Justice Served Read Free Page B

hooker’s boy friend to heart—can’t say as the work looks too hard to take, either. Man, what I wouldn’t give for that assign—”
    “Let it go, Watts.”
    He shrugged. “Hey, I always say never pass up a tasty morsel if it’s free.”
    “Sandy’s my CI,” Rebecca said with an edge to her voice, “and she put her life on the line the other night. Show her some respect.”
    “Yeah, she did,” Watts said with a sigh. He hunched his back, hooked his thumbs over his belt, and rocked on his heels while contemplating the closed door. “I’m just a little peeved that the only ones getting any action around here are the women.” In a barely audible undertone he muttered, “With the other women.”
    “Pay attention,” Rebecca said with a perfectly straight face. “Maybe you’ll learn something. You never know, even you might get lucky. “
    Watts stood flat-footed, his mouth open, staring at his lieutenant’s back as she rapped once sharply on the door and then shouldered through. It was the first time she’d ever joked with him about anything remotely personal. With a happy little laugh, he hustled after her.

    *

    “So the doc says I can go home today,” Mitchell announced, propped up in bed now with the sheet pulled to her waist and Sandy perched on a chair within arm’s reach.
    “That’s great.” Rebecca leaned both hands on the footboard of the bed, a frown forming between her eyes. “Where are you going?”
    “Uh, Sandy’s, we figure. I’m supposed to have a place in the same building…I mean, I do have a place there.” Mitchell thought of the tiny studio apartment she’d rented down the hall from Sandy’s. It was empty save for a bare mattress in the middle of the living-room floor, and she’d never slept there. She’d just assumed that staying with Sandy meant in Sandy’s apartment. Realizing that maybe she’d jumped the gun, Mitchell cut her eyes to her girlfriend.
    “I already told the super that Dell and I kinda have a thing going,” Sandy said with a dismissive shrug. “And we kinda made it a point to be seen around the neighborhood this week. It will look natural for her to stay with me.”
    “It’s important that people not know about your injury,” Rebecca pointed out. “It’s not likely that anyone will associate you with what happened with the sting, but we don’t want to take any chances.”
    Mitchell’s eyes brightened and excitement rippled in her voice. “So I’m going back undercover?”
    “Let’s say it’s a possibility,” Rebecca equivocated. She wasn’t certain how soon Mitchell would be streetworthy, and she had a feeling that the investigation was going to move quickly. The data Sloan and her associate Jason McBride had gathered on the Internet sex video subscribers had led to dozens of arrests in the last two days. The people behind the prostitution and pornography operations had to be getting nervous.
    “You can’t even walk yet, Dell,” Sandy objected quietly.
    “Just a couple of days,” Mitchell said, her eyes riveted to Rebecca. “Dr. Torveau said I’d be good in just a few days.”
    Sandy jerked upright in her chair, a flush rising in her cheeks. “She did not—”
    Rebecca held up a hand to forestall the storm. “There’s no point arguing about it now. When I have the plan mapped out, I’ll let you know if you have a part.” The truth was she needed both Mitchell and Sandy on the streets, but she wasn’t about to send a young, inexperienced officer—who was also less than 100% emotionally and physically fit—into danger. “There’ll be some paperwork to take care of before you can get back to duty, Mitchell.”
    Mitchell dropped her head back against the pillow with a groan. “Oh man. Not the shrink again.” Then, as if realizing what she had said and to whom, she hastily added, “I mean, Dr. Rawling’s terrific, but—”
    “It’s SOP, Detective,” Rebecca said, “so just suck it up and get it done.”
    “Yes,