Page 23 of Special Agent Murphy

Chapter Sixteen

Kayti hadn’t expected the level of understanding her partner had shown the Senator and his wife. He’d been kind but firm, and no one with any brains could fault his demeanor nor his ability to make miracles happen. The trust inspired by his self-confidence gave no room for any doubts.

Following him to his vehicle, she watched him handle the monster as if born to do so. Nothing fazed him as they raced to the address he’d delivered to the GPS. Not only did he drive like a pro, his strong hands whipped the wheel with perfect timing for every corner. He looked at her trying to appear nonchalant when her innards were wanting out.

“You okay?”

“Sure. No problem. I hope this is a good lead. I want to find this girl. She seemed like a nice kid and must be terrified out there alone with those weirdos. She—”

“Then why are you gripping your door handle like that?”

Not realizing what she’d been doing, Kayti sat back and shook off her unease. “Must still be reacting to the accidents earlier. I’m fine. Why did the agent back there call you Black?” Murphy’s quick grin made her even more curious.

“It’s an old nickname not many of the guys know.”

“It’s a strange nickname. Is there a reason for that particular word?”

He didn’t answer. And silence not suiting her, she continued. “I have a nickname too. My real name is Katherine but most everyone calls me Kayti. I like the shorter version. My mother always used Katherine whenever she got angry with me, so now it makes me uncomfortable.”

Ignoring her yattering, Murphy checked the estimated time of arrival and got them there just as the others were seen a block over.

He drove past the address, and she saw an empty lot where an old, unpainted shed sat near the back, locked up tight. Silver foil and cardboard window coverings gave the place an appearance of down-and-out slum.

Taking lead, Murphy called the others to be ready to move in. They parked the car a few doors down. He stepped out in front, and she followed. Like him, she had her gun in her hands but held low.

Once they were in position, four other agents, all wearing FBI vests started forward and surrounded the small boarded-up building. Within seconds, using hand signals from Murphy, they’d breached the door and were inside.

The old lady sleeping on a cot against the far wall arched herself into a ball at the end of her bed, her hands clutching rag covers up to her face, her screams unbearably loud.

Kayti pushed aside the store cart and got close enough to see the fancy black band on her wrist and her wildly beating heart stalled before it started up again in its regular beat.

Calming the bag lady and reassuring her they wouldn’t steal her belongings, Kayti asked the question, “Ma’am, where did you get that Fitbit?”

Looking completely out of it, her eyes darting everywhere, never stopping long enough to make contact, the woman whined, “Didn’t do nuthin’. Finders, keepers. Maddie didn’t do bad.”

Kayti soothed the poor old skinny female. Heart sore for the wretchedness of another human being in such shape, she started over. “Of course, you didn’t steal it, Maddie. We just want to know where you found it.” She pointed at the Fitbit and shock hit when the old tramp tried pulling it off, scratching at her arm and leaving gouges from her dirty long fingernails.

Kayti, sensing Murphy’s anxiousness, was thrilled that he’d stepped back and let her handle the situation.

“Maddie, please. Let me help you.” A sudden thought snuck in and Kayti decided to go with it. She pulled a twenty from her pocket and held it out. “Did you know there’s a reward for the watch?”

Money might be the root of all evil, but the old lady knew the worth of a twenty and it stilled her craziness. A crafty look appeared. She held her arm out in Kayti’s direction with an unmistakable invitation.

Gently, Kayti removed the Fitbit while asking again, “Maddie, where did you find this?”

Staring at the money on Kayti’s knee, her eyes never leaving it, she mumbled something.

“I didn’t hear you, Maddie. You need to speak up.”

“I says I found it dis morning in front of da store up the street. Vinnie’s place. It’s on the ground outside. I never stole it.”

“What time did you find it?”

“Don’ know.”

Passing over the money and having it snatched from her hand, Kayti moved out of the way as Maddie, remarkably spry, lunged from the bed and began gathering her belongings. Muttering constantly, the old woman in men’s clothes, her white hair streaming in a matted mass down her back, stumbled around the small space before she pushed her way past the others milling around outside. With her cart in front of her, she hurried away.

Murphy stood aside and nodded to let her go. “She’s got nothing to hide. We’ll go to Vinnie’s place and check it out. I’ll just let the others get back to their desks.”

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