“ARE you looking for someone, Sir Handsome?”
Euclid avoided the woman that asked him and tried to touch him even though she was behind bars. He looked inside the prison cell that was currently full of women in short skimpy dresses. On one corner, he found what his eyes were looking for.
“What’s the name of that woman on the corner? The one wears the face mask that I told to give to Magdalene?” he asked, brows drew together.
The woman on his front looked back. “That’s Tina. Tina! Sir Handsome is looking for you.”
The girl quickly stood up. She removed the mask and flashed her smile to him as she walked. “Yes, boss? You called for me?”
“Why do you have that mask?” he asked directly.
The woman looked at the mask in her hand. “Magdalene gave it to me,” she replied, but Euclid knew she was lying. “Why did she tell you that I stole it from me? That bitch is really a liar.”
“I agree!” said the woman that asked him a while ago. “That Magdalene is a liar. She’s so full of herself, acting as if she’s the most marketable in the club. If I know, she became the favorite because she offered herself to Boss Doppy—”
Euclid slammed his hands on the bars, surprising all the women inside. “I am not asking for your opinion,” he hissed and snatched the cloth facemask from the woman. “And, you, it’s impossible that Magdalene will give it to you because this is what she really needs now.”
The two women didn’t answer. They just stared at him with a surprised expression. Euclid clenched his jaw. He doesn’t like the things that he heard from this tramp.
“Hey, Euclid!” Miranda called him. “Got a problem?”
He looked at her and raised the facemask. “I asked you to give it to Magdalene, but it didn’t reach her.”
Miranda knotted her forehead, raised from her seat, and walked towards him. “I gave that to this woman and told her to give it to Magdalene,” she said, pointing at the woman that he caught wearing it. “Should we file another complaint about her? What about bullying?”
“Hey, I didn’t bully that bitch—”
“You’re also a bitch, bitch,” Miranda cut off. “And, don’t raise your voice at me. I’m the deputy here, stupid tramp.”
“Why you’re in favor of Magdalene?” the woman asked. “And where is she? Did you free her already?”
Miranda shook her head. “Insecurities are eating you alive. What a pity.”
“I’ll separate Magdalene from them,” Euclid said. “Her lawyer has already called and on his way here to settle the bail. But, we’re not going release her until the drug test results aren’t released.”
“How about us? How are we going to get out?” the other women asked.
“All of you will have an attorney, but unfortunately not now, all the public attorneys are occupied now. So, behave yourselves, we’ll be together for quite long,” Miranda told the prisoners and laughed mockingly.
After discussing some cases with Miranda Bray, Euclid went to the room where Maria is being assisted for drug testing. He found Fred and David guarding her as the medical technician gets her blood samples.
“What the two of you are doing?” Euclid asked his two co-agents.
Fred was the first to answer. “We’re securing Magdalene’s safety, right, David?”
David shrugged his shoulders. “I’m here because Agent Euclid told me to stay here.”
Fred groaned. “You are so loyal to Agent Mercado. You deserved a loyalty award,” he said as he tapped David’s back.
“Fred, I told you to interrogate the targets—”
“Euclid, I need to sleep. The veins in my head might pop any moment if I force it to think and process things,” Fred complained and slopped his shoulders. “I badly need a rest.”
“I’ll get your DNA,” Euclid heard the medical technician tell Maria. “Can you remove your mask for a moment?”
Fred and David suddenly became awake. From Maria’s back, they simply walked behind the medical technician.
Maria’s hands clutched on the hemline of the coat. “Why do I have to remove my mask?”
“I need to swab the side of your mouth to get your DNA,” the medical technician said. “It will take just a minute,” he assured and touched Maria’s hand. “It won’t hurt, I’ll be quick—”
“You don’t have to touch her hand,” Euclid said, his eyes were focused on the man’s hand over hers. “I never saw anyone in your field that has worked with us did that.”
“Dude,” Fred tapped his shoulder. “He’s just making her feel relaxed—”
“Magdalene, how do you feel?” Euclid asked Maria, not taking his eyes off the MedTech that pulled his hand off Maria. “Do you feel relaxed?”
Maria hesitantly looked up at him. When their eyes met, she shook her head. “I-I’m not comfortable in taking my mask off…”
The MedTech looked at Euclid. “Maybe she’s just uncomfortable with your presence.”
Euclid smirked and snatched the swabbing materials from the medical staff. “I’ll do the swabbing. The three of you get out of here.”
“Hey, Euclid, you need an assistant,” Fred insisted, but Euclid swept him out of his way.
“Out,” he said to his two agents. “I know how to do this. I’ve seen hundreds of swabbing processes in person, I’ll call you after I have collected enough.”
The medical staff raised from his seat. “Okay, so that I can move forward to the other persons.”
Euclid glared at the man. “This will be your last day in my department,” he said and beckoned to his two colleagues to escort the staff.
When the door of the room closed, Maria took off her mask. “I’m sorry, Euclid.”
Euclid shook his head. “It’s nothing,” he said and scooted closer to her. “Open your mouth so I can do the swabbing quickly.”
Maria’s mouth pressed into a line. Her hands-on her lap formed into a fist. Euclid reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “It’s just me, Maria.”
“That’s the problem. It is you in front of me, Euclid,” she murmured, and tears started to pool in her eyes. “It was you who caught me while doing that immoral—”
“Maria…” He touched her face. “It’s okay. I’ll do everything to catch the culprit. But, I’ll do that if you will cooperate with me,” he said and smiled at her.
Maria nodded her head as the tears started to fall from her eyes.
He wiped her tears from her face. “Now, let’s finish this test so you’ll be able to go home with Sara, okay?”
***