Wrestling the Kraken

Mahone

Mahone

Mahone walked up to the martial arts building on Trenton Street. Being suspended had been a white gloved slap to the face, but it wasn't going to stop him from finding the truth. That day in the alley, that mystery girl had to know some kind of self-defense to best Parker like that. Parker was no wimp.

The first place that came to mind where he thought a girl might go to pick up a skill like that was Tiger Claw Martial Arts. It was close to Vito's restaurant and specialized in teaching self-defense for women. Something that didn't make them too popular around here. Most folks didn't take the joint seriously, others had more violent means of expressing their opinions. He had been called out here a time or two.

"Hey Phil!" Mahone greeted the owner. "Long time."

"Frank Mahone. What brings you here? I haven't had any bricks being thrown at my window lately. Well, not this week anyway." Phil shook Mahone's hand firmly,

"I'm actually here about something else. See I'm trying to look for this girl. All I have is that I thought she was a redhead, but turned out to be a wig. She also knows how to defend herself. Took down one of my guys.

Phil raised a brow. "Wow, good for her."

"Maybe not. She may know something about these Rose Murders."

"I see." Phil looked down, rubbing the side of his cheek with his thumb as he thought it over. "You know I don't like to give out information about the people that come here. They're here because they want to protect themselves."

"I know and normally I wouldn't ask, but this is kind of a special case. She could know something that would help us out, get a leg up on this case."

"I'm not sure how I can help. I get several women through here, all leave with the same training."

"Anyone stand out to you? Anyone seem strange or out of the norm?"

Phil rubbed his chin. "Actually there was a girl. She used to watch by the window. I let her, because she seemed so innocent. Not a good thing in these parts. I tried to get her to come inside and join in, but she just watched in the corner over there." He pointed to the far corner in the room by the back door. "Said she was good at watching and learning on her own. I got the impression that it wasn't her first time around a dojo."

"What makes you say that?"

Phil sighed, recalling their interactions. "The way she talked, like she's been around. Seemed very alone. I didn't need to tell her where anything was either. She'd practice when the lights were off and everyone else had gone. I stayed in the back, because she spooked everytime I tried to help."

"She still come by here?"

"No. One day I gave her a book on self-defense moves and I never saw her again. That was over two weeks ago."

"What did she look like?" Mahone asked.

"Blonde, short hair, looked pretty young."

Mahone dug into his jacket pocket, pulling out some photos that stavo took on the steakout. "Was it her?" He asked, showing a picture of Bridgett.

"Yeah, that's her." Phil confirmed.

Mahone waved the photo in the air. "Hey, thanks." He said, rushing for the door.

"When you find her, let her know she is still welcome here." Phil called after him.