Malone darted forward. Petkoff caught him neatly with one arm as he went by. “Until we decide what to do,” the MVD man said, “you stay here.” Malone bucked against him, but could get nowhere. “Meanwhile,” Petkoff said, “I am for letting you go.”
“I appreciate it,” Malone said through his teeth. “How about proving it?”
“If you let him go,” a lumpy man said, “you will answer to our group head.”
Petkoff tightened his hold protectively. Meanwhile, the civilian was climbing up into a stratospheric rage.
“You are dolts, imbeciles, worms without brains and walking bellies filled with carrion!” he said magnificently. “I have orders which I am sworn to carry out!”
“You are not alone,” Petkoff said.
Malone took another try at a getaway, and failed.
“We take precedence,” a lumpy man said. “We can talk later. Arrest comes first.”
“But who?” the civilian snapped. “I insist—”
“There shall be no arrest!” Petkoff screamed. “No one is to be arrested at all!”