Inferna Nuntius

Chapter 13

13

Cassidy flew down the narrow hallways, her feet carrying her faster than she should have been moving. She avoided the stares of the agents as they moved to the side, hurrying to remove themselves from her path. It was only when she heard a cry come from Derrick that she slowed down a normal pace, allowing him to catch up to her. She could hear his ragged breathing as he gained on her and she smiled to herself, knowing that recently he had been relying on their trice weekly trysts to keep him in shape.

“Cass, slow the fuck down,” he bellowed at her, causing her to slow even more. Her feet carried her at a hurried pace now, slightly less than a jog. “Please explain to me why you tore out of there like a bat out of hell.” He demanded his hand now securely fastened on her arm, pulling her to a complete stop.

            “They got a lead,” she replied breathlessly.

            “A lead?” He echoed her words. The look on her face a mixture of excitement and apprehension. She knew the trouble she would be getting herself into and yet she was diving headfirst into the unknown, not truly caring about the consequences.

            “They got a lead on Vasquez.” She clarified and once again moved down the hallway. “A tip came that they need Bellinson to take a look at.” She glanced at her notes and scanned the long hallway, looking for one room in particular.

            “And you decided to come down here and check it out for yourself?” He shook his head and followed her again. “You can’t do anything about it, Cass. Just drop it until Bellinson gets back.”

            “Why?” She stopped and turned, facing him square on. While Derrick was gasping for air, she was perfectly composed, almost calm. Derrick pressed his lips together and resisted the urge to reach out and touch her face. He was momentarily taken aback by the way she looked. Her once piercing green eyes were now a much darker shade, rimmed with pure black. He had never seen her eyes change colors like this before. He felt his skin burning against her as his hand latched on to her arm, his fingers wrapping themselves around the delicate flesh of her forearm. He let his eyes wander north, settling on her beautiful face, framed perfectly by her long wavy chestnut hair. She had forgone the straightener this morning, favoring her natural waves instead. Derrick felt his hand leave her arm and inched towards her luscious locks, his fingers wrapping around a coupling of hair that fell closest to her face. Cassidy was eerily still, allowing him this very public gesture of affection towards her just this once. He twirled the soft hairs around his fingers for just a moment longer and then released them, watching as they fell perfectly against her olive skin.

            “You didn’t answer me,” she informed him, breaking the trance he was in. The calm look was at once removed from her face, replaced by an impatient glare towards her partner.

            “You asked me something?” He said, his eyes never leaving her face. Cassidy huffed loudly and grabbed his arm, gently pushing him against the door, placing them just out of sight of anyone who would traverse the hallway.

            “Why? Why should I let Bellinson take this one?” She repeated her question. “He hasn’t done anything. We’ve done all the leg work so far. We are the ones that are shifting through that crap pile of suspects and we will be the ones to pluck the real Eddie Vasquez out. So, please, tell me why I should let him have this?”

            Derrick was silent, save for his labored breathing. Her hand was still on his arm and he was keenly aware of the heat that passed through the air between them. He felt his breath hitch and groaned internally as he met her gaze, her green eyes still dangerously close to turning completely black. “Your eyes.” He said softly. Cassidy blinked and stepped away from him.