Riggs knew that the government could never allow the truth to come out. In this case capturing the criminal alive was just as bad as not capturing him, maybe worse. And anyone who knew the truth was in serious jeopardy, and not just from Jackson. Riggs knew that the FBI would never intentionally gun down an innocent person. But he knew the FBI hardly regarded LuAnn as innocent. And since Riggs had thrown his support her way, he was automatically lumped with her as the enemy. If it got dicey toward the end, which Riggs knew it would, and if LuAnn were anywhere near Jackson, well, the FBI might not be real careful about who they were firing at. Riggs didn’t expect Jackson to go down quietly. He would take out as many agents as he could. Riggs had seen that in his eyes at the cottage. The man had no respect for human life. To him a person was merely a factor to be manipulated and eliminated if circumstances called for it. As an undercover agent, Riggs had dealt with people like that for years. People almost as dangerous as Jackson. Given those elements, the FBI would err on the side of killing the man rather than taking him alive; they wouldn’t risk the life of an agent in order to ensure that the man would stand trial. Riggs was well aware that the government had no incentive to bring Jackson to trial and every incentive not to. So Riggs’s job was to flush out Jackson and then the Feds could do what they wanted. If that was pumping the man full of lead, Riggs would be glad to help them do so. But he was going to keep LuAnn as far away from the man as humanly possible. She was not going to be caught in the crossfire. He had been through that once. History was not going to repeat itself.
Riggs didn’t bother to look behind him. He knew he was already under surveillance. Despite Masters’s assurances to the contrary, he would have immediately ordered a tail. Riggs would’ve done the same thing in his position. Now he had to beat the tail before meeting up with LuAnn. He smiled. Just like old times.
* * *
While Riggs had been dealing with the FBI, LuAnn had driven to another pay phone and dialed a certain phone number. It rang several times and LuAnn thought she would probably get the standard automated message. Then a voice answered. She could barely recognize it, the connection was so bad.
“Charlie?”
“LuAnn?”
“Where are you?”
“On the road. I can barely hear you. Hold on, I’m passing some power lines.”
In a moment, the connection was much clearer.
“That’s better,” LuAnn said.
“Hang on, there’s someone who wants to talk to you.”
“Mom?”
“Hello, baby.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, sweetie, I told you Mommy would be fine.”
“Uncle Charlie said you and Mr. Riggs saw each other.”
“That’s right. He’s helping me. With things.”
“I’m glad you’re not alone. I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Lisa, I can’t tell you how much.”
“Can we come home soon?”
Home? Where was home now? “I think so, baby. Mommy’s working really hard on that right now.”
“I love you.”
“Oh, sweetie, I love you too.”
“Here’s Uncle Charlie.”
“Lisa?”
“Yes?”
“I mean to keep my promise to you. I’m going to tell you everything. The truth. Okay?”
The voice was small, a little scared. “All right, Mom.”
When Charlie came back on the phone, LuAnn told him to just listen. She filled him in on the latest events including Riggs’s plan and his real background.
Charlie could barely contain himself. “I’m pulling over at a rest stop in two minutes. Call me back.”
When LuAnn did so, Charlie’s tone was heated. “Are you crazy?”
“Where’s Lisa?”
“In the rest room.”
“Is it safe?”
“I’m right outside the door and the place is packed with families. Now answer my question.”
“No, I don’t think I’m crazy.”
“You let Riggs, an ex–FBI agent, walk into the Hoover Building and cut a deal for you. How in the hell do you know he’s not selling you down the river right now?”