Emily heard the door open, but she would not give her inquisitor the satisfaction of her curiosity. She stared straight ahead and waited until the individual came into view. When she recognized a feminine form, she concealed her surprise. Flicking her eyes upward she saw the face of the woman who dragged her out of the alley three days ago. Rage built in Emily. This woman would not beat her again. No way in hell!
Kate sat down across from Emily and opened the file. She casually flipped through the pages, nodding occasionally. After a few minutes she looked up, as if she'd just remembered someone else was in the room.
Good afternoon, Emily. We have a lot to talk about, I think. A lot has happened since the last time we saw each other.
she spit the word with venom, I can't think of a single thing we would have to talk about. Whatever you think you have that might interest me, is probably just a bunch of manufactured garbage. Now I want a lawyer and I want out of here now!
Oh, sure. But before you call your lawyer, there are a few things you might be interested in. For starters, Jeremy and Larry told us everything. Jeremy is on suicide watch in his cell right now. Larry's just depressed. But it didn't take much to get them both to turn on you.
Emily seethed with hatred for this brunette bitch. I don't believe you, she ground out through tightly clenched teeth.
You don't have to. First thing Larry did was to give up your property locations. Your warehouse has been emptied, your house has been searched. You have lovely furnishings, by the way. And those record books you keep so meticulously? The DEA has taken quite an interest in reading a number of them. They were very impressed at how thorough your records are. Kate paused and she could hear Emily growling faintly in the still room.
And then there was your meth lab; now that's a bit of a problem. We met Scott Duvall. He was a pretty unstable kid to have in charge of security, you do realize that. He was awfully upset when we told him about Lynn's death; then we told him about capturing you and Jeremy. He had a breakdown, and I'm afraid he went a little trigger happy. Kate calmly removed a photo of the lab after the explosion and placed it on the table. I'm afraid your lab suffered a little bit of damage.
Inwardly, Emily began to boil. These people had dared to rape her this way, violate her properties, her records, corrupt her men. She snapped a quick look at the picture on the table and felt the rage become a living thing in her belly. That woman would pay. Emily returned her eyes to her captor's.
Not enough for you? Okay, there's more. Lee Allerton, Lynn's boyfriend? He had quite a lot to say about you, who knows whom and how the food chain works. Jeremy was pretty devastated after he found out about Scott, Kate extracted another photo and placed it in front of the prisoner. It didn't take much after that for him to break down and recount the events of last Tuesday for us.
The picture of the blackened body was shocking. Emily's eyes widened involuntarily, but she held in the cry that threatened. Instead she turned the grief into fuel for her rage and pinned the self-assured brunette across from her with a burning stare. Did you murder Scott? she asked in a voice colder than snow.
He did it to himself when he shot up your meth lab. We got out as many of your people as we could. Kate deliberately kept her voice impassive. You should know, this isn't everything. Larry told us quite a bit more. He and I had a very long talk about exactly what happened in the apartment and on the fire escape last Tuesday night. He also told me that you specifically asked him to modify the fire escape. She sat and waited for Emily's reaction.
Emily was one step from screaming and tearing the bitch apart. This smug little cupcake had single-handedly destroyed everything in her life and she just had to sit here and take it. The need to punish her tormentor burned deep within Emily's soul. Somehow she would see that woman dead, would have the satisfaction of feeling her heart beat its last, of knowing that she would be the last thing those brown eyes would ever see.
We also know that you are the sole financial beneficiary of Lieutenant Lynn Holder's estate. That would make you a very rich woman indeed. If you were allowed to keep the money, that is. Being charged with her murder, of course, suspends those funds from your use. That money also gives you one more motive for her murder, as if your rage at her deception wasn't enough. Kate paused for a breath as the prisoner's hazel eyes glittered with barely suppressed hatred.
Actually, I'm a little unclear on the matter. Was it the fact that she didn't tell you she was transferred that pushed you over the edge, or just the fact that she defied your authority? You do seem like a woman who's used to being in control. I'm sure your current situation must be quite uncomfortable for you. Guess maybe you shouldn't have come after my team last Friday, then. Wanting to provoke the woman into some reaction, the agent allowed her tone to become snide, with a touch of superiority.
Emily's head pounded as her blood pulsed with revulsion for this woman. Swallowing her bile, she forced as mild a look as she could onto her face and said nothing.
Kate sighed. She wasn't getting anywhere with this, so she opted for her closing speech. Miss Pederson, is there anything you wish to say in your defense? You have been charged with murder in the first degree and two counts of assault on a federal officer. There are also numerous charges pending from the DEA, which has an agent observing these proceedings. Any statement or information you wish to have entered into the record at this time could be beneficial to your defense at your trial. Once again, Kate looked at the woman impassively, though her stomach threatened to turn.
No, Agent..? her voice rose questioningly, as did her eyebrows.
The syllable was short and crisp.
No, Agent Todd. There is nothing I wish to say to you. I have no statement to make nor information to impart. I would like my lawyer. Immediately. Emily's voice was polite, but icy. It was enough to make Kate want to shiver.
Very well. Realize that this was your last opportunity before your case is to be turned over to the JAG prosecutor for trial. Also, DEA is negotiating to prosecute you as soon as JAG is done, if not concurrently. Good day. Kate stood and gathered her folder together. She walked to the door, hating that it put her back to Emily. Larry's words came back to her, And when Em gets furious she gets dangerous. Never, ever forget that. Right now, she wanted Emily back in the guards' custody.
Emily suffered herself to be manhandled out into the hallway. She looked up to see Agent Todd standing just a few feet away flanked by two unbelievably handsome men. One had his hand on her shoulder the other rested a hand on her back. The looks they gave her said she was very precious to them. Emily dragged her feet, slowing the guard. As one, the three agents raised their eyes to her and she saw nothing but coldness directed at her. It was enough to snap the tenuous thread on her control. She could not watch the bitch who had stolen her entire life and killed one of her lovers stand there and be comforted by those two men. She could not allow the three of them to look at her as if she were yesterday's garbage.
Twisting sharply and thrusting out a foot, she caught one of the guards off balance and managed to swing him around enough to reach his gun. With an inarticulate cry she yanked the weapon free with her cuffed hands, cocked the revolver and sighted down the barrel at Todd, feeling the glorious bloodlust rushing through her veins as she squeezed the trigger.
