It made her heart ache to see her colleague, her friend so miserable. Glancing back down at the dead man she had just finished off she thought: 'we a...so have a task to finish'. Coraline knelt down, one hand holding the dagger, the other stretching out to brush her fingertips along the dead guard's foot. Her auburn hair d****d down shielding her face from view. Silent sobs wracked her small frame. Beth was at her side in a moment, protective arms wrapped gently around her friend. Slowly. I returned with her G&T and an English IPA for myself. She downed hers in one gulp; impressive. She looked at me and said, “Thank you for stepping in Officer. He scared me. But I don’t let anybody maul me like that.” And she looked down at her incredible girls.I said, “First I’m not a cop. I have no more jurisdiction than you. The badge is for a federal agent. I am with the Army at Fort Meade.” I really would have thought she could tell who I worked for by the high and tight. I said, “I just. "Fuck off!"He doesn't recognise Donna though, doesn't understand she's not to becowed and intimidated, drugged and raped. Heart racing, buzzing with amixture of anger and fear, still dazzling him with the torch she freesher phone, hand trembling ever so slightly, backing slowly towards thegate measuring distance, cover, escape."Police please," softly spoken. The rapist, for that's what she believeshim to be, uncoils from his victim - moves forward at a crouching walk."It's not what it looks. ” “You told him you loved him?” Kevin asked with a touch of amazement. “Why did you do that?” “Two reasons. First, to make sure he’d come to the party. Second, because I do.” “You love him.” It was a statement. “Not like I love you, silly,” Karla said breezily. “But in a sweet, kind of nephew-like way.” “Karla, you’re headed for trouble with this. You can love him or you can fuck him. You can’t have both.” “Nonsense, Kevin. If I didn’t have some emotional connection with them, all of them, then.