Hard Justice Read online

  Steinbau began scribbling on a notepad. “And what happened after that?”

  “I waited until I heard the front door close about an hour later. The bedside clock told me that he’d left for work, but I waited a little while longer just to make sure he was gone. Sometimes he comes back home; I think just to make sure I’m there. He isn’t a very trusting man. He’s accused me of cheating on him several times. That’s what started the argument last night. He found some receipts in my purse for a new outfit and lunch at a nice restaurant. He said I must have been meeting my other boyfriend there.”

  He’d also found her bottle of pills and realized she hadn’t been taking them, but she wasn’t about to tell the detective that. It was bad enough Justice thought she was crazy. If the whole department did, no way would they arrest Travis.

  Justice leaned forward. “We can work that angle.”

  Bliss looked at him, confused. What angle?

  Steinbau didn’t seem to have any trouble following him, though. “So you think if you claim to be the other boyfriend, he’ll back off?”

  “Hell, no.” Justice snorted. “If anything, it’s just going to piss him off more. But it gives me a good reason to protect her until his ass is behind bars. No one will think anything of her staying at my place until the trial, and Travis will think twice about coming after her.”

  Whoa! Boyfriend? She wasn’t sure if it warmed her heart that he would go to such lengths to protect her, even thinking she was crazy, or if she should be worried that perhaps he needed medication. Why the elaborate ruse? Did it matter if people thought they were dating? Would it help the case in some way?

  Steinbau studied them a moment, then nodded. “I’ll send two units out to pick him up.”

  “Does she need to come back to sign a statement or anything?”

  “No, but I do need to get some pictures of her bruises. Depending on how badly she hurt Travis, it might not do any good, but we can try. Sit tight and I’ll grab the digital camera.” Steinbau rose from his chair and left the room.

  Bliss reached for Justice’s hand. She didn’t know how long it would take for Travis to get out on bail, but she had no doubt that he would. She’d heard that jail was a horrible place for a cop to go. She knew he’d stay out of prison as long as he could, and if he thought for one minute that she knew about his side business, he’d find her sooner rather than later. Neither Justice, nor his alarm, would keep Travis away.

  She hoped the pictures Steinbau was about to take would be sufficient, along with her statement of what happened. It would just be her word against Travis’s, and he could easily bring up her mental illness—the term the shrink had given her psychic abilities. The detective had been right. Travis did everything right when it came to his job. He was even a decorated officer. What were the chances someone would believe he was a dirty cop?

  “Relax,” Justice said. “We’re almost done, then we can get something to eat. We’ll give the officers enough time to pick him up then I’ll take you to your place.”

  She bit her lip. “I don’t have my keys.”

  “There isn’t a hidden one somewhere?”

  She shook her head. And truth be told, she wasn’t all that keen on going back to the house she shared with Travis. Nothing she owned was worth the risk.

  “Then we’ll go to Wal-Mart, and you can pick up something to sleep in and a few changes of clothes.”

  “But I don’t have my purse either.” Not that she didn’t need it, but she wasn’t about to go after it. If things went well and Travis went to jail, she would return for her things. But if everything went south…she wouldn’t need her I.D. if she was dead.

  He gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s on me. And don’t worry about the cost. It will be worth it to make sure you’re safe.”

  Steinbau returned with the camera. “If I can just get you to stand against the wall, Miss Dougan, I’ll snap a few pictures, and you can be on your way. I already sent two officers to pick up Malloy, and I’m sure you don’t want to be here when he arrives.”

  Bliss stood, stepped over Justice’s feet, and walked across the small office, putting her back against the wall. She held out her arm first and waited for the detective to snap the picture. Next, he took a picture of her throat then one of her cheeks. When he was finished, he put the camera on his desk.

  “That’s all I need for now,” Steinbau said. “I’ll call Wild as soon as Malloy gets here. I imagine we won’t be able to hold him for long. He’ll probably post bail before we even get him in a cell. Being an officer, I imagine his co-workers will let him stay in the holding area, even after he’s processed.”

  “I don’t care, as long as he’s arrested,” Bliss said.

  Justice stood and took her hand.

  Steinbau crossed his arms over his chest. “If you want people to believe she’s your girlfriend, you’re going to have to do a bit of acting. No one around here knew you were seeing anyone, since you’ve never mentioned a woman, and they’re going to question it.”

  “Acting?” Bliss asked. She still didn’t see the point to all of this.

  “You’re going to need to look a little cozy on your way out. Think you can manage that?” the detective asked.

  Bliss knew she would do whatever she must to stay away from Travis. If that meant cuddling up to Justice, which really wouldn’t be a hardship, then that’s what she would do. She had to admit, she wondered what those arms would feel like wrapped around her. Something told her she’d feel safe in his embrace.

  “I can do that,” Bliss said.

  Justice pulled her close and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Thanks, Detective Steinbau. We appreciate all you’re going to do.”

  “Just keep her close,” Steinbau said. “I have a feeling Travis won’t go quietly. And there’s a chance a jury won’t sentence him. You have to admit, he looks damn good on paper. Commendations. Volunteer work. Hell, he was even a Boy Scout.”

  “I know, but we have to try,” Justice said.

  “And what are you going to do if he’s freed?” Steinbau asked.

  “Anything I have to,” Justice said, his jaw tensing.

  Chapter Three

  Justice carried Bliss’s sacks into the house after shutting off the alarm. He’d taken her to breakfast, as promised, and then taken her to Wal-Mart for some much-needed shopping. They’d had to do a bit more pretending when an officer and his wife had spotted them in the intimates aisle. Since no man would be caught dead shopping for bras, and with anyone other than their significant other, it lent credence to their story.

  “Thank you for today,” Bliss said quietly. “You’ve done so much for me.”

  He waved away her thanks. “I couldn’t very well leave you on your own, not with Travis on the loose. I told you what the detective said when he called back. He was taken before the judge immediately and released on his own cognizance until the actual hearing next week. I would imagine he’ll want to silence you if he can.”

  A tremor raked her. Justice had no idea.

  “I didn’t say that to scare you.” Justice placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I just want you to be prepared for the worst. He’s going to try to bully you into dropping the charges against him.”

  Bullying she could handle. Her early demise, not so much. “Does he know where I am?”

  “You were seen at the station with me this morning by quite a few people. I’m sure someone has mentioned it to him by now. I’m going to give you the alarm code to the house because I don’t want you to feel like a prisoner, but you have to swear that if he comes here, you’ll stay inside. He can’t get in without tripping the alarm, unless you shut it off.”

  She blew out a breath and leaned against him. “I won’t lie. I’m scared, but I know you’ll keep him away from me.” Or she knew he would try. If only he would believe her about Cherise… She had to try one more time.

  “About what I said this morning…I meant it. I know it’s hard to believe, b
ut I’m asking you to be open-minded. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been able to communicate with spirits. Every female in my family is born with some sort of psychic ability, and this happens to be mine. I’m what’s known as a Medium. More and more police departments are starting to use Mediums to solve cold cases and current murder cases.”

  Justice sighed. “Bliss—”

  She held up a hand. “Just listen to me. The newspapers said that Cherise had died of an overdose, but they didn’t say from what. If I couldn’t talk to her ghost, how would I know it was heroin?”

  Justice studied her a moment, but then he shook his head. “That’s an easy guess. Heroin is a hot commodity right now. There’s an article in the paper every day about how bad the problem is. I’m sorry, Bliss, but I just can’t believe you’ve talked to Cherise.”

  “Why would I lie to you? What possible motive could I have for telling you something like that? It makes me sound crazy. I know that, so why would I admit to talking to a dead woman if I hadn’t done so?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe you truly believe you can talk to Cherise, but I’m a cop, Bliss. I deal in cold, hard facts. If Cherise is haunting us, where is she?” he asked, spreading his arms wide. “If she’s a ghost, tell her to appear right now and tell me herself how she died.”

  “It doesn’t work like that. You can either see spirits or you can’t.”

  His arms fell to his sides. “Then I have to believe that Cherise isn’t really here and that you may need more help than I can give you.”

  Bliss sighed, feeling defeated as she sank onto the sofa.

  “We haven’t discussed your work. Do I need to set up a security detail for you during the day?” The woman might be crazy, but that didn’t mean he would turn his back on her. He didn’t think Travis was any real threat to her at the moment, but he wasn’t going to take any chances. The man might bully her, slap her around a bit, but Justice didn’t think he’d take it beyond that. Not that any man had a right to lay a hand on a woman in anger.

  “I don’t work.” She looked up at him uncertainly. “Is that going to be a problem?”

  “No, that’s actually a good thing right now. It will make guarding you easier.”

  “Travis didn’t like it when I worked, so I gave up my job at the florist shop.” Her shoulders hunched. “Travis didn’t like a lot of things.”

  Justice sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, holding her close. He couldn’t imagine asking his girlfriend to give up her job, but he wasn’t really surprised to hear that’s what Travis had done. He wouldn’t want anyone at home to have the glory of providing for the family, other than himself. Personally, Justice would love to have someone to share things with, even if it was the bills. The extra money would mean nice, romantic vacations and candlelit dinners at some of the better restaurants around town. He’d never understood men that felt emasculated by a woman who earned a decent wage.

  “When this is all over, maybe they’ll still have a job for you,” Justice said. “If you’d like to go back.”

  “I’d love to go back. I’ve missed working. There’s only so much I can do around the house during the day.”

  Justice frowned. There was just one problem with her story. “If you weren’t helping with the bills, how does Travis afford that house of his? I’d just assumed he wasn’t going it alone.”

  “I never knew where the money came from. I asked one time, and it sent him into a rage. He didn’t hit me that time, but he did scare the hell out of me. I didn’t ask again. But I do know he’s always buying guns and knives, remodeling the house with expensive appliances, built a deck out back, added a pool this past summer. I know you guys don’t make enough to cover the amounts he’s spending.” Her gaze bore into his. “But if he’s selling women, it would make sense that he would have all that cash, wouldn’t it?”

  Justice had a sick feeling settle in his stomach. It sounded like Travis was on the take. Not necessarily in trafficking women though. He’d worked closely with the drug team, and it wouldn’t be hard to make the evidence go missing between the bust and getting to the precinct. Justice hated to think such a thing, but if the man was capable of harming a woman, what else was he likely to do? It was still a far stretch from domestic violence to prostitution though.

  “I know you’re going to want some of your things, mainly your purse. Why don’t you let me call the station and have a car meet us at the house? They can stand guard while you gather whatever you want from the house.”

  “I have what I need right now. You already bought me enough to last me a few days.”

  “I’m thinking longer term than that.” Justice rubbed his hand up and down her arm. “If the hearing isn’t until next week, you’ll need enough to last until then. And you’ll probably want something other than jeans to wear to the hearing.”

  She stiffened in his arms. “Do I have to testify?”

  “Well, it’s your word against his, honey. If you don’t testify, all they have is your report and those pictures.”

  “I don’t know that I can do it, Justice. I don’t know that I can look at him, not knowing what he’s capable of. It turns my stomach just thinking of the things he’s done. He hasn’t only sold the women; he’s raped them too.”

  “I still don’t believe he’s capable of that, but you’re a strong woman, Bliss. Look at what you accomplished. You not only escaped a bad situation, but you also had Travis arrested.”

  “Fat lot of good it did me,” she muttered.

  “I won’t lie. The chances of him going to jail are slim right now. If you had a witness…”

  She shook her head. “So what do we do? I have no way to support myself. And even if I did, there’s no guarantee he’ll leave me alone. He’s going to be furious that I’ve drug his name through the mud at work. He has to be embarrassed.”

  “I didn’t think about it at the time, but it’s probably worse with everyone in the department thinking you were cheating on him. Especially since most of them think he’s such a great guy.”

  “I wouldn’t change anything we’ve done today, Justice. You’re helping me, and I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate it.”

  “I could have helped you without posing as your boyfriend. We could have come up with something better. We could have said you hired me as a bodyguard or something.”

  She looked up at him, studying him. “Then why the boyfriend ruse?”

  Excellent question. He wasn’t sure he had an answer for her, not one that she wanted to hear. The truth was, he kind of liked the feel of her in his arms. Finding her on the sofa when he came home this morning had been nice. He’d come home to an empty house for so long, but knowing someone was waiting for him had made him look forward to coming home. And not just because she needed his protection. There was something about Bliss. A pull that he couldn’t ignore.

  “You don’t know, do you?” she asked.

  “I know.” I think. “But you may not like the answer.”

  “I don’t want any secrets between us. There were too many secrets between Travis and me, and look how that ended. That’s all I ask of you, Justice. Honesty. Can you give me that?”

  “You make it sound like we’re in a real relationship.”

  Pink tinged her cheeks, and he found it adorable.

  “You’re right. We aren’t,” she admitted.

  He tipped her chin up until she looked him in the eyes again. “Is that what you want? A relationship? You don’t know me, Bliss. We just met this morning. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours. I understand that you need protection right now, and you might see me as some sort of knight in shining armor, but I’m just a guy. An average guy who works an average job for an average amount of pay. There’s nothing remarkable about me.”

  “You’re not average, Justice. You’re honorable, and that’s a rare thing these days.”

  He shook his head. “You don’t know me.”

  “Then let me get to k
now you. What horrible secrets are you hiding? That you leave dirty clothes on the floor? Don’t hang up your wet towels? Are you a horrible cook or maybe a sports fanatic?”

  His lips twitched. “Maybe all of the above.”

  “Are you going to hit me?”

  “Never.”

  “Are you going to belittle me and make me feel bad about myself?”

  “You know I won’t.”

  She smiled. “Exactly my point. I already know more about you than you think I do. The fact that you helped me, even knowing it was one of your officers who had hurt me, told me all I needed to know about you. You brought me to your home to protect me, to give me a safe place to stay until I could go to the police. And now? Knowing that I’m still in danger, you’re letting me stay longer.”

  “Anyone would…”

  She squeezed his bicep. “No, they wouldn’t. You’re an extraordinary man, Justice Wild. I’m lucky you found me. And while I don’t know that I want to jump into another relationship, if I were going to, it would be with a guy like you.”

  He’d never wanted to kiss a woman as badly as he wanted to kiss Bliss at that moment, but he wasn’t sure his advance would be welcome. She’d just been through something horrific, was still trying to survive it. The last thing she needed was him hitting on her. He’d just have to put a lid on his emotions when they were in the house. It was one thing to pretend when they were out in public, but that didn’t mean she wanted him hugging and kissing her in the privacy of his home.

  Justice’s cell phone rang and he unclipped it from his belt. “Hello.”

  “It’s Steinbau. I thought I’d let you know that the shit has officially hit the fan.”

  “What do you mean?” His grip tightened on his phone.

  “Some of the guys are trying to talk Malloy into suing Miss Dougan for defamation of character, since they say they all know he’d never lay a hand on a woman.” Steinbau snorted. “Like you’d be more likely to hurt her. Between the two of you, Malloy is the one with the temper.”