Taking Matt Whitteker Down

Fin

Walking out of the building, Katrina pressed the answering button.

"Yeah?"

"Where the hell are you?"

"What do you mean where the hell am I? what's wrong?"

"Dad is freaking out. Mom called Anette and Ray and they both said you're not at their place. What's going on?"

"Oh hell! I'm allowed to have other friends aren't I?"

"I really don't care who your friends are Kat, but if you're not here within an hour-"

"Fine, I'll be there in 20"

"Make it 10 if you want to see a car in the near future"

"Be there in 10"

"Okay, And Katrina"

"Yes Soph"

"I really hope you cleaned up your mess"

Katrina exhaled gravely. Replying a 'So do I' in her head. Her arms circled her abdomen tightly, fighting the early dawn chill.

Hearing her sister's voice sent an ache across her chest. She missed Soph. Even if she has seen her only a few hours back. She missed her family, her friends, her life so terribly.

Katrina crossed the street, observing the reflections of every rain droplets on the curb. It'd long stopped raining but the streets were still fairly empty. Her squeaking sneakers and the chirping birds were the only sounds she could hear.

She checked the area before making a sharp turn, heading towards a certain black vehicle parked at the end of the street.

Her mind went through all the excuses she could muster to let her parents take a chill pill for one god damn second!

She swung the passenger door open and got inside a car, appreciating the change in temperature to something her sweater can handle.

"Took you long enough"

"Don't tell me you waited me for me all night! I'm flattered Murph!" She tied her seatbelt. Retaliating for something that no longer matters.

"Not really. There's this good deli place at the corner of -" he stopped himself mid-sentence to say irritated "and it's not Murph it's Murphy. Eh?" Good. So he noticed.

Rewarded with no reply, Murphy sighed once more.

"So.What did you say?"

"What do you mean what did I say?"

"What did you say? What exactly is not clear about that?!"

"The truth!!!
Isn't that what you told me to do?"

No wonder she's left clueless at every turn. Katrina berated herself, Murphy shouldn't make her feel so small.
No one should.
Not even a beyond-the-law-villian who had claimed her future.

"I didn't tell you anything Katrina. I trusted you'd do the right thing."

And that's how he does it. Saying things like that. Things that lead her head-first into waterfalls of condemnations and consequences.

"I did. "
She bit the inside of her cheek. Waiting for him to start the car.

"And what truth would that be?" He further asked, leisurely cornering her.

Katrina looked through the dashboard, at the street, at the few people walking about.
This is her life now.

"That I was afraid of you."
He chuckled at that quickly. As if she was making a funny joke.
That was the truth.