Chapter Thirty-four
“Murphy, he’s gone plum loco.” Talin’s voice broke.
“What’s he done?”
“He’s gone after Neil Somers. I couldn’t stop him. He took his service pistol.”
“Slow down, sport. Who’s Somers? Why would your old man chase him?”
“He found weed in my closet. I wasn’t going to smoke it.”
“On my way. Get over to my place and stay there.”
Murphy’s heart rate doubled. Anger suffocated so he had to slow-breathe deeply, at least three times before he could answer the questions in Kayti’s eyes.
Blasted woman didn’t do anything that would have put him off. The contrary. She followed him, got in the car and waited for him to answer questions she hadn’t asked. Now how bloody great was that? He’d ponder her behavior another time. Right now, he had to get to the kid.
Finally, taking pity on her curiosity, he spilled out his angst. “Rob Campbell, Talin’s dad, has taken his service weapon and is after some kid called Neil Somers, one of our local drug traffickers.”
“Ok-kay…”
“That’s a cheap, sneaky way of keeping me talking. You know that right?”
“Right. And…?”
Murphy loved her way of handling him. Again, he’d store these memories for later. “And… he’s probably drunker than a skunk. An incendiary bomb with a short fuse.”
“And drug-selling ignites that fuse?”
“Only as it pertains to Talin.”
“Talin uses?”
Murphy ground his teeth hard, his way to stop words he hated to say. Or was it more that he hated to hear. “Christ, I don’t know. Kids will be kids comes to mind, but he’s not just any kid. He’s lived with addiction for years and saw what it’s done to his old man.”
“You know that’s not a detriment for everyone. Sometimes, it’s just the opposite. Didn’t you ever do drugs?”
“Sure, who hasn’t?”
Kayti didn’t respond at first. Her hesitation lasted long enough that Murphy knew her answer before she gave it. “You. Chrissakes! You’ve never done any kind of drugs?”
“Of course, I have.” Again, she didn’t elaborate.
“What? Cough syrup?”
“I’ve used Tylenol and even Ibuprofen at times.” When he swung her way, he saw the cheeky grin. “Jesus, you had me scared there for a minute. I’d have to ask what nunnery you came from?”
Still grinning, she changed the subject. “Will he know where you can find his dad?”
“I bloody hope so. These creeps tend to hang out in the same places. He should be able to give us directions.”
They arrived at the house and Murphy shoved the gearshift into park, pushed the button to turn off the motor and was out of the car in seconds.
He left the house door open for Kayti to follow him in and went straight to the kid. Talin looked terrified. Smudged tearstains marred his cheeks, and his clutched hands covered the trembling at his mouth.
Eyes, mirrors of apprehension, were so filled with fear, one could almost smell it flowing in waves.
Murphy had known this kid since he’d worn droopy diapers. No way he could withhold the craved solace, especially when Talin rushed into his arms, his voice filled with relief. “Murph, you’re here.”