38% interest is criminal." " It's whatever people agree to. They sign the contract, they take the money. Their failure to read the fine print isn't my problem. Keep him talking.
Get him admitting. Get everything on record." " How many people have you done this to?" " Enough to buy this building, three rental properties, and a vacation home in Sedona. Enough to fund a very comfortable life."
Wade took another sip. " Want to know the funny part? Most of them thank me at first. Grateful I gave them a chance when no one else would. The gratitude makes the betrayal later so much sweeter." "
Betrayal?" " When I take their houses, when I ruin them, the look on their faces when they realize the man who saved them is the same man destroying them. That's the best part." " You're proud of this?" " I'm proud of being good at what I do.
I identified a market, exploited it efficiently, made millions. That's capitalism, Garrett. That's America." " That's evil." Wade laughed. "
Evil? Right. You military types always think in black and white. Good and evil. Heroes and villains.
Real world doesn't work that way. Real world works on power. I have it. They don't. Simple." "
And the suicides? The families you destroyed? The people who killed themselves because of your loans?" " Regrettable, but not my responsibility. I didn't pull the trigger.
Didn't tie the noose. They made choices. Bad choices. Weak choices. Seven people.
Seven families. Seven people too stupid to adapt. Too proud to beg. Too weak to survive. Darwin would be proud."
Got it. All of it. Confession, motive, callousness. Everything Agent Pritchard needed. Garrett stood up. "
We're done here." " Sit down. We're not done until I say we're done." " I'm leaving." Wade pulled open a drawer, pulled out a gun.
Not pointing it at Garrett, just setting it on the desk. Message clear. " You're not leaving until we have an agreement. Until you promise to disband your little group. Until you guarantee everyone signs my settlement." "
And if I don't?" " Then you have an accident. Motorcycle crash. Terrible tragedy. Old man loses control, dies on impact.
Sheriff Kimball, my brother, investigates. Rules it accidental. Your friends get scared. Group falls apart anyway. But in that version, you're dead." "
You'd kill me over this?" " I've killed before. Harvey's predecessor who tried to organize against me died in a house fire. Another family's patriarch who went to the media drove his car into a bridge support. Ruled suicidal.
I don't like killing, but I do it when necessary." " You're confessing to murder." " I'm explaining consequences to a dead man. Because you're not leaving this room unless you agree. And even if you agree, I might kill you anyway.
Just to make sure." Wade picked up the gun, checked the chamber. Loaded. " See, Garrett, you made a mistake. You thought organizing people would protect you.
Thought numbers were safety. But all you did was paint a target on yourself. Make yourself the linchpin. Remove you, everything crumbles." He pointed the gun at Garrett's chest. "
Any last words?" " Yeah, you talk too much." Wade's face twisted. Confusion, anger. Then the door crashed open.
Agent Naomi Pritchard. Three FBI agents behind her. Guns drawn. " FBI, put the weapon down." Wade spun, pointed the gun at Naomi.
Everything happened fast. Garrett lunged, grabbed Wade's wrist, twisted. The gun fired, ceiling shot harmless. They fell together, grappling. Agents swarmed in, pulled Wade off, pinned him down, cuffed him.
Naomi helped Garrett up. " You okay?" " Fine. You got it. All of it." "
Every word. Audio and video. We had agents outside with parabolic microphones. Recorded everything." She looked at Wade now, face down on the floor, agents holding him secure. "
Wade Kimball, you're under arrest for loan sharking, racketeering, extortion, conspiracy to commit murder, and about 15 other federal charges I'm going to enjoy reading to you." Wade was screaming. Threats, curses, promises of lawyers and connections, and how he'd destroy them all. Nobody was listening. Outside more agents were arriving.
Sheriff Dalton Kimball pulled up, saw the FBI presence, tried to leave, got stopped, cuffed, arrested for conspiracy and obstruction of justice. It was over. Actually over. Garrett stood in the parking lot, watching Wade being loaded into a federal vehicle, watching Dalton being read his rights, watching 12 years of predatory evil finally meeting justice. His phone rang.
Douglas. " Tell me you're alive." " Alive. Wade's arrested. Dalton, too.
FBI has everything." Silence then. " You insane, brilliant, stupid man. You actually did it." " We did it.
All of us." Garrett called William next. " It's done. Bring Sarge home." Then he called Evelyn, told her the news, heard her sob with relief.