Though, sometimes, I still may have to amuse myself.

Acknowledgments

For all those times the students I worked with asked, “Mr. Broaddus, is there something of yours I can read?” and I looked them in the eye, considered my portfolio, and said “no” (because your parents would kill me), the answer is now yes.

So, for the students and faculty at The Oaks Academy Middle School and the Snack’s Crossing Elementary School, thank you for the inspiration and opportunities to work for you.

For the patient, guiding hand of my editor, Claudia Gabel.

For my agent, Jennifer Udden, since this is the project that began our relationship.

For all the librarians at ALA who encouraged me to write this in the first place (a wise writer always listens to the advice of librarians).

For my sons, Reese and Malcolm, for whom the dynamic of Thelonius and Nehemiah (and far too many of their antics) should seem familiar. And, lastly, for my wife, Sally, who still lives in a state of complete denial about the “here’s my neck” scene.

For all of you, and all those who’ve gone unnamed who have loved and supported me so well over the years, I say thank you.

About the Author

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A community organizer and teacher, MAURICE BROADDUS has written and edited short stories for a number of magazines as well as authoring several novels and novellas for adults. He is the author of the urban fantasy trilogy The Knights of Breton Court and he cowrote the play Finding Home: Indiana at 200. He also writes for the Marvel Super Heroes, Leverage, and Firefly role-playing games as well as working as a consultant on Watch Dogs 2. Learn more about him at www.mauricebroaddus.com.

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Copyright

Katherine Tegen Books is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS. Copyright © 2019 by Maurice Broaddus. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

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Cover art © 2019 by Richie Pope

Cover design by Laura Eckes

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018962176

Digital Edition MAY 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-279633-2

Print ISBN: 978-0-06-279631-8 (trade bdg.)

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FIRST EDITION

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