Justice Served Read Free

steel.
    “I know better than that,” Rebecca answered evenly. She kissed Catherine’s forehead. “I want her to see you. I told you that before she was even injured. She’s got some problems with her temper, and it’s going to get her into trouble. This might be the perfect opportunity to get that all sorted out.”
    Catherine tilted her head and regarded her lover intently. “I do believe you’re becoming a fan of psychotherapy.”
    Rebecca blinked and then laughed. “Well, maybe a fan of a certain psychiatrist.”
    “Oh, aren’t you clever,” Catherine murmured as she kissed Rebecca’s neck. Tightening her grip on Rebecca’s waist, she moved her lips to the corner of her lover’s mouth before remembering where they were and what time it was. With a faint groan, she drew away. “Now I remember why it’s a bad idea for you to visit me in the middle of the day.”
    “Seems like a really good idea to me.” Rebecca’s voice was husky and low.
    Catherine moved back even further. “ You might be able to recover from a quickie and head right back to work, but I don’t think that I can.”
    Rebecca grinned. “Wanna try?”
    Laughing, Catherine rose and held out her hand to her lover. “Tell Dellon I said hello and that I’ll be over later to see her.”
    Catherine was the only one who called Mitchell by her full name, and it always gave Rebecca pause. It was a little disquieting, knowing that her lover had a very private and singular relationship with one of her officers—a young officer whom she had taken under her wing and whose career she intended to guide. She knew that Catherine would never discuss the details of her therapeutic relationships with anyone, but nevertheless, now and then, she wondered just what Mitchell said to Catherine in the quiet intimacy of their hours together.
    “I will,” Rebecca said, before adding, “Mitchell’s being promoted. She’s going to get her detective’s shield.”
    “Rebecca, that’s wonderful! Did you have something to do with that?”
    Rebecca shook her head. “Absolutely not. Mitchell earned it, on the last operation and on this one. She’s been an important part of the team, and she handled herself well under difficult circumstances.”
    “I’m so happy for her. It will mean so much to her.”
    “Yeah.” Rebecca hesitated. “So am I.”
    “What?” Catherine asked, not following.
    “Being promoted. Detective lieutenant.”
    Catherine stared. “And you’re just telling me now? Rebecca! And you said yes ?”
    The possibility of Rebecca being promoted had been something the two of them had discussed before. Catherine had been in favor of it, secretly hoping that a more supervisory position would keep Rebecca off the streets and further away from potential harm—precisely why Rebecca had resisted.
    Rebecca nodded.
    “What part of this are you not telling me?”
    “I more or less had to accept in order to keep the team together. And in exchange, I get to head the High Profile Crimes Unit within the division.”
    “I see,” Catherine said slowly. “So in this case, a promotion doesn’t mean a desk job.”
    Silently, Rebecca shook her head, watching Catherine intently.
    Catherine walked behind her desk, sat down, and folded her hands in the middle of her blotter. After a few more seconds of silence, she said, “Congratulations. I’m very proud of you. And I’m glad you aren’t being forced into a position where you would be unhappy.”
    “But you’re not happy, are you?” Rebecca asked quietly.
    “I am happy. I’m happy for you.” Catherine lifted one hand and smiled. “I just need to rearrange my thinking a little bit.”
    Rebecca glanced at her watch. “We only have a few more minutes.”
    “That’s my line, darling.”
    “Catherine,” Rebecca said intently, moving around the side of the desk and leaning down over her lover. “I love you.”
    Catherine reached up and stroked Rebecca’s cheek. “Go to work, Detective.