Free THE 13: STAND BOOK TWO by ROBBIE CHEUVRONT AND ERIK REED WITH SHAWN ALLEN Page B

diner and had picked it specifically for talking with Peterson. She put the lever in P ARK and shut off the key.
    “Okay, now that everyone knows everyone, let’s talk. What do you know?”
    Peterson shifted again in his seat so that he was facing both of them. “About a week ago, I got a call. Got an old friend used to be heavily involved in the political goings-on in Raleigh. He calls me and asks if I know about a guy named Gavin Pemberton. Well, I tell him I’ve never heard of him, but that doesn’t mean anything, and I ask why. He tells me that this guy, Pemberton, is a mean ol’ son of a…well, you know. Says Pemberton has his fingers in everything down here. Comes from old money. Tobacco. Family’s been in the business for over two hundred years. Anyway, says Pemberton likes to stick his nose in places it doesn’t belong.”
    “Like where?” Megan asked.
    “Like everywhere.” Peterson laughed. “Including politics. Seems this guy has been single-handedly responsible for the last four gubernatorial wins in the state.”
    “How’s that?” Eli asked.
    “Money, son. Money! Heck, everyone knows—well, you might not, being a Brit and all, but you,”—he pointed to Megan—“you know how that game works. Whoever has the most money runs the show.”
    Megan shrugged. “Mr. Peterson, people have been saying that for years, but you just can’t say—”
    “Then you’re naive, young lady!” Peterson’s demeanor changed suddenly. His eyes narrowed and his lip drew tight. “Listen, I may be old, but I’m not senile. I’ve been around this ball of mud and doing this job longer than both of you. So don’t patronize me.”
    Megan pushed back in her seat. Peterson’s sudden change caught her off guard. “I wasn’t trying to—”
    “Never mind,” Peterson cut her off. “I didn’t mean to bark at you like that. Sorry. But that doesn’t change the fact that politics is politics. Money talks, young lady. And I’m telling you, this Pemberton is bad news. I asked around a little and nobody, and I mean nobody, will talk about him.”
    Megan looked over her shoulder at Eli. “So what do you think?”
    “I think Mr. Peterson, here, isn’t being completely forthcoming.”
    “Yeah.”
    Peterson lowered his eyes.
    “Mr. Peterson…”
    “Oh, all right!” He shifted in his seat again and folded his arms over his chest. “I might’ve heard about a judge that Pemberton is close with. If someone knows anything about what Pemberton’s up to, he’d know.”
    “Name?” Megan said impatiently.
    “Milton Hayes.”
    “Where can I find him?” Megan asked.
    “Well, I’m told he comes in that diner, which I was sitting in before you so rudely removed me, every morning and afternoon for coffee.”
    Megan looked over the seat. “Eli?”
    “I think it would behoove us to find this Judge Hayes and see what he knows.”
    She bit her bottom lip and narrowed her eyes. “My thoughts exactly.”
    “What about me?” It was Peterson.
    Megan turned the key and pulled the shift lever. “We’ll drop you back off at your car. And then you can drive yourself back to Newport News. How’s that?”
    Peterson turned back around in his seat, facing the front. “Guess I don’t have much choice.”
    Megan didn’t even look at him. “Nope. And that comes directly from Jennings.”

CHAPTER 15
Boston, Massachusetts
    A lex Smith gathered her things and made her way off the G-5, Farid Naser following behind. There was a car waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs. They threw their bags in the trunk and got inside.
    Alex had told Farid not to say anything once they landed; they should just be completely silent. If there needed to be any talking, she would handle it. The driver got back inside after closing the trunk and, keeping his head facing forward, reached his hand over the headrest.
    “I was told you would have an address for me?”
    Alex placed a folded piece of paper inside the driver’s hand. The driver