Page 140 of State of Suspense

“Avery said the whole family is the epitome of the word ‘scumbag.’ What else do we know about them?”

“Their criminal enterprise was run out of Corbin, Kentucky, a town of about eight thousand off Interstate 75, located halfway between Knoxville, Tennessee, and Lexington, Kentucky. There’s a higher-than-average crime rate in the town, and it has a history of racial unrest dating back to the early twentieth century.”

“You said they oversaw a criminal enterprise. What became of the other players in this so-called enterprise?”

“Let me check.” He did some more scrolling and reading. “Twenty other people were indicted along with the Peckhams. Most of them did at least ten years before being paroled. Willy’s first wife, Justice, died of cancer in prison. She was the mother of his children, all but one of whom also did time on this case.”

“We’re going to need a list of who they are and where they are now.”

“Should I ask Gonzo to look into that?”

“Yes, please. Last question… Who prosecuted the case?”

“Due to the Peckham family’s deep roots in the area, DOJ prosecutors requested a change of venue from the Eastern District of Kentucky. It was granted, and the trial was moved to DC. Tom Forrester was the lead prosecutor, and Avery Hill was the star witness.”

“Holy shit,” Sam said. “There’s the connection.”

“I don’t understand the timing. Their lieutenants have been on the loose for years after being paroled. Why’d they wait until now?”

“Maybe Willy wanted to seek his revenge personally.”

“Possibly,” Freddie conceded. “Nothing about this case or the last one makes sense. Bryant takes Forrester’s family hostage after learning he and Cox are secretly investigating him while pretending to be his buddies, and that’s not related to Forrester’s murder?”

“It doesn’t seem to be.”

“How can it not be?” he asked.

“Ballistics don’t lie.”

“No, they don’t, but I still feel like we’re missing something big here.”

“If we are, we’ll figure it out, like we always do. All my Spidey senses are saying Cox is up to no good.”

“I agree.”

“I’d very much like to figure that out, if for no other reason than to save my husband from a humiliating issue with his AG.”

“That’s as good a reason as any.”

“I should walk away from that part of the investigation, but how do I do that when my radar is picking up a hit?”

“You can’t. We have to see it through.”

“I worry about making another powerful enemy for myself and Nick.”

“The AG is only powerful as long as he holds that office. If there’s something dirty going on, Nick will fire him, and he’ll lose all his power.”

“That’s true.” The thought of Nick firing the AG because of her investigation certainly wasn’t ideal. But there was no way she could walk away from the feeling of something amiss and hope that didn’t blow up in her husband’s face. “Did I tell you we’re meeting with Nick’s mother on Friday at Ninth Street?”

Freddie spun around in his seat. “You’re doing what?”

“You heard me.”

“Sam… Seriously?”

“She requested the meeting to ‘make amends,’ and Nick decided he wants to hear what she has to say.”

“No way.”

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