Tension Read Online Free Page B

I just woke up and I’m still a little cloudy. I’d rather George stay in here just because he’ll be able to tell you if I’m going off the rails.”
    Ms. Peterson glanced at George and nodded. “At this stage, it’s fine, but once we get into details, we’ll need to proceed differently.”
    George sat down and handed Stella a cup of coffee. “Fine with me,” he agreed.
    Agent Harris pulled out his pad. “So, can you tell me everything you remember?”
    “Sure, with the understanding that I’m hazy and things will probably change or get clearer. I’ll do my best.”
    “Start at the beginning,” Ms. Peterson prodded quietly.
    “Well, I got to the office pretty early that day because I was still on DC time. I’m not sure the time...”
    George interrupted. “She texted me at 9:00 am Eastern Time and she hadn’t
    gotten to the office yet.”
    “We’re going to need that text, sir,” Agent Harris demanded.
    “I can forward it to you now,” George agreed, pulling out his phone.
    “So you headed to the office early. Did you get any coffee? Did you stop anywhere on the way there?”
    “No.”
    “When you got to the office did you notice anything out of place?”
    “No.”
    “Okay. Walk us through it.”
    “There were only a few cars in front of the office. I got out of the car and walked into the office through the front. I nodded at Special Agents Trey Williams, Jeffery Riggins, and Peter Richardson. I put my bag and laptop at my desk and walked to get a cup of coffee. I sat down at my desk and the entire front of the building blew off. It knocked me out of my chair and onto the floor.” Stella closed her eyes, silently counted to three, and tried to remember. “I couldn’t hear anything after the explosion.” Opening her eyes, she grabbed George’s hand. “It was so surreal. I was trying to figure out if I was injured. I...I felt these hands grab my arms from behind and pull me up.” She shuddered, remembering the feel of his hands on her.
    “So you were knocked to the floor?” Agent Harris confirmed.
    Stella nodded. “Yes, didn’t I say that already?” She looked at George and he squeezed her hand. “He was big, very round. His fat stomach and gun were pressed against my back. I still couldn’t hear. I could see his lips move, but I couldn’t hear anything.”
    “What did he look like?” Agent Harris was scribbling furiously on his pad.
    “He was wearing all black and a mask. I couldn’t see his face. He ripped my shirt and spoke to me, but I couldn’t hear him.” George squeezed her hand again and then put his other hand on hers. “He grabbed my face and yelled something at me. Then I saw another guy.”
    “Anything on him?” Agent Harris asked.
    “Same black outfit and mask. They were all wearing the same thing.”
    “How many did you see?”
    “Three,” Stella answered.
    “There were three?” Ms. Peterson butted in. “All in black with masks?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then what?” Agent Harris motioned Stella to continue.
    “The big one pushed me on my back and starting ripping my pants off. I kicked him in the face with my boot. I started crawling away and he pulled me back and flipped me over. Then he ripped the button off my pants. It was then the third one came up behind the big one. They exchanged words and then the third one shot me.”
    “Did the third guy look any different?”
    “No. It’s fuzzy. They were all in black with masks.” Her mind released a flash of all three around her when Jamie shot her, staring directly in her eyes while he did it.
    “Do you remember anything after being shot?” Agent Harris inquired.
    Stella shook her head. “That’s it.”

Chapter Three
Tabloid Fodder
    George had gone for a run with Cooper and Stella splayed in the sun on a lounge chair, positioned right where the water would kiss her feet as the waves rolled in. She was reading a great book about a married couple that couldn’t stand each other because the wife was