Page 9 of Say Nothing
"Yeah, unfortunately, I do," she admitted.
"Alright, so who is she?"Karter asked.He indicated one final time and pulled to a stop out front of the apartment building, thirty feet from the front door."Can't we just go in and pick this guy up?"
"They want us to wait for backup, so that’s what we’ll do, and to answer your questions, Dr.Payne is one of the leading doctors in the field of criminal psychology.It’s thanks to her that the most dangerous criminals are behind bars, and her research has furthered criminal psychology so much that she’s responsible for dozens of criminals being caught that never would have been.Heck, she’d ever run down a couple of serial killers herself."
"So, like a pair of human handcuffs, in a way, then," Karter noted.
"No, nothing like that at all," Samantha replied."I might go in and grab Howard myself just to end this conversation."
"I have some chips in the back," Karter said.
"All right, I’ll stay for now," Samantha said.She reached back and grabbed the sealed bag, opening it and offering the chips to Karter first.He took a handful and began work on them as they both stared at the door.
"I almost didn't know what to say to her," Samantha admitted."She’s been a hero of mine for some time, and I didn't want to mess up."
"And did you?"
"I handled myself well.I took her through the crime scene and gave her the facts.I don't think I forgot anything.It was amazing just to see her work and listen to her think out loud.She has this aura about her."
"Like a superhero," Karter commented.
"She might be the best profiler in the state, maybe the county, male or female."
"This seems pretty cut and dry," Karter pointed out."Do we even need her on the case?"
"It doesn’t matter," Samantha said."It’s just amazing to have her around.She’s done so much to further the acceptance of females in law enforcement.It’s a constant battle for any woman in this line of work, and I’ve had to work twice as hard as any man in the same position."
"You work three times as hard as I do," Karter commented.
"I’m not joking," Samantha said.
"Neither am I.I know how hard you’ve worked for this.I might be an annoying jerk most of the time, but I’d back you over anyone.You deserve to be where you are because of who you are, and you have worked harder than anyone else.There’s no one I’d rather have by my side."
Samantha patted her partner on the arm."See, you’re not a total jerk."
Karter smiled.
Not everyone was as understanding or supportive as Karter.She knew that Dr.Payne must have undergone similar treatment in her career, and she’d risen above it all.She’d gotten to heights that most women could only dream of.
Samantha still felt an excitement inside at meeting one of her heroes.A part of her hoped the case was at an end once Franklin Howard was brought in, but she also wanted more time to work with Dr.Payne.
For now, she crunched on some chips as they conducted their stakeout that shouldn’t last more than ten minutes—backup was en route.Howard was deemed a dangerous suspect, but she and her partner had taken down dangerous subjects before.She might have gone in with Karter if Dr.Payne was not part of the case, but she needed to do everything properly and by the book, so she couldn’t be blamed if anything went wrong.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Karter said."What’s this?"
They watched as Franklin Howard emerged from the main entrance to the apartment building holding a large duffel bag in one hand.He looked both ways down the street before walking quickly away from them.
"We can't wait for backup," Samantha said."He looks like he’s packed up and making a getaway, doesn’t he?"
"Classic duffel bag," Karter said."We can't let him out of our sight, or we might never see him again.If he gets into a vehicle, he could leave the city."
"The state," Samantha added.
The two detectives exited the vehicle and started after Franklin, walking quickly to close the gap, then matching his pace to follow wherever he was going.
"Ten bucks says he makes a run for it," Karter said.
"No deal," Samantha said."Look how on edge he looks.One glance behind and he’ll make us.Just be ready to run if he does."
