Page 129 of State of Retribution

“Wondering if you can help me find out if Paul Conklin has moved?”

“Give me one second to boot up my laptop.I just got home.”

“Thanks so much for the after-hours help.”

“No problem.How’s Holland?I saw the shit on the news today.Feels like a smear job, if you ask me.”

“That’s how we’re viewing it, too.”

“I don’t see any updates to his residency.”Sullivan rattled off the address where they currently were.“That’s what we have on record.”

“Thanks, man.Appreciate it.”

“Any time.”

“No change of residency reported to parole,” Freddie told Malone.

He’d no sooner said the words than a sound from inside had them reaching for their weapons.

Chapter Twenty-Six

“What do you want?”Conklin called.

“Open the fucking door,” Malone said.“Right now, or I’ll kick it in.”

The click of locks disengaging preceded the door opening to a man Freddie wouldn’t have recognized as Conklin if he’d seen him somewhere else.He’d aged ten years and gained more than twenty pounds, if not more.In addition, he hadn’t shaved or combed his hair in days.

“Again, what do you want?”

“What’ve you done?”Malone asked.

“What’re you talking about?”

“You know exactly what I mean.Who’ve you been running your mouth to?”

“I haven’t talked to anyone in weeks.”

“If I dump your phone, will I find out that you’re still a fucking liar?”

Conklin’s eyes shifted ever so slightly, but Malone saw it.

“You fucking rat!What’ve you done?”

“I needed the money, Jake.”

Freddie’s stomach dropped to his feet.

Malone moved lightning-fast and had Conklin cuffed, the cell phone out of his pants pocket, and was hauling him out of the house before Freddie had a second to catch up.

“What the fuck?” Conklin shouted.“You can’t just arrest me.”

“Wanna bet?You’re under arrest for aiding and abetting a crime.That charge ought to be familiar to you.”As Malone marched Conklin to the SUV, he recited his Miranda rights before stuffing him into the back seat and slamming the door.

“Go back and make sure the door is locked so he can’t blame us if the place gets tossed.”

Freddie jogged to the stairs, took them two at a time and pulled the door closed, testing the door lock to make sure.Then he returned to the SUV.“All set.”

“Thanks.”As they drove toward the District, Malone radiated with fury.“You know what never ceases to amaze me, Cruz?”

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