Page 49 of Special Agent Murphy

Chapter Thirty-one

Sitting in the SUV before they entered the bar, Murphy checked in with Bud. All day, he’d hoped for a message and felt his bile rise when the news hadn’t changed.

“Nothing from the kidnappers?”

“Nope and the ongoing stress has reacted on Mrs. Bond. She suffered a small stroke about an hour ago. The doctor just left. The Senator won’t leave her side, but he wants to see you.”

“Which is probably why he hasn’t returned my earlier call. I’m sorry, man. Tell the Senator we’re heading there right now.”

“Will do. He’s torn apart with this ongoing mess, Murph. I’m feeling for the poor guy. It’s the not knowing that’s the hardest.”

“No doubt. I’m thinking the kidnapping might be over the upcoming Bill the Senator wants to get passed in the Senate at the end of the week.”

“Holy shit, I never thought it would be about anything but money.”

“Not this time. I want to speak with him about his proposals before anything happens. We need to make plans on how to handle their demands when they appear.”

“What a bloody shame!”

“Yeah. We’re on the way.”

Kayti had listened to his side of the conversation. “What’s happened?”

“It’s Francine Bond. She had a stroke a while ago.”

“Oh, no. That’s so sad.”

Not liking to hear her distress, he quickly added, “Bud led me to believe it’s not too serious. The doctor was called, and she’s resting.”

“I assume we’re going there.”

“The Senator wants to speak with us. I’ve been trying to get hold of him for the last few hours. Now I know why he never responded.”

“Because you think there’s some sort of Bill in the Senate that he’s involved with?”

Remembering his earlier conversation with Kale had excluded Kayti, he laid out what he knew. “Two Senators, Linda Nelson from Massachusetts and Senator Bond, are the main designers. I’ve recently been told that Nelson is in the hospital fighting for her life after a recent car accident.”

“Goodness. Now we have Misti being kidnapped. It can’t be a coincidence.”

“You think so too?”

“Of course. Isn’t it significant that both those government employees have been targeted?”

“Kale seems to believe it, and so do I. She pointed it out at the beginning of the investigation.”

“Not with me.”

“No, we were alone. Now I know we’re working the case together, it’s best to bring you in the loop.”

“I should think so.” Kayti huffed, which made a grin form that he couldn’t hide. “I’m not deep into politics so I haven’t heard about this particular bill.”

His voice teased, “Don’t you carry out your civic obligation?”

“You mean, do I vote?” She grinned, “Sure, for the party I like. I’m certainly not hooked into the constant reality-show baloney.”

“I know what you mean. It’s mind-boggling.” He did keep track of most of the breaking news, but by using his phone with apps to all the major news outlets.

“Are you a Republican?”

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