Page 25 of Unhallowed Murder
“We’ll be fine,” she assured them. “Myers will be right outside the door in case there’s a problem. Ya’ll want to make me happy? Get me at least one case cleared by the time I return.”
The three rode in Henderson’s car, and Ronnie ordered a squad car to keep close, so he could transport the suspectif he didn’t come willingly. She read through the reports of what had been found in the car, and looked through the pictures. With the seat down, there was a decent amount of room to move around. They found hair that wasn’t hers, but it wouldn’t prove anything if it was her boyfriend’s.
“The car doesn’t help,” she said. “We need to figure out how he got home from the strip mall.”
“I’ve been working on that,” said Henderson. “I haven’t found anything yet. We need his phone records.”
“We don’t have enough to convince a judge.”
Henderson pulled into the post office parking lot and slid into a parking space.
She unfastened her seatbelt. “Let’s see what we can do about that, shall we?”
When Ronnie and Henderson walked into the passport office, Mick Griffin was behind the counter, talking to a woman across the counter about what her signature meant, and why she wanted to be sure everything was accurate.
Three people sat on benches, waiting.
“Micah Griffin?”
He glared at her. “If you have an appointment, please sit and wait until you’re called.”
This man had also been in Wendy’s bedroom. Ronnie recognized his scent. He was her boyfriend, so it didn’t mean he’d killed her, but she’d only smelled two men in that bedroom.
She wore her badge on a lanyard, and she lifted it to be sure he saw it, but kept her friendly smile. She was certain this video was going to be important, so her actions needed to be impeccable. “I’m Lieutenant Woods, with theHamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Mr. Griffin. We need you to come downtown for questioning in the murder of Wendy Abrams.”
He froze, and the scent of terror filled the room. Not fear.Terror.
Ronnie looked to the people waiting for their passports. “I’m terribly sorry about this. I don’t know if someone else can come fill in for Mr. Griffin or not, but he might have information that can help us figure out who murdered his girlfriend, so he’s going to have to come with us. If I can ask ya’ll to step outside while we work through the logistics with him?”
Everyone moved to leave, and he said, “No! They’re just local cops. I’m afederalemployee. My orders trump theirs. Stay.”
His last word was given as an order. Two of the customers hesitated, but Ronnie shook her head at them and they all filed out.
“You can’t take me in! I’m a federal employee! You have no right! I’m a man of God! An upstanding citizen!”
“Which is why you should come with us willingly, Mr. Griffin. Any fine, upstanding citizen should want to help law enforcement find the man who killed his girlfriend.”
She walked around the desk and into his space. “Let’s go, sir. You can ride with us, and we’ll bring you back when we’re finished.”
He stepped forward and looked down, trying to intimidate her. “I’ll be more than happy to come in after myshift ends at 4:00, but my work here isimportant, and you won’t interrupt it.”
Ronnie lost her smile and stepped in closer, invading his space. “Murder trumps passports in the wholeimportancegame, Mr. Griffin. You can come willingly or in handcuffs, totally up to you.”
She saw the arm snake around and knew what he was about to do, and decided to let him. Her inner tiger understood her plan, and she, too, stayed silent and watched.
Micah Griffin proved how much of an asshole he was by nearly breaking her neck in a chokehold. Clearly, the anger management classes hadn’t worked.
If she’d been human, there’s a good chance he’d have killed her.
Ronnie held her hand up — the signal to Henderson that she was fine and didn’t need rescuing. She made sure Griffin held her for a count of three, to be sure Henderson’s bodycam got a shot clear enough to grab a still shot, and then it was time to move.
She elbowed his ribs, flipped him up and over, and he should’ve landed on his back, but the bastard twisted in mid-air, landed on his feet, and punched her square in the face.
Again, she saw it coming, but with the video rolling it was important she was human-slow. His huge fist struck her jaw and cheek all at once. He rang her bell, but not her inner tiger’s. Ronnie punched him hard enough the bastardtook four steps back to keep from falling, a priceless look of surprised shock on his face.
While he was off balance, Ronnie swept his legs, rode him to the ground so he landed on his stomach, and finally cuffed him.
She stood and faced Henderson. “Subject is neutralized.”
