Page 154 of State of Suspense

“They were afraid of him and his people. Everyone was. They were known for being meaner than rattlesnakes and willing to do whatever it took to get what they wanted. He wanted me. My parents wouldn’t have dared to get in the way of that, even if it broke their hearts to see me caught up in the madness that surrounded the Peckham family.”

“Tell me about the madness.”

“Oh Lord, it was always something. Willy has six brothers, and between them, they had about thirty kids. One of ’em was always in trouble for something. Drunk driving, cooking and dealing meth, stealing, raping, shooting. You name it, they did it. Local law enforcement turned a blind eye to most of it cuz no one wanted to be in their crosshairs. It was easier to look away. I heard a local sheriff say once that he needed to keep his own family safe, so he ignored them. Everyone ignored them.”

Amber wiped tears off her face. “He made me have sex with him starting when I was fourteen and controlled every aspect of my life, from the time he first decided I belonged to him.”

Even though Sam would never forgive her for what she and her husband had put Shelby through, her heart went out to the woman as she took notes.

“While he and most of his family was in jail, I got a break of sorts. They seemed to forget about me. I had two babies with another man, which infuriated Willy. But he said he’d forgive me if I continued to write to him and married him. He said it was in the best interest of my kids that I do what I was told, even though I didn’t want to marry him. When they got released from jail, his brothers made my life a living hell, showing up at all times of the night and day to make sure I knew I still belonged to Willy. I was so afraid of them.” She wiped away more tears.

“When Willy was released, his brothers drove me to meet him, and after he took me to a hotel to ‘catch up,’ he insisted we go straight to that agent’s house to get revenge for what he did to Willy’s family. He told me if I didn’t do everything he said that he’d kill me and then go home and kill my babies.”

Sam believed every word Amber said and was horrified by her story. “I’m sorry for how you were treated by Willy and his family.”

Amber waved a dismissive hand. “It was the least of what happened to me at that man’s hands. He’s a monster.” She looked over at Sam with weary eyes. “I did what I could to make sure he didn’t hurt that pregnant lady or her little boy while pretending to go along with him so he wouldn’t kill me.”

“That woman is my close friend, and her child is like a nephew to me.”

“I told him we shouldn’t go there, but he was determined to make Hill pay for what he did to us.”

“Do you know how Willy first met Agent Hill.”

“Willy’s cousin Lonnie brought him around. The Marsdens were as wicked as the Peckhams, if that’s even possible. Lonnie was tight with all the Peckhams, and they trusted him and his kin. So when Lonnie vouched for Jimmy Hill, as he was called, they were satisfied. They made him part of the family, took him hunting and fishing and invited him to their parties. Over time, Willy started to include him in some of the business stuff. He said Jimmy was smart and savvy. Willy liked him a lot, which was amazing because he didn’t like anyone except his own people.”

“How did he find out Jimmy was actually a federal agent named Avery Hill?”

“After twenty-two of them was arrested, including two of his three sons, one of his daughters, three of Willy’s brothers and six nephews. Willy said he was going to have Hill disemboweled the first chance he got.”

Sam cringed as she realized Avery was lucky he’d “only” been shot.

“He would’ve done it, too, if Hill had been home that night. Willy would’ve made his pretty wife watch when he gutted him like a pig.”

Thank God Avery had been in Cleveland, dealing with the case against Nick’s mother when the Peckhams broke into his home.

“What can you tell me about Willy’s son Harlan?”

She seemed surprised by the question. “What about him?”

“I understand he managed to elude prosecution.”

“Yes, he was never read his rights, so they dismissed the case against him.”

“He must’ve been pretty upset when his parents, siblings, uncles and cousins were locked up.”

“Hardly. He loved it. He was finally free of his father and could run his own operation, making use of the Peckham name to get things done. He was very busy while they were gone.”

“What else was he busy doing?”

“Mostly drugs. He’s a major meth dealer and has ventured into fentanyl, from what I’m told. I haven’t seen him in a while, thankfully. I was always terrified of him.”

Sam’s skin crawled at the mention of the poisonous substance that had killed Spencer. “What else can you tell me about Harlan?”

“Harlan is as mean as his father. He’s spent his whole life trying to get his father’s approval. He’s small for a man, and Willy was relentless about that, always after him for being a runt. Harlan turned himself into a machine so no one could ever screw with him, but even that didn’t impress his father. Nothing did.”

“Would killing the U.S. Attorney who put them in prison and trying to kill the FBI agent who built the case impress his father?”

The question brought Amber up short. “Are you saying he did that?”

---