A Maidens Grave

listening to this right now on the squawk box. How close is he? He could probably stick his dick in your mouth without either of you moving. Hey, you a faggot, Charlie? Sound like one to me.”
    Budd adjusted his grip on the phone. “Agent Potter’s trying to get you what you’ve been asking for.”
    They died because they didn’t give me what I wanted. Potter nodded approval.
    “I want that chopper or Bonner gets a girl.”
    “You don’t need to do that, Lou. Come on. We’re all working together here, aren’t we?”
    “Oh, I wasn’t on your team last time I looked, Charlie.”
    Budd wiped sweat from his forehead. Potter, feelingvery much like an orchestra conductor, gestured at Budd and pointed to a portion of the yellow sheet.
    “My team?” Budd responded. “Hey now, that’s wrong, Lou. I am on your team. And I want to offer you a deal. You and Wilcox.”
    Potter held his finger to his lips, indicating for Budd to pause. The captain swallowed. Angie handed him a cup of water. He drank it down, gave her a rueful smile.
    Handy was silent.
    Budd started to speak; Potter shook his head.
    Finally Handy said, “Me and Shep?”
    “That’s right.”
    Cautiously: “What kinda deal?”
    Budd looked down at the sheet. “We’ll go for life only. No death penalty.”
    “For us two?”
    Potter heard the uncertainty in Handy’s voice. Beautiful, he thought. For the first time all night he’s not sure what’s going on. He gave Budd a thumbs-up.
    “Just you and Wilcox,” he said firmly.
    “What about Bonner?”
    Potter held up his wavering hands, indicating uncertainty.
    “Well, I’m just talking about you two.”
    “Why aren’t you talking about Bonner?”
    Potter frowned angrily. Budd nodded and in a testy voice said, “Because I don’t want to talk about Bonner. I’m offering you and Wilcox a deal.”
    “You’re an asshole, Charlie.”
    “An asshole?”
    “You’re not telling me everything.”
    Potter touched his lips.
    Silence.
    Perfect, thought Potter. He’s doing great. Finally he nodded to Budd.
    “I am telling you everything.” Budd gave up on the yellow sheet and stared out the window at the slaughterhouse. “And I’m telling it to you for your benefit as much as anybody’s. You oughta surrender, sir. Even if you get out of here in that helicopter you’ll be the most wanted man in North America. Your life’s gonna be pure hell andif you get caught you’ll get death. You know that. No statute of limitations for murder.”
    “What’m I supposed to say to Bonner?”
    Potter made an angry fist.
    “I don’t much care what you say to him,” Budd said gruffly. “He’s not included in—”
    “Why not?”
    Hesitate, Potter wrote.
    Handy broke the interminable silence. “What aren’t you fucking telling me?”
    “Do you want a deal or not? You and Wilcox. It’ll save you from lethal injection.”
    “I want a fucking helicopter and that’s what I’m going to get. Tell Art that. Fuck you all.”
    “No, wait—”
    Click.
    Budd closed his eyes and rested the phone on the table. His hands shook fiercely.
    “Excellent, Charlie.” Potter clapped him on the back.
    “Good job,” Angie said, winking at him.
    Budd looked up, perplexed. “Excellent? He’s all pissed off. He hung up on me.”
    “No, he’s just where we want him.” LeBow typed up the incident in the log and noted the time. On the “Deceptions” side of the board he wrote, Federal plea bargain by “U.S. Attorney Budd”—Handy and Wilcox. Life sentences in lieu of death.
    Budd stood up. “You think?”
    “You planted the seeds. We’ll have to see if they take.” Potter caught Angie’s eye and they exchanged a solemn glance. The negotiator made a point of looking away before Budd noticed.

8:16 P.M.
    “Five minutes and counting.”
    Dan Tremain had called the governor and together theyhad decided that the HRU rescue would go ahead as planned. Over the scrambled frequency he radioed this to his men.
    Outrider One, Chuck Pfenninger, was in position near the command van, and Outrider Two, Joey Wilson, hidden behind the school bus, was prepared to lob the stun grenades through the front window. Alpha and Bravo teams were ready to make the dynamic entry through the northwest and southeast doors as planned.
    Tremain was very confident. Although the HTs might be anticipating an attack through the one well-marked fire exit, they’d never expect the assault through the hidden southeast door.
    In five