was true, but the thought of De Leon retaliation might make Watson reconsider his position.
Bucky reacted by rubbing his nose, putting both elbows on the table, and crossing his legs-sure signs of stress and guilt.
'I know De Leon Bucky. And I guarantee that he'll have you killed before you can leave town. Tell me I'm wrong.'
'If you know De Leon so well, how did you contact him?' Bucky asked.
'The information went to his hacienda and to the Little Turtle Casino in Juarez. You're going to need to be someplace safe for a while. De Leon has a long reach.'
The smug look on Bucky's face vanished and he swallowed hard.
'Just where the fuck is that?'
'I can get you into a special federal prison under a new identity. I understand it's quite a nice place, as prisons go. We can hold you there until your trial.'
'Would you be willing to have my client tried in state court?' Buffett asked. A state court trial would keep Bucky off death row, if he was convicted.
'That might be arranged.'
'I want more than that,' Bucky said.
'If I talk, some important people in this state are going to fall hard.'
'First you talk and then we deal,' Kerney countered.
'But the DA might be willing to reduce the charges. It would mean less hard time. A lot less, perhaps.'
Bucky thought about his options, and decided he had none. Everything he'd built up was crashing down around his ears.
'Okay,' he said weakly.
'I'll send the team back in,' Kerney said.
'Give them your statement.' He looked at the lawyer.
'Don't let your client change his mind, Mr. Buffett. This is a onetime offer.'
Buffett made no response.
'By the way, Bucky, did you know that De Leon masterminded the art theft and killed Amanda Talley?'
'That's absurd,' Bucky said.
'Did Amanda leave with De Leon after the O'Keeffe benefit?'
Bucky's eyes widened.
'They both left about the same time.' kbrney caught a night's sleep at a Cerrillos Road budget motel. In the morning, he found the construction crew working on Fletcher's house. A laborer scrubbed away at the bloodstains in the garage. The ruined dining room carpet had been pulled up and dumped on the porch, where a workman was hanging a temporary front door.
The man nodded and stepped aside to let Kerney pass. He found Fletcher on his knees cleaning out the kitchen pantry. Many of the cans, bottles, and containers had been raked by gunfire, resulting in a gummy mess.
Pletcher dumped a gooey container in a wastebasket, wiped his sticky hands on his trousers, and got to his feet.
'You came back,' Kerney said.
'Better to face what happened than hide from it,' Pletcher said.
'I'm glad you feel that way.'
'I didn't expect to find my home already under repair. Thank you for arranging it.'
'It was the least I could do.'
'You gave the contractor a sizable deposit. I want to reimburse you.'
'We can talk about that later.'
'Let me show you something,' Fletcher said. He went to the kitchen counter, where the Peter Hurd lithographs, removed from their shattered frames, were laid out.
Kerney stepped over and looked. The lithographs were heavily damaged, peppered with holes from Rasmussen's shotgun blast. They appeared un salvageable 'Can they be repaired?' Kerney asked.
'I don't think so, but that's not the point,' Fletcher said.
'Once, I valued these inordinately. Art can enlarge life, but it can't replace it. I'm just happy to be alive. The loss of the lithographs pales in comparison. I must find a way to thank that young officer for saving my life.'
'I'm sure you'll think of something unique.'
'Have you gone to visit her?'
'Not yet, but she's going to be fine.'
He scrutinized Kerney carefully.
'You have a dangerous look about you, Kevin.'
'I'm not in a very good mood.'
'There's more to it than that,' Fletcher said.
Kerney nodded his head in the direction of the pantry.
'I guess we each have our messes to clean up.'
'Let me write you a check and pay you back for the deposit. My insurance is going to cover everything.'
'No, Fletcher, I don't want the money. Use it, if you like, to replace one of the Hurd lithographs.'
'As you wish,' Pletcher said.
'The door to the guest quarters has been replaced. I'll expect you back after work. We'll have a nice dinner together.'
'I'd like that.'
'I need the company,' Fletcher added.
'I still can't stop thinking about Gilbert.'
'I can't either,' Kerney said. the governor's receptionist announced Andy's arrival, and Vance Howell came out of the inner sanctum to escort him to Springer's office. Other than a greeting, Howell had nothing more to say. In the hallway, workers on ladders strung wires for a new closed circuit television security system.
Another example of locking the barn door after the horses got out, Andy thought glumly.
Howell left, and Andy knocked and entered to find Harper Springer at his desk conferring with his chief of staff. The man glanced at Andy, gave him a tight smile, whispered something to Springer, and retired through the side door to his office.
New paintings had been hung on the walls, and the glass display cases on either side of Springer's desk held Indian pots and some small cowboy sculptures. Fewer pieces of lesser value had been used to redecorate the office.
The governor rose and gestured at the couch as he came around his desk.
'Have a seat. Chief Baca.'
Andy's antenna went up; Springer was usually much less formal with his senior staff.
'We haven't talked in a while,' Harper said as he sank into a chair and crossed his legs.
'I know you've been busy.'
'That's true. Governor.'
'Finding the stolen art was good work. Real good work. But the museum people aren't happy that the Lady of Guadalupe bulto wasn't recovered.'
'I know that.'
'Any chances of getting it back?'
'We'll do our best,' Andy answered.
Springer nodded.
'I visited with your officer at the hospital. That's one brave young lady. I think she deserves a citation, don't you?'
'It's in the works. Governor. Would you be available to present it?'
'Set it up with my press secretary. And I want to attend Sergeant Martinez's funeral service.'
'I've given that information to your administrative assistant.'
'Good. I'm still waiting for arrests. Chief Baca. We can't let these cop killers get away.'
'I agree.'
