Page 31 of Special Agent Murphy

“There was supposed to be a group of us from school, but I don’t think any of the others got in. As far as I know, it was only the four of us.”

“Did you take any photos, or selfies with your phones? Maybe some where Misti and Ryan’s table would be shown?”

“Oh, no. We didn’t even take our phones out. The place was too noisy and kind of terrifying. We didn’t stay very long. Just ordered one drink so we could say we’d gotten in, and we didn’t even finish them. Just left.”

“Were Misti and Ryan still there when you left?”

“Yes. I wanted to go over and say something, but Coleen didn’t want to go past the table next to them filled with obnoxious drunks. After we left, I texted Misti we were going to a nice restaurant up the street, and for them to meet us there. But she never answered.”

“Can you give me Coleen’s number?”

“Yes. I wrote it down for you. She said if you want to talk to her, she’s working for Subway at the American University. If you call first, she’ll be able you meet with you outside.”

Kayti did and it only took a few minutes with the girl to see she had the exact same story as Allie. Right down to the table of drunks and feeling uncomfortable enough to leave without finishing her drink.

By then, close to her own apartment, after Googling poolhalls in the area near Coopers’ bar, Kayti made up her mind.

Now she was glad she’d made the decision. Alex had no idea who she was; she sensed it immediately. No wonder, since the dude had been pretty wasted the night before and was close to being in the same condition right now.

Time to make a move. Obviously, Murphy felt the same way. It took only a few minutes to convince the idiot to come quietly, and she trailed them to be sure no one followed. When he led Alex to his SUV, Kayti followed, watched him cuff the drunk and taking directions from his nod, she got into the front seat.

Murphy forced Alex into the back, and it was when arms suddenly tightened around her neck, the cuffs choking off her air that she panicked.

“Don’t say a word. Pass over your gun.”

Forcing back the natural urge to release her bladder and do something stupid, she nodded slowly. Speaking would be difficult with her windpipe feeling the pressure of the chains pulled tight. But she knew once Murphy got into the driver’s side, her being victimized might force him to do something that might get him killed.

She lowered her hand to her waist where her gun was nestled by her hip and slowly withdrew it. Then she lifted it, forcing Alex to lean over in order to retrieve it. That’s when she dropped the gun. Using the momentum of him diving to catch it, she grabbed the cuffs and leaned forward, forcing him to come half-way over the seat. Able to slide down and pull her head loose, she drove her knuckles into his face.

That’s about the time Murphy arrived at the driver’s side, noticed her predicament and cold-cocked the bastard. Pushing the slumped figure backward to land half on the floor and over the seat, he turned to her.

Not that she expected any soothing, commiserating reaction, she kind of thought he might have come up with something better than… “you finished messing around with our suspect now?”

Turning to give him what for, she saw the unholy twinkle he didn’t try to hide and nodded instead. “Yeah, I’ve had my fun.”

“Lady, you sure as hell keep things from getting boring.” He got out of the car and headed into the back where he lifted Alex to the seat and put the handcuffs around the door grip so he couldn’t make any more stupid moves.

Kayti couldn’t resist croaking loudly, sarcastically, “No worries. I’m okay.” She coughed without any real need to do so. “Getting choked isn’t as bad as they say.” She rubbed her throat to enhance her victim ploy.

After Murphy returned to his seat, he pulled her to face him and gently, ever so gently, his hands surprisingly warm, he rubbed the skin on her neck and whispered, “The prick left scars. He’ll pay for those.”

Mesmerized, she answered, her voice weak but not from the earlier punishment. “He already did. You hit him.”

“Not nearly hard enough.” Their eyes connected. She couldn’t look away. His deep brown pools suddenly beginning to fill with questions made her shiver, made her want more, his lips, his arms, a naked body… a-a bathroom.Oh, Lord, not now!

***

Once they had the perp at headquarters, Murphy passed him over to an officer saying, “put the son of a bitch in an interrogation room. And find a paramedic to check Agent Edwards. She’s been choked and should be examined in case there’s damage.”

He strode away from her as if she wasn’t even there.

Hey!

She hurried to follow. No way he was leaving her out of the fun part, watching Alex squirm while being interrogated. She loved this part of the job. Took it personally when a criminal thought they could outsmart the officer who had the upper hand and was privy to a lot more information and technical advantages.

Murphy suddenly stopped.

Not realizing his intention, she ran into him and would have knocked them both over if he hadn’t of stood firm and held her up. “What are you doing?”

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