests, like suicide bombers use.'
Logan spoke up. 'Did the people you took prisoner know anything about suicide bombers?'
'Yes, sir. We've got several who keep talking about wanting to die for God. They told my intelligence people that they were supposed to leave the island today and fan out across the country. Apparently something big was planned for this Sunday.'
Jock said, 'Simmermon is as crazy as a run over dog, but he keeps talking about the ones who went out yesterday.'
'How many?' I asked.
'Only three, he says, but who knows.'
'Did he say where they're going?'
'Yes. One is here, another is going to Atlanta, and the third is headed for Orlando.'
