you, Adam, because they will not know what you’re doing. We handle informants all the time, we know the game.”
Frost says, “And, if things get too dangerous, Adam, we’ll get you out and get you a job in a federal joint. Twice the pay, twice the benefits.”
Adam looks at them with red eyes and asks, “Can we keep this quiet? I mean, no one can know about this, not even my wife.”
With the word “we” a deal is struck. Frost says, “Of course, Adam. You think we tell folks about our confidential informants? Come on, man. We wrote the book on handling informants.”
For a long time nothing is said as Adam stares at the gravel and occasionally wipes fluids from his face. They watch him and are almost sympathetic. He says, “Can I think about this? Gimme some time.”
“No,” Frost says. “We don’t have time. Things are moving fast, Adam. If Quincy dies then you’ll be on the hook for capital murder, federal style.”
“What’s the charge now?”
“Attempted murder. Conspiracy. Thirty years max, and the U.S. Attorney will go for every last day of it.”
He shakes his head and appears ready for more tears. His voice breaks as he says, “And if I play ball, as you like to say?”
“No indictment. You walk, Adam. Don’t be a fool.”
Frost closes the deal with “This is one of those life-altering moments, Adam. You make the right decision right now and your life goes on. The bad one, and you’re gonna be locked up with the same savages you’ve been guarding.”
Adam stands and bends at the waist, belches. “Excuse me,” he says and walks to the edge of the old playground where he begins retching. Frost and Thagard turn and look toward the road. Adam kneels behind a large bush and vomits loudly for a spell. When he’s finished he shuffles back and sits at the picnic table. His shirt is soaked with sweat, and his cheap brown tie is specked with his lunch.
“Okay,” he says hoarsely. “What’s the first order of business?”
Frost doesn’t hesitate. “Do either Lane or Drummik have a cell phone?”
“I know Drummik does. I took it to him.”
“Where did you get it?”
Adam hesitates before plunging in. When he says what he’s about to say, there is no turning back. “There’s a man named Mayhall, don’t know his first name, don’t know if Mayhall is real or fake, don’t know where he lives or where he comes from. I see him once or twice a month. He comes here with the goodies for his boys inside Garvin. Cell phones and dope, usually pills and meth, cheap drugs. I take the stuff in and deliver to the right people. He pays me a thousand bucks a month in cash, plus a little stash of dope to sell on my own. I’m not the only guard who does this. When you earn twelve an hour it’s hard to survive.”
Thagard says, “We get that. How many Aryan Deacons in Garvin?”
“Twenty-five or thirty. The Brotherhood has more.”
“How many guards service the Deacons?”
“I’m the only one I know of. Certain guards take care of certain groups. I doubt if Mayhall would want anyone else involved. He gets what he wants with me.”
“Has he served time?”
“I’m sure he has. You can’t join the Deacons unless you’re in prison.”
Frost asks, “Can you get Drummik’s cell phone?”
Adam shrugs and smiles as if he’s quite clever. “Sure. Cell phones are prized possessions and sometimes they get stolen. I’ll go to Drummik’s cell when he’s out on the yard, make it look like a theft.”
“How soon?” Thagard asks.
“Tomorrow.”
“Okay, do it. We’ll track his calls and we’ll give you a replacement.”
Frost asks, “Will this Mayhall character get suspicious if Drummik finds another phone?”
Adam thinks for a moment. Things are still not quite clear. He shakes his head and says, “I doubt it. These guys buy, sell, trade, steal, barter, you name it.”
Thagard leans down and sticks out a hand. “Okay, Adam, we got a deal, right?”
Adam reluctantly shakes his hand.
Frost says, “And your phones are tapped too, Adam. We’re monitoring everything, so no stupid moves, okay?”
They left him at the picnic table, staring into the distance and wondering how his life could change so fast.
34
With the FBI throwing its weight around, Quincy is moved to a corner room that is more secure. Two surveillance cameras are mounted prominently above his door. The hospital staff is on high alert and its guards are more of a presence. The prison sends one