The Suspect

Chapter 9

"So, you're telling me you have no clue who she is?" Hollis puzzles, his voice filled with confusion and haze.

"Nope. Not at all," he shrugs, "Other than her name being the same as an old, big tree, her being a detective and that she has a pretty face; I know nothing about this girl. But I must say, this has probably been the highlight of my day. Thank you, sir."

"Why in god's name are you thanking me?"

"My life is pretty boring," he deadpans, "It's the same routine over and over but this was something new and very interesting really. So thank you for making my day not be the piece of shit it usually is."

He says it so simply and without hesitation it almost convinces me he is not a man being suspected of murder. I take a few deep breaths, trying not to somehow jump into this screen and strangle him with my bare hands. So to calm me, I do the next best thing which makes all my pent up frustration slowly turn into happiness: I imagine him being suspended like a little pinata. Helpless, inanimate, and just the right thing to hit at. I slowly take my bat—accessorized with beautiful little shiny studs—and go to town on the little twat. With each hit, my anger slowly seeps out of my body and into him with so much force that I almost immediately smile.

"You okay there, Agent Hart?" Kaira's worried tone snaps me out of my blissful dream and sadly back into reality.

"What-Oh yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

"You're grinning like a two-year-old up to no good that's why," she amuses and I give her a small smile full of pretense and turn back to the monitor.

"So as you say then...." she murmurs under her breath and turns away.

Tatum's gaze moves lower towards his watch then back up to meet Hollis's, "Well sir, I'm sorry to break this short but an urgent matter alike needs my presence of mind so as shall bid adieu. It was lovely meeting you and I really, sincerely from the very bottom of my heavy heart hope everything works out with your grandson. Goodbye, now," he snickers and walks away, but not before I see him smirk, rather smugly.

Hollis just stands there, pretty sure in shock with the fact that Tatum easily outplayed him.

"Well, there you go. Your man even called your face a pretty one," she smirks and raises his eyebrows twice, mocking me and I scoff.

"Yeah, yeah go eat a pile of dog shit," I playfully curse at her and get out of the van but not before hearing Kiara's laughter echo throughout it.

~~

I see Tatum exactly where he was last night and walk up to him. His large back is facing me so I stop right behind him and slowly raise my hand to tap him on the back when my hand never reaches it. His veiny hand captures my wrist and a peal of deep laughter rumbles from him.

He turns around, my wrist still clasped in his hand, "Agent Hart, fancy seeing you here," he greets and I yank my hand away from him.

"That's Special Agent Hart to you from now on," I say firmly, "And fancy? Really? Don't act like you didn't know we were scheduled to meet," I reply, wondering what he's up to now.

"Being formal are we now," he jests and I shoot him a glare which shuts him up, "No no, I knew. But poor Agent Hollis. You really sent him to do your dirty little work?" he provokes and that grabs my attention in a jittery second.

"What did you just say?"

"Oh, as if I didn't know that was all an act. You set me up, didn't you?" he reveals and I just stare at him.

Okay, so he apparently knows. No, he definitely knows. He's a lot smarter than I took him to be, I'll admit. However, all my doubts rush back in as easily as they went away for a moment which leaves me in a state of uncertainty again.