Page 15 of Special Agent Jennie

“He says he doesn’t want any fuss.”

Jennie nodded and then touched the girl’s arm gently. “It’s too late for that. He’s been violently attacked, and we need to stop the perpetrator from doing this again to another innocent bystander.”

“Yes. I know.” Bela pushed away from her father, letting the ambulance people get closer, and walked away with Jennie. “My father and I were walking to his apartment, and I stopped to talk with a neighbor. That’s when this crazy person stepped up, spit in my dad’s direction, and hit him in the face… for no reason at all.”

“Just like that.”

“Yes. My father fell to the ground, and he kicked him. My neighbor and I began to scream, and the attacker ran.”

“It was a man.”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Did that man use a weapon of some kind?”

“None that I could see. I’m sure it was just his fist. Before he left, he screamed terrible words saying that we should leave his country and go home. But America is our home. My father and mother were both born here.”

Jennie felt sickened for the pretty young woman whose shocked face held indescribable indignation. “This kind of conduct has been happening a lot more often lately, Miss Vari, and we’re doing everything we can to try and stop it. But the victims need to come forward and lay charges. Even if we’re lucky enough to catch the man, without you, we have nothing to hold him on. This means they get away with this unacceptable behavior and suffer no consequences.”

“I know. The creep is so confident that right now he’s joined a group of bystanders, watching us. I just recognized his jacket.”

Stunned, it took all her resolve for Jennie not to turn around and scan the area. “You’re sure?”

“Yes. And I will press charges. My father might believe in Hiya, saving face, but I don’t. I want that scum bastard charged.” Bela’s anger surfaced, and she sounded royally pissed.

Jennie loved it. “Good! Okay, look I don’t want to spook him, so I’ll walk with you over to the ambulance, and along the way you can describe him. I need to get the right guy.”

As they walked, Bela spoke of the fellow’s blue-jean jacket and the weird haircut that would be enough for Jennie to make an arrest. In her earpiece, Jennie told her partner of the plan and got him onboard as backup.

In a few seconds, she’d changed directions and sauntered slowly to the group of bystanders, wearing a smile, and behaving as if she just had some questions for anyone who might have seen anything. As she approached the folks, the jean-jacketed man began to turn away and walked right into Reed, who had come in from behind while Jennie had approached from the front.

Understanding his predicament, the fool violently pushed Reed who’d been caught unaware and started to run. Only Jennie was on him like jam on toast. As much as she hated to fight, today she had a lot of built-up frustration and who better to use it on than a creepy slug who deserved everything he got.

She landed on his back, bringing him down under her. He flipped her off, rose to his knees, and scrambled to run again. Only, this time she tripped him with her feet, and he fell yet again.

This gave her enough time to rise so when he faced her once more, she was able to land a quick punch to his solar plexus. While he regained his senses, she stood back and hit him with her taser. He wouldn’t be going anywhere for now. Reigning in the number of probes, she made sure he would be safe for her to approach and use her handcuffs.

Looking around and seeing two police officers heading her way, she hauled in her stumbling perp by the jacket collar and pushed him toward one of them. “I’ll catch up with you at the cruiser to fill you in on his crime.”

The older of the two officers grinned and nodded. Then he took the offender’s arm, dragged him back to his feet, and shoved him toward his younger partner. “Come on you sorry son of a bitch.” Smiling Jennie’s way, he added, “We’ll be waiting, Agent Sarnowski.”

“Sorry – should I know you?”

“Nah, I’ve just seen you on TV, talking about your task force on Asian hate crimes and was hoping to run into you. I’m Officer Cooper, glad your group is looking into this kind of BS. We see it all the time.”

Passing the cop her card, she smiled. “Just give me a call when you figure you might have something we need to know about. I’d like nothing better than to get these idiots off the streets so people can be safe again.”

“You got it.” Tucking the card into his pocket, he saluted with a wave and then headed to the cruiser where his partner was scuffling with the perp who’d decided not to cooperate.

Turning to check on Reed, now sitting and holding his head, she asked, “You okay?”

“Yeah. Bastard caught me unaware, and I hit my head on a rock or something.”

“I know. You’re bleeding. Better let the EMTs check you out. In the meantime, the police are holding that scumbag until we make a statement. Our witness is willing to press charges this time.”

“Seriously? Well then there is a God. I’ve been praying to find one of these victims who’d stop pretending it’s okay, and instead… decide to stand and fight. ‘Bout time. I’m stoked.”

“You and me both.” Heading in his direction, her voice softened. “Could be that rock just knocked some sense into your thick skull.” Jennie’s teasing words belied her apparent concern. She went to help Reed to his feet and her arm around his waist hugged rather than supported.

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