Page 4 of Special Agent Murphy

Chapter Three

Kayti couldn’t shut up. Nervousness always transformed her from an intelligent human being into an idiot. Talking released the pressure before her brain blew up and the pain brought her to her knees.

Not too blind, she knew it drove the man next to her crazy. Hell, it acted the same way on her, but the mouth kept working without her permission. Once she could relax in his presence, the stupid weakness would disappear… or so it had in the past.

Another old habit suddenly appeared; her hand continually yanked at her long hair, curling strands around her finger like some nervous Nelly.

Feelings of insecurity were always close. Knowing that her soft heart could be her worst weakness, Kayti tried hard to show a persona to be respected. Most of the people she worked with knew her for who she really was.

The kind who’d go out of her way to be a good person. Would sit up all night to support a colleague in trouble. A woman who always got suckered by a sob story. And don’t get her started about seeing a male in tears. No way could she watch a TV program or go to a movie and sit through watching an actor break down without dissolving into a puddle herself.

Since she’d started working for the FBI, she’d tried to reel in her weaknesses. As others told her – grow some balls, and don’t be so thin-skinned – but it didn’t happen.

All she had going for her could be counted on one hand. Intelligence, a mind like a steel trap for remembering everything of importance, good looks that she didn’t take any credit for and a body built to fight.

Knowing her talent could save her life one day, from the time she’d made up her mind to become a cop, she’d begun acing martial arts classes and honing herself – her skills and her speed.

At a bar one night, she’d sat with some of her colleagues, watching them get more and more plastered, while she kept up with them drink for drink and could still walk a straight line. They’d taken their turns telling tales of what made them decide to be police officers.

Many of the stories were heart-wrenching – from watching parents get killed, to being abused, to following in the family footsteps.

For everyone there, cops were either involved or had made an impact. All great reasons for choosing this career. When they looked her way, expecting her story to equal theirs, she blushed and admitted, “I liked watching Cagney and Lacey.”

When the rest of them broke into gales of laughter, she kind of giggled along. Not wanting to delve too closely into the real reasons she’d made this choice, she let it drop. When the hilarity stopped, she tried to come clean. “Okay, I wanted to help people too.” But it was too late. Some of the others started called her Cagney and it stuck.

What was it about being a law officer that was so important she’d never considered any other career? She hadn’t divulged her real reason and most likely never would. People just wouldn’t understand her desperate need for respect.

Another bodily consequence she suffered when nervous became the most annoying of all. Normally, her bladder could be relied on like a septic tank, she could hold on forever. But not when in a situation that had her reacting like a yappy energizer bunny. She needed to relieve herself, and it had to be now.

Making her excuse to Agent Asshole, she headed into the bar and straight for the ladies’ room. Aiming for a stall, she barely made it before disgracing herself. Voices in the outer room suddenly came through loud and clear.

“My dad would kill me if he knew I was in a place like this, Gina.”

“Jesus, Mini, just because he’s a U.S. Senator doesn’t mean you can’t live your life and have some fun.”

“It’s Misti.”

“Forgive me, I’m a bit wasted here.”

“Sorry. Don’t glare at me. I know… I know we just met. But this is really a dive. I don’t think we should have let you talk our guys into bringing us here. Ryan’s plastered from all the booze Alex has been buying.”

“I noticed. How about we have one more round, and then say our goodbyes. Okay?”

“If you want to stay, no problem. I know you guys brought us, so I’ll call a cab for me and Ryan and leave before things get even more creepy. I’ve never been in a sleazy joint like this one, people vaping and smoking crazy shit. And those couples on the dance floor are all but making out. It’s not my scene.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Like I said, if my dad ever finds out I was in a place like this, he’d take away my car, my phone, hell he’d probably lock me in my room like… forever.”

Jesus, how old were these chicks she was listening to? Kayti finished her business and headed to the open area. Stained sinks, broken soap dispensers and no paper towels for wiping her hands didn’t surprise her. Taking her time to check out the other two, she had to acknowledge either Misti’s ID had to be top-notch, or they hadn’t bothered to check it.

The other female looked harder, more experienced, and when she noticed Kayti studying them in the mirror, she glared her objection.

What the hell are they doing together?

She examined the older one, a girl with long hair dripping down her back, colored with various shades of blonde to honey-gold but dark roots to spoil the look. Her lips were bright red, her clouded eyes bright blue, and the slinky black outfit was too lowcut, too short and too glued to her well-endowed body.

Whatever game she played had fooled the youngster, but it didn’t fool Kayti for a moment. This gal had been around the block a few times and knew the underside.

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