Justice Served Read Free Page A

Everything is all right.”
    “You’re sure?”
    Of one thing, Catherine was certain. She needed Rebecca more than she needed air, and Rebecca needed a clear mind to do the work she did safely. Whatever misgivings or disappointments she might have, she would not burden Rebecca with them now. “Of course I’m sure. I love you. Call me later?”
    Rebecca kissed her swiftly. “You bet. I’ll even bring home dinner.”
    “I’ll hold you to that,” Catherine called as the door closed behind her lover. Then she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She too needed to be focused for the work she did, and she resolutely forced down the nagging kernel of fear beginning to grow in her depths.

Chapter Two

    Rebecca discovered Detective William Watts waiting for her in the crowded main lobby of University Hospital. He slouched against the admissions counter chatting up the receptionist, who was laughing at something he had said. Rebecca mentally shook her head, wondering what it was about the large, often crude cop that some people found so appealing. She knew that Catherine, whose judgment she considered impeccable, liked him. When the out-of-shape, interminably shabby fifty-year-old detective had been assigned to work with her after the murder of her longtime partner, Jeff Cruz, she had resisted vehemently. Jeff had been her friend as well as her partner, and no one could take his place on or off the job. Plus, Watts had a reputation for being a slacker.
    Although seemingly totally engrossed in his conversation, Watts greeted Rebecca without looking away from the young woman on the other side of the desk. “How’s it hangin’, Loo?”
    Rebecca gave a start. How’s it hanging. Jeff’s greeting.
    “Better than yours,” Rebecca heard herself say, just as she had countless times to Jeff.
    “Yeah,” he sighed as he straightened, then swiveled to face her. “I don’t doubt it.”
    She didn’t reply but merely continued wending through the crowd toward the elevators at the rear of the lobby, Watts trailing behind. She’d been paired with Watts almost as long as she had known Catherine, and during those tumultuous months she’d learned that her initial impression of the detective had been wrong. Beneath his façade of insouciance, Watts was a sharp and thorough cop. He was also trustworthy and solid under pressure. Without her knowing it, and certainly without her intending it, he had become her partner. And she still wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
    “How long do you figure until we can get the team up and running again?” he asked as they stepped into the elevator.
    “Today.”
    He grunted but said nothing.
    Rebecca waited until they reached the fifth floor and exited, out of earshot of the other passengers, before elaborating. “As soon as we see how Mitchell is doing, we’ll head over to Sloan’s place and have a strategy meeting.”
    “She’s going to be pissed about Avery.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “What if she won’t play ball?”
    “She will.” Rebecca pushed open the door to room 503 and stopped so abruptly that Watts nearly climbed up her back. “Christ. I don’t see this.”
    “What?” Watts snapped, craning his neck to peer around Rebecca. “Whoa. I’m seein’ it. Hey, move over so I can get a better look.”
    Sandy lay in Mitchell’s hospital bed curled against the officer’s right side, her head on Mitchell’s shoulder and a hand on Mitchell’s stomach under her police-issue T-shirt. Mitchell, the sheets askew and the tops of her lean thighs bare below white briefs, had apparently been dozing with her cheek pillowed against the top of Sandy’s head. Now she blinked sluggishly in Rebecca’s direction. “Hey.”
    “We’ll be back in a minute,” Rebecca grated. “Get yourselves together.” Then she backed from the room, forcing Watts out into the hall as the door swung shut.
    He emitted a long, low whistle. “Looks like the kid is taking her undercover gig as that little