Unlawful Justice

by K. Langston

  “That’s not true,” I cry weakly, but he doesn’t listen.

  “Yeah, it is and your ol’ man is gonna know what it’s like to have someone ripped away from him.” He backs up a few steps before stopping a good distance in front of me.” This is for Jamal, bitch. Consider it justice served.”

  As soon as the words leave his mouth he runs at me with a speed that has a fearful scream ripping from my throat. There’s nothing I can do but take the impact of his knee to my face. A white-hot pain radiates throughout my entire body as blackness starts to take me.

  “Tie her up. Let’s get this done.”

  I barely comprehend my bound wrists being thrown above my head and tied to the tree. Desolation consumes me as I feel my dress, then panties, being torn from my body.

  “Me first.”

  Hearing those two words, I don’t fight to stay conscious any longer. My last thought before I succumb to darkness is Pap, knowing this is going to kill him, and he will have no one left to take care of him once I’m gone.

  CHAPTER 7

  Grayson

  It’s been a long day, longer than usual. Even though I should really stay and finish my reports, I decide to say fuck it and file it away for tomorrow. I can’t focus right now. After my run-in with that dick Clint Larson, I haven’t been able to concentrate on much of anything.

  The smug bastard.

  It drives me crazy that Dixon lets him in on so much of our shit, especially the Bradshaw case. By the remarks he was making today it’s clear he still wants Olivia. When I heard he went out there to check on her I wanted to knock him the fuck out.

  Jealousy and possessiveness are a foreign feeling to me. I’m not the type to get jealous. I’ve always preferred to have a good time and move on.

  Until Liv.

  It’s a scary fucking feeling considering I haven’t even had an official date with her yet, but somehow that girl has me tied up in all sorts of knots. Just the thought of that arrogant asshole hanging around her pisses me off.

  “What’s up, man?” Terrell asks with an arrogant grin on his face, carrying a file under his arm that is likely filled with his completed daily reports.

  It makes me think of my incomplete ones I just filed away. “Boy scout.” I joke.

  “Slacker,” he fires back.

  Terrell and I went to high school together, and although we played on the same football team we never hung out. We didn’t get to know each other until he joined the department about a year after me. We’ve grown pretty tight since, and he’s definitely someone I trust to always have my back.

  “My house tomorrow night for the game. You in?” he asks.

  “I don’t know,” I reply, unsure if my goddamn paperwork will be done by then.

  “What do you mean, you don’t know? These are the playoffs we’re talking about.”

  I grunt.

  “Fine, be a pussy. I was going to have my sister bring Liv over, but hey…” He shrugs with a knowing grin.

  I grimace, hating that I asked him about Liv the other day because he hasn’t stopped busting my balls about it since, which is why I haven’t told him about my date with her yet. But I still jump at the chance of seeing her before then. “Fine. I’m in.”

  The asshole chuckles. “That’s what I thought. See you tomorrow.”

  “Johnson, hold up.” I call him back before he can walk away. “What’s with that prick Larson going out to see her?”

  He tenses with a scowl. “How do you know he went to see her?”

  “I heard him mention it when he was talking to Dixon today.”

  He shakes his head in frustration. “Who knows, that asshole still has it bad for her. No matter how many times she shuts him down. I’m just glad Liv is smart enough not to fall for his shit again.”

  Me too, but the bastard better take the hint soon, or else.

  “Later, man.” he says, walking out.

  “Later.”

  I close my computer down before making my way to the exit. On my way out I stop by dispatch to say good night to Lucy.

  “Callin’ it a day, darlin’?” she asks with a warm smile.

  “Yeah. You need anything before I head out?”

  “Nope… I’m all good, but make sure you stop by and see your mama on the way home. She was tellin’ me today over lunch how much she misses you.”

  I just saw her the other night when I went over for dinner. I try not to complain because I know she misses my dad. His death was hard for us both, especially her. I try to check in with her as much as I can, but sometimes it’s hard with my work schedule. “Yeah, I’ll stop by and see her.”

  She smiles. “I knew you would because you’re a good boy. Have a nice night, Grayson.”

  “You too, Miss Lucy.”

  Nodding with a smile, she fields an incoming call. I give her one final wave and have my hand on the door when the sound of her voice stops me mid-step.

  “All right, now just hold on. I’m gonna need you to calm down and take a deep breath. I can’t understand a word you’re sayin’, sweetheart.”

  I turn back and move closer to the window so I can hear her better. Her eyes meet mine, and I can see the silent panic flickering there.

  “Sir, you have to slow down so I can understand what you’re saying. Who’s gonna die?”

  Her words have me reaching my hand through the window to take the call. She pushes a button to release the call from her headset and hands me the receiver.

  The male voice on the other end is frantic and distorted, making it hard to understand him, but I manage to make out his last few words. “You better hurry, they’re gonna kill her!”

  “This is Deputy Taylor. I need you to calm down and explain to me what you’re talking about. Who are they going to kill?”

  “Olivia Bradshaw.”

  My heart sinks like an anchor in a sea of red as time comes to a complete standstill. “Who is this?” I ask, barely able to hear myself through the blood rushing in my ears.

  “That doesn’t fucking matter! You need to get to the Wheeler property now or they’ll kill her.”

  The line goes dead, and for a second I think my heart stops beating altogether.

  “Grayson? Who was it?”

  Without responding, I drop the phone back in the window and haul ass to my patrol truck. Flipping on my siren, I peel out of the parking lot. The entire four miles it takes me to get to Wheeler Road I pray this is some stupid fucking kid pulling a prank, but the feeling in the pit of my stomach and the desperation of the caller tells me it’s not.

  The gate to the property is closed, but I ram through it. The clash of metal upon metal doesn’t slow me down as I press harder on the gas, kicking up a cloud of dust in my wake. Once I make it through the thicket of trees I stop at the clearing, throw my car in park, and get out. Scanning the field, I see nothing amiss. No indication that anyone has even been here.

  “Olivia!” I yell, my eyes darting frantically in every direction. I hop back in my truck and follow the path across the field, and that’s when I see something lying on the ground up ahead.

  Coming to a stop again, I get out and walk closer. Pure fear grips my chest like a tight vise when I see it’s a bloody dress and tattered underwear.

  What the fuck?

  “Olivia!”

  I start running, but have no fucking clue where I’m headed. I yell her name repeatedly, my voice hoarse. I spot a big oak tree at the back of the property and my swift feet falter. “Oh fuck!” Bile rises in my throat and my stomach recoils. It’s something I couldn’t even conjure up in my worst nightmare.

  Liv tied to a tree, naked, and beaten.

  I rush toward her, pulling out my pocketknife. I flip it open with a deafening click as I fall to my knees beside her. “Jesus, Liv, can you hear me?” My hand trembles as I quickly slice the rope, freeing her from the base of the tree. I try to swallow around the knot in my throat, searching for a pulse.

  I exhale a breath of relief whe
n I find the faint thrum of life beneath my fingers. Reaching for the mic attached to my shoulder, I bring it to my dry mouth.

  “10-79 to dispatch.”

  “Go ahead, 10-79.”

  “I need an ambulance at the Old Wheeler property.” My voice cracks as I try to get the words out. “I’m at the south entrance.”

  “10-4.”

  “Hang on, Liv. Help’s comin’, baby.” I rip my uniform shirt off and cover her broken, battered body as much as I can. Then, before I can stop myself, I turn to the side and purge the contents of my stomach, knowing the image of her bound to this tree will be ingrained in my mind forever.

  *

  I called Walter on the way to the hospital, telling him to meet me. I didn’t go into detail, but I didn’t need to. He knew something was wrong when Liv didn’t make it home at her usual time.

  Pacing back and forth in the lobby, rage pumps through my veins as I try to think about who could have done this. This obviously has to do with Jamal and the shooting, but why target Liv? Why not Walt? Unless this was their way at getting back at him, by hurting her.

  Either way it will be their last fucking mistake.

  My stomach twists into a tight knot when I see Walter rushing through the automatic door.

  “Where is she?” he shouts, his voice filled with panic as his eyes shift everywhere until he sees me. “Where’s my granddaughter?”

  I blow out a heavy breath and head toward him. “Walter, listen—”

  He stops cold, his chest heaving as his eyes scan my body. “What the hell is all that?” He points at my chest. “Is that…her blood?”

  I look down at my white undershirt to see it stained red.

  Fuck.

  “It’s hers, isn’t it?” he asks again, looking for confirmation.

  “Walter, let’s take a seat.”

  “I will not have a goddamn seat. I wanna see my Livy, and I want someone to tell me what the fuck happened to her, right now!” he bellows, his body quaking with anger.

  Everyone swings their sympathetic eyes to us, three of the nurses crying. I stare back at him and search for the words to tell him. “Walt.” I start but trail off.

  How the fuck do I tell him this?

  “No,” he whispers, shaking his head in denial. “Please tell me they didn’t hurt her. Please tell me they didn’t hurt my baby, that this isn’t because of me.” His voice sounds as broken as he looks.

  “I’m sorry.” It’s a weak attempt to ease his pain, but I know it doesn’t mean shit.

  An intense fury flickers behind his eyes just before he loses all control. A loud roar rips from his throat as he charges past me, picking up a chair and throwing it against the wall. “Those fucking bastards! I’m gonna kill ’em.”

  I slam into him and take him to the ground before he can tear the entire place apart. He struggles to get free. For an old man his strength takes me by surprise, but I quickly get the upper hand. “Listen to me!” I shout, pinning him down. “You need to hold it the fuck together for Liv’s sake. She needs you.”

  He finally stills but his anger quickly turns to agony, and for the first time in my life I see a grown man break down. A tortured sob vibrating from his chest.

  “Oh God, not my Livy. Not my sweet girl.”

  My own throat burns like a motherfucker, but I grind my teeth and hold it together. “I swear, Walt, I’m going to find out who did this. I won’t fucking sleep until I do. Do you hear me?”

  I mean every word I breathe.

  They will fucking pay.

  CHAPTER 8

  Olivia

  I stare out of my hospital room window, watching the sunset as the incessant beeping noise from the machines fill the silent room. It’s the first time I’ve been alone since waking up two days ago. Between Pap fussing over me every five seconds and Tania being a mother hen, I haven’t had much time to think about things—things I don’t remember.

  I glance down at my hand, staring at my raw, battered wrist and swallow past the constant ache I’ve had in my throat since finding out what happened to me. I was beaten and violated, resulting in two broken ribs, a major concussion and a ruptured ovary that had to be removed, drastically lowering the chance for me to ever have children. The reality of it all is devastating and soul crushing.

  And I don’t remember any of it but a few flashes of rough hands and a malicious voice that says words I will never forget.

  This is for Jamal, bitch. Consider it justice served.

  I close my eyes as the voice replays in my head. Other than that, I remember nothing. Everything else is blank. Something I’m mostly thankful for, other than the fact I don’t know who did this to me, so I can’t help the police find them.

  A knock on the door pulls me from my depressing thoughts and opens a second later. I expect it to be Pap coming back with supper, so I’m surprised when I see Grayson walk in, holding a vase of lilies. My favorite flowers.

  “Grayson,” I whisper, my shock evident. I haven’t seen him yet, and if I’m honest, I didn’t know if I would.

  “Hey, Liv.” He greets me with his usual charming smile, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Is it okay to come in?”

  I hesitate for only a second, hating for him to see me like this, but I don’t want to be rude, and honestly, I could use the company while I wait for Pap. “Yes, of course.”

  He walks in and sets the vase of flowers down beside my bed. “Walter told me they’re your favorite.”

  I smile softly. “They are. Thank you.”

  He nods then pulls the chair up next to my bed and sits down. My breath hitches when he takes my hand, holding it between his own. Bracing his elbows on his knees he brings it to his mouth and presses a soft kiss to my cold fingers. The kind and gentle gesture has warmth flowing inside of me, something I haven’t felt since I woke up.

  “How are you doing?” he asks, his voice gruff. Before I can answer he shakes his head. “Never mind, that’s a stupid question.”

  It’s obvious he’s nervous and doesn’t know what to say. He’s not the first person to feel that way when they see me. “I’m doing okay, mostly tired. The pain medication they have me on makes me sleep a lot.”

  “That’s not a bad thing, the more you rest the faster you’ll heal.”

  “You sound like Pap.”

  “I’ve been called worse,” he says, amusement lacing his words, bringing a smile to touch my lips.

  Silence settles over us as his gaze roams over my face. I don’t miss the tick of his jaw and the fury flashing in his eyes.

  “It looks worse than it feels.” I lie, hating to see the same pain in his eyes that I’ve seen in everyone else’s.

  He releases a heavy breath and drops his forehead on our clasped hands. I swallow thickly, trying to find words to make it better. Seeing everyone hurt so much for me is almost as painful as the wounds I bear.

  “I’ve been told that you were the one who found me.”

  His eyes snap to mine, and I draw in a sharp breath when I see them glassy with unshed tears. It causes my own to cloud over. “Yeah. I was just leaving work when we got the call.”

  Ah, the famous mystery caller, the one that may have saved my life, along with Grayson of course.

  Shame darkens my soul, knowing he saw me that way. I hate for anyone to have seen me like that, but especially him. Yet, I’m also incredibly thankful he found me. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice thick with tears. “I know it must have been horrible to see me like that.”

  “Jesus, Liv.” He breathes. “You don’t need to thank me. I’m just sorry I didn’t make it sooner.” My eyes fall shut at the sound of his tortured voice, and I try my hardest to hold back the sob threatening to escape. Grayson stands and sits next to me on the bed. He frames my face gently between his large hands then presses a soft kiss on my forehead before bringing his mouth to my ear. “I swear, Liv, I’m going to find out who did this to you, and when I do they will fucking pay.”


  I can hear it in his voice—the determination and conviction. I just hope the police find out who did this sooner rather than later, because the thought of those men still out there, possibly waiting to strike again, brings on a fear I don’t want to think about.

  CHAPTER 9

  Grayson

  Exhaustion weighs heavily on me as I scrub a hand down my face, trying to clear my mind. I haven’t slept worth a shit, because every time I close my eyes all I see is Liv, tied to a tree, her body violated and broken. Guilt tightens my chest and mixes with rage every time the image surfaces. I try not to think about what would have happened if I had made it sooner, because I know it’s pointless. All I can do now is find the bastards who did this and deliver justice for her.

  No matter the fucking cost.

  I’ve been working around the clock, analyzing every piece of evidence, and interviewing everyone and anyone who saw Liv that day. The last people to speak to her, before the attack, were the school faculty. When I found out she was let go before she left that day, it only served to feed the fury that’s been simmering in my gut since finding her. It’s complete bullshit, all of it¸ and I didn’t hold back voicing it to the principal. You could tell she felt guilty, especially after what happened to Liv, and rightfully so. What they did was wrong. They didn’t let her go for her safety like they claim, and we all fucking know it.

  The injustice of everything that’s been done to Liv has me working harder to make it right for her, but after all of my searching I’m still no closer to catching who did this than I was a few days ago.

  Our immediate suspicion was someone in Jamal’s family or a close friend, considering it was an attack on his behalf. I hated to think any of his brothers could have done this, especially since I went to school with Darius and know he’s a decent guy, but we had to check out everyone. Turns out they all have fucking alibis, including Reggie West, the cousin.

  No DNA evidence was found from the rape kit done on Liv, meaning whoever did it was careful, but maybe not careful enough. A gold chain was recovered at the crime scene. We’re praying it will have the DNA evidence and answers we’re looking for, or at least point us in the right fucking direction. If only I could figure out who the hell that caller was, then we would have all the answers we need. After checking the phone records we discovered the call had come from a prepaid cell phone. No surprise there. Whoever made that call clearly doesn’t want to be found.