Page 149 of State of Suspense

“He got off on a technicality when the rest of their crew went to prison.”

“What kind of technicality?”

“He was able to prove he was never read his Miranda rights when he was arrested.”

“For real?”

“Yep. One of the local agents was his best friend from high school and torched his career with the Bureau by ‘failing’ to do the most basic part of his job.”

“Was he in on the scheme?”

“We were never able to prove that, but he buckled to threats from Harlan and screwed over the rest of our team by letting that fucking rat skate free.”

“Has the FBI monitored Harlan since then?”

“I mean, I’d like to say yes, but we’re stretched thin everywhere. I wouldn’t be surprised if more pressing priorities have pushed him to the back burner.”

“So he’s running free and doing God knows what.”

“Possibly.”

“What do you think about a deal for Amber?”

“I wouldn’t be opposed, especially if she can give us Willy and Harlan. From what I know about Willy, she probably felt she had no choice but to marry him and do his bidding.”

“How does a wedding even happen when he’s in jail?”

“Prisoners have rights, you know.” He rolled his eyes. “They got married about a year ago. I’m sure she didn’t know what he had planned when she picked him up when he got released. I’ll bet he threatened her to make her go along with the plan to come after me.”

“Did you ever see his first wife, Justice, commit other crimes?”

“Never. The rest of them? Yes, and most of them were charged with the stuff I saw, but she was only charged as a participant in the Medicaid scheme.”

“What I don’t get is why they’d seek revenge the minute he got out.”

“They’re always angriest at the people they feel betrayed them, and that was me. I’ll never forget the way he looked at me when he found out I was a Fed. Like he wanted to murder me in the most painful way possible. He nearly succeeded when he had my family…”

Sam reached out a hand to him. “I know it’s hard not to let your mind go there, but they’re safe and well, and you’ll be back on your feet again in no time. Everything’s okay.”

“As long as Harlan Peckham is running loose and following his father’s orders, none of us are safe.”

Sam and Freddie rode back to HQ in silence, each of them absorbed in their own thoughts as they processed what Avery had told them.

“I have a question,” Freddie said when they were about six blocks from HQ.

“I’m listening.”

“What’re we doing about Cox, his nephew and your Spidey sense that he’s up to no good?”

“While we hunt down Harlan Peckham, we’re going to continue to work on figuring that out.”

“Good, because something’s up there. The nephew put out a vibe that I’ve been mulling over since we first met him.”

“Same. I haven’t stopped thinking about what a little weasel he was about giving us his name. You and I both know that when someone won’t give us the most basic of info, it’s because they’re hiding something.”

“I want to know what.”

“Me, too. Let’s keep working that part of this case on the down-low while we look for Harlan Peckham and whatever else Amber gives us.”

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