Page 2 of Special Agent Anastacia

Just as she reached to her left side to remove her badge, she spotted what seemed to be a tiff between another couple who’d parked in the lane ahead. Not liking the way the older male thrust himself up against the younger woman, she hesitated and then rolled down her window, wanting to hear their discussion before interrupting an argument she had no business being involved in. Going on the premise it could be just a small squabble that sometimes spiked during the upheaval of traveling, she didn’t move.

Until she watched as the bearded bully grabbed the female by her arm and twisted it up around her back. “You just had to goand piss me off, didn’t you? Couldn’t help yourself. Now we’ll be going back home and to hell with visiting your family.”

In a voice filled with tearful misery, Ana heard the stark words the woman uttered, and her heart hardened.

“I knew you had no intention of taking me home to Vancouver as soon as I saw where you pulled in. This is short-term parking, Manny. You were never going to follow through with your promise, were you? This is just your way to torture me.” She wiggled to break his hold, but he just tightened his grip, knowing the pain he caused and liking it.

Chuckling, his tone filled with a mean snarl of a sicko playing with a wounded kitten or puppy, knowing it couldn’t fight back, he sneered, “You don’t deserve to go anywhere, you lazy slut. Why should I pay for tickets to visit your folks just to have them look down on me like I’m garbage. Nah… I never did intend for us to go to Canada.”

Crying hard, the redheaded woman begged, “Honey, I’m sorry. Forgive me. I didn’t mean to upset you. Please, let’s just go and have a good time. My mom said she’d pick us up and take us to the hospital. You know my dad’s not going to last much longer. I just want a chance to say goodbye before he dies, Manny. Please baby.”

The overweight loser waved away her argument, his hand coming very close to smacking her. Close enough for her to flinch and hide her face. “Christ, can you hear yourself? Begging like some loser to go and see daddy. Know what,baby. I don’t care if the old fool croaks. Good riddance. Then maybe you’ll know I’m the only man in your life who matters.” The jealousy in his voice sickened Ana, but she still hesitated to become involved.

Then she saw what happened next.

Seeing her precious chance to go home dissolving, the girl in the skin-tight, leopard-print dress tried to pull away. Sadly,her ankle buckled, and her four-inch heels wouldn’t hold her upright. This time when the creep twisted her arm, the force he used had her bent over on her knees, and taking the opportunity, he hauled off and kicked her in the stomach more than once.

In seconds, Ana left her car and was on the scene. Before the asshole knew what hit him, Ana hadhimin a hold with his arm now being the one twisted up behind his back. “Don’t try to move numbnuts, or I’ll hurt you worse and claim self-defense.”

Too stupid to follow orders, twisting from her hold, he whipped around, his big hand clenched to punch his attacker. Unwisely, he swung… and missed.

Swiveling back to face her, he yelled, “Hey lady, who the fuck do you think you are? This is none of your Goddamn business.”

Grinning, Ana used the same words her father used to say as a joke, “I’m your worst nightmare, Manny.” She ducked his next swing but used the opportunity to bring her own fist up to connect withhisstomach, hurting him good.

Not willing to accept that he was ill matched, he ignored the pain and rushed her once more. Again, she connected, then grabbed his flailing arm to bring him facedown on the ground, her foot on his back while her hands kept control of his twisted arm.

“Ow, bitch. Let go. Fuck. You’re hurting me.”

“Yeah? Sucks to be you, right? Kinda like your poor lady friend felt when you forced her arm behind her back and started putting the boots to her.”

“She’s Judy, my wife,” he said, as if that detail gave him the right to act like a spineless neanderthal. Grunting his words and spitting into the cement, he added, “W – we were just having a little spat. Tell her honey.” He tried wriggling and Ana made him pay by adding more pressure.

“You’re not going anywhere, Manny, so relax.” Ana watched the victim who hadn’t moved. “You okay, Judy?”

Once freed, the redhead had rolled over next to the car, crying so hard it took her a moment to react. When she saw that she wasn’t in danger any longer, she painfully pulled herself to her feet and looked at Ana. Then she turned to her indignant, frothing husband and suddenly the fear cleared from her expression, leaving only hatred.

“No, I’m not okay. What I am… is a fool. He’s never going to change.” She leaned toward him and added, “Manny’s a mean prick who likes to hurt women because he hasn’t got the guts to take on anyone his own size.” Poking her finger hard into the side of his cheek she added, “I hate you. You’re a stupid bastard who thinks it’s funny to dangle this chance in front of me and then punish me for some stupid offense that’s in your own stupid head. I can’t take it anymore.” Glancing now at Ana – sniveling and unable to wipe her face – Judy added, “I-I just wanted to go home and see my dad.” Tears soaking her cheeks, sadness obvious, she hung her head while her long straight hair hung over her heaving shoulders.

Other passerbys slowed to see what was happening and Ana spoke to them. “I’m with the FBI, Agent Marchenko. Mind telling the airport security we have a situation here, and I could use a little backup? Thanks.” Nodding, the two women hurried to do her bidding.

Alone again, Judy mumbled heartbrokenly. “He promised to take me home. He even let me pack our bags, said we’d catch a flight this afternoon, but now I know, the sick fuck just wanted to torture me. He never had any intention of following through.”

Ana, held on to the grumbling wriggler, but listened to the words that made her decide on a course of action. “You say you have your bag packed? Now’s your chance. He’s not going anywhere. How about you skedaddle and catch your flight home?”

“I-I can’t. He has my passport.”

“Yeah, well I can’t search him, but you can.”

In seconds, Judy’s haggard face lit up from within… the opportunity for freedom making her eyes glow. She rifled in his jacket pocket and found what she needed. Then she grabbed his wallet, tore out a credit card and whipped around to the trunk where she pulled out her suitcase. Lastly, she stopped for a final word with Ana.

“You… you’re an angel, Agent Marchenko. I can’t thank you enough. I’ll never forget you for helping me get away.”

Ana nodded. “Go on Judy. And don’t look back. Get home safe.”

Grabbing the handle of her suitcase, Judy rushed to leave, but in seconds, she turned to whip off her killer heels and taking one, she hauled off and beat the prick on the back of his head with the sharp protrusion. “Manny, you can wear these fuckers, asshole. See how much you like walking on stilts.” Then smiling joyfully at Ana, bare feet not slowing her down whatsoever, she stomped toward where two officers were headed Ana’s way.

By the time Ana had explained the situation, security had cuffed their perp and taken Ana’s particulars in case they needed to follow up on the arrest. Heading toward their office, they’d wait there for the police, leaving Ana free to continue on her way.

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