“That’s what I’m saying. And I appreciate you standing up for federal jurisdiction back there. That took guts. But next time leave the turf battles to me, okay?”

Caitlin doesn’t know whether to be flattered or angry.

“Do you really have that card you mentioned?”

She takes a card from her purse and hands it to Kaiser, who reads it, then slips it into his pocket.

“Are you really just going to give up the crime scene?” I ask, stepping up to Kaiser. “Caitlin’s right about the hate crime angle, and Walker already invited you to consult on the case.”

Kaiser looks like a man trying to wrap his mind around something. “They shot Henry knowing that my team could respond in a matter of minutes. That’s balls, you know?”

“But maybe not brains. Although Ozan could be destroying critical evidence as we speak.”

The FBI agent shakes his head. “Don’t kid yourself. This murder won’t be solved unless the shooter confesses or a co-conspirator fingers him. They’ve been planning this hit since they missed Henry the first time.”

“What was that phone call you got at the end?”

Kaiser cuts his eyes at Caitlin as though deciding whether he should speak candidly. “My people found something in the trunk of Luther Davis’s car.” He points to a Suburban parked twenty yards away, its engine running. “It’s in the back of that SUV over there.”

“What is it?” she asks, glancing at the vehicle.

Kaiser steps closer to her. “Before I answer that, let’s talk about Henry Sexton’s backup files. I know you have them, and I need access to them.”

As Caitlin looks to me for help, I realize that what I feared this morning must have happened during the afternoon: Sherry Harden told Kaiser about Henry’s safe-deposit box keys.

“If Henry wanted you to have any of his case materials,” Caitlin says, “he would have given them to you before now.”

Kaiser’s face looks as serious as I’ve ever seen it. “Henry didn’t realize how much danger he was in. With all due respect, Ms. Masters, I think you have the same problem. Those files are a bullet magnet. Or worse. The Double Eagles are big fans of explosives, and old hands at using them. The Beacon building has already been burned. The Natchez Examiner isn’t exactly a fortress. Do you want to wait until Penn is picking out a casket before you face what you’re caught up in?”

Caitlin takes an aggressive step toward Kaiser. “Whoever shot Henry could have blown me away two seconds later. But he didn’t. I think I’m relatively safe, for the time being anyway.”

Kaiser shakes his head. “Maybe the triggerman didn’t know you were going to be there. Maybe he didn’t want to risk a cell call to get the go-order.”