Page 33 of Special Agent Murphy

Chapter Twenty-one

Murphy took it for granted he’d be the one to do the talking and Kayti would back off and leave it to the pro.

But in no time at all, he could see his demands weren’t being answered. Alex wanted nothing to do with him. Maybe the fact that he’d punched the asshole was playing against him, but no matter which direction he came at, Alex had shut down.

The question of Gina especially created a response, a tightening of lips and hands gripped till they showed white knuckles, but Alex’s silence didn’t waver.

Not until in a long lapse did Kayti step forward from where she’d been leaning against the wall and ask the magic question. The one that broke his restraint.

“Alex, I’m worried sick about Gina. What’s going to happen to her now that the FBI are involved with the kidnapping? Have you heard from her?”

As if on cue, Alex’s head dropped into his hands. His shoulders stiffened. His voice broke as he muttered low, “I’m sorry I hurt you.” He looked up. “Your neck is still red. I’ve never hurt a woman in my life, but I had no choice. I had to get loose.”

“I’ll accept your apology if you answer one question. Why?”

“Because, I haven’t heard from Gina since last night. I sent her a text to meet me tonight, and I have to be there.

“Look, you two are involved in kidnapping a United States Senator’s daughter. That’s huge, my friend. On the other hand, if you answer our questions and help us to get her back, it will go a long way in lessening your sentence.”

Alex looked first at Kayti and then turned to Murphy as if he knew who to convince. “I have no idea where they planned to take Misti. Neither did Gina. We were only supposed to have her in that nightclub to meet up with Draper.”

“Except, Gina went with them.” Kayti’s certainty let him think they knew for sure she’d done so, yet it was still something they had no proof of.

“They made her.”

Bingo!One loose thread tied.

“She sent you a message?”

“Yes, last night she texted me. Said she was terrified and would make a deal with Draper.”

“What kind of a deal?”

“To walk away.”

“Did you hear from her after that?”

“I wrote back. I said I would meet her at our place tonight.”

“Your place?” She noticed the understanding on Murphy’s face, and it clicked. “Ahhh, the pool hall.”

“Yes. See, they paid Gina extra to coax Misti outside to the parking lot. Said the others would take it from there. They’d promised us it would be all over with by this morning. They’d blackmail the Senator for whatever it was they wanted from him and let Misti go. And we wouldn’t have anything more to do with them. Draper even paid our ten thousand early.”

“Did Gina text you back about the meeting?”

“Only a short yes – okay – late. It’s all she replied. No hearts, no nothing. And that’s so not like her. She loves overusing those fucking emojis.” Alex lifted his hands toward Kayti pleadingly. “I need to be there. She’s scared. Something’s wrong.”

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