Page 33 of The Chain House
“Did he live on the Freedom Ranch?”
“Yes.”
Sam felt himself gaining steam, like this was the interview he’d been promised earlier in true form. “Has this person murdered more people than just Miranda Knox?”
“Many more.”
“And do you know where those bodies are buried too?”
“Yes, and so does Mallard Malone.”
Sam paused, shared a look with the warden, who then asked, “Are you telling me there are more buried bodies described in detail, in those books?”
“My books …”
The warden continued undeterred, “That point to where bodies are buried in real life?”
“Have you not read the Mallard Malone novels, Warden Adrian Wren?”
“I have not.”
“Sam Harper?”
“A couple of them.”
Sal scoffed. “A couple of them.” After a beat, where Sal watched out the window as a bird flew by, he said, “Out of the seven Mallard Malone novels, there are eighteen instances where I refer to burials. In detail.”
“Jesus Christ,” said Warden Wren. “Eighteen victims?”
“Unfortunately,” Sal said. “Their bodies are buried all over the country.”
“And you know this how?” asked Sam.
“He told me.”
“Who?”
“The man who killed them.”
Warden Wren pounded his desktop. “Stop fucking around, Sal. What’s his name?”
“I’m not a rat.”
Sam looked up. “Justice Minks?”
Sal looked at him and pointed to his nose.
“So he does exist.”
“You’ve done your homework, Sam Harper.”
Warden Wren scribbled on his notepad and looked up at Sal. “Eighteen victims. All murdered and buried by a man named Justice Minks?”
“Although I seriously doubt that’s what he calls himself nowadays.”
“When did he join The Collective?” Sam asked.
“I don’t recall exactly when.”
