Love and Injustice

by Mary Crawford

  Contents

  Love and Injustice

  Copyright

  Hidden Beauty Series

  Hidden Hearts Series

  Dedication

  Chapter One ~ Cody

  Chapter Two ~ Tori

  Chapter Three ~ Cody

  Chapter Four ~ Tori

  Chapter Five ~ Cody

  Chapter Six ~ Tori

  Chapter Seven ~ Cody

  Chapter Eight ~ Tori

  Chapter Nine ~ Cody

  Chapter Ten ~ Tori

  Chapter Eleven ~ Cody

  Chapter Twelve ~ Tori

  Chapter Thirteen ~ Cody

  Chapter Fourteen ~ Tori

  Chapter Fifteen ~ Cody

  Chapter Sixteen ~ Tori

  Chapter Seventeen ~ Cody

  Chapter Eighteen ~ Tori

  Chapter Nineteen ~ Cody

  Chapter Twenty ~ Tori

  Chapter Twenty-One ~ Cody

  Chapter Twenty-Two ~ Tori

  Chapter Twenty-Three ~ Cody

  Chapter Twenty-Four ~ Tori

  Epilogue ~ Cody

  Note from the Author

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  COPYRIGHT

  © 2018 Mary Crawford. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems – except in the case of brief quotations in articles or reviews – without permission in writing from its publisher, Mary Crawford and Diversity Ink Press. Copyright protection extends to all excerpts and previews by this author included in this book.

  This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. The author or publisher is not associated with any product or vendor in this book.

  Published on December 1, 2018, by Diversity Ink Press and Mary Crawford. Author may be reached at MaryCrawfordAuthor.com.

  ISBN-978-1-945637-20-9 • ASIN: B07HDJPLN3

  HIDDEN BEAUTY SERIES

  Until the Stars Fall from the Sky

  So the Heart Can Dance

  Joy and Tiers

  Love Naturally

  Love Seasoned

  Love Claimed

  If You Knew Me (and other silent musings) (novella)

  Jude's Song

  The Price of Freedom (novella)

  Paths Not Taken

  Dreams Change (novella)

  Heart Wish (100% charity release)

  Tempting Fate

  The Letter

  HIDDEN HEARTS SERIES

  Identity of the Heart

  Sheltered Hearts

  Hearts of Jade

  Port in the Storm (novella)

  Love is More Than Skin Deep

  Tough

  Rectify

  Pieces (a crossover novel)

  Hearts Set Free

  Freedom (a crossover novel)

  The Christmas Message (novella)

  Love and Injustice

  OTHER WORKS:

  The Power of Dictation

  Vision of the Heart

  #AmWriting: A Collection of Letters to Benefit The Wayne Foundation

  DEDICATION

  To those who serve the greater good

  without thanks or recognition –

  We honor you.

  CHAPTER ONE

  CODY

  I STIR SOME MORE SUGAR and cream in my coffee since my former partner, Dylan, isn’t around to razz me about it, and look over at my breakfast companion who is contentedly drinking his straight black. “So, how is your sister? It’s been years now, but she was still the best rookie cop I ever trained.”

  John grins. “Yeah, my sister is a talented little spitfire — but if Tayanita is right, she might not be little for long.” John’s face is lit up with mirth.

  “How’s that?” I ask, playing along, curious about what my friend thinks is so amusing about the woman I trained during her rookie year as a cop.

  “My wife has a hunch Katie might be pregnant, so I guess things are going okay with Logan.”

  “Is Tayanita picking up the same sort of sixth sense Ketki has?” I tease.

  John throws back his head and laughs. “No, I think this is related to all of Nita’s experience as a nurse. Katie is in a bit of shock. Apparently, they didn’t think this was even possible because of the injuries Logan sustained while he was in the military.”

  I jump when someone clears his throat right next to my ear. I look up and notice Dashonte standing next to me. “Hey, long time no see. How is college?”

  “I’m off for the summer, but my chemistry class was a pain during spring term. I’m starting to second-guess my plan to become a vet.”

  “Doctor Stuart says you are a natural. Eventually, you’ll get through the coursework, and then you can get to the fun part.”

  He clears his throat again. “That’s not really what I came to talk about.”

  Something about his tone makes me straighten up in my chair. “What’s up? Do we need to talk privately?”

  Dashonte looks down at Tuffy, John’s guide dog and carefully maneuvers around him as he sits down. “Nah, Mr. Ashford is cool. He works at Identity Bank. That might come in handy.”

  John’s eyebrows come together in a concerned expression. “You do know I don’t work for the law enforcement side, right? I just help make gaming software more accessible for people with disabilities.”

  “Yeah, I know. Ketki brags about you all the time when she brings her cats into the vet clinic. But, you know the person in charge. Right now, that’s good enough for me.”

  “So what’s the problem?” John inquires.

  Dashonte twists a paper napkin in front of him in knots as he tells me his story in a disjointed burst of speech. “My mom wouldn’t want me to say anything to you, but it’s about my little brother.”

  “What about him? Is he shoplifting again?” I ask. I take a sip of my coffee and notice it’s already getting cold. I have a hunch it’s going to be a long day.

  “No, I wish that’s all it was,” Dashonte says with a sigh. “I can’t find DeAndre.”

  “Your little brother, right?” I surmise.

  “Yeah, no one has seen him in a couple days.”

  “He play video games?” John questions.

  “A few. He’s mostly into skateboarding and hanging out at the skate park.”

  “You’ve checked with all his buddies?” John asks.

  Dashonte nods. “Multiple times. They’re tired of me blowin’ up their phones. Nobody’s heard sh — um … nothing from him. I mean, usually he checks in with my mom around dinner time if he’s not coming home — but for almost three days … nothing.”

  “You think he’s hanging out with the wrong kids again?”

  “No man! I don’t!”

  My skepticism must’ve been clear on my face without me having to say a single word because Dashonte blows out a breath. “Look, I know you don’t believe me — but DeAndre was completely freaked out when Tallulah Johnson went missing a few weeks ago. He had a huge crush on her. He was trying to work up the nerve to ask her out before she disappeared. When she went missing it shook him bad. He started paying attention to Ma’s curfew. He even told her if no cops were available to patrol our neighborhood, he would have to grow up and be one.”

  “Wow! That’s quite a turnaround,” I mutter as I begin taking notes in the notebook I constantly keep in my pock
et. “What does your mom think of all this?”

  “She doesn’t know what to think. After all, she thought it would be my older brother who’d be in danger — you know, with him being stationed overseas as a Ranger and all. She never figured DeAndre would be the one in trouble. In her mind, he’s still a little baby. I think part of her wants to believe he’s not really missing. She’s hoping he’s hanging out with his buddies somewhere and simply hasn’t called in.”

  I hold up my hand to stop him. “I mean, I hate to ask the obvious here, but have you tried to contact your brother on his phone?”

  “Yeah, I’ve called so many times, his voicemail won’t even take any more calls. I even had Daquan try. DeAndre always picks up for Daquan, but even he didn’t have any luck.”

  I lift my pen up from my notebook as I look up at him. “Daquan?”

  “My big brother, the Army Ranger. D-A-Q-U-A-N G-R-E-E-L-E-Y,” he spells out slowly as he waits for me to write it down.

  “Has your mom called the police?” John asks. “Your little brother is still a kid, right?”

  Dashonte grimaces. “He doesn’t like to think so — but yeah, he is. He’s only sixteen. My mom doesn’t want to get the police involved. You know, that doesn’t always go so well in my neighborhood. Sometimes good people end up dead,” he shrugs helplessly as he looks at me apologetically. “Sorry Officer Erickson, no disrespect intended, that’s just how it is.”

  I place my hand on his shoulder. “I know what you mean. I wish it wasn’t true. I’ve been in the field long enough to know you’re telling the truth. I understand your mom’s concern. How long has your brother been gone?”

  “At least two days, maybe three. I was out of town, so I wasn’t around the first day, but my mom says she couldn’t find him at his usual hangouts.”

  I close my notebook and tuck my pen in my pocket. “Okay, how about this? Why don’t you go home and tell your mom we’d like to talk to her, informally at first? Maybe John can ask Tristan to come on board.”

  John nods. “Yep. It’s more his thing than mine. Besides, I bet your mom already knows Tristan through neighborhood events.”

  “She does. Tristan came out and repaired some stuff in our apartment when our landlord wouldn’t do anything. I guess he and Mitch do a bunch of stuff with Habitat for Humanity. My mom likes him a lot. She might be cool with that.”

  "Okay, you have my number, right?” I ask. I start to hand Dashonte a business card but he waves it off. He holds up his cell phone.

  “Dude, I got it all in here. I’ll text you.”

  “I hope it’s merely a miscommunication and you find DeAndre soon. If you need anything, let me know.”

  Dashonte stuffs his phone in his pocket and walks away.

  After a few moments John scrubs his hand down his face. “Is it just me, or does all this sound really familiar?”

  A knot grows in the middle of my stomach as I answer, “I have a gut feeling, but I want to hear how it strikes you.”

  “Ever since Ketki worked on that sting with Savannah, I keep a close eye on stories involving teenagers. It seems as if there’s a lot of the bad stuff happening — more than is statistically normal. It makes me want to lock my daughter in the house and throw away the key.”

  “I don’t know if it’s all related or not — it’s too early to tell. But, I know Dashonte’s family is under a phenomenal amount of stress. DeAndre could be a runaway, trying to escape his problems. I know someone who could probably give us some perspective. Let me see if she’ll talk to me.”

  John must’ve caught something in my tone because he quirks an eyebrow at me. “Sounds like there might be more to the story there.”

  “Oh, there is — but you probably don’t have a week to hear it all.”

  “Why Detective Erickson, you look dashing today. Did you have to testify in court?” Crystal Downing greets as she comes to the counter. Her eyes sparkle, and she has a bright smile.

  I blush, embarrassed to be busted by the friendly receptionist. “No, not today. Is Ms. Clarkson available, by any chance?” I adjust my tie and try not to fidget like a teenager who’s about to ask a girl out for the first time.

  Crystal lets out a small gasp and her smile fades. “Oh dear, you mean you haven’t heard?” she whispers. “I thought everyone knew.”

  “Is Tori all right?” I ask as I try to interpret Crystal’s distraught expression.

  Crystal mutely shakes her head as she digs through a box containing files on her desk. With shaking hands, she removes a piece of paper from a file. She clears her throat and reads in a monotone voice I’ve never heard her use. “Victoria Clarkson is no longer employed by the Prosecutor’s Office in this county. We have no further comment in this office. Questions can be directed to the District Attorney, Derek Zane’s office.”

  Crystal drops the paper like it’s burning. She can barely stand to look at it as she tucks it back into the folder and puts the folder back in the plastic box.

  When she looks back up at me, she avoids my questioning glance. “You’re kidding! Tori was just promoted to Assistant District Attorney. This stinks! You’ve been my friend since I was a rookie cop. You know I can’t leave it at that. What’s the real scoop?”

  “I can’t tell you, Cody. I’ll lose my job. I can’t believe you don’t know. It’s been all over the news. Have you been living under a rock?”

  I scrub my hand down my face. “No, I just got back into town. My grandma died about a little over a month ago.”

  “Oh, no! I’m so sorry,” Crystal exclaims.

  “Me too. It was a long time comin’. She’d been fighting emphysema for some time. In a way, it was a blessing. We just weren’t expecting my grandfather to pass away a week later. My mom is simply devastated. So, I stayed with my parents a bit longer than I planned.”

  “Totally understandable. You’re such a good man,” Crystal says with a teary smile. “You’re the type of person Tori needs in her life right now.”

  I clear my throat nervously. “That’s nice of you to say — but my relationship with Ms. Clarkson has always been somewhat complicated. We can never seem to get our timing quite right.”

  Crystal shoots me a ghost of a smile. My mind is racing as I try to figure out how to interpret it. “Well … I wouldn’t know anything about that, specifically … but I know a little about Tori’s approach to timing. She’s a stickler for her schedule — even when she is on ‘vacation’. She likes the little kickboxing gym — you know, the one over by the aquatic center? It doesn’t look like much. But … it’s her favorite way to decompress. If I know anything about her, she’s probably practically living there these days.”

  I can’t suppress my grin as I lean over the counter and give Crystal a brief hug. “Thank you. Next time I come, I’ll bring you your favorite latte. The pumpkin spice is on me.”

  “Mr. Erickson,” she calls after me as I leave the office. “It’s only summer … I expect to see you way before pumpkin spice season, you hear?”

  CHAPTER TWO

  TORI

  “WHOA! THE LADIES TELL ME I got a pretty face, so don’t knock my teeth out, m’kay?” Anthony teases as he braces the heavy bag on his shoulder. His speech is slurred as he talks around his mouth guard.

  “Sorry, I have a bunch of stuff on my mind. I wasn’t paying attention to my form. Maybe I should call it a day,” I admit, as I start to pull the athletic tape off my ankle.

  Anthony spits out his bright orange mouth guard. “What’s up? You’re usually a total warrior.” He grabs a towel and straddles a weight bench a few feet away from the sparring ring.

  I slump down on the other end of the bench and turn around so he can take the kinesthetic tape off my shoulder.

  “Let’s just say life has been kicking me in the teeth lately. I knew it would be hard to take care of my mom. The doctors warned me, but I didn’t know it would be this hard. I baked her a cake for her birthday — it was red velvet and everything. She threw it at
me.”

  Anthony’s eyes widen. “She threw a cake at you? Why? When you brought cookies the other day, I didn’t think they were awful. Maybe not Martha Stewart good, still they weren't bad —”

  I sigh and wipe away tears with the back of my hand. “No, it doesn’t have anything to do with my cooking — or at least I hope not. Yesterday, my mom had no idea who I was. She couldn’t remember me at all. She thought I was trying to poison her. It didn’t matter that she lives in my house with my graduation pictures on the wall with her standing right next to me. She has no idea who I am.”

  “No wonder you’re off your game.”

  “I can’t even blame my mom. Have you seen the way they’ve been talking about me in the paper? I don’t know who they’re talking about, but it’s not me.”

  “You mean you didn’t shag anybody in an elevator?”

  “No! Eww!” I answer as a visceral shudder passes through my body.

  “Rumor has it you gave the grateful defendant a blow job while he was in handcuffs — and maybe even more.”

  I whirl around and face Anthony with fire shooting from my eyes. “The rumor is dead wrong! I built a career prosecuting sex crimes. Does that seem like something I would do?”

  Anthony puts his hands up in front of his chest in a gesture of innocence. “Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just repeating what I heard. I’m just sayin’ maybe you did something to earn that reputation —”

  Gritting my teeth I narrow my eyes and answer, trying to keep my voice as level as possible, “Oh, you mean like graduating in the top ten percent of my class and working my way through law school after working as a teacher for high-risk kids. You know, because I like to live my life on the edge like that.”

  My fitness coach looks uncomfortable as he responds, “No, I mean the way you dress.”

  I glance down at my hot pink T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase “Just do it”, and my black yoga pants. When I meet his gaze with an incredulous look, I ask, “You do realize I don’t wear this to court, right? I have perfectly respectable business suits. My business suits cost about as much as you make in a month.”