Page 2 of So Twisted

“Oh shit!” Marcus hissed. “Shit!”

This was why he wanted a gun. Damn it, he knew this was going to happen. He reached for the bear spray they gave him instead of a gun.

And because he was freaking worthless, he dropped it. It fell to the ground and clattered underneath the gate and out to the parking lot.

Marcus turned back to the cat and lifted his hand. “Okay,” he said, his voice shaky. “Nice kitty. Please don’t hurt me.”

The panther stood on its hind legs and unzipped its fur. It pulled something from inside itself out and approached Marcus. The “something” looked like a stick with a box with box cutter blades on the end. Marcus blinked and tried to process what he was seeing. “What the hell?”

The “panther” lunged forward. The stick thing slammed into Marcus’s neck, and the box snapped shut. Box cutters pierced Marcus’s throat, severing his windpipe along with both carotid arteries. His last thought as he fell was that he would never get a chance to be a good person after all.

CHAPTER ONE

Special Agent Faith Bold of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office approached Special Agent Julia Chavez of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and gave the younger agent a smile. Chavez blanched, and Faith resisted the urge to roll her eyes. For God’s sake, why was Chavez so afraid of her?

“Hey, Julia,” she said. “I’m heading to the Hoagie Hub for a cheesesteak. You want one?”

“Uh, uh… Yeah. Sure.” Chavez blinked and managed a smile herself. She seemed a little embarrassed at her initial reaction. “Yeah, I could go for a sandwich. I’ll see if Des wants to come.”

Faith frowned. “Des?”

Chavez reddened. “Special Agent Desrouleaux.”

“Oh, right.”

It was well known at the office that Chavez had a massive crush on her partner. It was equally well-known that Desrouleaux was aware of the crush and wasn’t interested but was too chicken to tell her. Faith thought the whole thing was rather silly. Just admit your feelings and move on.

Like you’re one to talk.

Faith grimaced inwardly. She was planning on breaking up with her boyfriend, David, because she wasn’t ready for the future he wanted. But she hadn’t. Instead, she had used her need to keep a low profile for a while as an excuse for moving an hour away to Allentown instead of moving in with him.

Then there was the little thing about her unresolved feelings for her own partner.

“Hey, Des,” Chavez said. “Faith and I are going for sandwiches. You want to come?”

She paled again. “Des” must have said no. Meaning Chavez was going to be alone with Faith.

“Um… maybe I’ll just order to go and bring one back for you?” Chavez said hopefully.

No dice. She paled further and said, “Yeah, sure. I’ll… I’ll do that.”

She hung up and sighed heavily, then gave Faith a forced smile and said too brightly. “Okay! Let’s go get some lunch!”

Do the other agents tell ghost stories about me around the campfire or something?“Let’s do it,” she replied, matching Chavez’s bubbliness.

They started out of the building, and Faith struggled not to laugh at Chavez’s stiff posture. Chavez looked around and frowned. “Where’s Turk?”

“He’s got the day off,” Faith said. “Well, from work, anyway. It’s time for his semiannual checkup, and I let David keep him for the day.”

Chavez’s demeanor softened. “You’re so lucky to have David. I’m so glad things are working out for you guys. I wish I had something like that.”

Faith stiffened a little and hoped that didn’t show on her face. “Thank you. So none of the boys are having any luck with you?”

Chavez laughed. “It’s not for want of trying. But no, I mean… None of them are my type.”

No, you like old, cranky Louisiana boys.Aloud, she said, “Well, you should let yourself have some fun.”

“Yeah. Maybe.”

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