Ben’s eyes narrowed. “I’m beginning to get the picture. You faked the Bigfoot sightings. You dressed up in a costume and ran around some drunken fishermen or something.”
“Ben, Ben, Ben. I didn’t dress up in any costume. When did you become so cynical? This isn’t the Ben Kincaid I knew back in Tulsa.”
“It isn’t?”
“Hell, no. Back then, you were-well, if anything, a bit on the naive side.
People used to joke about it, down at the courthouse. Seemed like you’d fall for anything.” He folded his arms. “But at the moment I’m detecting a distinct lack of acceptance. What happened to you?”
“Everybody grows up,” Ben murmured. “I’ve had some … distinctly eye-opening experiences since you saw me last. But let’s get back to your story.”
“Right. So anyway, we were looking for this tree, we were looking for Sasquatch. And we were trying to buy ourselves time with the usual monkey-wrenching tactics.”
“Like planting lethal spikes in trees marked for cutting?”
Zak frowned. “We never spiked trees without telling the loggers.”
“I know you’ve blown up equipment.”
“What of it? Those goddamned loggers have blown up people. People!” He pushed himself off the bunk and began pacing in an agitated circle. “Do you know who Judi Bari is?”
Ben shook his head.
“She used to lead Earth First! She was making real strides, stopping the clear-cutting of the coast redwoods. First, the loggers ran her off the road and threatened to beat her up-while she had her little girl in the car. Then they put a bomb in her car. Blew up right beneath her. Thousands of nails were projected into her body at hundred-plus velocities. She didn’t die-although at the time she wished she had-but she’ll be crippled for life.”
“If she was attacked, I’m sure the law enforcement people will-”
“Are you joking? They never even investigated. They said she must have planted the bomb herself.”
“What?”
“You heard me. The FBI accused her of making the bomb herself. Said she left it in her car by mistake or it exploded prematurely. They never investigated other possibilities, even though she had just been assaulted a few weeks before.”
“Still-that must be an extreme case.”
“She’s not the only one. Leroy Jackson, a militant Navajo who fought to save a sacred forest of ponderosas in the Chuska Mountains, was found dead under his pickup. Ranchers tried to push conservationist Dick Carter over a cliff in Utah. Jeff Eliott’s logging-town home was burned to the ground after he joined Earth First! A bulldozer operator in Siskiyou National Forest buried five blockaders in dirt. A truck driver ran over Dave Foreman, another former leader of Earth First! Buzz Youens, an opponent of logging in the Apache National Forest, disappeared after threats on his life by loggers. His decaying body was found a year later-handcuffed to a tree. He’d been shot.”
Ben stuttered. “I-hadn’t heard.”
“Of course you hadn’t. They don’t want you to hear. Face it, Ben, the news media are controlled by the big business interests that pay their bills. Every time we walk into Magic Valley, we think, ‘Is this the time? Is this when the loggers get us like they did Judi? Is this the time I get blown up or beaten or burned alive?’ ”
“I think we’re wandering a bit from our subject.”
“I just want you to understand what we’re up against. They have the strength, the resources. The money. And the cold-blooded willingness to use them to protect their precious bottom line.” His face twisted up with disgust. “We’re kids on the playground next to those butchers.”
“Nonetheless, you have participated in illegal activities.”
“Yeah, me and Gandhi. For a good cause. I believe what Thoreau said: ‘Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine.’ And,” Zak added, “I’ve never hurt anybody.”
“Then you didn’t-”
Zak looked directly into Ben’s eyes. “Didn’t kill that logger? Of course I didn’t. Did you think I did?”
“I-” Ben coughed. “Well, I couldn’t be sure until …”
“Ben, listen to me. I didn’t kill Gardiner. I didn’t bomb that tree cutter. I don’t know what happened out there.”
Ben listened to Zak’s words and stared deeply into his eyes. He wanted to believe him. He wanted the relief, the absolution that would come from knowing this man he had put back on the streets had not committed murder. But that assurance was not coming easily.
He continued questioning. “Why do the police think you did it?”
“I’m the obvious suspect. And police love obvious suspects.”
That part was true enough. “Why did they think of you?”
“I’m the leader of Green Rage. Green Rage is the group they most want to get rid of. Therefore, cut off the head-”
“There must be something more.”
Zak hesitated. “I-have worked with bombs before. I know a fair amount about them. In fact, I have-” He drew in his breath. “Well, I might as well come out with it. I have a felony conviction. Conspiracy to make a destructive device.”
Ben pressed his hand against his brow. “Oh, God.”
“It was all trumped up. We were going to blow some tree cutters, that’s all.”
Ben stood. “So when some poor logger was killed in a tree-cutter explosion-”
Zak tilted his head. “You got it. Obvious suspect.”
Ben frowned. He had been reluctant to take this case in the first place, and he was already beginning to regret it. “Did you know this logger?” He checked his notes. “Dwayne Gardiner?”
There was a moment of silence before Zak answered. Was it hesitation or was he just catching his breath? “No, I didn’t know him. Why should I? I don’t hang out with loggers.”
“Do you have an alibi? For the time of the murder?”
Zak shook his head. “I was in the forest. Searching for that tree. Or Bigfoot.”
“There’s no one who can vouch for you?”
“There is. Another member of Green Rage-her name is Molly. She was with me all night long. We’re-” He grinned. “I expect you can figure it out. Anyway, I’m sure she’ll testify.”
“Well, that’s something. What else do they have on you?”
Zak shrugged. “That’s all I know. You think there’s more?”
“They can’t be basing this prosecution solely on your prior record. I’m going to have to chat with the prosecutor. Is there anything else relevant that you haven’t told me?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Don’t just think. Be certain.”
“Okay, I’m certain.”
Ben leaned closer. “Listen to me, Zak. I’m your lawyer. Anything you tell me is absolutely privileged. I can’t repeat it, and even if I did, no one could use it against you. But if there’s more bad evidence out there-and there must be-I need to know about it. If I know the strikes against us, I can prepare for them, soften the blow. If I get blindsided, you’ll just be hosed. So tell me what you know. Tell me everything.”
“I have,” Zak insisted. “I’ve told you everything. There’s nothing more.”
“I hope to God that’s right.” He started gathering up his belongings. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Ben.” Zak grabbed his arm, brought him back around till they were face-to-face. “Ben, I did not kill that man. I’m telling the truth. I had nothing to do with it.”
Ben stared back at him. He had rarely seen such an earnest expression in his life. How could he not believe him? “All right then. I’ll do everything I can to help you. Let me get to work.”
Zak released his arm. “I really appreciate this, Ben. Really.” His wide-eyed grin returned. “Hell, I haven’t felt this good since I was arrested. I’m back in the hands of Ben Kincaid. Hallelujah! The man who saved me once will do it again. I know you will. Hell, if it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t be standing here now!”
Yes, Ben realized, that was absolutely the truth. If Ben hadn’t gotten him off the last time he was charged with murder …