“Penn … Brody Royal is like a cobra in tall grass. Regan, too. You’re saying you want to walk into the grass with them and make some kind of deal—then go back on it and nail them. I say the only way to get them is to slash and burn their cover, expose them for everyone to see. That’s the only way to stop monsters like that. If you try your way … I’m afraid you’ll wind up like Henry, or worse.”

Reaching into my coat, I take out the straight razor I carried up to the selectmen’s meeting and open my palm. “I went to see Pithy Nolan yesterday. She gave me a little present. Be careful with it.”

Caitlin takes the gleaming object from my hand, runs a fingernail down the groove between the handle and blade.

“Brody Royal gave Pithy that just after World War Two. For her protection, he said. He was hoping to marry her, but she saw him for the gangster he was.”

Caitlin sucks in her breath as she flips the ugly blade from its silver handle. “Jesus.”

“Pithy gave that to me as a reminder of who I was dealing with, if I chose to go up against Brody.”

Caitlin squints at the handle in the dim light. “What does this inscription say?”

“‘A Lady’s Best Friend.’ Can you imagine? Brody gave that to a Natchez belle.”

Caitlin clucks her tongue softly. “After reading Henry’s journals … I believe it.”

Taking back the razor, I carefully fold it closed. “I haven’t forgotten what Brody did to those black boys, or those women who tried to go to the feds about the insurance fraud. I don’t have any illusions, and I won’t confront him or Regan alone.”

Caitlin sighs and lets her head fall on my chest. “Who would you take with you? John Kaiser?”

Wanting to embrace her, I slip the razor into my back pocket. “Kaiser wouldn’t let me try something like this. His goal is to put the Double Eagles in prison, and maybe Forrest Knox. He’s going to go by the book, more or less. He has no choice.”

“Who, then?”

“I think Kirk Boisseau will go with me.”

She blows out a rush of air. “Where would you confront them?”

“The hospital, if that’s where Brody is. If he’s not with his daughter, then some other public place.”

Her right forefinger rises to her philtrum, then runs down the sculpted curve. “Does Kirk understand the risks?”

“I’ll make sure he does.”

Her eyes find mine again. “What if you play Brody Royal that tape, and he decides to unplug his daughter’s ventilator because of it?”