Southern Comfort - Fern Michaels [75]
Tick chose that moment to make an appearance. “I’m the cop you’re looking for. Apparently, I’m smarter than some.” Standing next to Kate, he placed a protective arm around her. “What do you want?” he asked Tyler, none too kindly.
Special Agent Tyler stood tall, shoulders back. He cleared his throat, then looked Tick directly in the eye. “This is none of your business.”
In a tone so menacing it caused Kate to glance up at Tick just to make sure it was really his voice she heard as he spoke to his unwelcome visitor, he said, “If in addition to being exceedingly illmannered, you are also hard of hearing, let me repeat myself. I’m the cop to whom you referred. I heard you wanted to talk to me. Now state your business or get the fuck off my property.
“If you are very polite about it, and I’m of a mind to do so, I might give you some answers. If not, then you’ll need to get one of those warrants Miss Rush spoke of. And if you decide to do that, something tells me you’re not going to like my way of resolving this situation one bit,” Tick proclaimed. “You see, I seriously doubt that you have any standing to get any warrants at all. In fact, your attitude tells me that you are desperate for some reason.”
Now that his bluff had been called, Tyler was back in coward mode, and his gaze dropped to his feet, then back to Kate. “Miss Rush, this isn’t going to bode well for you at all, trust me. When—”
“Stop!” Tick interjected in a firm voice, not allowing Tyler to continue. “Simply state what it is you came to say. You will not speak disrespectfully to Miss Rush in my presence. Are we clear on that, Larry, or do I need to clarify it for you?”
Kate’s heart sang and did a one-handed cartwheel. She really liked Tick Kelly. A man’s man for sure, standing up for her when he barely knew her. Sandy’d been right on the money again. He must like something about her. Why else would he come to her defense? For a split second, Kate almost felt sorry for Tyler. The big coward. Fortunately, the feeling passed as quickly as it came.
With an unusual air of bravado, Tyler taunted, “It’s obvious you’re sleeping with her, so there is really nothing to clarify.”
Tick grabbed Tyler by his shirt collar and yanked him so high he had to stand on his tippy toes. “Did you not understand a word I said? You really must be as stupid as you look.” He observed Tyler’s hot pink and orange shirt. “Now, tell former Agent Rush you’re sorry, or I won’t be responsible for my actions. Are you gettin’ this, Larry?” Tick asked before relinquishing his grip.
Tyler’s face turned a dozen shades of red. Before he had a chance to reply, Bird soared through the front door and planted himself on top of Tyler’s head. The beast made quick work of pecking at the tender bald spot the hapless DEA agent had tried in vain to hide with a slicked-back comb-over. His hands flew in every direction as he swatted at Bird.
“Bullshit! Bullshit!” Bird screeched, buzzing around Tyler’s head like a swarm of angry bees.
Kate gaped at the comical display, then, before she could stop herself, began to giggle uncontrollably. Tick caught on, and the two of them almost forgot their anger at their unwelcome intruder. Tears filled Kate’s eyes as she watched Bird cut Mr. Special Agent Lawrence Tyler down to size. In Bird talk, Tyler would be hummingbird size, Kate thought, which caused her to laugh even harder.
Through his laughter, Tick finally managed to shout, “Stop it, Bird. Leave the man alone.” On command, Bird’s incessant pecking stopped, and he flew to his perch on Tick’s shoulder. Then, apparently thinking better of it, he zoomed back, landing on top of Tyler’s head, the agent’s normally groomed hair now resembling a bird’s nest. Roosting in the tangle of thinning black hair, Bird proceeded to leave a healthy dollop of bird droppings right on top of Tyler’s head before resuming his position on