Page 68 of The Chain House

“Again, from what I hear …”

Carl said, “You must have big ears.”

“Batise isn’t the only one with connections.”

“What are you hearing?” Jennifer asked.

“That Minks is holding Beth Hawthorne for ransom, to ensure Batise is executed on schedule. And that Batise is claiming he knows where the governor’s sister is buried, and he’s holding that back to get another stay of execution.”

“Nice,” Jennifer said. “And you’re staying mum on this bit of knowledge?”

“No,” he said. “The news needs to be reported.”

“Even if it means putting someone’s life in danger?”

“Or it could help keep her alive,” he said. “Two sides to every coin, Ms. Daley.”

“More like the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other,” she said. She got out her phone and sent Sam a quick text: I know you hate me right now but someone inside the prison is leaking information.

She turned to go and again Martin’s voice stopped her. “You managed to do something I have never been able to do in twenty years, Ms. Daley.”

“And that is?”

“A personal interview with Sal Batise.”

“I rode someone’s coattails,” she said.

“But deserving all the same,” he said, as if for the first time throwing her an olive branch. But she hated olives. He said, “I’ve also never managed to get one-on-ones with any of Sal’s Angels.”

“Maybe it’s your bedside manner,” Carl said.

Martin ignored him. “Or maybe because I was never one of them.”

“Just because I was on the ranch as a kid,” Jennifer said defensively, “doesn’t make me one of them. I wasn’t there by choice.”

“Of course not,” he said. “I didn’t mean to imply you were. All I’m saying is, you managed to get in with Batise this morning. If you want to know more about Justice Minks, you might see if you can talk to his Angels.”

“What makes you think they’ll let me in?”

“Because Beth Hawthorne’s life is on the line,” he said. “And I have a feeling one of them might talk to you.”

“Who?”

“Nancy Tanner,” he said. “At trial, she was the only one to speak of Justice Minks.”

“Which is probably not even his real name.”

“Of course it isn’t,” Martin said. “Nobody has ever been able to figure out who he was. But I saw your sketch of him on the news. And I think that’s a start.”

“What makes you think she’ll talk to me?”

“She was always the weakest link of the three. She’s had twenty years of multiple life sentences to think on it.” He pulled a business card from his shirt pocket, held it out. “I want to help bring closure to this. I know Beth Hawthorne, and I want to see her back home alive.”

She snatched the card and slid it into her pocket.

“And Minks,” he said. “He’s calling himself Oliver Crown now.”

“Lovely,” Jennifer said.