Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
I knew that it was getting about the time that Keely was about to start worrying about me, and I didn’t like the idea of her worrying.
I liked even less that she was here and losing her shit when I couldn’t comfort her because I was being illegally detained.
Crew allowed Chester to pass, then he walked up to me and got rid of the cuffs that were locking me to the table.
I nodded at him in thanks and said, “I could really use a restroom.”
Crew jerked his head to follow him, and I did.
He allowed me to use the restroom, and politely waited outside for me to finish.
When I was done, I said, “Can I go now?”
Crew looked torn.
“I’m really not interested in getting in trouble for this fucking shit storm,” he replied. “Go find your lawyer and girlfriend. Or whatever she is. I’m calling my boss’s boss.”
Before I could move away from him, he pulled out his phone, dialed a number, then placed it to his ear.
“Yeah, Hawkins,” he said. “We have a situation here.”
I left, heading for the screaming that was happening.
Crew was right. Keely was losing her shit.
“Ma’am,” Chester snarled.
“You were following me around like a goddamn creep, asshole!” she cried out. “What did you expect him to do? Be okay with it? Have you not heard about that woman that was just abducted and killed? I’m sorry for being scared and allowing him to feed off my fear. But you should’ve known better. Women are scared, asshole! We can’t defend ourselves against y’all. Of course we’re going to freak out. It was my goddamn right to call my man and tell him to come help me! And excuse the fuck out of him for telling you that you’re a creep!”
Chester started to talk again, but she saw me over his shoulder and started running my way.
I caught her and pulled her into my arms, inhaling deeply, all the while narrowing my eyes on Chester.
“What are you doing out of that room?”
“Is he arrested, Special Agent Brown?” my lawyer asked.
“I…”
“No.” A man came around the back hallway where I’d just come from and said, “You are free to go, Mr. Semyonov.”
“But Evador…” Chester started, but the Evador dude held up his hand and said, “You are hereby removed from this case.”
“What?” he snapped.
“Removed. From. This. Case,” he repeated himself. “We do not condone your actions of today, or even the last couple of weeks. Furthermore, you are being put on leave for your actions with all those animals. Jesus, you’ve really created a huge mess that we now have to clean up. Just because you have a badge, doesn’t give you the right to treat US citizens like this. Especially war heroes, Brown,” Evador said. “Oh, and by the way, seventy-two of the cats have been found dumped in a field according to local law enforcement.” He narrowed his eyes. “Even worse, that was the same field that a shot was taken that killed a senator on that same night. Do you happen to have any information about that, since you were there?”
An inward smirk lit my chest.
“What?” Chester gasped. “No!”
The big boss looked at me and said, “You’re free to go. I sincerely apologize for the actions taken by this agent today. He is being put on administrative leave effective immediately and won’t be working any cases anytime soon.”
I nodded and caught Keely’s hand in mine.
When she passed Chester, she said, “I hope you die.”
“That was a threat!” Chester said. “Against an officer of the law!”
“Fuck you,” she returned. “It wasn’t a threat, it was a hopeful thought. There’s a big difference, since I’m not going to be doing any murdering anytime soon.”
“Ma’am.” Malone Canadew snickered. “As your lawyer as well, I’m going to have to say that you can’t make comments like that. Even if they’re warranted.”
Keely huffed and squeezed into my side.
I looped an arm around her and we had to do an awkward shimmy through the door since she’d refused to let go of me when we got there.
When we got outside, far enough away from the FBI offices, Malone turned to me and said, “As much as I’d like to say that is finished, I don’t think it is. Special Agent Brown has a lot of commendations under his belt, and he’ll probably only receive a slap on the wrist and get sent back into the field. Maybe not on your case, but he’ll be paying attention to it, I’m sure. Just be careful, because he’ll be vengeful and retaliate. I know his type, and let’s just say that he’s not going to give this one up easily.”
I agreed.
“What do you suggest that we do?” Keely asked. “Lay low for a bit?”
“Actually, I’d suggest getting out of town for a while,” she said. “Let this die down a little bit. Shasha’s got his ear to the ground regarding this anyway, and we really need to figure out why they’re targeting you in particular when this is really about Shasha anyway.”