Malicious by James Patterson

Author:James Patterson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Published: 2017-02-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

WHEN I START to concentrate on a case like this, I often lose track of time. The only thing I remember to do is my paper route early in the morning. I got up before dawn, like I do every single day, and delivered my papers. I do it not only because I get a regular paycheck, but because I know that I’m the lifeline to a number of elderly residents around Marlboro. It makes me get up every morning. I like to say hello and chat for a few seconds if one of my customers happens to be outside. I needed a regular, uneventful morning like this.

By midday, I was back in Newburgh and looking for Alton Beatty. The condescending little turd needed to have some answers for me or this would be an unpleasant day. It didn’t take long to track down his Cadillac in the parking lot of the Budstop.

By now I had switched modes completely. I wasn’t only a private investigator, I was the brother of a guy falsely accused of murder. My mom was depending on me. That meant something. At least to me.

I stepped through the side door of the bar. I didn’t see the big bodyguard, but Blade’s head snapped up as soon as I came into view. Alton was sitting in a booth reading a New York Times. He hopped to his feet as soon as he saw me.

He said, “Don’t you know that it isn’t polite to drop by without calling first? You Yankees sure don’t have the manners of us folks from the Midwest. Why are you bothering me again? I told you everything I knew yesterday.”

I glanced around the room quickly and noted that Blade stepped around the bar, ready to take action. “Where’s your big bodyguard?”

“At the doctor having his fractured jaw fixed. I ought to bill you for the damage.”

“Or invest in a better bodyguard.”

“You’re wasting my time, Mitchum. I got things to do. What do you want?”

“Let’s say I believe you didn’t kill Pete Stahl. You’ve gotta have an idea who did.”

“You asking me as the town genius or as someone involved in the industry?”

“I didn’t realize you were a genius.”

“Not everyone does. Usually I call those people idiots. I’m guessing you went to a state school of some kind.”

“I’m asking if you heard anything in your position as a local drug dealer.”

“You trying to insult me? It sounds like you’re talking down to me. Frankly, you’re not smart enough to talk down to me. No one is. I don’t appreciate that sort of attitude in my business.”

That was one sentence too many from this little prick. “Do you appreciate this?” I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him close to me. “My brother is in deep shit for something he didn’t do. I think you have information that can help me clear him. And you’re gonna start talking. Right. Fucking. Now.”

As soon as I released him, Alton took a step away and reached behind his back.

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