Protecting Jonathan

CHAPTER 1

               NATALIE
"Miss. Shepard, your days as a criminal are over?" Agent Lopez asked in a sing-song tone as he entered the room. I sat in that very uncomfortable chair in this cold and cloggy interrogation room that I'd bet my life's saving, Mr. Dickhead did on purpose. I didn't let my discomfort show; he'd use that to his advantage. Folding my arms over my chest, I arch my eyebrow at him.

"You got a smoke?" I asked

That seemed to irritate him, and I thought I had the upper hand. Little did I know this old unapologetic bastard still had some tricks up his sleeve.

He slammed the folder on the table and sat on the opposite side of the table. "In this folder is all the information you need to find your family." that immediately got my attention. I sat up straight, my eyes never once leaving the folder. Agent Lopez was speaking while sliding the folder from one side of the desk to the other, but I didn't hear a single word he said; my gaze followed the movement of the folder like a hawk. All my life, I've been looking for my family.

I grew up in an orphanage, never being adopted. I watched every kid in that home get taken to a loving family home or their parents coming back for them. I used to find myself longing for my parents to come and get me, but such a dream was just that, a dream.

Agent Lopez's phone ringing pulled me out of my trip down memory lane. Clearing my throat, I leaned back on the chair despite my discomfort with the cuffs still on my wrist. He hung up and turned to me with a frown on his face. "Thank your lucky stars that you are not spending the rest of your miserable life in a 5" by 8" cell," he growled.

Grinning like a damn fool, I waited with bated breath for the shackles to come off. As soon as they came off, I rubbed my wrist though they didn't hurt. "Now now, Agent Lopez, why don't we turn that frown upside down," I snickered.

I get up to leave, and he stops me by standing in my way, still frowning; I smile as I come up with more ideas to provoke him. "I'm all for foreplay, but I don't think your fiance will like that," a shocked expression makes its way to his face. I smiled wider "you thought I didn't"t know about her? Katie is her name. Katie Evans. You should really be careful of her, though, just friendly advice." I shrugged.

He grabbed me by the throat and slammed me against the wall, anger shooting through his eyes. "How do you know about Katie, and what do you know about her?" he spat. "If you don't tell me right now, I swe--

I got his hand off my throat, and it was my turn to slam his body against the wall; the only difference was his back was to me. I twisted his hand behind his back and kept his head in place, "what was that?" I asked

"You'll kill me?" I threw my head back and laughed, "you don't have the guts." I let go of him, he tried to take a swing at me, and my defense mode immediately kicked in. I blocked his advance and took a swing at him square in the face, and he was out cold before his body hit the ground with a loud thud.

I squatted near his unconscious body and removed the handkerchief from his pocket "wipe your face; you're bleeding" I threw it. I got up and looked down at him, shook my head. "So uncivilized," I said, walking out of the room.

Walking out of the precinct, I made a beeline to my car. I scratch my hair, thinking of wash day, but stop in my tracks when I see two men leaning on my car. Instinctively, I reached for my guns. I've always been the shoot first ask question later person.

I pulled both guns out, turned sideways, and pointed one gun to the man following me from behind and the other at the men in my car. I couldn't make out the facial features of the man behind me.

"Give me a reason to pull the trigger." I barked

They were all in pristine suits and Italian loafers, the man behind me walked out of the shadow with his hands up in surrender "we mean you no harm, Mrs. Robertson." he said in a soft voice. I gave him a puzzled look before replying, "it's Miss Shepard," he just nodded his head, then gestured for me to walk to my car. I got in and looked to the passenger side, and I was faced with a smile. I'd recognize that smile anywhere. With a heavy sigh, I put my guns back in the small of my back.