Page 60 of Special Agent Murphy

“You knew I was a cop?”

“I saw you show your badge to Marge and Noel before they left.”

“I see. I wanted to ask them if they were here on Saturday, but he wouldn’t cooperate.”

“No doubt. Noel just got released after a DUI and is still pissed at law enforcement for charging him a thousand dollar fine.”

“Yet here he is again, drinking highballs. How about yourselves? Were you here on Saturday night?”

“Sorry, honey. We were at my daughter’s place. I hear there was a tussle that night, some female fighter broke up the place.”

“Actually, that was me, I was trying to stop a young sixteen-year-old girl from getting kidnapped by this man. Do either of you recognize him?” She held her phone out and watched to see if anyone had a reaction.

The man answered first. “I’ve seen him in here before. He usually sits with that group of guys over there.”

He looked at his partner, his voice low, “You remember him too… right, Maureen?”

“Oh yeah, he has a distinct Russian accent, he does. Gets stupid drunk too from what I remember.”

“Do you know where he lives?”

“Sorry. Can’t help you there.”

“Well you’ve been very kind. Thank you.” Kayti stood to leave, and the woman’s next words stopped her for a few seconds.

“I heard you were dyn-o-mite in jeans, honey, and I just wanted to tell you how grateful we are to having brave law enforcement officers like yourself.”

“Thank you, that’s very kind.”

Kayti left their table and looked around for Murphy who just re-entered the bar, flexing his hand.

Poor guy. He must have really hurt himself while dealing with Somers back at the park. He met up with her and took another slug of beer. “Anything? You look like the sly cat who caught the rat.”

“Seriously? How can you talk to a lady that way? Doesn’t sound very flattering.”

“I’ve already swollen that pretty head of yours enough tonight. What’ve you got?”

“The matching sweaters remember seeing him here and say he sat at that group-table most often.” She took a sip of her beer, paused for him to head over and stood to follow him.

“Stay here, okay? We don’t want to come on too strong. I’ll just cozy up and join them, see if I can’t get someone talking.”

Not liking being left out, but seeing the sense in his suggestion, she nodded, leaned back and rested her elbows on the bar.

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