?Running With Scissors ?

?c h a p t e r 13?

"What?" I pinch my nose in confusion. "Are you going to tell me who he is and why you thought he was after you?"

"No."

"Why not?" I ask sternly.

"Because."

I had never interrogated a woman before but I was seriously considering it with Scissors, and my interrogations are not the kind you can use in a court of law. Not until they make car batteries and waterboarding legal.

"Scissors, I'm asking nicely."

"I know and I feel bad that you told me something important but I just can't tell you about Eli. You're not an agent right now but when you get your life back I don't want you to have to choose between taking him down and me because it will be a choice. I assume you are loyal to those you trust but you can't be loyal to me and to the government if I tell you about him. I'm sorry."

She gave me no answers, basically said she was protecting me and then somehow suggested that we'd be in each other's lives after this is all over. I don't know how I feel about any of that.

"You can trust me." I reach out for her hand but stop midway and lay them on the table instead. "I just want to know who else I need to look out for. I already have two bad guys on my tail, I don't need another."

"I can promise you that Eli will never be a problem for you unless you search him out."

"But-" Her hands reach out and touch mine.

"If a time comes where you need to know, I will tell you but until then you have to trust me. I'm not as innocent and helpless as I look."

Well, what the heck do I say to that?

I just sigh completely defeated. I know I'm not going to hurt her just because I'm a nosy guy and I'm not going to force her to confide in me about something that doesn't matter right now.

"Okay. Answer me one thing. Who is the guy you said the police took away?"

For an uncomfortably long time, she just looks at me obviously fighting with herself before she breaks into a fit of laughter. I don't see why she finds kidnapping funny.

Maybe she's finally lost it.

"Oh my God." She wheezes out between deep breaths. "It was my. . my vibrator. The perverted cops stole him."

It's my turn to stare at her blankly. I'm half embarrassed that I asked and half that she answered. She cried over cereal and a toy. There was no recovering from the hole I just fell into so I do what I do best and ignore the last five minutes.

"Go relax for a while; who knows when we'll get a chance to do that again. I'll meet you here in a few hours to talk with the twins." She opens her mouth in protest when I jump back in. "I won't start without you."

After eyeing my expression, she leaves to her room after telling me to have fun. Fun.

I wait until I hear her door close before I secure the bunker. Being off the grid means no video cameras, no warning signals unless the wrong code is used and no agents. It was a good idea on Nate's part because it's not just me I have to take care of now. Once I check the elevator and door, I fumble to my bed and wait for rest to come.

***

I walk into the media room well rested and clear headed after a long nap. Scissors was already half way through her meal, making a mess as she goes when I sit down.

"Morning sunshine!" She smiles cheerfully.

I grunt in response.

"Sleep good? It must have been good because your nap was four hours! The FBI really went all out for this place... that is the softest mattress I have ever slept on. Must be why you slept for so long." She says so rapidly that my sleepy mind has a hard time keeping up.