Page 15 of The Heat of Intensity

“Definitely.” I shoot a glance across the room at Parker who is now leaning over a laptop accompanied by Walker and Luke. “Best medicine ever. I feel like a 2.0 version of myself: completely updated and recharged.”

Kathleen grins. “I’m happy for you. Now, about the creepy fucker–”

“Kathleen, look,” Walker rumbles.

We get to our feet and wander over to where the guys are sitting behind the laptop. The screen is frozen and Walker hits play when we’re all watching. An old pickup truck is parked alongside the road. Someone gets out and jogs toward the house.

The closer he gets the more he comes into view. The video is a bit blurry and with my limited vision it’s not easy to see, but from what I can tell? I don’t recognize him. Walker switches screens and the man pops up on another angle.

“I know him from somewhere,” Parker muses.

“Yeah, me too,” Kathleen mutters. “Isn’t that the son of the owner of the feed store?”

“Yes, Murphy Denver, I recognize him as well,” Luke states. “I was at the feed store earlier this week and his father, Bennie, pointed his kid out to me. He was complaining about how some people have the drive to work while others are plain lazy. Then he rambled about how Murphy was from a generation that had different things that he had. How the old man never watched TV or had a phone.”

“Murphy Denver was adopted by Bennie and his wife after his sister was killed in a car accident. Murphy was eight years old at the time.”

We all turn to Kathleen who is swiping the screen of her phone.

As silence proceeds she looks up and says, “What?”

“How did you get the info that fast?” Luke asks what everyone is wondering.

Kathleen shrugs. “I have files on most people in town.”

Parker chuckles and shakes his head. “I’m pretty sure that’s not normal, Sheriff.”

“Fuck normal. I like to be prepared in case shit hits the fan.” Her eyes widen and she holds her hand out to block something from her view. “Oh, ew, that’s more of you than I ever wanted to see, Parker. Turn it off.”

“Dude. You have an abnormal addiction,” Walker grumbles.

“Fuck that, how does that dude ride a horse with a cock and balls loaded up with all that hardware, that’s the question we all need the answer to,” Luke rumbles.

I snicker, Kathleen chuckles, and Parker shakes his head.

“No, really, I need to know, man,” Luke tries again.

Parker flips him off. “What we need to know is the location of that Murphy fucker and to throw his ass in jail. Though, he might be at the hospital or the doctor in town ’cause I shot him.”

“I already put a deputy on it when you mentioned you shot him.” Kathleen thumbs through her phone. “So far there aren’t any recent reports of anyone being treated at the hospital for a gunshot wound. They will give us a call if a patient with that kind of injury shows up.”

She nods and shoves her phone back into her pocket. “I would advise you two to stay here in case Murphy shows up again. Parker shooting him might have put an end to the stalker issue, however worst case scenario would have shit escalating and him showing up with a gun to take Parker out of the picture. We all know Bennie has a safe filled with weapons so Murphy would have easy access. Like I said, I’d rather Parker have backup. I would do it myself, but I’m completely beat and would fall asleep with my damn eyes open.”

“You can sleep in the guest room if you’d like,” I offer. “The bed is made and you could rest right now.”

Kathleen shoots me a thankful look. “Really? That would be amazing, thanks.” She pins the men with a firm look. “Wake me up if there are any developments.”

She doesn’t wait for a reply but stalks away toward the guest room.

“Are you guys hungry?” I ask and all three heads turn to me.

“Hell yes,” Walker grunts while Luke states at the same time, “I could eat.”

I feel Parker’s fingers wrap around my wrist and I turn my head to face him.

“I’ll help,” he murmurs and gently tugs my arm to follow him into the kitchen.

Parker lifts his chin in greeting to the man who is fixing the window. I have no clue how Parker was able to get someone here this fast to replace the glass, but I’m thankful for sure.

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