Taking Matt Whitteker Down

Three is a party

"It leads like an intuition, but your heart wasn't really in it to know for sure.

I think! No I know that not even Murphy, who was the author of that gathering had a single clue of the disastrous outcomes for the night.

But not him, the piper or his right hand were the reason behind why my mind reeled and throat closed redundantly.

There were two other unwelcome parties that I didn't feel at ease finding..

Nick had someone by his side. Someone more familiar to all of them combined.

That was probably when I first felt it"

Katrina grabbed her half-full water bottle by the middle, then squeezed it so hard the two ends met. She silently observed as water droplets slid down her hand.

"Betrayal....

And unlike anything else, it can never hit you in the face.

You're not at all gobsmacked or astonished"
She let go of the bottle, wiping her hand with her sleeves. Her eyes skidding back to the dented piece as if it held meaning.

"Because somewhere in the back of your mind there it was, the nagging sensation that just couldn't see it right.

Not until now, and you're more outraged than anything!

At least that's how I felt when I saw the company Nick had provided."

"What happened Friday night?"

"You mean last night?" She stood quiet, taking her minute of pondering, Simon Michaels sighed, interrupting her reverie.

"I have the report with me. Two civilians were shot. Only one survived.The murder weapon has your friend's fingerprints on it and the safe which was reported to contain at least twenty grand was empty. There was a large amount of blood that belongs to an unknown donor. No sign of forced entry nor extra individuals. The scene dubbed as home invasion before you arrived

So tell me Katrina, what am I not seeing?"

"Say, The truth perhaps?"

"Elaborate..." he huffed at her for the first time, Katrina would watch as his patience leaked drip by drip until it'll be dry up there and she would've ruined her only chance.

"We met. Like new friends or old enemies. hold on a minute... You led with the empty safe as if it was the most important part"

"What's more important than a motive?"

"There are things that are far more valuable than a twenty grand mister. That's a motive.

The safe was open for a reason. The money is not it.

Ok?"

The DA nodded with raised eyebrows that she wished were leaning towards encouraging than undermining.

"Upon arriving there, the sun had set and I had some doubts left in me.

The sky was painted with the darkest shade of omen; reddish, oh so reddish gray. Its set of clouds promising a storm in the distance.

I circled around the house finding my intentions. Murphy described the owner as someone high in the food chain. It kind of leaves a bit of scare in your heart.

It was a small villa with a garden, a private beach, and large bushes. Amidst my exploring a car parked in the driveway, blocking my only exit.

The owner of the house? Someone I knew pretty well.

Why Murphy was being vague about it?
I had a few ideas.
One of them is the fact that I wouldn't have set a foot in there even if my life depended on it. It's a small town. Girls talk. A secluded place with that man? Not somwhere a girl like me would want to be. And definitely not after a horror themed school interview.

Alas, With all his sluggishness the man of the house had no trouble spotting me.

I guess those bushes weren't big enough after all"

///

:you can come out.

Katrina prayed silently, waiting for some kind of pet to be the addressed party instead of her. Funny enough she played the pet role a bit too good. Since she was hiding in the bushes.

She counted the seconds, her breath hitched and heart in overdrive.

:Katrina Wolfe. You may come out.

Every punctuated word hit her just the same. She was in fact the target of interest. Moving away from the bushes with hesitant steps. Katrina regarded the man stood in front of her looking at her as if he was a hunter and she was the prey. His cheeks reddened and mouth glistening. That wasn't a comforting sight.

:welcome to my abode one would say to a guest.

He grinned. She didn't answer, waiting for the surely coming jibe.

:but you're not just a guest now?

:good evening Mr. Whitteker.
Katrina hummed. Studying his staggering form. If he's coming for her, she's making a run for it. Murphy be damned.

:call me Rupert Sweetheart.
His sickening teeth made a second appearance, Katrina took a step back reminded of the meeting back in his office which wasn't pleasant to either party.

Unknowingly coming to the rescue, Murphy appeared from an opened side door,wiping his hands over his dark jeans.

He grinned: oh good you've made it!

She wasn't sure which one of them he was addressing.