Hard Justice

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  As the door swung open, the alarm screeched. Justice entered the four-digit code, silencing it, and ushered Bliss inside. He flipped the light switch by the door, illuminating his small living room. A sofa and overstuffed chair dominated the room, leaving space for little else. A flat screen TV was mounted on the wall, and a small coffee table sat in front of the sofa. A few magazines were stacked on top, mostly about guns.

  He walked her toward the sofa and motioned for her to sit. Justice picked up the remote and flicked on the TV. “I have about three hundred channels, including HBO and Starz. I’m sure there’s something on you might like. If you get sleepy, you can have the bedroom.”

  “There’s only one?”

  He nodded. “I have a weight room set up in the spare bedroom. But no worries, I won’t be home until close to 8:30 so you’ll have the place to yourself. I promise, you’ll be safe here. No one can get in but me. I’m not giving you the code because I don’t want you to run off. If you’re out on the streets, Travis can find you.”

  Her stomach rumbled, and he smiled. “There’s cereal, bread, and sandwich meat in the kitchen. I’m afraid I don’t have much else in there. I’d planned to head to the grocery store later, after I got up.”

  “I’m sure a sandwich will be filling enough,” she said. “I slipped out of the house about a half hour after Travis left. I had to make sure he wouldn’t come back.”

  “You stayed up past midnight to slip out? It’s four o’clock already. You have to be exhausted.”

  She shrugged. “He hit me about an hour before his shift. I locked myself in the spare bedroom, knowing he needed his uniform to get ready for work. I hoped and prayed he wouldn’t call in sick and stay home.” Her gaze was direct. “I had to disappear before he returned at two.”

  “Why would he return at two? That’s still the beginning of his shift.”

  “For the drop.”

  Justice’s eyebrows rose. “The drop?”

  She looked around nervously. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “Bliss, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me the whole story. Are there more injuries than just the bruises? Is he running drugs? Selling hot merchandise?” Justice’s stomach soured at the idea of a dirty cop being on the squad, but he knew it happened. More often than he liked.

  “Not drugs,” she said softly. “Women.”

  The bottom fell out of his stomach. Holy shit! “I think you need to explain that statement. What about women? He’s selling them? As prostitutes?”

  “I don’t know who he sells them to, but I know he has several buyers. The women are forced into prostitution, both here and in other countries.”

  Justice knelt in front of her and took her hands in his. “How do you know this, Bliss? Did he say something to you? Did you witness something?”

  Christ! If she’d witnessed him in action, she’d have to be put into witness protection until charges could be brought against Travis. But Justice needed to know how deep she was in this mess. If Travis had confided in her, and she was just now coming forward, she could be in some trouble. He’d do what he could to protect her, but he could only do so much.

  “A woman by the name of Cherise Carlton told me.”

  The name was familiar. Where had he heard it before? His brow furrowed and then it clicked. The dead woman they’d found in a dumpster in Miami last week. She’d had track marks in her arms, and the coroner’s report had said overdose. The police were still determining if foul play was involved.

  “Cherise Carlton is dead,” he told her.

  “I know.”

  “When did you speak with her? How long have you known about Travis’s illegal activities? I need to know more, Bliss. I have to know everything.”

  “Her spirit told me tonight. She warned me that I was next.”

  Justice squeezed her hand and stood abruptly. It was worse than he thought. The woman wasn’t only battered; she was mentally ill. And to think he’d almost believed her, almost believed Travis was part of a human trafficking ring. She’d had him going.

  “Get some sleep,” Justice said. “I’ll return as quickly as I can. We’ll discuss your situation with Travis a little more when I get home.”

  He made sure he had set the alarm before he stepped outside, locking her in the house. He wasn’t going to take any chances with her welfare. If Travis even suspected that Justice had saved Bliss, the man would be on his doorstep faster than lightning could strike, and while Justice wasn’t convinced she was completely sane, he couldn’t deny that she had been abused. Had Travis finally had enough of her craziness? The man was hot headed, and if she accused him of selling women into prostitution, Justice could easily see the officer losing control.

  Justice put that thought on the back burner, got back in his cruiser and headed toward the station. When he pulled into the parking lot, he turned off the car and got out. His shoulders were tense when he spied Travis heading into the building. He’d love nothing more than to have a conversation with the man, with his fists, but he knew that would tell Travis that he knew where Bliss was. And that was the last thing he wanted to do. He’d just have to hope he could keep his cool until his shift ended. No matter how delusional she was, she still needed his help. He’d offered her his protection, and she would have it.

  The back door to the building swung open, and he walked down the long corridor to the secure door leading into the precinct. He punched in his code, and the door made a loud click as the lock disengaged. Justice pulled it open and stepped inside the dim interior. Two of the fluorescent lights were out – again. You’d think a precinct in a well-off area could afford decent lighting.

  He passed the break room, where Travis was boasting about his latest job. Justice ground his teeth together to keep from saying anything and moved on, no matter how much he wanted a cup of coffee. He passed the dispatch booth and smiled at the ladies inside.

  “Having a good night?” he asked.

  Tammy Windsor nodded. “It’s been pretty quiet so far. Something tells me the day shift is going to be slammed.”

  Rebecca Forest smiled. “It’s not like you to pass up the break room and a cup of java. Since your call was a bust, I can’t imagine what you’d have on your mind.”

  Tammy snickered. “Must be women troubles.”

  “Something like that.” Justice smiled.

  Rebecca poured coffee into a Styrofoam cup and slid it under the bottom of the barred window. “Here, this should help. It’s hazelnut, your favorite.”

  “Thanks, Becca. I appreciate it.”

  She blushed and nodded before retaking her seat. A call came through the radio and at the same time the 9-1-1 line rang. He left them to their work and moved further down the hall, stopping by Detective Steinbau’s office. Rick was a good man, and Justice wondered if he should confess that he had Bliss hiding out in his home, or just wait until morning when she could file a report. He couldn’t be sure the detective wouldn’t call Travis into his office. Best to wait.

  Steinbau looked up from his paperwork. “Need something?”

  “Nope, just taking a break before I get another call.” Justice smiled. “Busy night?”

  “Just going over the reports again for that robbery at the women’s clothing shop the other day. Something isn’t adding up. I keep thinking if I stare at the damn things long enough, something will click into place, and we’ll be able to solve the crime. We ran the prints through AFIS, but nothing came back.”

  “Which means it’s either a first-time offender or they just haven’t been caught yet.”

  Steinbau nodded. “I’m hoping for the first. If it’s a first-time offender, we have a better chance of catching them. They had to have slipped up somewhere. Maybe we’ll catch a break, and they’ll try to resell some of the stuff they stole.”

  “Good luck.” Justice took a sip of his coffee.

  “Why aren’t you in the break room hanging out with your buddies?” Steinbau asked.

&nbs
p; Justice shrugged. “Travis is going on about his latest case. I didn’t care to hear all of his posturings.”

  Steinbau smiled. “Acting like God’s gift again, is he? I’ve never met someone so full of hot air before.”

  Hot air wasn’t the only thing he was full of. Shit was going to hit the fan in the morning when Justice brought Bliss in to file a report. He’d have to make sure he stuck around long enough to ensure Travis left and then bring Bliss to the station.

  His radio crackled.

  “52, there’s a 10851 at 517 Palm Terrace.”

  Justice shook his head and grabbed the radio clipped to his shoulder. “10-4 dispatch.”

  “So much for a quiet night,” Steinbau said. “Maybe you’ll get lucky and this will be your last call.”

  Justice gave him a salute and headed back down the corridor and out to the parking lot. Something told him it was going to be a long ass night. Eight o’clock wouldn’t come soon enough.

  Chapter Two

  Bliss had watched TV until close to six when she’d finally fallen asleep on the couch. She’d meant to get up and go to the bedroom, but she’d been too worried to move further into the house. If someone were to try to break in, she wanted to hear them, to be prepared. Now it was a little after eight and something had woken her. What if Travis showed up and tried to get through the front door? Could he have found her? Her hands fisted as anger surged through her.

  Officer Wild had assured her she would be safe, that he would protect her, but she didn’t know him. Travis had mentioned a few of the guys at the station before, but Wild hadn’t been one of them. She hoped that meant he was a good guy. Bliss supposed she didn’t have much choice but to put her faith in him. He’d been right. If she’d stayed on the street, Travis would have found her one way or another. There was no way in hell she was going back to him. If Cherise could be believed, Bliss was next on Travis’s list. She had no idea how many women had suffered at his hands, but she refused to be one of them.

  A soft mist formed next to the sofa, the gray substance cool to the touch. A shape began to take form and a moment later, Cherise stood next to her, gazing at her with sad eyes.

  “It’s happening again,” the ghost said.

  “What’s happening? You said I was next, but I’m safe here.”

  “He promised them a blonde. With you out of his grasp, he’s found a replacement. He stashed her somewhere, someplace I can’t see. The transfer happens tonight. Ten o’clock at the docks.”

  Cherise began to fade, and Bliss reached out to her. “Wait! What docks?”

  “Ten o’clock,” the disembodied voice whispered. “Ten o’clock at the docks.”

  The air in the living room warmed as the ghost completely vanished, leaving Bliss alone with her thoughts. The docks? This was Florida. There were lots of docks! Without more information, how could she tell Justice where the transfer would take place? She could tell he didn’t believe her, that she needed hard proof. This psychic business was a pain in the damn ass. What good did it do her to receive information if she couldn’t share it with anyone?

  She heard the lock in the door click, and then it swung open the alarm screeching. A big figure filled the doorway and then the alarm was silenced. A man stepped into the light and she relaxed after realizing it was Officer Wild.

  “You should be asleep,” he said, dropping his keys on the counter separating the kitchen from the living room.

  “I slept for about an hour. I think your car woke me,” she said, not wanting to mention the ghost.

  He nodded. “Sorry about that.”

  “Are we going to the station now?” Even if she couldn’t convince the police that Justice was selling women, she could prove that Travis had beaten her. She bore the marks of his assault. What more could they need? At least it would get him off the streets while she figured something out.

  “Just as soon as I shower and change. I’ve been in this uniform long enough. You don’t mind waiting, do you?”

  Bliss shook her head. Truth be told, she was a little uneasy about filing the report. There was no guarantee they would arrest him for the bruises he’d left on her skin, but she had to try. There was a woman out there depending on her. If he went free, that poor woman would be sold tonight. She had to do everything in her power to keep that from happening. It sickened her to think she’d been living with a monster all this time and had never known it. If she hadn’t stopped taking those pills Travis had insisted on, she still wouldn’t know about it. They’d dampened her abilities, kept the spirits from talking to her. Or maybe they’d been talking, but she just hadn’t been able to see or hear them anymore.

  Justice must have noticed her trembling hands. Probably thought it was from fear, and not the blind hatred that filled her. He hunkered down in front of her, placing his hand over hers.

  “Easy,” he soothed. “Everything is going to be fine. You’ll see.”

  “But what if it isn’t? You don’t know Travis like I do. If this goes all wrong, if he isn’t arrested, bad things are going to happen.”

  “I’ll protect you,” he vowed.

  “You can’t be with me all the time,” Bliss said. “It’s not like I can just move in with you. He’s going to catch me alone, and when he does, I’ll pay the price for going to the police and filing that report.” And once she was out of the way, there would be no way to stop him from selling more women.

  He squeezed her hands. “Do you not want to file the report? I can’t promise I’ll be able to keep him away from you if you don’t.”

  “A report will keep him away?” She bit her lip. With Travis out of the picture, she could work on finding the evidence of his illegal activities.

  “We take abuse seriously. He’ll be arrested and spend some time in jail.”

  “But he can get out on bail, right? Until the hearing? And even then, there’s no guarantee he’ll go to jail.” Especially since she’d likely broken his nose. He could easily argue that he fought back in self-defense, that she had been the one to attack.

  Justice nodded.

  She swallowed hard. She needed more time. Time to convince Justice she was telling the truth, that she really could talk to Cherise. If she wanted to bring down a bad cop, she needed a good cop on her side.

  “Could I…could I stay with you until the hearing? I have nowhere else to go. I was living with him.” And if she stayed with him, he would learn to accept that she was psychic.

  “You can stay here as long as you like. As soon as he’s picked up, I’ll take you to your place to get a few things. Hopefully, the courts aren’t backed up, and you won’t have to wait long.”

  She grasped his hand and nodded. “Let’s go file the report then.”

  “I’ll shower quickly. Why don’t you get some cereal? We could be at the station for a little while. If you’d like, we can grab a real breakfast on the way home.”

  When he moved away, she rose from the couch and went into the kitchen. She could hear the water running as she fixed her bowl of cereal. It took her a few tries to find the cabinet with the bowls and the drawer with the spoons. She sat at the little dinette table and tried not to think about Travis. Justice promised to keep her safe, and she’d just have to hope he could.

  He returned about fifteen minutes later, his dark hair wet, wearing a red polo shirt and dark wash jeans. She scanned him from head to toe and felt her cheeks warm when she was caught appraising him. Despite her situation, Bliss had to admit that he was a fine specimen. Any other time, she’d be tempted to make a pass at him, but she needed a clear head right now. The material of his shirt hugged his broad chest and large biceps. If anything, all of those muscles should make her nervous after being on the receiving end of Travis’s fists, but instead, Justice made her feel safe. Somehow she knew he would never lift a hand against a woman. Not that she couldn’t protect herself if he did, but still…

  She got up from the table and put her bowl in the sink, rinsing the milk out of it f
irst. When he held out his hand, she grasped it, putting her trust in him. If he was going to hurt her, she doubted he would be taking her to the police department.

  Bliss was surprised how quickly they had arrived at the station. Justice helped her out of his SUV and escorted her inside. They’d used the front door and passed reception.

  “Morning, Wild,” the receptionist said.

  “Morning, Jeanie.”

  An older gentleman with graying hair whistled when he saw them. “I didn’t take you for the type to get rough with your girlfriend.”

  Justice scowled at him. “I didn’t do this, Steinbau. Malloy did. What are you still doing here? Didn’t your shift end an hour ago?”

  Steinbau shrugged. “One of our detectives couldn’t make it in until ten, so I offered to stay over.”

  “This is Bliss Dougan. She needs to file a report.”

  Steinbau nodded and motioned for them to follow him. When they reached what Bliss assumed was his office, Justice ushered her inside and Steinbau motioned for them to have a seat.

  “Why don’t you tell me what happened?” Steinbau asked her with raised eyebrows. “I may not like Travis Malloy, but he’s a by-the-book cop.”

  “This is the second time he’s done this to me,” Bliss said. “This time was worse than the last.”

  “And you didn’t report him before?” Steinbau asked.

  “He promised never to do it again. He’d been drinking, and we had argued. I’d never seen him lose his temper like that before. Not until last night. He grabbed my arm and pulled me close; then he punched me in the face. I screamed for him to stop and he wrapped his hand around my throat and squeezed.” She blew out a breath. “I admit, I fought back, but it was self-defense. I thought he was going to kill me. I started seeing spots, and I couldn’t breathe. Everything had started to go black when he finally released me. He took a step back, and I took that moment to run. I locked myself in the spare room. He banged on the door and yelled at me, but I refused to come out.”