Page 56 of Special Agent Murphy

Chapter Thirty-five

Vests on and weapons ready, Murphy led the way to the bridge in the park and gave her hand instructions to circle one way while he did the opposite.

Dark had descended, which gave them cover. They moved around the various bushes carefully so as not to attract attention, but with the sole purpose of stopping Rob Campbell from getting himself killed.

Kayti came in from the top of the steps and saw a group of people on the right, through evergreen bushes that screened exactly who they were.

She sauntered closer, as if she were a walker out for a stroll, and overheard words that chilled her to the bone.

“Gramps, you’d better put that fucking gun down and do it now or youwilldie. There’s two guns to your one, so even if you get a shot off, you’re fucking toast.”

“Okay, I can handle that. But can you? See, you stinkin’ piece of shit, my gun is pointed right at your head.”

“Maybe, but your hand is trembling so much, I doubt you’ll hit the target.”

Kayti stepped into the light. “He might miss, that’s true. But there’s nothing wrong with my aim.” She faced the three men, two with their guns aimed at Rob, and the one disagreeable punk who scared her stupid. That bastard had no fear of dying. Or at least, if he did, it sure as hell wasn’t apparent. His sarcastic rambling could be believable if she didn’t know one thing. If he was so cool, why’d he hire two bodyguards to save his punk ass?

As trained, she took in the full scene. Two of the schmucks were scrawny white boys with arrogant attitudes because of the weapons. The other was overweight, black and had a spaced-out look that made her decide he used too much of his own product.

The fact that their adversaries were a skinny female and a weak old man didn’t put much fear into them at all.

The standoff continued until she added, “I’m Agent Edwards with the FBI. Throw your guns to the side, get face down on the ground and place your hands on your heads.”

Suddenly the mood changed. All three punks stiffened.

Unfortunately, as if Rob just computed he had a sidekick, he turned her way so quickly, he stumbled and would have gone down if not for her hand grabbing his arm to hold him up.

That’s all it took for Somers to reach out and slap her gun from her hand.

With no time to help Rob further, Kayti released her hold on him and backed up to bring Somers to her. When he rushed her, she dropkicked the son of a bitch, one heel smashing into his stomach and the other into his thigh, bringing him down.

Seeing his boss in trouble, one of his guardians decided to come to his aid. She let him approach and swung her elbow at the last second to connect with his unprotected chin. Hearing his teeth crunch, she did a circle move with his arm laced through hers and over her back he went.

Stunned by the speed of events, prone on the ground, his gun flying some feet away, she followed up with a kick to his head and put him out for the count. Taking only seconds to deal with him, she was ready for Somers to come back for more.

Without taking her eyes off her opponent, yet checking her peripheral, she saw Rob getting pistol-whipped by the third loser and made her decision.

Charging over to give him a hand, she got close to the poser he was fighting. In a split second of time, she wrenched back the arm of the hand wielding the weapon and drove her fist into the armpit to stun and weaken the limb.

It was that moment that Somers came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her body to lift her away and got back-kicked in the crotch for his trouble.

An enraged growl sounded from the left, and she knew Murphy had joined the fun. He rushed forward, stopping Somers from making a comeback. She wheeled aside without a split second to spare.

Watching Murphy in action had become her favorite amusement. Effortlessly, he drove the loser so hard, the force lifted him plumb off the ground to land about four feet away.

Somers, seeing Murphy approach, squirmed wormlike, trying to wriggle backward. Following, Murphy used the prick’s hair to hold him up while he slugged him again.

Grunts sounding nearby broke into her gleeful satisfaction. She could watch Murphy all night. He moved like a machine, well-oiled, and sleek as a highly trained athlete.

Dragging her gaze away, sensing Rob had lost control, she headed over to stop him from slugging the hell out of the punkass under him. “You ever sell shit to my kid again, and I’ll break every bone in your fucking skinny-assed body, you got that?” Kayti stopped his next downward thrust and held his arm from making contact yet again.

“That’s enough, Campbell. You’ve made your point.”

He pushed the bleeding face away and slowly rose to his feet, wobbly… painfully. “Who’re you?” Suddenly, he noticed his neighbor approaching. “And Murph? How the hell did you know I’d be here?”

Kayti dragged the half-witted beaten kid’s arm to the other felon still in dreamland. She used the zip-ties Murphy handed her to bind them together, then checked on Somers, who hadn’t moved.

Not wanting to intrude, but curious, she gave Rob Campbell a second glance. How did this broken soul deserve to have his kid still care after years of drunkenness and bad behavior? And the respect Murphy had maintained even through the bad times. She marveled at how the disheveled, unkempt figure, trying to stay upright could earn such loyalty.

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