Page 57 of Special Agent Murphy

Then she moved closer and looked into blue pools filled with sadness so deep, if one had a heart, one felt instant empathy. If a person believed in such things, his aura was pure, unrelieved grief. He’d suffered terribly. And, it showed.

Holding out his unsteady hand toward her, he stared until she looked away out of deference to an old cop. Then he mumbled, “Thanks, darlin’.”

Murphy approached, forcing Campbell to sit on the top step nearby. “Hey old man, what the hell were you thinking? Coming out here alone to deal with these bastards.”

“Watch who you call old, Murph. I could still take you.”

“Maybe if I had both hands tied behind my back and my feet were chained.”

Campbell’s chuckle became a cough and had him writhing for a few seconds before he wiped his mouth and turned to look at Kayti. She’d finished the call-in for backup and stood silently nearby. “Who’s Wonder Woman?”

“She’s Agent Kayti Edwards, my partner.”

“She’s a slick fighter, never saw better.”

“Get’s her ass into all kinds of trouble.” Murphy’s disgruntled tone had her paying attention.

“Well, I owe her. She saved my bacon.”

“Yeah, and from the looks of you, I’d say she didn’t intervene in time. The ambulance is on the way, my friend.”

That’s when Kayti saw what Murphy’s keen eyes had detected. Though Rob’s face was badly beaten, contusions and bruises decorating the skin, what scared her was the small amount of mucus-like blood on his hand from where he’d wiped it after the bout of coughing.

Oh, no! Poor man.

Her pity curled into itself, trying to conceal her sympathy, but Murph’s all-seeing eyes caught it. At first, he shook his head in exasperation, but within seconds, he’d stepped behind her, and she felt his hand groping for hers so he could give it a gentle squeeze.

Lord how she appreciated this simple act of understanding. He gave her what she needed – unspoken kindness rather than censure.

Later that night, she’d review the rioting thrills his sweetness created, but now an ambulance and cop cars invaded the area. Rob and three arrests took first consideration.

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