by Dan Arnold
“Can you meet me there in about an hour?”
“Sure, in fact I need to run by there and make sure the painters are on the job. The job we’re on now is only about ten minutes away from there.”
“Good, I have news and some things we need to discuss.”
An hour later, Gary and I were sitting in my truck, with the engine running and the air conditioner keeping us comfortable.
“I’ve seen him with a knife. I don’t have any way to know if it’s the same knife your dead guy had.”
“Give me as detailed a description of the knife as you can.”
“OK, it’s a folding, lock blade knife. It’s one of those cheap ones from India, China or wherever. The blade is about five inches long, so the knife is about five and a half inches long, when it’s closed. The handle is clear plastic, so you can see the picture in it. The picture is a painting, or whatever, of a hawk or an eagle killing a rattlesnake.”
“Wow, that’s a pretty complete description.”
Gary shrugged.
“I’ve seen the knife two or three times.”
“You know the symbol of the golden eagle and the rattlesnake is a traditional Mexican motif?”
“Yeah, I saw it on a Mexican flag or something, somewhere.”
“Kind of odd a white supremacist would be carrying a Mexican knife, don’t you think?”
“Like I said, it’s a cheap knife. You can get knives like that at flea markets and gas stations, pretty much anywhere.”
“OK, on another subject… This is complicated and I don’t know how to tell you all of it, exactly.”
“Just lay it all out, man.”
I gathered my thoughts.
“One, Kevin Watkins is now a suspect in a murder investigation. Two, Kevin Watkins is a member of a hate group that may be planning to do something horrific.”
“And three, is that Watkins was the guy who was overseeing the job when our client got hurt, right?” Gary asked.
I opened my mouth to answer, but closed it for a second.
“What those things have in common is you, Gary. You’re the only person I know who can get close to Watkins.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool, isn’t it?”
“There are some serious problems with that.”
“Well, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you…”
“OK.”
“I put in for my retirement from the fire department.”
I was stunned and I had too many questions.
“What the, when, why?” Was how it came out of my mouth.
“Yeah, I like this work. I’m getting paid by you, to play detective, and I’m getting paid by the company to work with my hands. It’s all good.”
“About that, here’s the thing… The client has dropped the case.”
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding, right?”
“No.”
“Ouch, it sucks to be you!”
“Gary, I can’t keep paying you, if no one is paying me.”
“Yeah, I see that.”
“This is bigger than the money. You’re in a position to do something important, and you’re the only one who can do it. I hope you’ll choose to continue, but I’ll understand if you can’t, for whatever reason.”
“Wow, I’ll need to think about this.”
“Sure and here is something to add to the things you’re thinking about. If Kevin Watkins gets any idea you’re looking at him as a possible murder suspect, or as a member of the Righteous Army of God… you could be in danger.”
“Yeah, he’s a pretty nasty guy. I wouldn’t want to have him as an enemy.”
“Gary, he isn’t your friend now. He is your enemy, but he just doesn’t know it. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Gary nodded quietly.
“How soon do you need my answer?”
“No hurry, take your time and think it through. I can’t tell you what you should do. And, Gary… I’m sorry I got you into this.”
“Hey, it’s been good, up until now.”
“Well whatever you decide, I’m with you all the way.”
I felt terrible as I drove away from the construction site. I would never have advised Gary to retire from the fire department. He’d joined when he was 19 years old, and had put in twenty years. All that training and experience was just being thrown away. If he had stayed on with the department, he might have been able to advance farther up the command chain. I knew he enjoyed construction and he had worked at remodeling as his part time job, before he started working for me, but I hadn’t expected him to quit the department. I hadn’t made any promises about him being able to work full time for me, but this sudden end to his income from our client, had to be a shock.
Now, I was asking him to put himself in danger, without even being paid to do it.
I decided to call Agent Booker and fill him in on the details. I also needed to call Tony and tell him about the knife.
“That’s good, very good, a huge step in the right direction! The knife is essential, if it is the murder weapon.” Tony said.
“Are you going to arrest Watkins?” I asked.
“No, we don’t have sufficient probable cause. Even if we caught him with the knife on him, and if it turned out to be the murder weapon, he could claim he found it somewhere. We can’t tie him to the killing, yet. We have far too many ‘ifs’, if this and if that. There is something you can do though. I want you to show the pictures of the clothes and the cap that were found with the remains, to whoever last saw the victim.”
“Sure, Tony. I can do that, but even if they do identify the effects, I can’t make them swear to it in a court of law.”
“I’ve spoken to the DA and brought him up to speed on this thing. He understands the only witnesses are afraid of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He’s spoken to ICE and they have agreed to look the other way, if we can get those people to testify.”
“It may make all the difference, Tony.”
I called SAIC, Doug Booker on his direct line.
“Doug, its John Tucker. Do you have a moment to talk about the RAGs thing?”
“I have a moment, but that’s about all.”
“There’s been a monkey wrench thrown in the gears. My client has pulled out, which means I can’t continue paying my man to investigate Watkins, or the RAGs.”
“I can see how that could be a complication. Why’d they decide to drop the case?”
“They figured the return isn’t worth the investment.”
Doug was silent for a moment. I think he was considering his response.
“Listen, John, I’m in charge of this investigation. If the only issue is money, we can probably make your man a paid informant. I’ll send the request upstairs immediately.”
“Actually, it isn’t the only issue. I don’t like to see him in danger.”
“I understand how you feel, John, but your man is important. We need him to get as close to Watkins as he can.” Doug said.
“I don’t think Watkins is going to be running around loose for very much longer.”
“Why do you say that?”
“There’s a preponderance of evidence building against him for the murder of Eduardo Ruiz. At this point, it’s all circumstantial, but I think an arrest warrant is going to be issued very soon.”
“That is a complication. Still, we may be able to use it to our advantage.”
“I just called to let you know what’s happening.”
“OK, thanks, John. When can I meet this guy who’s working with Watkins?”
“I’ll see what I can arrange.”
Thirty-Six
“All right, Agent Booker, I’m in,” Gary said.
Gary had agreed to meet at the barn, one more time. Doug and I drove out there together in my truck. As soon as Gary met Special Agent, Doug Booker, I could see he would do just about anything to be a part of the “team”.
“Gary, you want to back out of this, now is the time…”
“I can handle it, John. If I can help the FBI in an official investigation, then that’s what I want to do. I get to collect my entire pension from the department, I make a decent wage working for the construction company, and I get to be an undercover informant for the FBI. Man, it just doesn’t get any better than that.”
“Do you think there’s any way you might be able to get into the RAGs?” Doug asked him.
“Sure, they’ll accept anybody who hates colored people.”
“What about the more dedicated inner circle of the RAGS?
“Probably… I’ve been playing along with the whole racist thing. I was raised by a racist, so I know the way they talk. I just pretend I’m my stepfather. He was a member of the KKK. Watkins thinks I’m as prejudiced as he is. I haven’t asked Watkins anything about the RAGs, but I’m pretty sure I could.”
“You need to be very careful about how you do it, Gary. Most of those guys are quite a bit younger than you are. An older guy asking about how to get into the RAGs might look suspicious to him.” I suggested.
“He can work it to his advantage. Listen Gary, Watkins is about your age, right?” Doug asked.
“Yeah, he’s no more than five years younger than me. Why?”
“You can tell him you would like to be a part of an organization of real men who are serious about making some changes in America, but you don’t want to be a part of a bunch of post-adolescent punk rockers, like the RAGs.”
“It might put him on edge,” I pointed out.
Gary nodded.
“It might, but I think it would throw him off guard. He might even respect my attitude.”
I conceded the point.
“You know him better than we do.”
“Actually, I like that approach. I can act like I’m sick and tired of things getting worse and worse for white people in America. I‘ll tell him I think it’s time for the grown men to stand up and fight back.”
Doug was nodding his agreement.
“We believe the radical element is made up of men who are about your age and older, Gary.” He said.
“Well, there you go. Us grown men will show those young posers, how the cow ate the cabbage.”
Doug was grinning.
“Say, I think you could be pretty convincing.”
“You’re damn right!”
“Easy does it, ‘De Niro’. If you over act, you’ll show your hand.”
“No, John. You’re mixed metaphor aside, I think Gary’s got a pretty good handle on this thing.” Doug observed.
Gary winked at me.
After I dropped Doug off at the Federal Building, I swung over by the Mexican Market, to see if I could spot Juan and Julio. There was no sign of them, this late in the day.
As I was headed for the office, my phone rang. I pushed the button on my truck’s steering wheel and said, “Hello.”
“J.W., you’re not gonna believe what just happened.” Tony said, by way of greeting.
“OK, fire away.”
“I just got a visit from the Chief of Police and the SAIC of the FBI, for the entire Southwest Region. They brought another guy along with them, a suit with the Department of Homeland Security…”
“Oh no…”
“Oh yes.”
“What’s the situation?”
“They informed me they were aware I was conducting an investigation into the murder of a certain illegal alien, and in the interests of national security, the FBI would be taking over as the lead agency in the investigation.”
“Just like that, they just took over and tossed you out?”
“Not exactly, J.W.”
“What is it then?”
“They want me to go ahead and arrest Watkins.”
“What? I don’t understand. Why?”
“They plan to flip him.”
My mind whirled through the various scenarios likely to ensue. There was something else niggling at the edges of my conscious thought. Something about the way Tony was speaking, or the way he sounded.
“Tony, do you have me on speakerphone?”
Tony paused for a second.
“Yes, I do, J.W.”
“Why? Tony, are they there with you, right now?”
A different voice responded.
“Mr. Tucker, I’m Special Agent, Mark Mansfield of the FBI. We would appreciate it if you would come down here to the federal building, right now.”
I hit the turn signal, in preparation for turning back toward downtown Tyler.
When I walked into Tony’s office, there were only three people in the room with him.
“Mr. Tucker, I’m Special Agent, Mark Mansfield, I’m the SAIC for the Southwest region. I believe you know these other gentlemen.”
I looked at Tony, Special Agent Doug Booker, who appeared chagrined at the whole situation, and then the fourth man in the room.
“Hello, John. Long time no see.”
“Hello, Jack. How are things in the DHS?” I said, reaching out to shake his hand.
I looked over at Doug.
“Did you know about this?”
Doug started to shake his head, but he was interrupted by SAIC, Mansfield.
“I’m afraid Agent Booker was not in the loop on this. He just got here himself. It’s my understanding he was meeting with you and someone who works for you. Is that correct?”
“Yes, one of my associates is working for the same construction company Watkins works for.”
“As Lieutenant Escalante has informed you, this is now a Federal matter. The Bureau is now in charge of this investigation. Any assets you have in the field are now our assets. I’ll need to be brought up to speed on everyone involved, and be briefed on the details of the progress you’ve made thus far, any questions?”
I was so tired of these same old lines. I’d used them myself, when I worked for DHS.
“Yes, I do have questions. Who the hell do you think you are?” I asked.
Special Agent Mansfield stiffened slightly.
“Easy, John, there’s no point in getting angry,” Jack McCarthy interjected. “You’ll have to excuse Special Agent, Mansfield, if he seems a bit rude…” He shot Mansfield a look. “… He’s just trying to get his footing here.”
“He’ll be lucky if he doesn’t get my foot up his…” I started.
“John!” Tony snapped.
Doug looked like he was going to be sick.
“Ok, let’s all just take a moment to calm down and discuss the issues here.” Mansfield suggested.
“Sure, here are the pertinent issues. I’m a private citizen. The people who work for me are private citizens. I don’t answer to you and neither do they. Do you have any understanding of this concept, Mr. Mansfield?”
I have to give him credit. Mansfield didn’t even blink.
“Certainly, I understand, Mr. Tucker. I was also given to understand, you had been instrumental in the investigation of Mr. Watkins as a possible murder suspect. I was told you have an employee, who is in a position to further our investigation into the intentions of the radical element of the Righteous Army of God. Further, I was told you would be a very useful and cooperative ally in this investigation. Clearly, I was misinformed on that point.” He shot a look at Jack.
Jack stepped away from where he had been leaning against the wall. He put his hands in his pants pockets and approached us slowly. He acted cool and maybe a little bit hip. I had seen him do this before.
“Ahhh gee, fellas. We need to remember we’re all on the same side here.
Agent Mansfield, Try to understand, John is not particularly fond of the Federal government. He did his bit for God and country. I know, because I was there for part of it. As you can see, he has certain passive/aggressive tendencies.
John, you know how it is with government types. Sure, Mark is a little pushy; he’s just used to having people jump, when he snaps his fingers. Boys, we have a common enemy and the threat is eminent. We don’t have time to fight with each other. Now sh
ake hands and try to play nice.”
That’s the thing about Jack; he’s an expert at finding common ground. It didn’t surprise me he had worked his way up in the ranks at the DHS.
“I’m sorry if I offended you, Mr. Tucker,” Agent Mansfield said, extending his hand.
“… Likewise.” I replied, reluctantly shaking his hand.
I turned on Jack.
“Exactly how eminent is this threat, Jack? What do you know that we haven’t been told, and why are you here?”
Thirty-Seven
“Domestic terrorism is at the top of our list these days.” Jack said. “We’ve all been aware for some time that some American Muslims have become radicalized into full blown jihadists. When that happens, they start looking for ways to commit acts of terrorism, right here at home. We also have enemies within our country who are equally dangerous, but motivated by a different ideology.
The Righteous Army of God was not considered a real threat, because most of the membership was just a bunch of young racist punks. Sure, there were occasional incidents of violence against people of color, but nothing organized or threatening to the general public. We took our eye off of them for a while, and it was a mistake.”
He paused and looked around the room.
“There have always been a few in the movement who were more committed to the cause of white supremacy. We now know some of them are violently committed to the cause. The leaders are older men and most of them are here in East Texas. They have organized an elite sub group of the RAGs into an extremist wing, determined to conduct acts of terrorism, at venues and events where many people will be killed or injured. They are also planning to target any individuals in law enforcement who have obstructed or prosecuted any of them. We came by this information from informants in the prison system. We have reason to believe some members of this militant wing are prominent and possibly even powerful members of the local community. Some of them may even be in law enforcement.”
“Why do you believe the threat is eminent?” Tony asked.
“Our sources have indicated that now is the time. We are told they’re planning some sort of an attack, likely to occur in this area, very soon. Because this is a domestic criminal conspiracy, without any ties to any person or group outside the United States, it falls within the charge of the FBI. That’s why they have the point on this.” Jack concluded.