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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Derek started with Ben Martino

His gut instinct had always been that Martino was the weakest link So Derek had decided to save his visit to Wallace Johnson for later, and see if he could rattle Martino and get some information

He waited until two o’clock That meant lunchtime was over, and Martino had doubtless had his share of drinks, and then some The consequence of that would be lowered defenses and a looser tongue

Wearing jeans and a T-shirt, Derek hung out near Martino’sfactory on East Broadway until a delivery boy finally exited the building

Derek approached hi his thumb in the direction of the factory “Hey, I have to see Martino about an order for my company Is he in there now?”

“Yeah,” the teenager replied, barely breaking stride or glancing up “He’s in the front office”

“Thanks” Derek had his answer He also had the very thing he’d hoped for going for him—the element of surprise

He headed inside

Ben Martino was right where the delivery boy had said Through the office’s glass pane, Derek could see hi papers around on his desk He was in a visibly agitated state, and pretty loaded, too, judging from the uncapped, half-e repeated swigs from

Derek gave a brief knock and walked in

“What?” Martino snapped, not abandoning his paper-hurling, not even glancing up

“Mr Martino, I’d like a few minutes of your time”

Now, Martino’s head snapped up He gazed at Derek through glazed, bloodshot eyes “Do I know you?” he asked in a slightly slurred voice

“Special Agent Derek Parker,” Derek replied