"Chain Reaction" Power Failure Book I

by Andrew Draper

Murphy hit her with the butt of his pistol one more time before she finally lay still. He pulled the purse from her still-clenched fist and emptied it on the desk. As he went through the contents, he cursed her aloud. “Bitch! Look what you made me do!”

  Eyeing the small silver device, he gloated in triumph. You thought you were so dammed smart, didn’t you? Guess you were wrong.

  He dropped the empty purse and began to scan the room for the prototype. He pulled open cabinets and rifled the shelves, finding nothing.

  He stared at the inert form lying on the floor and a new wave of frustration pulsed within him, fueling his rage. Blood surging through his veins, he cleared the top of her desk with a broad sweep of his arm. The violent outburst scattered debris in all directions. All right, you conceited bitch, where did you hide the battery?

  Taking a few deep breaths, he regained a modicum of self-control and began searching her desk. Pulling pens, file folders and a half-empty box of herbal tea from the top drawer, he dropped the items in a haphazard pile next to her body. He pulled the now-empty drawer free of its guide rails, tossing it aside. Reaching a hand into the locked drawer below, he groped among the papers until he felt a hard object. Finally! He raised the small plastic case to the light, staring in awe at the two silver-dollar sized disks that lay inside.

  Pulse beginning to settle, he was already counting his money when the door opened for the second time.