You're going to offer to sell tomorrow in front of witnesses. You're going to cave. Give Warren exactly what he wants. Why would I do that? Jackson smiled.
It wasn't a kind smile. Because Agent Chen needs evidence of quidd proquo, of Warren using his office for personal gain, and the best way to get that is to give him what he wants and record him taking it. Understanding dawned in Beatatric's eyes. A trap. Exactly.
You offer to sell. He shows up to close the deal. We record everything. He slips up, says something incriminating, and we've got him. Will it work?
Only one way to find out. That night, Natalie arrived. Jackson heard the car pull in around 9:00, looked out the window, saw a rental sedan, saw his daughter climb out. He met her in the parking lot. She ran to him, hugged him hard.
Dad, God, I was so worried. I'm okay. We're okay. She pulled back, looked at him. You look different.
Older, but also, I don't know, lighter somehow. I feel lighter. Natalie looked around at the diner at the desert beyond. So, this is it. This is the place that changed you.
This is it. Jackson brought her inside, introduced her to Beatric, to Gideon, to Tommy. Beatatrices took Natalie's hands. Your father's told me so much about you. You look like Diane.
People say that Natalie's eyes were wet. Thank you for being her friend, for being there when she needed someone. She was easy to love. They sat together, ate dinner, talked. For the first time in 8 years, Jackson sat at a table with his daughter and felt like a father.
Later, after the others had gone to bed, Jackson and Natalie sat on the front steps looking at stars. "Tell me the truth," Natalie said. "How dangerous is this? " "Very Warren's killed three people we know about. Maybe more. And you're still here?
I'm still here because of Beatatric and or because of something else. Jackson thought about how to answer both. Beatatrice needs help, but also I need this. Need to prove I can still be someone worth being someone your mom would be proud of. She was always proud of you, Dad.
Even when she was frustrated, even when you made mistakes. I know, but I needed to be proud of myself. He looked at his daughter. Does that make sense? Yeah, it does.
Natalie leaned against his shoulder. I'm proud of you too for staying, for fighting, for being brave. They sat in comfortable silence. Father and daughter connected again after years of distance. Finally, Natalie said, "When this is over, come visit me in Portland.
Stay for a week. Let me show you my life. I'd like that. Promise. Promise. " The next morning, Beatatrice made the call.
She sat in the office with Jackson, Natalie, Gideon, and Tommy listening. Agent Chen was on speakerphone recording everything. Beatrice dialed Warren's number. Her hand shook slightly, but her voice was steady. Warren, it's Beatatrice.
I've been thinking about your offer, about selling the diner. She paused. I'd like to discuss terms. Warren's voice came through, surprised. Pleased.
Beatrice, I'm glad you're being reasonable. When would you like to meet? Today, this afternoon, 2:00, at the diner. I'll be there. After she hung up, Beatatrice looked at Jackson.
Now what? Now we prepare. Natalie will be here as your lawyer. Gideon and Tommy as witnesses. I'll be in the back room with Agent Chen on the line.
We record everything. Warren says anything incriminating, we've got him. And if he doesn't, then we go to plan B. What's plan B? Jackson smiled, making him so angry he can't help but incriminate himself.
At 2:00, Warren arrived. He wore a suit, carried a briefcase, looked every inch the legitimate businessman instead of the corrupt sheriff he was. Beatatrice met him at her table. Natalie sat beside her professional and cold. "Warren, this is Natalie Morrison, my attorney. " Warren's expression flickered.
"I wasn't aware you'd retained counsel. " "Miss Holloway wanted proper representation," Natalie said. "I'm sure you understand. " "Of course, smart. " Warren set down his briefcase. Shall we discuss terms? In the back room, Jackson listened through the hidden microphone Gideon had installed. Agent Chen was on the line recording everything.
Warren pulled out papers. I'm prepared to offer 200,000 for the property. Building and land asis. That's half what it's worth, Natalie said. It's a fair price given the location and condition.
Fair according to whom? Warren smiled. According to the market, according to the bypass development, according to reality, the bypass that benefits your property holdings, Natalie said, the ones that triple in value if Beatrice sells. Warren's smile tightened. My personal investments are irrelevant.
Are they? Because it seems like you have a financial interest in acquiring this property, in forcing Miss Holloway to sell. I'm not forcing anyone. I'm making an offer. After 2 years of harassment, after vandalism, after threats, Warren stood.
This meeting is over. "Sit down," Beatatrice said quietly. "We're not done. " Something in her voice made Warren pause. He sat slowly. "I know what you are," Beatatric said.
"I know what you did. " To Ruth, to Harold, to Marcus, "I know you killed them. " "That's slander. It's the truth, and you know it. " Beatatrice leaned forward. You killed Douglas's friends, his customers, people he cared about, all to steal what he built. Warren's face darkened. Douglas was weak.
He wasted his life on this nothing town, on this pathetic diner. He could have been something. Could have been somebody. Instead, he settled for scraps. He was happy.
He was a fool. And you're a murderer. Warren's hand moved fast, grabbed Beatric's wrist, squeezed. You don't know what you're talking about, old woman. In the back room, Jackson moved, but Natalie was faster.
Let her go now. Warren released Beatatrice stood. His mask had slipped completely. The rage underneath was naked and ugly. You want to sell or not?
No, Beatatrice said. I'll never sell to you, not for any price. This diner was Douglas's dream, and I'll die before I let you destroy it. Warren leaned down close to Beatric's face. That can be arranged.
"Is that a threat, Sheriff? " Natalie asked. Her phone was out recording. "Are you threatening my client? " Warren saw the phone, realized his mistake. His face went white, then read. "Get out," Beatatrice said.
"Get out and don't come back. " Warren grabbed his briefcase, headed for the door, stopped, looked back. "You made a mistake, all of you, and mistakes have consequences. " He left. The door slammed behind him. In the back room, Agent Chen's voice came through. Did we get it?
Every word, Jackson said, he threatened her on camera with witnesses. Good. That's enough for me to open a formal investigation. Maybe enough for an arrest warrant, depending on what else we find. Jackson came out.
Beatatrice was shaking. Natalie held her. You did great. Jackson said, "You were perfect. He's going to kill us tonight, tomorrow.
He's going to kill us all. " No, he's not. Because Agent Chen's moving now. Because we have evidence. Because this is almost over. But even as Jackson said it, he felt the weight of Warren's last words.
Mistakes have consequences. He looked at Gideon and Tommy. We're in lockdown. Nobody in or out. We watch in shifts.
Stay armed. Stay alert. They nodded. The siege had begun. Night fell.