Page 37 of Praying Mantis

Louisa crawled into our bed after three a.m. I heard her come in and go straight to the shower. She cuddles into my back, waking me up as I smell lavender tickling my nose.

“Hey, baby.” I move to my back pulling her on top of me. “Are you okay? You’re shivering.”

“It’s the adrenaline from a kill. I always shake from the thrill of doing it and getting away without being noticed.” She winks at me, teasing me how the FBI can’t catch her. I tickle her ribcage. I move her to her back kissing her.

“I love you. I hope you know that,” I whisper.

“I love you too.” I move down her body to kiss her neck. She arches into me. I know she’s feeling the rush of adrenaline but soon she’s going to crash. As much as I want to fuck her, knowing her eyes are closing, I kiss her then pull her back into the nook of my arm to hold her close. We know once people find out Colin is dead, I’ll be called in. We need to be rested and ready.

The next day I head into work like I know nothing is wrong. Tony is sitting at his desk checking his computer for something. He spots me and nods.

“Did the girlfriend get pissed you came home smelling like a cigar?”

“Nah. She was happy I went out with friends. Louisa is getting to know Mom and making sure she’s not lonely at night. I guess some of their book club friends were reading together over the phone. I don’t understand it, but whatever floats their boat.” I shrug.

“What mommy porn are they reading now?”

“I don’t know. It’s the latest Debbie Mitchell. Apparently, my mom is going nuts over the guy on the cover. Some Matthew guy. That’s all I heard, mostly about his abs she could bounce a quarter off. I tuned them out talking about some guy’s ass and how bitable it was.” Tony is roaring laughing, knowing how my mom has always been reserved when my dad’s men were around. Tony knows my mom like the book club mom.

“Agent Fortin.” My boss, Donald Frost, Supervisory Special Agent, stands there, towering over me.

“Yes, sir.” I go to stand. He walks away and I follow him. Tony follows us.

“Randall, why are you here?” SSA Frost speaks once we’re behind closed doors.

“I figured if you needed my partner, you needed me too.” Frost stares at him but doesn’t tell him to leave.

“How do you know Colin O’Sullivan?”

“He knew my father. Why?” I raise an eyebrow at him. I’m trying not to give anything away.

“They found him dead this morning. You two head over there. You’re not there as an agent, but more as someone with information.” I nod and quickly leave the room. Once I grab my stuff from my desk, Tony and I head to the elevator.

“You want to tell me now?” I shake my head. Nothing is safe right now, especially within the walls of the FBI. My resignation is sitting in my drafts in my emails waiting to be sent. I meant to do it as soon as I arrived, but someone found Colin faster than I would’ve liked.

ME: They found Colin. On my way to the house.

Louisa has taught me burner phones protect us, so I’m using one to contact her.

LOUISA: We know. Finn is here waiting for you to contact him.

ME: Show him this message. Finn, don’t leave the fucking house until I get there. Protect those two women with your life. Call men you trust not close to Colin.

LOUISA: Will do is what he tells me

ME: I love you

LOUISA: I love you too. Please be careful

I put the phone away as Tony drives us to the crime scene. I know where he lives as I’ve been here before, so I navigate him. We walk up the steps to the apartment building my dad owns and ride another elevator to the penthouse suite. Dad gave him the apartment for being his second in command. I wonder if Finn would like to live here or maybe even Tony. I know Tony will never leave the FBI but maybe we can work something out once I leave my job for my calling.

“Colin was a real son of a bitch, huh?” Tony breaks the silence.

“You don’t even know the half of it,” I mutter to him as we get off and see Agent Drummer waiting by the door. She must’ve known we were coming.

“Boys.” She nods. “I’m not supposed to let you in here, but I need you to look around to see if this is something out of character for him.” I stare at her like she sprouted another head. A bullet to the head is usually out of character for most people, but I don’t say it. I follow her lead. As I’m walking through the apartment, she explains there is about a million dollars of cocaine and fentanyl found throughout the apartment. Internally, I’m smiling to myself because I already knew.

“He doesn’t do drugs. Never touched the stuff. His mom died of a drug overdose when he was close to turning eighteen. I remember he was always on me about never using it when he wasn’t being a dick.”

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